Can Golf Balls Go Bad? The Ultimate Storage Guide

Have you ever pulled out an old golf ball from the depths of your bag, wondering if it’s still good to use? You’re not alone. Many golfers find themselves questioning the lifespan of their golf balls, unsure whether time, storage conditions, or wear and tear have taken their toll. It can be frustrating dealing with scuffed, discolored, or otherwise questionable golf balls, not knowing if they’ll still perform on the course.

While golf balls don’t have a set expiration date like food, their performance can deteriorate over time, mostly due to factors like exposure to extreme temperatures, humidity, UV rays, and general wear and tear. Storing them properly can maximize their shelf-life and ensure optimal performance.

This comprehensive guide will explore all the angles of golf ball longevity, deterioration, and optimal storage. We’ll cover everything from understanding golf ball construction to recognizing the signs of a “bad” ball and even answer the most frequently asked questions regarding golf ball care. This is your one-stop resource for ensuring you’re always playing with golf balls that are in prime condition.

Key Facts:
* Storage is Key: Golf balls stored at room temperature, in a dry, cool place can retain their playing characteristics for up to a decade.
* Usage Matters: Regular use can shorten a golf ball’s lifespan to approximately seven rounds due to impacts and wear.
* Water Resistance, Not Proof: Golf balls are water-resistant, however, prolonged submersion (more than 12 hours) can lead to performance degradation as water seeps into microfractures.
* UV Degradation: Prolonged sunlight exposure causes the cover of golf balls to become brittle and discolored, affecting its performance.
* Temperature Sensitivity: Both extreme heat and cold can impact a golf ball, with heat softening the materials and cold causing hardening, leading to altered playability.

How Long Can You Realistically Expect Golf Balls to Last?

Golf balls can last up to 10 years if stored properly at room temperature, in a cool, dry place. However, regular use can reduce their lifespan to about seven rounds due to wear and tear. This means paying close attention to how and where you keep your golf balls is crucial to their longevity.

The materials and construction of a golf ball play a significant role in its durability. Let’s take a look at these.

Understanding Golf Ball Construction and Lifespan

Golf balls are constructed with a core, cover, and sometimes additional layers. The core is usually rubber, while the cover is Surlyn or urethane; These affect lifespan. These materials have different properties that react differently to environmental factors and usage.

• Core: Typically made of rubber or a synthetic material, the core is the engine of the golf ball, providing the initial energy transfer upon impact.
• Cover: The cover, commonly made of Surlyn (a durable, cut-resistant material) or urethane (a softer material that offers more spin and control), protects the core and influences the ball’s aerodynamics.
• Layers: Many modern golf balls feature multiple layers between the core and cover, designed to fine-tune performance characteristics like distance, spin, and feel.

Search Engine Journal emphasizes the importance of material science in sports equipment, and golf balls are a prime example.

Used vs. Unused Golf Balls: What’s the Difference in Longevity?

Unused golf balls can last up to 10 years when stored correctly, whereas used golf balls typically last about seven rounds of play before showing performance degradation. This difference highlights the impact of regular play on a golf ball’s condition.

As evident, even minimal use can significantly impact the longevity of your golf balls.

Can Golf Balls Go Bad?

Yes, golf balls can go bad over time due to factors like improper storage, extreme temperatures, water damage, UV exposure, and general wear and tear from regular use. Like any other piece of sporting equipment, golf balls degrade with time.

Here are the prime suspects that can sabotage your golf ball’s performance:

The Impact of Temperature and Humidity on Golf Ball Performance

Extreme temperatures can negatively affect golf balls. Heat softens the cover and core, while cold hardens the ball, and High humidity accelerates degradation, impacting performance.

• Extreme Heat: Prolonged exposure to high temperatures (like those found in a car trunk on a hot summer day) can cause the golf ball’s core and cover to soften, leading to a decrease in compression and, consequently, distance.
• Extreme Cold: Cold temperatures can make the golf ball’s materials more rigid, reducing its elasticity and ability to compress properly upon impact. This also leads to a loss of distance.
• High Humidity: Humid environments can accelerate the degradation of the golf ball’s materials, particularly the cover, making it more susceptible to cracking and damage. Ideal storage conditions are around 70-80°F.

Research from Foresight Sports, as cited in the Treetops article, suggests golf balls retain performance attributes for up to 7 years when stored optimally.

Water Damage: How Submersion Affects Golf Balls

Golf balls are water-resistant, but not waterproof. Prolonged submersion (over 12 hours) allows water to seep in, affecting weight distribution and reducing distance and spin. While a quick dip in a pond might not instantly ruin a golf ball, extended underwater exposure can lead to problems.

1. Water Seepage: Water can penetrate the cover through microscopic pores and cracks.
2. Weight Alteration: The absorbed water adds weight and disrupts the ball’s balanced construction.
3. Performance Loss: The added weight and altered weight distribution negatively impact the ball’s aerodynamics, leading to shorter distances and reduced spin control.

This is why “lake balls” (retrieved from water hazards) often exhibit diminished performance.

This video provides a simple explanation of how water can affect a golf ball. It highlights the potential for performance loss after extended submersion. The video confirms what many experienced golfers have always suspected.

The Effects of Sunlight and UV Exposure

Prolonged exposure to sunlight and UV rays degrades the outer protective layer of a golf ball, making the cover brittle and prone to cracking or discoloration. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a powerful force that can break down the chemical bonds in the golf ball’s cover material.

• UV Degradation: UV rays break down the polymers in the cover, weakening its structure.
• Brittleness: The cover becomes brittle and more susceptible to cracking and chipping.
• Discoloration: Yellowing or other discoloration is a visible sign of UV damage.

Golf Monthly offers good advice on extending the playable life of all your golf equipment, including balls.

How to Tell if a Golf Ball is Still Good?

You can tell if a golf ball is bad by inspecting it for cracks, scuffs, discoloration, and reduced bounce. Also, shorter driving distances may indicate internal degradation. Don’t toss that slightly-used golf ball just yet; it might have some life left in it!

Here’s how to assess a golf ball’s condition.

Visual Inspection: What to Look For

When visually inspecting a golf ball, look for cracks, cuts, scuffs, dents, and any discoloration. These are signs of damage or degradation that can impact performance. This quick check can save you from a frustrating round.

• Cracks and Cuts: These are clear indicators of structural damage that compromise the ball’s integrity.
• Scuffs and Dents: While minor scuffs might be unavoidable, deep scuffs and dents can significantly alter the ball’s aerodynamics, affecting its flight and roll.
• Discoloration: Yellowing or other color changes often indicate UV damage or exposure to other environmental factors.

This close-up visual shows what a degraded golf ball looks like. Here you can easily identify damage to the cover and integrity of the golf ball.

Performance Tests: Bounce and Distance

A simple performance test is to compare the bounce of an old golf ball with a new one. Reduced bounce indicates loss of elasticity, affecting distance. This test, while not definitive, can give you a general idea of the ball’s condition.

1. Bounce Test: Drop the questionable golf ball and a new golf ball from the same height onto a hard surface. If the old ball bounces significantly lower, it has likely lost some of its resilience.
2. Distance Test: During a practice round, hit a few shots with both the old and new balls using the same club. If the old ball consistently travels a shorter distance, it’s a strong indication of internal degradation.

Tip: Keep a few new golf balls specifically for comparison testing. This will give you a reliable baseline for evaluating the condition of your older balls.

The Ultimate Guide to Storing Golf Balls for Maximum Lifespan

To maximize golf ball lifespan, store them indoors at room temperature (70-80°F), avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight, extreme temperatures, and water, and clean regularly. Proper storage is the single most effective way to preserve your golf balls.

• Room Temperature: Store golf balls in a climate-controlled environment, ideally between 70-80°F (21-27°C).
• Avoid Extreme Temperatures: Protect golf balls from extreme heat (like a car trunk in summer) and extreme cold (like an unheated garage in winter).
• Dry Environment: Keep golf balls away from moisture and humidity. A dry storage container is ideal.
• Out of Direct Sunlight: Store golf balls in a dark place, away from direct sunlight and UV exposure.
• Clean Regularly: Before storing, clean golf balls with mild soap and water to remove dirt, grass, and other debris.

This image illustrates ideal storage conditions for golf balls. You can see the balls are stored in a dry, temperature-controlled area.

FAQs About Can Golf Balls Go Bad:

Is a 20 year old golf ball still good?

Potentially, yes, if it has been stored properly (room temperature, low humidity, out of direct sunlight). However, even under ideal conditions, some degradation might have occurred. A visual inspection and bounce test are recommended.

How can you tell if a golf ball is still good?

Inspect the ball for cracks, scuffs, discoloration, and a loss of bounce. Compare its performance to a new ball if you’re unsure.

How long do golf balls go bad if not used?

If stored correctly (room temperature, dry environment), golf balls can last up to 10 years without significant degradation. However, improper storage can shorten this lifespan considerably.

When should you throw away golf balls?

Discard golf balls that show significant cracks, deep scuffs, discoloration, or a noticeable loss of bounce and distance.

Do golf balls degrade over time even when stored?

Yes, even with proper storage, some minor degradation can occur over very long periods (e.g., over a decade). However, the rate of degradation is significantly slower than with improper storage.

Can extreme heat damage golf balls?

Yes, extreme heat can soften the golf ball’s core and cover, leading to a loss of compression and distance.

Does cold weather affect golf ball performance?

Yes, cold temperatures can make the golf ball’s materials more rigid, reducing its elasticity and resulting in shorter distances.

How does water damage affect golf balls?

Prolonged submersion (over 12 hours) allows water to seep into the ball, adding weight and disrupting its balance, leading to reduced distance and spin.

Is it OK to store golf balls in the garage?

It depends on the garage’s climate. If the garage experiences extreme temperature fluctuations or high humidity, it’s not an ideal storage location. A climate-controlled environment is best.

What’s the best way to clean golf balls?

Use mild soap and water, and a soft brush or cloth. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners.

Do different types of golf balls have different shelf life?

While the general principles of storage apply to all golf balls, some materials might be slightly more susceptible to degradation than others. For example, urethane-covered balls (typically used by better players for increased spin) might be slightly more sensitive to UV damage than Surlyn-covered balls.

Do golf balls go bad in water?

Yes, golf balls can go bad in water. As we’ve discussed, prolonged submersion (typically more than 12 hours) will allow water to seep into the ball and alter the golf balls weight distribution. This reduces distance and spin. A good rule of thumb for waterlogged golf balls, if they’ve been submerged for less than 12 hours, dry them out for at least a week before you decide to use them again. Can A Golf Ball Get Waterlogged?

Summary

Golf balls, while durable, are not indestructible. They can degrade over time due to usage, improper storage, and exposure to environmental factors like temperature, humidity, and UV rays. Understanding how these factors affect golf ball performance, and knowing how to properly store and inspect your golf balls, can help you maximize their lifespan and ensure you’re always playing with equipment that’s in top condition. Remember that the lifespan of an unused golf ball is around 10 years, if stored properly. However, a golf ball used regularly will last roughly seven rounds of golf.

Do you have any additional tips for storing or assessing the condition of golf balls? Share your experiences in the comments below!