When is it time to retire a golf ball

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By Abdon M

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  • 21 Replies
  1. Abdon M

    Abdon M
    Northern California (because it's a big state)

    I thought I would throw this out to the group. I was curious about everyone's opinion with regards to the number of holes/rounds do you play with one ball before switching it for a new one; I'm going with the assumption that the ball switch is not necessitated by losing a ball.

    For me, I generally play the same ball until it shows signs of cover damage. In my early days of playing golf, I would have golf balls that would lose their shape which I would switch immediately and that does not seem to occur much with solid core balls.

  2. Don O

    Don O
    Madison, WI

    Agree, if the cover is not scuffed, it is good to go.
    In my case, 36 holes would be a lot. I don’t know for sure as I play with 2-3 balls a round. There maybe that lucky one that doesn’t go swimming that may last multiple rounds. But I’ve never felt that an unblemished ball didn’t perform like out of the box.
  3. Chuck Z

    Chuck Z
    Mt Pleasant, SC

    Military
    Am with you, Abdon. When it starts showing substantial cover wear or if it by accidentally has a run in with a cart path. I play Pro1s and sometimes I can get up to four rounds from mine. I am a picker and do not put much spin on my balls. =)
  4. Darryl M

    Darryl M
    Wichita, KS

    Once the ball has large, several scuffs, or bad marks on it is one of my guidelines. It goes into my shag bag for practice then.

    The other is typically after 4 complete rounds I take it out of the bag. I might put it back in to use on certain courses with many hazards just to have in case.


    DM

  5. Brock L

    Brock L
    Fort Myers, FL

    18 holes is typically the most i will use a ball. By then it usually has some sort of cover wear. After that they go into the shag bag.
  6. Eric H

    Eric H
    Ridgway, PA

    This is a good question. I usually like to use a ball for a fair amount of time. Get some good use out of each one. Ill keep the ball going until I bash it off a tree or a cart path and get a scuff on there. Or if I'm playing in a nice 18 hole match with the boys, Ill probably switch to a fresh one. Main thing is to not lose them just a few swings in!
  7. Keith M

    Keith M
    Acworth, GA

    Usually my ball either finds the woods or water before I have a chance to truly retire it, but sometimes I can go a couple of rounds without losing one. Occasionally, I'll let one with a scuff keep going, but once it's more than that, or there is a gouge of any kind, I swap it out.
  8. Teedz

    Teedz
    Fresno, CA

    If not lost, one round for me. New round, new ball!
  9. Craig D

    Craig D
    Canton, OH

    I would typically play the same ball up until any damage significantly changed the outer surface (scuff that gouged the surface or caused a small portion to lift) such that I felt the flight may be impacted. The other reason besides the ball's desire to test its swimming capability would be purely a choice on my part during a round if the belief that a random change would positively affect the remaining holes.
  10. Allan

    Allan
    California

    Team Titleist Staff
    Titleist golf ball experts gave some great insight into this in a recent TT Talks session. Check it out here: https://youtu.be/SYLGyL4-D-A
  11. Frank P

    Frank P
    Port St. Lucie, FL

    Military
    Any damage to the ball such as scuffs, gouges or any shaving of the dimples and it's retired to the "Taxi Squad".
  12. Todd T

    Todd T
    San Diego, CA

    Military
    One round with no scuffs and into the shag bag!
  13. Barry M

    Barry M
    Reno, NV

    One round, and if they look clean, I'll keep them as back-up. If they go OB and there's a fence, I'm getting too old to climb fences so they are officially retired.
  14. Dale V

    Dale V
    Surprise AZ

    I tend to play with one longer than normal but with 43 years in the defense industry, some people tell me I am not a good judge for accurate retirement dates.
  15. golfinnut

    golfinnut
    Leesburg, VA

    If it makes it thru the round, it gets retired. I tend to use a new ball out of the sleeve every round & will replace it every couple of holes depending on the condition
  16. Lance P

    Lance P
    Hillsborough, NC

    I usually don't make the decision to retire a ball...it is made for me!
    To (sorta) quote Hawk Harrelson: "She gone"...
  17. shane r

    shane r

    Just played 36 holes in my men's club championship with the same ProV1 x (#2 w/green mi vida loca dots) 40-46-40-46, the ball is still in good form but I seem to only be a 9 hole sprinter. play it until it screams for no more
  18. shane r

    shane r

    Just played 36 holes in my men's club championship with the same ProV1 x (#2 w/green mi vida loca dots) 40-46-40-46, the ball is still in good form but I seem to only be a 9 hole sprinter. play it until it screams for no more
  19. JJohnson

    JJohnson

    Sounds like I'm like most folks, I play until the cover is scuffed then retire to the lower portion of my bag (shag). It doesn't bother me too much on drives or putts because I can manipulate the ball to where I don't see the scuff but once I see it on the fairway it gets bagged.
  20. Tyler_S

    Tyler_S
    Cypress, TX

    I will go a full round with one and then it become a shag bag ball. I don’t mind the scuffs while playing as I do see it affect the performance all that much.

    I will replace a scuff ball if early in the round though and it goes into shag.

    If it heads to water where I can’t easily retrieve with a club, it stays. Same with OB.
  21. TTaylor

    TTaylor

    If i had a ball make it through a round without going for a swim or in the woods it would be retired! But if i was on all y’all’s level of skill i would say a round or two stay fresh depending on how much you play that box will last a long time with one ball being played two rounds.
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