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Are old unused golf balls still good?

Author

Daniel Moore

Published Jan 18, 2026

Do Unused Golf Balls Go Bad? If unused golf balls are stored at room temperature which is around 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit, they can last for 10 years. Golfweek.com indicates that you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a new ball off the shelf and a new one that has been stored for years.

Is it OK to use old golf balls?

A: I called my sales representative from Callaway Golf and he indicated that golf balls have changed a great deal over the years. He stated golf balls are now designed with multi-layer surfaces and solid cores, therefore will not go bad or impact performance.

Can you use 20 year old golf balls?

So keep your balls in a cool, dry place and they will last for awhile. The golf ball researchers at Titleist state, "Today's Titleist golf balls can be safely stored for five years or even more, as long as they are kept away from excessive heat. ... Normal indoor conditions should be fine for storage."

Are 40 year old golf balls still good?

As long as they are not stored in harsh conditions like extreme cold or heat, a golf ball can last for years in your bag or stocked on the shelf.

When should you throw away golf balls?

Now, see if your ball is going to float. Drop it in, and walk away for a minute or two. If the cover is intact, then there should be absolutely no leakage to the internal area of your golf ball. If it starts to sink or you see any air bubbles coming up at all, it's a sign that the cover has a microfracture.

31 related questions found

Do unused golf balls deteriorate with age?

Do Unused Golf Balls Go Bad? If unused golf balls are stored at room temperature which is around 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit, they can last for 10 years. Golfweek.com indicates that you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a new ball off the shelf and a new one that has been stored for years.

What can I do with old golf balls?

What to Do With Old Golf Balls

  1. Selling Old Golf Balls. Many people don't know that used golf balls can also be sold. ...
  2. Give Away Old Balls. ...
  3. Clean & Reuse Golf Balls. ...
  4. Turn Old Golf Balls Into Decorations. ...
  5. Use an Old Golf Ball as a Massage Tool. ...
  6. Use an Old Golf Ball as a Meat Tenderizer.

What happens if golf balls freeze?

Placing a golf ball in the freezer will cause it to have a much shorter lifespan. The golf ball will lose its effectiveness, and you will notice a significant decrease in distance. If you have stored your golf balls in your cold garage for years, you are likely costing yourself some yardage on the golf course.

Do golf balls get waterlogged?

The golf ball core is hygroscopic, which means that it absorbs water. However, it takes 12 hours for the water to get through the cover and find its way to the core. Therefore, we can confidently conclude that a golf ball that has been immersed underwater for an extended period can be waterlogged.

How many rounds should a golf ball last?

Balls are likely to be lost or damaged before they wear out. According to Golf Digest, unless there is visible damage to the cover, the average golf ball should last at least seven full 18-hole rounds without any degradation in performance.

Do new golf balls go further than old ones?

It's highly unlikely that the average, or even high standard, amateur will notice any difference between the feel of a used and a new ball on impact. Nor will there be any appreciable loss of distance, height or spin.

How often does a pro golfer change balls?

Professional golfers will change golf balls every five to six holes. The modern golf ball technology can last for quite some time as the materials used to make these golf balls are more durable and resistant to cuts.

How much are used golf balls worth?

Generally you'll be paid between 6 and 12 cents per ball selling them wholesale. If you're good at collecting, that can add up to hundreds of dollars daily. If you're not a diver, or you don't find more than a few hundred balls at a time, you might consider retailing the used golf balls yourself.

Do softer golf balls go further?

Although softer golf balls go further from the tee for lower swing speed players, the gap across the whole range of ball types is only around 5 yards, so it is more important to fit the ball to your irons and then fit your driver to your preferred ball to maximise distance.

Do golf balls deteriorate in water?

Both types of balls lose approximately six yards of total distance after eight days in water. However, two-piece golf balls will lose about 10 yards in total after three months in water, while multi-piece golf balls will lose approximately 12 yards in three months and 15 yards in six months underwater.

Are refurbished balls any good?

Refurbished Golf Balls

Instead of blasting the cover clean and then re-coat and re-paint, these balls are improved cosmetically based on need. Basically, if there is an arrow that needs painting or a logo that's fading the refurbished process will make them look as good as new.

Do PGA players use a new ball every hole?

If you're a PGA Tour pro, you might swap out every few holes because, well, you get your pellets for free. But what about for those of us that pay for our spheres? According to Frederick Waddell, Titleist's senior manager of golf ball product management, play it until you lose it.

How much do golf ball divers get paid?

Over the past couple of decades, golf ball retrieval and recycling has become a multimillion-dollar industry, in which hardworking divers can earn between $50,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on the economy and a diver's stomach for harsh conditions. Still, the wealth does not come cheaply.

Do frozen golf balls go further?

A golf ball will travel less distance in colder temperatures for two reasons. First, when the golf ball and golf club are colder, the transfer of energy is not as efficient, so the ball speed will be less. Second, colder air is more dense than warm air, so there is more friction and drag.

Are Frozen golf balls good?

It is certainly not a good idea to hit a ball when it is at freezing temperatures, because this will not only cause damage to the ball but probably the club as well, never mind the potential damage to your body if you are not warmed up properly.

How do I keep my golf balls warm in cold weather?

The tips section of Golfsmith's website offers advice on how to keep golf balls warm, including putting a towel in the bottom of a pot of two quarts of water, bringing the water to 50ºC (about the temperature of really hot tap water), leave them in there for 30 minutes and then dry them and place them in an insulated ...

How do you refurbish an old golf ball?

Soak your golf balls in undiluted bleach or white vinegar or ammonia. Do not mix these chemicals together. Allow the golf balls to soak for two to three hours and then wash them off using clean water. Mix water in making soda until you create a paste.

What is the rarest golf ball?

Divers have begun a search in Donegal for what they believe could be some of the world's rarest golf balls. The gutta percha balls once belonged to golfing legend Old Tom Morris, who won the Open four times in the 1860s.

Do golf balls biodegrade?

Golf balls are often made of hard plastic called polyurethane. This material is not biodegradable, meaning that it will never break down into harmless substances, and the waste can pile up if left to nature.

Which golf ball goes the furthest?

Longest Golf Balls: Titleist Velocity

The longest golf ball is the Titleist Velocity. This is a two piece ball that is built completely for distance and low ball spin from the tee. Titleist is known for having some of the best golf ball technology on the market, and the Velocity is no exception.