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Do golf balls expire?

Author

Emma Payne

Published Jan 21, 2026

Titleist golf balls have a shelf life of five years or more. Unless you store your golf balls in an environment with an extreme temperature -- a freezer, for example, or during summer in the trunk of your car -- they will last for years.

How long should a golf ball last?

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 golf balls ever spoil?

Even so, golf balls can go bad. And small tiny changes on their exterior structure can drastically impact gameplay. Golf balls go bad, yes, but that takes an incredibly long time to happen due to their multi-layered core, as mentioned before. Over time, you may start to notice scuff marks on your golf balls.

Do old golf balls lose distance?

A wound ball which is approximately 10 years old, stored at room temperatures and low humidity, will have lost about 0.5 to 1.0 % of its IV (Initial Velocity) which will affect its distance by a couple of yards.

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.

36 related questions found

Are 25 year old golf balls still good?

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."

When should you throw away a golf ball?

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.

What do you 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.

Can golf balls go in dishwasher?

According to Golf Week, golf balls can be cleaned in the dishwasher on the top rack. Just don't wash dishes at the same time! 17.

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.

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.

Are golf balls found in water still good?

When the golf ball eventually dries out, it is still not as effective as a golf ball that did not spend any time submerged in the water. The longer the ball stays in the water, the less it will fly. Now, you may be thinking you can live without a few extra yards as long as you save some money.

How often should you change your golf balls?

The most simple answer to the question of how often should you change your golf ball is that there are no set rules. Some Tour players change their ball after a certain number of holes, but the truth is, this is more based on superstition than the diminishing quality of the ball itself.

How many golf balls should you hit a day?

How many balls should you hit in a day? For the short game (including putting), double the amount of shots on the range! So if 60 is the number on the range, then 120 should be the number on the chipping and putting greens!

Should you always play the same golf ball?

As you can tell already, our answer to the question of 'should you always play the same model' golf ball is a resounding yes. Continuity in your equipment is tremendously helpful, and that applies to your golf balls just as it does to your clubs.

How do you clean old dirty golf balls?

Removing them is easy as rinsing the golf ball under running water and using an acetone-based nail remover.

  1. Rinse the golf balls to remove dirt and debris. ...
  2. Dab acetone on a piece of cotton and wipe off until the pen marks disappear. ...
  3. Use dishwashing soap to clean the golf balls before drying them with a towel.

Does vinegar clean golf balls?

Golf balls

Dirty golf balls can affect your game more than you'd think! Add soap, dishwasher liquid or our trusty friend vinegar (for a deeper clean) to a bucket of warm water and soak the balls for 15 to 20 minutes. If necessary, use a sponge and / or toothbrush to remove dirt that won't budge.

How do I get my golf ball white again?

Add a small cap-full of dish soap and stir it around. Then drop in the golf balls. Allow the balls to soak for 30 minutes to remove any excess dirt. Get a soft bristled brush, such as a toothbrush, and scrub each golf ball individually.

How long do unused golf balls last?

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.

Is there a market for old golf balls?

Such balls, in good condition, regularly fetch enormous sums at auction. Collecting such balls requires knowledge and expertise to determine worth and authenticity. Discovered by chance as a useful substance for golf balls, gutta percha balls in their early years are highly desired by collectors.

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.

How do you know if a golf ball is good?

Drop Them. One of the simplest ways to check your golf ball's performance is by giving it a good, old-fashioned bounce using any hard surface like a tile floor or countertop. Your goal is to make the ball bounce as high as you can reasonably bounce it without damaging anything in your home.

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 golf balls matter for high handicappers?

Ionomer cover golf balls are usually less expensive, more durable, and produce less spin overall. Most importantly, most ionomer balls will produce less side spin off the clubface, which should help high handicap players keep the ball in play. The inside of the golf ball may be just as important.