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How long should a golf ball last?

Author

Daniel Moore

Published Jan 23, 2026

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.

How often should golf balls be replaced?

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.

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 is the lifespan of a golf ball?

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."

Do golf balls lose distance with age?

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.

27 related questions found

How far should you hit a 7 iron?

A standard amateur golfer can hit a 7 iron from 128 yards to 158 yards. The lower range will be for women and senior golfers. To hit the ball over 150 yards in total distance with a 7 iron club, an amateur golfer will have to have a good swing and be physically fit.

Do golf balls ever spoil?

Golf balls can easily go bad if they are extremely scratched up. The damage taken from hitting solid objects such as trees or cart paths, even clubs repeatedly can limit the performance in terms of distance, spin, flight, and roll. Take note beginner golfers!

Do golf balls lose distance with use?

Its results confirmed that in the absence of visible damage, repeated use had no effect on a ball's performance. However, it also found that even small scuffs led to a measurable loss in distance, reducing driver distance as much as 6 yards.

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.

Does it hurt golf balls to freeze?

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 long do golf balls keep their compression?

There have been no definitive scientific studies on exactly how long they will be fine for however golf ball researchers at Titleist state that as long as you keep your golf balls away from excessive heat or cold they can safely be stored for five years and most likely up to a decade.

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.

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.

Can a golfer change balls?

You can always use a new ball when starting a hole. You can also substitute a different ball any time you are taking relief, including both free and penalty relief. Unless the one-ball Local Rule is in effect, the substituted ball could be any brand.

How many balls can a golfer carry?

Under the Rules of Golf, a golfer can carry as many golf balls as they want in their bag. Really, they can carry as many golf balls as they're willing to carry around themselves or their caddie is willing to lug around for them. Most PGA Tour golfers carry in the area of nine golf balls in their bag per round.

Should you use the same golf balls?

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 long can golf balls stay underwater?

After just twelve hours in the water, the outermost layer of the golf ball allows water to enter into the ball.

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.

Do golf balls get worse over time?

He stated golf balls are now designed with multi-layer surfaces and solid cores, therefore will not go bad or impact performance. Although, golf balls with scuff marks could impact the ball's performance.

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.

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.

How do you know if a golf ball is bad?

But as soon as the ball feels rough, you should replace it. Most golfers swap out golf balls far more frequently and there's nothing wrong with that. Maybe you had a bad hole and want to make a switch or you like hitting a new ball every round. Just know that it takes a lot of swings to wear out a ball.

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 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.

How far should a 70 year old man hit a golf ball?

A 70-year-old man should be hitting a driver anywhere from 180 to 190 yards. This number has grown a bit in the last few years with the introduction of improved driver and shaft technology. At 70 years old, some golfers are having no trouble getting the ball to fly 200 yards or more.