Is the inside of a golf ball poisonous?
Emily Sparks
Published Jan 11, 2026
The most popular myth about golf balls is that the center is either poisonous or explosive. Generations of children have been fascinated by the thought that the inside of a golf ball was poison gas or potentially explosive material. Fortunately, this is nothing but an urban legend.
What is the liquid inside of a golf ball?
Contrary to golf folklore, the liquid cores aren't dangerous. Titleist, for example, has used a salt water and corn syrup blend. Today's core is generally made from synthetic rubber -- which may be mixed with bits of metal, such as tungsten or titanium -- or a plastic-like material such as acrylate.
What happens if you eat a golf ball?
If they swallow a foreign object, occasionally it will stay in the stomach itself for a while (even a very long while). In the stomach, unless it leeches out a toxin, the only problem it causes is intermittent vomiting, when it temporarily obstructs the gastric outlet into the bowel.
Do golf balls have mercury?
Statutes and Other Information: Mercury-containing golf balls are no longer manufactured or sold in the U.S. or abroad. In 1921, the R&A and the USGA standardized the size and weight of golf balls. Mercury-filled golf balls (although still used for leisure until the 1940s) would not be permitted for tournaments.
What's inside an old golf ball?
Five-piece balls were the next step taken by some brands. Usually the inside of these balls have three thin layers sandwiched between a large core of rubber, and a thin plastic cover.
18 related questions foundWhat makes a golf ball Illegal?
Legal golf balls can't be smaller than 1.68 inches in diameter. The Polara balls have a diameter of 1.68 inches (the same size as normal). If you have a smaller ball, you'll have less drag and that should give you more distance. You'll also notice that illegal balls are slightly heavier.
Why do golf balls have dimples?
Dimples on a golf ball create a thin turbulent boundary layer of air that clings to the ball's surface. This allows the smoothly flowing air to follow the ball's surface a little farther around the back side of the ball, thereby decreasing the size of the wake.
Do golf balls explode?
By the 1920s, golf ball manufacturers had stopped using caustic liquids, but into the 1970s and 1980s golf balls were still at times exploding when dissected and were causing injuries due to the presence of crushed crystalline material present in the liquid cores.
Are golf balls poisonous to dogs?
No, golf balls are not safe for dogs of any size. Golf balls pose a choking hazard, especially for bigger dogs. Golf balls also contain toxic materials that can hurt your canine. Furthermore, chipped pieces can damage the intestines or esophagus, while fiberglass material can damage teeth.
What country invented golf?
Golf originated from a game played on the eastern coast of Scotland, in an area close to the royal capital of Edinburgh. In those early days players would attempt to hit a pebble over sand dunes and around tracks using a bent stick or club.
What happens if you swallow a goldfish?
Eating raw goldfish is a VERY bad idea. Consuming raw fish carries a higher risk of parasitic transmission, especially pathogens such as capillaria (intestinal worms). Worm infestations in goldfish are pretty common. And they can spread to people, if ingested.
Can a dog swallow a ball?
Most dogs, especially puppies, will occasionally swallow something they shouldn't such as balls, chicken bones or stones. Some objects may be small enough to pass through their system without causing any problems but others may get stuck and your dog could become seriously ill quite quickly.
What happens if my dog swallows a small ball?
If you know your dog swallowed an object, call your veterinarian immediately and take your dog to the vet's office as soon as possible. The doctor may be able to induce vomiting or retrieve the object from the stomach before serious problems set in.
Are golf balls metal?
OnCore Golf Balls: From feathers to fluid, there have been some interesting materials inside golf balls over the centuries. Until now, though, there has never been metal at the core of a ball. OnCore Golf has changed that with their MA 1.0 ball ($35/dozen).
Do golf balls have lead in them?
Other heavy metals used in golf ball production include tungsten, cobalt and lead.
Do golf balls contain metal?
A golf ball is made up of mostly plastic and rubber materials. A two-piece ball consists of a solid rubber core with a durable thermoplastic (ionomer resin) cover.
Why does my dog like chewing golf balls?
Dogs love fetching and returning, rolling around, and even chewing the ball. Such behaviors are very normal for dogs of any breed since they have the innated habits of chasing things as an act of hunting and chewing objects to keep their teeth strong and clean.
Can dogs choke on small balls?
#1 –Rubber or plastic balls: Finding the right sized ball for your dog is one of the most important things you'll ever need to do. Any ball, of any type, that can fit past your dogs front teeth is too small and poses a very high choking risk.
How do I stop my dog from picking up golf balls?
' If your dog does not know the 'take it' command, you can place the golf ball in his mouth. Offer him a treat once he takes the ball. Show your dog where you'd like him to place the golf ball and use the 'drop it' command. Offer him a treat right away if he drops the golf ball.
What is the farthest anyone has ever hit a golf ball?
Mike Austin's 1974 strike is recognized by Guinness as the official world record golf drive. And the historic shot had several unique elements to it. Firstly, the absurd 515 yards drive at the National Seniors Open Championship was made by a 64-year-old man with a wood driver.
How fast do pros hit golf balls?
Average Professional Statistics
According to TrackMan, the average ball speed for a PGA Tour player is 168 mph. Statistical leaders in 2022 include: Cameron Champ (188.29)
What is the fastest a golf ball has ever hit?
After accepting an opportunity to work at the best testing facility in the world at Titleist Performance Institute, Winther became the fastest golfer ever recorded with a highly impressive ball speed record exceeding 225 mph.
What do golfers yell?
Nowadays, most golfers yell "fore" only after they've hit an errant shot toward an unsuspecting golfer, but the term which translates to "watch out!" or "heads up!" was originally intended to be used before teeing off.
Why is a golf hole 4.25 inches?
Four-and-a-quarter inches in diameter. R&A ADOPTS 4.25-INCH HOLE SIZE That first hole-cutting implement utilized a cutting tool that was, you guessed it, 4.25 inches in diameter. The folks running the R&A apparently liked that size and so adopted it in their rules for 1891.
What happens when you remove the dimples from a golf ball?
The small depressions found all over the ball ultimately determine velocity, launch and spin rate after it leaves the clubface. Alter the depth of a dimple by as little as 1,000th of an inch and you could negatively affect the ball's aerodynamics (lift and drag) while it's rocketing through the air.