Jump to content

Second Hand Golf Balls from the Bay


royourboat

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 47
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Unless it’s a bad angle the above ball looks like the core is not centered. One side of the cover appears noticeably thicker than the other.

 

My last experience with water balls was about 15 years ago. Besides not feeling that I wasn’t getting proper distance when the strike felt good I had several tee shots that took off like knuckle balls - zig-zag flight. Even my playing partners noticed it. Never again. As others have stated there are too many good deals on last years models or the latest bunch on on-line balls (Kirkland, Snell, Cut, Vice, etc.) to risk playing water balls.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Polyurethane does attract and retain moisture fairly readily. More than you'd ever want to know about it here:

 

https://www.ptonline...roscopic-resins

 

But here's the executive summary:

 

Hygroscopic Resins

(i.e., Nylon, ABS, Acrylic, Polyurethane, Polycarbonate, PET, PBT,)

 

Have a strong affinity to attract moisture

Will absorb moisture onto their molecular structure if exposed to ambient air

Internal moisture can not be removed with hot air alone

 

Which is suggesting that balls "exposed to ambient air" in the display case at the proshop are absorbing moisture.

 

So, according to your research, we shouldn't purchase anything that's not fresh off the assembly line?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A ziploc bag keeps air and water out. Urethane is 8x thicker than a ziploc bag. I don’t think anything is getting in.

 

Polyurethane does attract and retain moisture fairly readily. More than you'd ever want to know about it here:

 

https://www.ptonline...roscopic-resins

 

But here's the executive summary:

 

Hygroscopic Resins

(i.e., Nylon, ABS, Acrylic, Polyurethane, Polycarbonate, PET, PBT,)

 

Have a strong affinity to attract moisture

Will absorb moisture onto their molecular structure if exposed to ambient air

Internal moisture can not be removed with hot air alone

 

Which is suggesting that balls "exposed to ambient air" in the display case at the proshop are absorbing moisture.

 

So, according to your research, we shouldn't purchase anything that's not fresh off the assembly line?

 

Not suggesting anything. I am pointing out a technical reference saying that Urethane per se is not impervious to moisture, in response to a claim upthread that Urethane can not absorb moisture.

 

Whether a lake ball has absorbed water or not is totally an empirical question. The reference I cited simply shows that to one extent or another many Urethane formulations are hygroscopic.

 

I posted that link in response to the following rather nonsensical assertion:

 

A ziploc bag keeps air and water out. Urethane is 8x thicker than a ziploc bag. I don’t think anything is getting in.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So here could be a fun test. Soak 1 ball for a month in water from a sleeve of any random urethane ball. After a month drill a hole in that ball and a dry ball from same sleeve.

 

Then take a garden moisture meter and see if the submerged ball had a reading of any kind. I think if there is enough water logged in the ball to effect performance it would show up on the meter.

 

What water might do to the elasticity of the cover it a completely different story.

Cobra F7+ - Stiff
Callaway V-Series 3 & 5 wood with Aldila Rouge Silver
Srixon 585 5-AW - Modus 105 Stiff
Ping Glide 2.0 Stealth 53 & 58 Degree
EVNROLL ER5
Srixon XV - Yellow

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So here could be a fun test. Soak 1 ball for a month in water from a sleeve of any random urethane ball. After a month drill a hole in that ball and a dry ball from same sleeve.

 

Then take a garden moisture meter and see if the submerged ball had a reading of any kind. I think if there is enough water logged in the ball to effect performance it would show up on the meter.

 

What water might do to the elasticity of the cover it a completely different story.

 

The first-order easy test would soak a ball in water for a month, take it out and dry off the surface thoroughly, and weigh it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So here could be a fun test. Soak 1 ball for a month in water from a sleeve of any random urethane ball. After a month drill a hole in that ball and a dry ball from same sleeve.

 

Then take a garden moisture meter and see if the submerged ball had a reading of any kind. I think if there is enough water logged in the ball to effect performance it would show up on the meter.

 

What water might do to the elasticity of the cover it a completely different story.

 

The first-order easy test would soak a ball in water for a month, take it out and dry off the surface thoroughly, and weigh it.

Well a small amount of water may not weigh enough to show in weight , moisture would be an immediate indication of water absorption even on a minor level

Cobra F7+ - Stiff
Callaway V-Series 3 & 5 wood with Aldila Rouge Silver
Srixon 585 5-AW - Modus 105 Stiff
Ping Glide 2.0 Stealth 53 & 58 Degree
EVNROLL ER5
Srixon XV - Yellow

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I sorta doubt anyone here has a swing that is more consistent than the golf balls he plays, regardless of the condition of the ball.

 

Yes this is true. However I doubt any of us would choose to loose 6 yards on both bad and good shots to save a penny.

 

You came to a golf ball forum...presumably to learn more or provide input on matters relating to WHICH GOLF BALL..saying the ball doesn't matter sort of defeats the whole point of why people chime in here.

 

 

Its a lot more than pennies. I can buy 5A Grade, no logo Pro V1's for about $20 per dozen which is less than half the price of new balls. That's what I'm trying to find out here from other golfers their experience with used balls. I think RobE is on to something with the weight. If he weighed the ball right after it was taken out of the water and it weighed the exact as a new out of the box ball, how could there be any water in it?

 

True, more than pennies if compared to retail..but, there are routinely great balls at 20 per dozen new, like the Z-Star and Z-star XV which you then do not have to worry about performance drop off whatsoever.

 

Im certain most of us have found that occasional lake ball that clearly spent quite a bit of time at the bottom of a lake such that it is stained brown..anybody notice a distinct difference in those?? I have. There is no telling how long each have of the lake balls you find spent down there. I don't want to worry about the shot being the ball or me. Discounted prior gen or even current gen balls is an obvious choice for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Did a little research and found this study. According to this research, golf balls in the water up to 5 months had very little effect on performance. I would like to see a link from 1badbadger information. They seem to contradict.

 

Link to study:

https://golfballdive...re-played-balls

 

Here is the big problem I have with this study...why does the data for "new balls" change for each test? These numbers should remain the same. If the initial "new ball" data is compared to "3 months in pond" it shows a loss of 8.6 yds of average total distance. Compared to "5 months in pond" it shows a difference of 14.8 yds.

 

Like I mentioned, there are many variables that affect the performance difference...amount of time the ball is submerged, the materials used in manufacture, the number of layers of the ball, the temperature of the water, etc. But the idea that golf balls are waterproof isn't true. I've seen balls where the core has actually separated from the mantle layer due to water absorption and rattles when shaken.

 

https://golf-info-guide.com/golf-equipment-news/waterlogged-golf-balls-to-play-or-not-to-play/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Reading this thread, I bought 10 dozen of Wilson Duo because they went on sale here in Canada at $16 per dozen. Well out of curiosity, I tested the new ones and I have a sleeve of new Chrome Soft golf balls and my stockpile of used from ebay Supersofts and some Chromesofts as well using a launch monitor.

 

With the driver, the average was all within the same distances, less than 3 yards from carry and total roll out. I never got to the irons or wedges. I warmed up first with old golf balls and hit 5 each from the different golf balls and checked the average.

 

I think I am not that consistent enough to feel these changes at all. Or maybe it's all in my mind? I know it's not super extensive what I have done but I am now looking at the 10 dozen of Duo's I bought lol

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Reading this thread, I bought 10 dozen of Wilson Duo because they went on sale here in Canada at $16 per dozen. Well out of curiosity, I tested the new ones and I have a sleeve of new Chrome Soft golf balls and my stockpile of used from ebay Supersofts and some Chromesofts as well using a launch monitor.

 

With the driver, the average was all within the same distances, less than 3 yards from carry and total roll out. I never got to the irons or wedges. I warmed up first with old golf balls and hit 5 each from the different golf balls and checked the average.

 

I think I am not that consistent enough to feel these changes at all. Or maybe it's all in my mind? I know it's not super extensive what I have done but I am now looking at the 10 dozen of Duo's I bought lol

 

I do this, I start with new ones. If I suck I go with eBay ones. And I can’t see the difference ever. Usually my game comes back and the eBay ones perform perfectly fine. I actually have balanced a lot of them with a balancer. And the new ones had more that were off balance. I have stopped balancing because I never could align the ball any way where it flew more correctly.

 

And I get the balls so cheap off the bay I even take some to the range to get that feedback from my gamer ball. Yeah it’s an extra $5, here and there, but the feedback is priceless.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Reading this thread, I bought 10 dozen of Wilson Duo because they went on sale here in Canada at $16 per dozen. Well out of curiosity, I tested the new ones and I have a sleeve of new Chrome Soft golf balls and my stockpile of used from ebay Supersofts and some Chromesofts as well using a launch monitor.

 

With the driver, the average was all within the same distances, less than 3 yards from carry and total roll out. I never got to the irons or wedges. I warmed up first with old golf balls and hit 5 each from the different golf balls and checked the average.

 

I think I am not that consistent enough to feel these changes at all. Or maybe it's all in my mind? I know it's not super extensive what I have done but I am now looking at the 10 dozen of Duo's I bought lol

 

I do this, I start with new ones. If I suck I go with eBay ones. And I can’t see the difference ever. Usually my game comes back and the eBay ones perform perfectly fine. I actually have balanced a lot of them with a balancer. And the new ones had more that were off balance. I have stopped balancing because I never could align the ball any way where it flew more correctly.

 

And I get the balls so cheap off the bay I even take some to the range to get that feedback from my gamer ball. Yeah it’s an extra $5, here and there, but the feedback is priceless.

 

Yeah I got a friend who bought from me my used TP5 5A. He said he never got used to them because it messes up his mind specially when he thinks about the chlorine soaked golf balls. They look like new but they really smell like bleach.

 

But I have shot the lowest scores of my golfing life using used golf balls, even one time it was a beat up Supersoft lol

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Reading this thread, I bought 10 dozen of Wilson Duo because they went on sale here in Canada at $16 per dozen. Well out of curiosity, I tested the new ones and I have a sleeve of new Chrome Soft golf balls and my stockpile of used from ebay Supersofts and some Chromesofts as well using a launch monitor.

 

With the driver, the average was all within the same distances, less than 3 yards from carry and total roll out. I never got to the irons or wedges. I warmed up first with old golf balls and hit 5 each from the different golf balls and checked the average.

 

I think I am not that consistent enough to feel these changes at all. Or maybe it's all in my mind? I know it's not super extensive what I have done but I am now looking at the 10 dozen of Duo's I bought lol

 

I do this, I start with new ones. If I suck I go with eBay ones. And I can’t see the difference ever. Usually my game comes back and the eBay ones perform perfectly fine. I actually have balanced a lot of them with a balancer. And the new ones had more that were off balance. I have stopped balancing because I never could align the ball any way where it flew more correctly.

 

And I get the balls so cheap off the bay I even take some to the range to get that feedback from my gamer ball. Yeah it’s an extra $5, here and there, but the feedback is priceless.

 

Yeah I got a friend who bought from me my used TP5 5A. He said he never got used to them because it messes up his mind specially when he thinks about the chlorine soaked golf balls. They look like new but they really smell like bleach.

 

But I have shot the lowest scores of my golfing life using used golf balls, even one time it was a beat up Supersoft lol

 

You are quite the friend to alleviate him of that burden. Haha. That’s weird I’ve never smelled bleach on balls. Those premium premium balls may get fraudulent on eBay. It’s such a profit for those guys . I go with the ones going for less than 30-35 cents.

Callaway makes some good balls too!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I shot 1 over par over the weekend while playing a tournament. All game long I thought I was using the brand new Chromesoft I bought. Apparently I was using the old ball that was mixed with my bag that I got online from the used golf ball company that I usually buy my golf balls from. :D

 

The following day, I made sure I play the new Chrome Soft. I shot 84. :swoon:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Did a little research and found this study. According to this research, golf balls in the water up to 5 months had very little effect on performance. I would like to see a link from 1badbadger information. They seem to contradict.

 

Link to study:

https://golfballdive...re-played-balls

 

Here is the big problem I have with this study...why does the data for "new balls" change for each test? These numbers should remain the same. If the initial "new ball" data is compared to "3 months in pond" it shows a loss of 8.6 yds of average total distance. Compared to "5 months in pond" it shows a difference of 14.8 yds.

 

Like I mentioned, there are many variables that affect the performance difference...amount of time the ball is submerged, the materials used in manufacture, the number of layers of the ball, the temperature of the water, etc. But the idea that golf balls are waterproof isn't true. I've seen balls where the core has actually separated from the mantle layer due to water absorption and rattles when shaken.

 

https://golf-info-gu...or-not-to-play/

 

 

 

"Note that since the three groups of pond balls were tested on different days in different weather and atmospheric conditions (which impact performance) each set of pond balls was tested against its own set of new "control" balls on the same day. "

 

He's attempting to control for weather/atmospheric conditions via retaining "pristine" control balls and testing them vs. the water balls on the same day for each given comparison. I suppose one could argue that the control balls deteriorate over time well, but that seems fairly unlikely, unless, as suggested before, they're absorbing atmospheric moisture and deteriorating over time themselves. In that case, age (assuming exposure to atmospheric humidity), rather than lake exposure, would be the problem. To be fair, if the guy doing the research was really focused on ruling out alternative explanations, he could have sunk the first set of balls (5 month balls), waited 2 months and sunk the second set (3 month balls), waited 2 more months and sunk the final set of balls (1 month balls), then tested all of them on the same day (or, even better, across multiple days) alongside the control balls. Heck, he could have even stored some control balls in over that time in low vs. high atmospheric conditions. That wouldn't completely rule out the control balls deteriorating over time, but it would allow a "new" vs. 1 month water vs. 3 month water vs. 5 month water comparison that's more straightforward. With that being said, there is no actual research presented in that link that I can see. Who did the research? What was the methodology? Where are the quotes coming from? Granted, we don't know much about the study from the Oakland University researcher, but at least there's something to go off of.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Our picks

    • 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Discussion and links to Photos
      Please put any questions or Comments here
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Monday #1
      2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Monday #2
      2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Tuesday #1
      2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Tuesday #2
      2024 Texas Children's Houston Open - Tuesday #3
       
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Thorbjorn Olesen - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Ben Silverman - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Jesse Droemer - SoTX PGA Section POY - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      David Lipsky - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Martin Trainer - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Zac Blair - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Jacob Bridgeman - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Trace Crowe - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Jimmy Walker - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Daniel Berger - WITB(very mini) - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Chesson Hadley - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Callum McNeill - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Rhein Gibson - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Patrick Fishburn - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Peter Malnati - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Raul Pereda - WITB - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Gary Woodland WITB (New driver, iron shafts) – 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Padraig Harrington WITB – 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
       
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      Tom Hoge's custom Cameron - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Cameron putter - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Piretti putters - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Ping putter - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Kevin Dougherty's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Bettinardi putter - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Cameron putter - 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Erik Barnes testing an all-black Axis1 putter – 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
      Tony Finau's new driver shaft – 2024 Texas Children's Houston Open
       
       
       
       
       
      • 7 replies
    • 2024 Valspar Championship WITB Photos (Thanks to bvmagic)- Discussion & Links to Photos
      This weeks WITB Pics are from member bvmagic (Brian). Brian's first event for WRX was in 2008 at Bayhill while in college. Thanks so much bv.
       
      Please put your comments or question on this thread. Links to all the threads are below...
       
       
       
       
        • Like
      • 31 replies
    • 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put any questions or comments here
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Monday #1
      2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Monday #2
      2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Monday #3
       
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Matt (LFG) Every - WITB - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      Sahith Theegala - WITB - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      New Cameron putters (and new "LD" grip) - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      New Bettinardi MB & CB irons - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      Custom Bettinardi API putter cover - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      Custom Swag API covers - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      New Golf Pride Reverse Taper grips - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
        • Like
      • 15 replies
    • 2024 Cognizant Classic - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put any questions or comments here
       
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #1
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #2
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #3
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #4
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Brandt Snedeker - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Max Greyserman - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Eric Cole - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Carl Yuan - WITb - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Russell Henley - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Justin Sun - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Alex Noren - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Shane Lowry - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Taylor Montgomery - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Jake Knapp (KnappTime_ltd) - WITB - - 2024 Cognizant Classic
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      New Super Stoke Pistol Lock 1.0 & 2.0 grips - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      LA Golf new insert putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      New Garsen Quad Tour 15 grip - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      New Swag covers - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Jacob Bridgeman's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Bud Cauley's custom Cameron putters - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Ryo Hisatsune's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Chris Kirk - new black Callaway Apex CB irons and a few Odyssey putters - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Alejandro Tosti's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
        • Like
      • 2 replies
    • 2024 Genesis Invitational - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put any questions or comments here
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Monday #1
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Monday #2
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #1
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #2
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #3
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #4
       
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Rory McIlroy - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Sepp Straka - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Patrick Rodgers - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Brendon Todd - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Denny McCarthy - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Corey Conners - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Chase Johnson - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tommy Fleetwood - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Matt Fitzpatrick - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Si Woo Kim - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Viktor Hovland - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Wyndham Clark - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Cam Davis - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Nick Taylor - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Ben Baller WITB update (New putter, driver, hybrid and shafts) – 2024 Genesis Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      New Vortex Golf rangefinder - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      New Fujikura Ventus shaft - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods & TaylorMade "Sun Day Red" apparel launch event, product photos – 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods Sun Day Red golf shoes - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Aretera shafts - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      New Toulon putters - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods' new white "Sun Day Red" golf shoe prototypes – 2024 Genesis Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
      • 22 replies

×
×
  • Create New...