Scuffed up golf balls

[jtj74]

Do scuffs on balls from cart paths, trees, wedge grooves etc. affect a balls performance or is it just a mental thing issure I have within myself? I always have felt that a scuffed ball would curve a lot more like a pitcher filing a baseball to get movement on it. 

[hybrid25]

For most people, I don't think golf is that big a deal. Although, I don't like playing scuffed golf balls because it affects my thinking. I think golfers are a bit paranoid sometimes with scuffs on a golf ball that it affects their lack of confidence in the ball. If you have a lack of confidence in the golf ball I don't think you give yourself the best chance for success.

 

READ:

In 2005, Golf Digest reported on the effects on distance of the condition and amount of use of golf balls. 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.

[pallmall]

9 hours ago, jtj74 said:

Do scuffs on balls from cart paths, trees, wedge grooves etc. affect a balls performance or is it just a mental thing issure I have within myself? I always have felt that a scuffed ball would curve a lot more like a pitcher filing a baseball to get movement on it. 

Damaged surface will affect ball flight, especially a golf ball travels much longer at a higher speed, and usually spin more than a pitched baseball.

[Stanks]

Depends. Scuff, cut, crack, or a chunk taken out of the ball that is easily noticeable probably effects the ball but, not to the point where us recreational players would care. 

[MattM97]

Would definitely change the flight a bit, how much it would depend on the damage. Any scuffed balls I just use for putting at home or launch into the water. 

[Hat Trick]

Well baseball pitchers love to throw balls with scuffs or a substance on them on them because they curve more - and that's only 60 feet at 90 -100 mph.  So I guess a golf ball with a scuff coming off a club faster and flying farther would be impacted more.

[hybrid25]

On 8/20/2020 at 11:05 AM, MattM97 said:

Would definitely change the flight a bit, how much it would depend on the damage. Any scuffed balls I just use for putting at home or launch into the water. 

I won't even use them for putting practice, but I do like your second option, it's fun launching them into the water at the appropriate time. Once a ball has a scuff on it I don't even trust it to roll properly.

[cjrobertson]

I would definitely not play a scuffed ball if I was playing for score, they definitely will fly offline easier. Think what happens with a mudball. So now I keep a little pouch in my bag for scuffed balls. They become my "hero shot" balls and chipping practice balls. 

[18thbunker]

Scuff balls end up in my stash of practice balls I use in my hitting net in the backyard. Yes, I have observed performance is compromised by the the scuffs.

[nad12]

I would expect scuffs to have an adverse affect on a golf ball's flight, but for 90% of golfers who cannot hit the golf ball correctly, so may spray it around, will a scuffed ball really make a difference?

[MattM97]

On 8/28/2020 at 10:02 PM, hybrid25 said:

I won't even use them for putting practice, but I do like your second option, it's fun launching them into the water at the appropriate time. Once a ball has a scuff on it I don't even trust it to roll properly.

 

Putting in my basement on carpet I could care less if it's scuffed and on practice greens it's all about drills and warm ups, I'm not worried about sinking putts on a practice green.

[rwbloom93]

20 hours ago, nad12 said:

I would expect scuffs to have an adverse affect on a golf ball's flight, but for 90% of golfers who cannot hit the golf ball correctly, so may spray it around, will a scuffed ball really make a difference?

 

I think this is correct. Scuffs effect the ball flight for sure, but how much depends on the severity of the scuff and a players swing speed.  Polara made an illegal golf ball to eliminate side spin simply by having shallow dimples along an "equator" and deeper dimples on the "sides"....so scuffs matter for sure, the degree at which they matter probably depends on the player.

 

Regards   

Edited August 30, 2020 by rwbloom93