ball with compromised cover: OK to play?

[Newby]

2 minutes ago, Mr. Bean said:

 

A club may be non-conforming if its performance characteristics have been altered in the due course of play, so no need to have them altered deliberately. The question is whether this applies to a ball as well.

 

Afa the first part of your post, that is exactly the issue: when, if ever, does a ball become non-conforming?

The absence of any words in the rules re either of the points suggests a) playing characteristics don't apply to balls b) balls on the list are never nonconforming.

Until the RBs say otherwise (which they may) I'm sticking with the book.

[Mr. Bean]

14 minutes ago, Newby said:

The absence of any words in the rules re either of the points suggests a) playing characteristics don't apply to balls b) balls on the list are never nonconforming.

Until the RBs say otherwise (which they may) I'm sticking with the book.

 

I'm with you.

[GLF4EVR]

4. Spherical Symmetry
The ball must not be designed, manufactured or intentionally modified to have properties which differ from those of a spherically symmetrical ball.
The intent of this provision is simply to ensure that a ball is manufactured and designed to behave symmetrically.

 

Could this also be interpreted as he modified the ball back to having a spherical symmetry?  

[Mr. Bean]

1 hour ago, GLF4EVR said:

4. Spherical Symmetry
The ball must not be designed, manufactured or intentionally modified to have properties which differ from those of a spherically symmetrical ball.
The intent of this provision is simply to ensure that a ball is manufactured and designed to behave symmetrically.

 

Could this also be interpreted as he modified the ball back to having a spherical symmetry?  

 

Well, the way I read that text it is only about how a new ball must be to be approved as conforming. Also we may debate about spherical symmetry if it exists when a part of the cover is missing, not to mention when a ball is scuffed, there is no spherical symmetry for sure.

[Dpavs]

17 hours ago, Newby said:

Where does it say that in the Equipment Rules?

As far as I can see a ball is conforming once it is on the list of Conforming Golf Balls and it remains so for ever.

If damaged it never becomes non-conforming because its performance characteristics have not been deliberately altered.

Even if done deliberately, there is nothing that says the ball is non-conforming.

 

 

The individual golf ball is not determined to be conforming but rather it is the golf ball design that is determined to be conforming and absent a change in the rules the design most certainly does not become non-conforming. That said, the greater question is whether a piece of equipment, if damaged can be determined to be no longer conforming. I also cannot find anything specific as to balls but again assume they should be treated the same as clubs in this regards. The equipment rules do specifically discuss pendulum test as they may relate to damaged clubs however and how they should be treated if they fail the test. Specifically as follows:

 

"When a used club is pendulum tested (see Part 2 Section 4c(i)) in the field and a result in excess of 257 μs is attained, the specific club will be deemed to be damaged into a non-conforming state, based on the presumption that it conformed when new and was included on the List of Conforming Driver Heads. As such, any individual club tested in excess of 257 μs will not be permitted to be used in play during any subsequent stipulated round since it does not conform to the Rules of Golf. "

 

My belief is that if clubs can, through damage, be determined to no longer be conforming, so can balls which are damaged. But you are correct the rules do not specifically mention anything I can find in regards to damaged balls.

 

Deliberately altered balls are of course a different thing all together and I think the rules do addresses that issue -

4.2 Balls

a. Balls Allowed in Play of Round

(1) Conforming Ball Must Be Played. In making each stroke, a player must use a ball that conforms to the requirements in the Equipment Rules.

A player may get a conforming ball to play from anyone else, including another player on the course.

(2) Deliberately Altered Ball Must Not Be Played. A player must not make a stroke at a ball whose performance characteristics have been deliberately altered, such as by scuffing or heating the ball or by applying any substance (other than in cleaning it).

[Schulzmc]

8 hours ago, Dpavs said:

(2) Deliberately Altered Ball Must Not Be Played. A player must not make a stroke at a ball whose performance characteristics have been deliberately altered, such as by scuffing or heating the ball or by applying any substance (other than in cleaning it).

 

Oh wow - I never noticed this. In the colder weather I typically keep a ball in my pocket and play with another identical ball. On each tee I switch balls so that the warm ball from my pocket is used for the tee shot on the hole. (I use that ball to complete the hole, but realize by the time I hit my second shot it has probably cooled down to the ambient temperature.) Am I in violation of this equipment rule? Have I heated the ball by intentionally keeping it in my pocket?

[Dpavs]

32 minutes ago, Schulzmc said:

 

 

Oh wow - I never noticed this. In the colder weather I typically keep a ball in my pocket and play with another identical ball. On each tee I switch balls so that the warm ball from my pocket is used for the tee shot on the hole. (I use that ball to complete the hole, but realize by the time I hit my second shot it has probably cooled down to the ambient temperature.) Am I in violation of this equipment rule? Have I heated the ball by intentionally keeping it in my pocket?

 

No not at all. Keeping the ball warm in your pocket does not change the original performance characteristics of the ball. The latter is what the equipment rule is concerned with.

[rogolf]

2 hours ago, Dpavs said:

 

No not at all. Keeping the ball warm in your pocket does not change the original performance characteristics of the ball. The latter is what the equipment rule is concerned with.

But putting that second ball into your pocket along with a handwarmer would be an issue.

[Mr. Bean]

7 hours ago, rogolf said:

But putting that second ball into your pocket along with a handwarmer would be an issue.

 

Indeed, even though that handwarmer does not change the original performance characteristics of that ball 🤓

 

Some 10 years ago when it was still allowed to preheat the balls before the round I tested it. Heated a dozen balls in warm water, dried them and put them in a thermos. In coldish weather I took a warm ball for every hole until they ran out. Did not notice any difference 😂

[antip]

4 hours ago, Mr. Bean said:

 

Indeed, even though that handwarmer does not change the original performance characteristics of that ball 🤓

 

Some 10 years ago when it was still allowed to preheat the balls before the round I tested it. Heated a dozen balls in warm water, dried them and put them in a thermos. In coldish weather I took a warm ball for every hole until they ran out. Did not notice any difference 😂

Depends where you put them.🙂