Can a golf ball become waterlogged? Yes, a golf ball can definitely become waterlogged if it sits in water for a long time. Water can seep inside, changing how the ball plays. This article will show you simple ways to check if your ball has soaked up too much water.
Why Water Gets Inside Golf Balls
Golf balls are not perfectly sealed. They are made of layers. These layers protect the core. Over time, tiny cracks or weak spots can form. This lets water sneak in.
How Water Enters the Ball
Golf balls take a beating on the course. They hit trees. They hit cart paths. They land in ponds and lakes. Each impact can cause small damage.
- Impact Damage: Hard hits create tiny fractures. These fractures act like small straws for water.
- Age and Wear: Older balls break down. Their materials get brittle. This makes them easier to penetrate.
- Manufacturing Flaws: Rarely, a ball might have a small defect from the factory. This flaw allows golf ball water absorption.
Simple Ways for Testing Submerged Golf Balls
If you retrieve a ball from a water hazard, you need to check it. You do not want to play with a bad ball. Here are easy steps to see if a ball is holding water.
The Floating Golf Ball Test: The Easiest Check
This is the quickest method. It relies on basic physics. Waterlogged balls weigh more. This means they float differently.
Performing the Floating Golf Ball Test
- Get a bucket or sink full of fresh water. Make sure it is deep enough to fully cover the ball.
- Drop the ball gently into the water.
- Watch what happens right away.
| Ball Condition | How It Floats | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Dry Ball | Sinks quickly or floats just under the surface. | The ball is likely fine. |
| Slightly Waterlogged | Floats lower in the water. Sits near the top. | Some water may be inside. Playability might change slightly. |
| Very Waterlogged | Sinks straight to the bottom. Does not float at all. | It has absorbed significant water. This is a soggy golf ball test failure. |
If a ball sinks fast, it has high internal moisture. This is a key sign of a waterfilled golf ball.
Checking for Water Leaks or Sounds
You can sometimes hear or see the water inside. This helps in identifying water-filled golf balls.
The Shaking Method
Hold the ball close to your ear. Give it a gentle shake.
- If you hear a sloshing sound, water is moving inside. This is a clear sign.
- A dry ball should feel solid when shaken. You might hear a very slight, muted sound, but not a distinct slosh.
Visual Inspection for Leaks
Look very closely at the ball’s surface.
- Check the seam lines where the two halves meet.
- Look for tiny pinholes or cracks caused by impact.
- Sometimes, if the water has been inside a long time, you might see damp spots or slight discoloration on the cover.
Golf Ball Density Check: More Scientific Ways
To be absolutely sure about golf ball saturation point, you can weigh the ball. This is a more precise way of golf ball density check.
Weighing Before and After Soaking
To use this method well, you need a new ball for comparison.
- Weigh a new ball of the same brand. Write down this weight. This is the baseline. (Most standard balls weigh around 1.62 ounces or 45.9 grams.)
- Weigh the suspect ball immediately after retrieving it from the water.
- Compare the weights.
If the suspect ball weighs noticeably more, it has absorbed water. The difference in weight tells you how much water is inside. This reveals the extent of golf ball water absorption.
The Boiling Water Test (Use Caution!)
Some people use hot water to speed up the process or test very old balls. Be careful with this method. Extreme heat can change the ball’s internal structure, even if it is dry.
- Boil a small pot of water.
- Turn the heat off. Let the water cool slightly. It should be hot, but not boiling rapidly.
- Gently place the suspect ball into the hot water for a few seconds.
- Remove it quickly.
If the ball is waterlogged, steam or tiny bubbles might escape from the entry point. This happens as the water inside heats up and tries to push out. This confirms golf ball internal moisture.
The Effects of Water on Golf Balls
Why does it matter if a ball is waterlogged? A wet ball does not fly the same way as a dry one. This directly impacts your game.
Changes in Aerodynamics and Distance
Water inside the core changes the ball’s weight distribution.
- Reduced Spring: Water acts as a dampener. It reduces the core’s ability to compress and spring back effectively on impact. This means less distance.
- Spin Issues: The off-center weight can cause the ball to fly erratically. It might slice or hook more than usual. Spin rates can become unpredictable.
Reduced Durability
A ball that has soaked up water is weaker. Hitting a wet, soft core repeatedly can cause it to break down faster. The cover might separate more easily on the next hard hit.
How Much Water is Too Much?
A ball only needs a tiny bit of water inside to start losing distance. Even 1% added weight from water can lower the initial launch speed slightly. For competitive play, any ball that fails the floating golf ball test should be replaced.
Determining the Golf Ball Saturation Point
Every golf ball has a limit to how much water it can hold. This is the golf ball saturation point.
Factors Affecting Saturation
- Cover Material: Urethane covers tend to be more resilient than Surlyn covers against water penetration over short periods. However, any cut will let water in eventually.
- Core Type: Two-piece balls often have a solid core that is less permeable than the complex multi-layer cores found in premium balls. However, the seams are often weaker points on budget balls.
- Time Submerged: A ball left at the bottom of a pond for a month will be far more saturated than one retrieved immediately after going in.
Once a ball reaches its saturation point, it cannot absorb much more water. However, at that stage, the ball is already severely compromised for play.
When to Retire a Ball After Testing
If you are playing a casual round with friends, a slightly damp ball might be okay if it passes the float test. But for serious scoring, follow these guidelines:
| Test Result | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Sinks Immediately | Replace immediately. Severe golf ball water absorption. |
| Floats Low | Use only for practice or casual rounds. Distance loss is likely. |
| Floats High, No Sound | Ball is likely safe to use for scoring. |
| Sloshes When Shaken | Replace immediately. Internal water ruins feel and distance. |
Importance of Regular Ball Rotation
Even if you don’t play in water hazards often, your old practice balls accumulate moisture from damp grass and humidity. Regularly check older balls. Do not assume a ball you pulled out of an old shag bag is dry. Always check it before a big round.
Comprehending Ball Performance After Water Exposure
If you decide to use a ball that slightly failed the float test, be ready for differences in how it feels.
Feel at Impact
A slightly soggy golf ball test result often means the impact feels “mushy.” The crisp “click” sound disappears. The feedback through the club face feels duller. This makes judging distance very difficult.
Short Game Effects
Waterlogging can affect the soft cover layers near the surface. This changes how the ball spins around the greens.
- Wedges might not bite the green as sharply.
- Rollout after landing may be longer or shorter due to unpredictable spin.
These small changes add up over 18 holes. Good golfers rely on consistent equipment. A waterlogged ball is not consistent equipment.
Summary: Quick Steps for Identifying Water-Filled Golf Balls
To recap, here is your quick checklist for determining if you have a wet golf ball:
- Float Check: Does it sink quickly? If yes, it’s wet.
- Shake Check: Do you hear water sloshing? If yes, it’s wet.
- Weight Check: Does it feel heavier than a new ball of the same model? If yes, it has golf ball water absorption.
- Visual Check: Are there visible cracks or seams that look compromised? If yes, it is susceptible to water.
The goal of any good test, whether it’s the floating golf ball test or a weight check, is to eliminate variables in your game. Water changes the ball. Always swap out any ball that suggests high golf ball internal moisture. Your score will thank you for it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long does it take for a golf ball to become waterlogged?
It depends on the damage. A ball with a large crack can become mostly saturated in a few hours of submersion. A perfect ball might take weeks or months of constant exposure to dampness to absorb significant water through microscopic pores.
Will playing with a slightly waterlogged ball hurt my swing?
It won’t hurt your swing mechanics, but it will hurt your score. The inconsistency in distance and spin caused by the off-center weight means you cannot trust your yardages.
Can hot water dry out a golf ball?
No. Attempting to dry a ball with heat, like putting it in an oven or boiling water for too long, is risky. High heat can cause the materials to degrade or even crack the cover, making it permanently unusable, even if you managed to boil the water out.
Are expensive multilayer balls less likely to get waterlogged?
They might resist minor exposure better due to higher quality materials, but they are often more complex inside. If a single layer is breached, the water has more paths to travel. A deep gouge will lead to waterlogging in any ball type.
What is the main consequence of a waterlogged ball?
The main consequence is reduced distance and unpredictable flight paths because the internal weight is no longer balanced. This is the primary issue when testing submerged golf balls.