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How long do you play the same golf ball?


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Until it gets teleported away by aliens, for some reason they hide in woods and water

Ryan Gardiner 

Driver: Wilson Deep Red Maxx

Woods: 3W Cobra speedzone

Hybrid: 4H Cobra Speedzone

Irons: Cobra King F8 5-9, PW, GW

Wedges: Rife RX7 60:8 & 56:12

Putter: Odyssey White Hot Pro Hammer

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I don’t worry about small scuffs. Really only once I can see the cover has a rip or cut. Basically if I can run a finger nail over it and doesn’t catch I will play it. 

WITB:

Driver: Titleist TSR3 :titleist-small: with TPT Nitro 15Hi 

5 wood: Calloway Paradym Triple Diamond :callaway-small: with TPT Power 15Lo

Driving Iron: Tour Edge Exotics EXS Ti-Utility :tour-edge:

Hybrid: PXG 0317X Gen2 hybrid :PXG: with TPT Power 15Lo

Irons: Takomo 101T :Takomo: with Nippon Modus 120 shafts :Nippon:

Wedges: Celveland RTX4 50 Degree, Calloway Jaws Raw 58 degree Z grind and 54 degree S grind

Putter: Edel EAS 4.0 :edel-golf-1:

Ball: Srixon Z Star Diamond / Z Star XV :srixon-small:

Official 2024 TPT Shaft Test

 

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On average, a ball will last me a few rounds if not scuffed or lost lol. Personally, the difficulty of the course doesn't usually determine how many balls I lose. Lost balls for me mostly are the result of courses with thick wood lines or water hazards that hug the fairway 150-200 yards out. They don't agree with my periodic slice Haha. I also lose a ridiculous number of balls come fall, even some on track shots can disappear a ball when leaves are everywhere. I will also discard a ball into my practice sack if it gets scuffed, like I am sure most do.

My bag consists of

Odyssey Backstryke D.A.R.T. Putter

Calloway Diablo Habanero Driver 9.5

PING eye 2 Irons (4-PW)

Nicklaus ATW 3 HYBRID

King Cobra 3 wood

King Cobra 5 wood

Sand wedge

Lob wedge

 

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It is a miracle if I’m able to make it a full round without losing a ball. In the situations where I’m 7-8-9 holes deep with the same ball, I’ll still examine it before I tee off to just make sure it’s not too scuffed or has any major defects. I’m not sure I’m good enough for that to have a major effect on my swing’s results, but the mental side of golf makes me think otherwise. 

“It was a great f$&kin bet.” - Tiger Woods
WITB - SIM 9Deg, SIM 3W, TS 5W, AP2 4-AW, 54&58 SM7, Scotty Phantom X 5.5. 

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I try to play my AVX exclusively per round. Typically keeping 2 to 3 balls on my person at all times... Superstitious thing I guess. But I will generally play the same ball up until there is a scuff / mark / some form of abrasion on the surface. After that, they go into a 5 gallon bucket in my garage. I've read too many articles that tracked lost distance, inconsistent putting, etc.. that have proven that any deviation on the ball surface will drastically cut down on performance.    

D-  Titleist  TSR2 w Mitsubishi Tensei 50g Stiff 

3w - Titleist TSR2 w/ Mitsubishi Tensei 65g Stiff

HYB - Titleist TSi 18* w/ Mitsubishi Diamana 65g Stiff

DI - Mizuno FliHi 3i w/ UST Mamiya ESX Hybrid Stiff 60g

Irons - 4-PW Takomo 101T w/ KBS Tour Stiff 

Wedges - Cleveland RTX ZipCore 54/10 60/10 w/ TrueTemper T100

Putter - Scotty Cameron Select GoLo S

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 lucky if i make it a whole round without it finding its way into a protected prairie or water. I can tell you in the trackman we ran thru balls like crazy. We bought the ProV1 Radar balls and a dozen lasted less than 3 months. Probably around 100 rounds between everyone. So averaging about 8 rounds a ball. The balls would show some wear then probably then 10 of them ended up cracking. Id guess if i made it thru a whole round the ball would make it one or two more. 

Cobra F8 10.5 

Cobra Rad Speed 5 Wood 

Taylormade RBZ 4 Hybrid 

Taylormade RSi 1 6 thr PW 

Vokey SM8 52 and 60 

Vokey SM9 48 and 56 

Ping Zing 

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I play the ProV exclusively, heard somewhere playing the same ball adds to consistency.  I toss a playing ball to the shag bag when it becomes dull and I can no longer see it well in flight or it gets all scuffed up.  I don't necessarily start a round with a new ball unless my bag of players is are beat up and dull.   Ball manufacturers love to see caddies on TV toss their guy / gall a new ball on every tee.  Subliminal conditioning.    

Devoted Club Champion disciple

Pro-V1 exclusive

Managing my expectations

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If no scuffs, etc., I'll keep it indefinitely, but usually until I lose it.  Which is fairly soon.  

 

Paul "Red" Dvorak

CallawaySmallLogo.jpg.4676b548b091ead456f20f3034bf6002.jpg  Mavrik Driver, Rogue ST Max Irons, Mavrik, Rogue & Paradym Hybrids 

Ping Small Logo.jpg Sand Wedge

Titleist Small Logo.jpg  Velocity 

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Until I lose it or 36 holes which ever comes first. The balls that last 36 typically end up in the bags of my kids and back out on the course somewhere. 

My WITB:

Driver - Taylormade SLDR TP 10*

3 Wood - Tour Edge CB2 15*
Irons - Wilson Staff V2 4-pw

Wedges - Wilson Staff 54* & 58*
Putter - Scotty Cameron GoLo 3

Ball - Wilson Staff Duo Spin or Soft

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Reading these posts has a theme.  Comments on how long a ball gets used starts with a number and ends with ".....or until I lose it"!  And I'm no different.  I'll play one usually one round, maybe two "until I lose it" or it picks up a cart path scuff or some other cover damage.  Covers now are harder to damage from grooves or trees, etc., than the covers 30 years ago so that doesn't happen as often.  But when it does or 18-36 holes are reached it hits the shag bag 

GPS111

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For me it depends on what kind of a round I’m having. I could go the round without losing a ball or I could lose 6 . Scuffed balls are automatically gone. 
I usually start with 3 balls in my pocket, when one gets dirty I pull out clean one until I get a chance to clean the golf balls.

I use what I call my crap balls (golf balls that I found on the course)to hit over water. Other than that I use the golf balls that I buy until I lose them or scuff them up.

Robert Everhart

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Unless I get a scuff mark, I can usually play my Prov1s two to three rounds.  They are a quality ball and last, unless a water monster will jump up and grab one every now and then, which is not very often.  If I am having a really bad day maybe one round.  I normally play over a hundred rounds a year.  

 

Driver - TSi3 10.75* - Fujikura Speeder 661 TR

Fairway - TSi2 14.25* - Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 6.1 

Fairway - TSR1 17.0* - Fujikura Vista Pro 65S

Hybrid - TSR1 20.0* - Fujikura Atmos Red Tour 75  

Hybrid - TSR1 23.0* - Fujikura Atmos Red Tour 75

Irons - T350 (2023) - 6-48W - True Temper AMT Red 95g-107g

Wedges - Vokey SM9 - 52.08F, 56.10S - True Temper AMT Red 94 

**  GolfPride MCC +4 Midsize Grips  (all woods/irons/wedges)

Putter - 2023 Scotty Cameron Super Select Squareback 2 35" 

**  Superstroke 1.0 Pistol Grip  

Golf Ball - TITLEIST - Prov1s (2023)                                                         

Golf Bags - TITLEIST  - Cart 14 (black), Mid Size Tour (black/white)

Golf Glove - FootJoy (StaSof), Shoes, Apparel and Outerwear        

Rangefinder - Bushnell Pro XE

 

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I always start with a new ball. And I play it the whole 18 if I can. After that, scuffed or not, it get tossed in with the loose balls in my bag. During a tournament I will switch to a new ball if one becomes damaged from a tree or cart path. If it's not awful, I'll just keep playing it in a casual round.

I also found that I am losing balls less frequently. In my first 3 rounds this year, I've only lost 1 ball. But I still have a round or two a year where I lose a bunch for whatever reason. Early season plugs, late season leaves, or just playing like an @$$. 

Take Dead Aim

Driver: PXG 0211 10.5* 

Fairway: Titleist 917 F3 15*

Hybrid: Adams Idea Pro Boxer Gold 18*

Irons: MacGregor MT-86 Pro

Wedges: Vokey 50/54/58

Putter: SeeMore X2 Costa del Mar

Ball: Srixon Z-Star

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I usually play one for up to 36 holes.  If it decides to stay with me after that it goes into my shag bucket for backyard chipping and pitching.  My grandson picks whatever he wants from the shag bucket.

:titleist-small: 917D2 driver

:callaway-small: 3 wood

:titleist-small: TS2 19 degree and 21 degree hybrids

:PXG:0211 5-GW irons

:ping-small: Glide 56 and 60 degree wedges

:odyssey-small: EXO7 putter :garsen: MAX grip

:titleist-small: Pro V1

 

 

 

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I’d have to agree with most on here that it depends on the durability of the ball and how my round is going. Lol. If for some magical reason I don’t lose a ball all round and there are no major scuffs, I’ll keep playin it. If that gives me multiple rounds, that would be awesome! If I’m playing well and feel like I can have a good round, I’ll swap a ball out if it is scuffed up. 

Driver: TSR4

3W: Cobra F7

Irons:Ben Hogan Icon

50&54: Ben Hogan Equalizer 2

58: Taylormade Hi Toe 3

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I play a ball until I either lose it or damage the cover so badly that it's obvious that its aerodynamic properties have been damaged (cart path scuff, solid tree strike, etc).  Right now I am gaming a Maxfli Tour into its fourth round of the season.  Its previous twin was taken out of play after I misjudged a short iron and slammed it into the metal bracket that holds the flag to the pin.  The impact cut through the cover of the ball like a razor.

Driver; Callaway RAZR Fit

Fairway and hybrids: Callaway X2 Pro

Irons: Mizuno JPX 825

Wedges: Mizuno JPX 825 Pro

Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport 2

 

 

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If I don’t lose the ball I usually can get 2-3 rounds out of a golf ball until it is too beat up. If I am playing in a tournament I’ll make sure the golf ball is new or in excellent shape. For a normal, weekend or weekday round, I am a little more lax in how pristine the golf ball needs to be. 

I do love the feel of hitting a great drive with a fresh golf ball knowing I’ll get great performance. 

I carry the same golf ball in my bag, I don’t switch type of golf ball from hole to hole or switch due to water or hazards. 

Woods - Callaway Epic Speed 9 degree - Callaway Epic Flash 16 degree - Mizuno CLK 20 degree hybrid

Irons - Titleist T100 4I-AW

Wedges - Taylormade MG2 54 and 58

Putter - Odyssey White Hot Pro #2

Instagram - @maythecoursebewith_you 

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Assuming I don’t lose a ball, I’ll switch after 9 holes. If I’m playing a par-3 course then I’ll play an old ball. 

Driver:  cobralogo.png.60692cdc05482efd83e68664e010b95f.png Aerojet LS, Ventus Blue Shaft - 6S
4 Wood:  callaway.png.e65d398fb0327017a369499fc6126064.png Rogue ST Max 16.5, Tensei White Shaft - 7S
Utility Iron: mizunopro.png.90cc4fb9895830e28063d9a5be416145.png Fli Hi 3-iron, HAZARDOUS Smoke Black Shaft - S
Irons:  mizuno.png.f0e7b21135cb6273b3c1430866904467.png JPX 921 Tour 4-P, Project X Shafts - Stiff 125g
Wedges: cleveland.png.f21f4d2361520fdf1bbd9d515a2f11e6.png 52º, 56º, 60º
Putter:  odyssey.png.58c727e37eb7efda62bce4f7b8881bd9.png Ai-One 7 T CH, 34"
Preferred Ball: srixon.png.f177578dda27a20ef80a0a8b1ae96e3b.png Z-Star Diamond
Pushcart: bagboy.jpg.0dda53b5175958e1b5686f22b90af744.jpg Nitron
Rangefinder: bushnell.jpg.c51debd06066fa243dea7f14d69a8dba.jpg Tour V5 Shift

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I've heard so-called golf ball experts say that a modern ball should last 5-12 rounds without performance degrading, though I've never seen any corroborating tests. I use a urethane cover ball, which is on the softer side and will tend to scuff when hitting anything but a plush fairway or cushiony green. So typically I play a ball until it has a visible blemish or scuff, which is anywhere from one round to five or six.

Ping G400 Driver, Ping G410 3W & 5W, Cobra King F9 4h, Cobra King F9 irons (5 - GW), Cleveland CBX Wedges (54* and 60*), Odyssey Toe Up 1 Putter

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As a 16 handicap, I tend to buy a couple nice sleeves of balls at the beginning of the year and pull out one sleeve per round.  If I lose all three in the sleeve, then I move to the next.  Not picky one bit on which ball I use.  Only thing I do look for is if balls are damaged in anyway, then I won't play it and throw it in the practice bag.  Or better yet, in the Happy Gilmore hole bag!

Avid Average golfer who loves to have fun on the course

 

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7 minutes ago, Smackey17 said:

I've heard so-called golf ball experts say that a modern ball should last 5-12 rounds without performance degrading, though I've never seen any corroborating tests. I use a urethane cover ball, which is on the softer side and will tend to scuff when hitting anything but a plush fairway or cushiony green. So typically I play a ball until it has a visible blemish or scuff, which is anywhere from one round to five or six.

Here's a couple articles that may help.  Short answer says research backs a ball lasting 7 rounds without a loss in performance with no other damage.  But considering 300 million balls are lost per year how many of us have a ball that makes it that far?!

https://www.nationalclubgolfer.com/news/how-long-does-a-golf-ball-last/

https://www.golfputting.org/how-many-golf-balls-are-lost-each-year.htm#:~:text=About 300 million golf balls,in the United States alone.

 

GPS111

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I've never come to the point where I outplay the ball's durability... so the longest I've gone without losing one ball is close to 36 holes...

:cobra-small: SpeedZone 9* w/ Aldila Rogue Silver 60 S
:callaway-small: X2 Hot 3 Deep 14.5* w/ Aldila Tour Green 75 S
:taylormade-small: JetSpeed 5W 19* w/ Matrix Velox T 69 S OR :adams-small: Super LS 3H 19* w/ Kuro Kage Black 80 S
:mizuno-small: JPX919 Forged 4-PW w/ Modus3 105 S
:titelist-small: Vokey SM7 50/08F, 54/14F & 58/08M w/ Modus3 115 Wedge
:EVNROLL: ER1 34" w/ SuperStroke Fatso 2.0
MfleKCg.jpg Pro / 9dZCgaF.jpgH2NO Lite Cart Bag / :Clicgear: 3.0 / :918457628_PrecisionPro: NX7 Pro LRF

My reviews: MLA Putter // Titleist SM7 // PING i500 // PuttOUT

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I'll use the same ball for a couple of rounds (if I don't lose it).  Should it get scuffed or marked up, I'll use it for practice in a shag bag. 

Titleist T200 Irons - 5i thru Gap Wedge - Stiff AMT Black

Callaway PARADYM X 9.0 with Hazrdous X Black 6.0 Stiff Shaft

Fairway Woods:  Callaway Maverick 3W & RazrX Black 5W - Stiff Flex

Rescue:  Apex 4 (22 degree )- Recoil 75H stiff flex 

Wedges: Titleist SM8 - 54 (D Grind) wedge flex; SM8 58(M grind) wedge flex

Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X5.5

Ball: Titleist ProV1

Handicap: 0

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It all depends on what course I am playing, but with that said it just depends on what I hit (trees, cart path, etc.) I will usually try to play it for a cpl of rounds but I have yet to get Mich more than that out being I will hit a hard surface or loose it in the trees by then.

I have 3 dogs, I have 3 different hobby level rc, I try to golf as much as possible. At the moment my handicap is 25.1, and improving. Been golfing for about 10 years but only regularly for about 2.

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Like most of the others commenting on this thread, I will play the ball until it's damaged or lost.  I rarely play the same ball in consecutive rounds, just out of habit.  That does not mean I won't use it again tho.  I also will change out a ball if it's been involved in a couple of double bogies!!  It might have a better day next week, or, it may actually be a defective ball.  We have seen evidence of that on this website, inconsistent internal manufacturing!

Dave Mueller

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I think this question is slightly different, but my response is roughly the same as another thread (link to my response here). My quick summary: if a ball goes undamaged, I will use it for probably 6-9 holes, eventually retiring it for a new one. If it hits a tree or cart path, immediately take it out of play (this creates a noticeable performance difference); certain wedge shots will also scuff it enough for me to swap it out (so some balls only last like 1-2 holes). I think 3-4 balls/round is common for me. That's in stark contrast to what I grew up with / how I learned, largely from my dad -- he prides himself in using a ball for as long as possible, but I broke from that in HS/college. 

Once I take them out of play, I'll do one of two things with them -- toss them in a visible-but-out-of-the-way spot so that someone that is OK with that ball condition can pick it up, or bring them home for the shag bag (which I then use for greenside practice at the range, or backyard games). 

 

Driver: :taylormade-small: Stealth Plus 8* (adjusted to 8.75*), Mitsubishi Diamana ZF 70 X Flex (New toy incoming!)

Fairway: :taylormade-small: Stealth2 Plus, 15* (adjusted to 14.25*) w/ Graphite Design Tour AD-IZ 7X

Irons:  :titleist-small: U505 1 Iron (16*), T200 "Utility Build" 3 and 4 irons, all with Graphite Design Tour AD-IZ 95 X Flex, :titleist-small: T100S 5-9 with Nippon Pro Modus 120 X Flex (2021 MGS Test). These things are monsters. 

Wedges:  :vokey-small: SM9 46.10, 54.12, and 58.08, all with custom etchings & KBS Tour Masters-themed shafts, X-flex (CHA Post)

Putter: Total headcase and Putter Ho. Down to two main options in the rotation (one mallet, one blade), but have 4-5 by the basement putting green that might make it in the bag at some point this year... Mallet: :L.A.B.: Mezz XL 36" Orange; Blade: :L.A.B.: Link.1 w/Accra White shaft & :garsen: grip

 

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