How long do you play a ball before retiring it?

[H10804]

I’ve begun to notice that after two rounds with the same ball performance suffers. I am playing with 2 piece balls, 78 years old with a slow swing speeds, so that may make a difference. I just like playing with new balls and mine are not tour priced 

[TWO]

Whaaat? You’re supposed to retire golf balls on purpose?  That’s a new one for me!!

[MCunderpar]

If the ball doesn’t quit on me (watery grave, lost in woods etc.), then I go with any blemish on cover (visible or feel). Usually 2 rounds assuming no solid objects hit. By the way, why do they put cart paths on the right side of the fairway? 

[OgDan]

I usually use a ball for 2 rounds before it goes in the practice ball bag for putting an chipping, unless I see any visible damage. 

[pineneedlespro]

I play 18 holes with one golf ball then it goes in the practice bag to use for chipping, or experiment with a different shaft or driver or use to give lessons.

[ajdegeno]

I have two shag bags.

If I play a ball for 3 rounds and they do not have a lot of scuffs or damage on them I put then in reusable shag bag and if it has scuffs and marks from cart path or trees, I put it in shag bag B.  Shag bag A golf balls make good winter balls that if I loose or bang them into something, I do not look for them, shag bag B balls go to Junior golf or second tee or somewhere kids get them free to hit into the lakes.  

If I play in a tournament I have a sleeve of new balls and change every 6 holes.  Then I will use them to play later just in fun or regular rounds.

[Gawinner]

One round 

[Tom the Golf Nut]

It depends on the season.

Prime time (fairways are grown in) roughly late April through September, I will start a round with a new ball or maybe one that has a round on it that still looks new. 

Once the fairways go dormant or after a rain I use a used ball. The base of everything in my area is sand. A ball hitting this is like sandpaper and can wear the clear coat off the ball in no time. After a rain the fairways can be so soft in spots the ball can plug and sometimes be lost. 

A damaged ball goes into a bucket to hit on the range at a later date. (My used balls are better than my courses range balls) Our range is so soft that after running the ball picker, most times they have to go back and hand pick the range. To make matters worse they keep the range balls in a garbage can full of water so they can soak the mud off them. So in essence you are hitting lake balls all the time. 

[CFreddie]

I generally will play a ball (even with a minor scuff) until the round is over or I lose it.  If I keep it, it goes in my shag bucket for backyard practice.  For non-damaged balls, they go back in the bag, but I try to keep those near the top so I can re-use them. 

[JeffK]

I usually retire a ball at the end of the first round I play with it. I use one of the pockets on my bag for these balls. Once this pocket starts getting full I'll use these balls when I'm not playing well or for social games. Probably get through 6 of 10 rounds without losing a ball. 

[gajrsports]

I donate all used golf balls, cleaned and bagged, to the junior golf program.  Usually never more than 18 holes!  Don't hit it far enough to lose anymore, or hard enough to scuff.

[fjldo1]

Balls get "retired" to the woods, lakes, ponds, creeks, back yard net or driving range. I won't play a ball with knicks and scratches, those get used up on the range pre-round.

[snykei]

Been a competitive golfer for 2+ decades now, and honestly it depends on the situation. Competitive rounds I'll sub out balls every few holes, though I've found my current model Bridgestonw B-XS is a bit more durable than other comperable models. Those subbed tournament balls are usually my go to rocks for practice rounds and prep. Really beat up balls (too many bunkers, cart path, tree, wedges, etc) go to the shagbag for chipping and pitching. I truly retire a ball end beginning of the season once the shagbag gets too full.

[malward6]

Play the same ball till it starts acting goofy

[MCMSR]

No specific ball allegiance. In play until ‘non useable’ … cut, damaged, lost, scuffed, etc.

[Sir Putts Alot]

Different times, when I do decide though, I just either hit them into the woods or into the water.

[Paul Hedrick]

I do not loose balls like I once did.  So, I will play a ball until it gets damaged in some way.  

[kejoal11]

I play them until they get scuffed to the point where I can feel it with my nails or I have to pay a penance to the golf gods for a ricochet off a tree  bakc in the fairwayor a skip through the water and on the green and they ask for a ball in return later in the round. lol