How long do you play a ball before retiring it?

[kovek]

I often classify balls depending on how damaged/playable they are:

• Scuffed ball -> Use it as practice ball at home / sim
• Visual marks -> Use it when there's risk to send it OOB
• New balls -> Use it when there's low risk to lose it

[edkrisiak]

My golf balls going hiking in the woods before they are retired.

[Mac attack]

I play it until it gets scared from hitting a cart path or from a bad wedge shot in a bunker.

[Middler]

It’s always a judgment call, but I’ve retired balls with significant scuffs (cart path or tree) or occasionally once the gloss is off the ball (rare but I’ve had a couple). I had a ball last 60 holes a few months ago, and I make it 18 somewhat regularly - but like others here I lose balls before they’re worn way more often than not.

[Mr_BogeyPro]

Normally, right off the first tee and into the woods. Thank God for breakfast balls.

If I begin to see some wear and tear, scuff marks or something else, I will reach into the bag for a new one.

[Richard Fahrney]

36 holes. Most of the time I will lose it in one of the lakes on our course  

 

[JeremyD]

Retire? You mean lose them in Shady Pines? If I'm lucky enough, I'd like to keep them for a minimum of 9 holes.

[KMacMA81]

At least two rounds unless gets scuffed up.  I used to play a ball for multiple rounds if not lost superstitiously saying its got good juju so let it play!  Then saw My Golf Spy study on balls marked or scuffed even slightly and how much its performance dropped so now take out of play sooner.

[Nate L]

It used to be whenever I lost it, thanks to MGS I try to avoid using any that have a noticeable scuff/scratch. The games hard enough without losing distance and accuracy because of a beat up golf ball.

[Willie T]

I tend to "overplay" their stay.   Of late, I may go two to three rounds with the same ball(s) in play.  I lose them far less now than even a year ago.  What's the dertermining factor - it really comes down to how scuffed they are. Some balls still do well (for me) even after they have show decent wear.  Those get relegated to chipping/pitching drills in the backyard.  I have also taken a dozen "extra" balls to add to the driving range fleet at my local course as they use found balls mixed in with their regular balls. 

[kikbuti]

I play a ball until there is physical evidence that it has betrayed me.  That's why I don't play "found" balls.  They have already proven themselves to be unreliable.

I don't play often enough to worry about playing with substandard balls. If a ball doesn't behave and play nicely, it's outta here.  I have brand new balls waiting for a chance to prove their loyalty.

[revkev]

2 hours ago, OldSchoolFlusher said:

For a tournament - new ball every 9 holes… note - a major scuff / launch OOB makes it costly lol… not worried about discolouration (e.g. off a tree which is common for me ) though… 

Non-tournament - use the balls from above, for practice / casual rounds / and finally into the practice ball bag for short game work etc…. 

I try to buy in bulk to reduce costs, e.g. in UK Titliest just about to launch there buy 3 get 4 dozen promotion… that makes life easier… 

I was surprised to go this long into the thread before seeing this answer. This would be my answer as well. Tournament or league play I’m opening a new sleeve and only play unblemished golf balls. I will play 18 with the same ball of it stays that way and doesn’t get marked up - I figure if I ever got past the sleeve it doesn’t really matter what ball I’m playing anymore anyway -

 

I should remind everyone that MGS has contests on this - blemishes or marks do not help - they hurt - once a ball is blemishes it performs differently through the green. I still will play with one like that in casual play but it’s probably not wise because it could a false impression of how I’ve hit a shot. 
 

One last thing - my league play is every week. People in that league are extremely persnickety about rules which is just fine with me. I always have 2 fresh different numbered balls in my pocket when I play in that league just in case. 

[Flanpro]

I’m pretty good at keeping a ball in play for a few rounds unless I do something stupid like try and carry a 3wood 250 yards over water (“what was I thinking “)

Cart path rash is another reason it goes into the practice bin!  Our club also has a good junior program and I donate some of the more “tired” balls to them

 

[dbsikirica]

If only I had this problem 

[11Scooby71]

My balls put up with me for 5-9 holes before finding a great place to hide.  I have played 3 separate rounds with the same ball in my 35+ years of golf. 

I am proud to say I played the back 9 at RNK with a single ball!!  after losing 4 on the front.

[Julius]

I am not that good that I can go round after round without losing balls.  In my last round a week ago, I lost one ball (in the water) on the 8th hole, and played the rest of the round with the same ball.  I intentionally "retired" that ball at the end of the round as I noted it was partially scuffed up and scratched.  I have a practice bag that is half full of balls that I take into the back yard and use.  When the weather is ok I set up a target down the yard and just practice short chips from different lies into the net.  Those balls, while slightly damaged, are perfect for that kind of short range practice. So I would say no more than 1 round then I retire it. 

[ckeller52]

Remember when you could "smile" a ball? I haven't been able to do that since I started playing again in 2015. Now they become a practice ball when they meet the cart path a rock or a hardwood tree, which happens about once a round. 

[John Marchetto]

I was playing Bridgestone B RX and one round was it pretty much. I switched to the Maxfli Tour and those things are indestructible as far as a quality ball goes ; 36 easy. 

[Golfzilla70]

Great topic.  This is one of those things that is really just an issue for the lower handicappers out there, and it's actually something that's played into how i've shaped my own game (i'm about a 3 handicap that loves to play and practice, but knows his limitations). 

I've found that the really high-end urethane balls (such as the Pro V1 class) are absolutely awesome fresh out of the pack.  Slick paint, flight through the air fast, and spinny as can be around the green.  But after just 8 or 9 holes, you can start to see the wear. 

Now i assume this might be different for some folks, because if you're playing very-well-manicured courses that have lush fairways and actual grass where the fairways end and the rough begins, your ball's cover is going to last longer.  I'm not so well-off that i can play such prestigious places, and here in northwest North Carolina we generally play all year round.  Fairways go dormant, and the balls land in much harder spots - which just accrues the damage even more. 

The problem i see with the covers on those balls is primarily in the long game, like driver.  They just don't fly as far, and i assume it's mainly to do with wind resistance since the cover is no longer slick.  Add to that my confessed inability to regularly control my spin on approach shots (i really don't seem to be able to know when these things are going to sit or bounce forward or back up 30'), and i've just really quit trying.  I'm sure with practice i'd get better at it, but in my 50's now i practice less and play more.

The absolute most consistent balls i've played (and play right now for the past several years) are balls like the Titleist TruFeel and the Titleist Velocity.  Other companies have similar offerings, i've just stuck with these.  They're not urethane, and they don't spin like it.  But the covers on those balls can take what anyone would consider massive damage (cart path scuffs, etc.) and STILL play just about the same as if new out of the box.  And i'm talking MULTIPLE 18-hole rounds.  You literally can't wear them out.  I'm sure they would suffer noticeably if left laying outside, or in a pond, just like any other ball would.  You won't see a one-hop-stop check on a chip around the green with these balls.  But you'll NEVER hit a shot right at the flag and have it back up 30' on you.  They always bounce forward just a little, or stay close to where they land, depending on club and distance.  Now the MGS guys hate these balls, because they feel like the masses MUST hit a urethane ball because of the spin they have around the greens.  And i don't dispute that chipping advantage.  It's there and it's fun if you know how to do it (i do, but i can't reconcile the advantage the ionomer balls give me on approach shots).  The "ionomer"-type balls fly higher, they also fly STRAIGHTER, and for a low-handicap golfer, that actually means FEWER chips are needed. 

I feel like you're probably unlikely to ever see anyone that has a clubhead speed of 110 mph ever hit one of these ionomer balls, because they'll just muscle a urethane ball right on through whatever cover defects it has.  And also likely over-compress an ionomer ball.  But for guys like me, with a clubhead speed around 100 mph with driver, these balls hit the sweet spot.  They're cheaper, they absolutely WON'T wear out from play (assuming you play one you bought, and not one you found and don't know its history), and are much more forgiving for whatever swing faults you have due to their lower-spinning nature.  Spin can be awesome around the greens, but what you never hear is the more a ball spins, the more curvature it'll have in flight (if you have any swing fault that will cause a hook or slice) and the more a headwind will just kill its distance.  JMHO

So to answer the original question, i'll play my ionomer balls until i lose them, or until they accrue enough damage that they undboutedly can't fly true or putt straight.

[Shep28209]

Max 3 rounds if there is no major scuff or nick

[Duxman130]

I once played 8 rounds (non-consecutive) with the same ProV1 just to see the results. After 4 rounds, the ball it rather beat up. After 6, ball flight had noticeably changed. More sidespin - less control. After the 8th round, I retired the ball. Still have it.  I sent a note to Titleist on the topic. The cust service rep said 3 rounds. 

Normally, I start each round with a new ball. Starts my day off right. 

If you're on a budget, buy the Maxfli Tour 24 pack - under $3 per ball. Considering the expenses of alcohol, food, and cigars during golf, don't play an old scuffed ball. The golf ball is the most important piece of equipment. 

[smartak]

With the balls today, as long as no scuffs or cuts, I play it. I check for that as well as a lump from a thin hit. 
In total, 18 holes if if in good shape, maybe 36, but I typically see signs to pull it out by then. 

[B_R_A_D_Y]

Till I lose it. 

[BeeGee]

I play them as long as I can find it unless I'm in a tournament and hit a cart path or something else that will scuff it up too much to be played.

[russtopherb]

...retire? My balls all leave me like a disgruntled ex. I've never had the opportunity to retire one. 

[birdieboy]

On the west coast of Florida, most courses have as many water hazards as they do holes. If I'm lucky enough, I'll get 3-4 rounds out of a ball before it decides to go swimming. Usually, I can count on losing a ball a round. Side note - I once read where Byron Nelson won ELEVEN CONSECUTIVE tournaments in a row... all with the SAME BALL!!!

[JustJeffy]

Like many others in this post, I usually don't retire golf balls since they take care of that on their own via drowning or a hike through the forest.  In rare cases when I am able to keep the ball for multiple rounds the only time I might consider retiring it is after a significant scuff from a cart path, rock or successive bunker shots.  I don't usually have to check it after successive bunker shots since hitting multiple shots in the same bunker is usually the ball's fault and that is reason enough to store it away for another day.

[Scotty Dog]

When playing decently, I have gone a number of rounds without losing a ball.  I'll continue to play an undamaged, unscuffed ball in casual rounds until the ball is lost or damaged; in tournaments that are important to me, an undamaged ball will be retired after every round or two, then played again in subsequent casual rounds until lost or damaged.

[msizzle]

I'll play with a ball as long as it is in good condition. That may be a few holes to a couple rounds. Usually nothing more than 2-3 rounds because my wedges usually scuff them at some point. 

[toncol]

I keep it in play unless I can "feel" a scuff or scrape with my fingers.  Couldn't care less about cosmetic stuff like tree marks or scraped paint, but if it feels like it's got a burr or any raised damage to the outer skin of the ball it's out.  That kind of thing WILL effect it's performance in the air because it will disrupt the aerodynamics designed into the ball.  At a minimum it will lose distance, and it's likely to be less stable, and therefore less "straight".  How much depends on the type and severity of the damage.