How many of you have broken a golf ball?

I usually don't play when it's very cold out so I've never had the issue...

...well now that I think of it...I've cracked a few...with a lawnmower.

Back in the ancient past - like around 1970 - this was fairly common if you played one-piece balls. (Can't remember what companies made them). These balls were would get v-shape cracks or split in two in just about any weather.

They were popular among less monied golfers, because you could trade a new Titleist for two of these. With a crisp iron shot, you could get the one-pieceto stop after one or two hops.

In the summer they really ran, but sometimes would crack from repeatedly bouncing off of bone-dry public course fairways. They were fairly durable - resisting cuts - until they broke.

Rule for break-up: You played your next shot from where the largest piece of the ball landed. No penalty, but the stroke that broke the ball counted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WUTiger 

 

Rule for break-up: You played your next shot from where the largest piece of the ball landed. No penalty, but the stroke that broke the ball counted.

That seems fair. Anyone know what the ruling would be under the Rules of Golf? I realise no one on tour is playing a one piece ball but surely the occasional (lookin' at you Bubba!) ball gets broken? Would it just fall under the same umbrella as replacing a scuffed/damaged ball? ball?

Ive broken a few during winter driving range sessions but the only time Ive cut the cover like that was where I skulled the ball with my 60 degree wedge.  It doesnt take much to cut today's soft-covered tour balls though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckeyeNut 

LOL...I'm not talking about cutting a smile into a ball like in the old days!

 

I'm talking about taking a ROCK HARD modern ball.....and breaking it.    Anyway.....just saying:)

My remarks talked about breaking 1970-era one piece golf balls, which were also fairly hard.

I've broken more than I can count but, it's always been on the simulators where you hit the same ball over and over.  When it breaks too it's like hitting a marshmallow except the ball goes no where.

Does cutting a golf ball in half with a jigsaw count?

But besides that, very often on the driving range I get a couple of cracked golf balls every now and then.

I've cracked quite a few, never in winter though.  Most are when I began and played the more brittle distance balls.  However, I've cracked 3 tp blacks, a tour i I found, as well as 1 pro V.  I think part of the problem is that I don't know when to retire a ball.  I'll play it until it gets lost or if it's unlikely, to fly true, like a gouge or a crack.  The small cracks sometimes go unnoticed, and I've played with those balls and couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong.  The ball will take off fine, but then go quite a bit shorter, and spin a direction you didn't want.

Had this happen with two balls this past weekend....never before. Temp in the mid 50s here in FL last weekend. Found the below re the ruling:

http://www.usga.org/ChampEventRulesCorner.aspx?id=21474841370&blogid=2147484179

If a ball breaks into pieces as the result of a stroke, the stroke is cancelled and the player would play a ball to the spot from which the stroke was made.

Written by John Van der Borght, manager of Rules Communications for the USGA.

Found a used PRO V1 in my last round (2nd hole) didn't look bad at all so I played it. Cover flew off on 4th hole. I thought I shanked it but it was the cover lol

I was teeing of one day hit the shot felt like id hit it so well, but only seemed to go around a 100 yards walked up to see my ball and only half off it was left.

 I noticed cracks in them several times at some point in my round. A few times I'm pretty sure it was cracked for a few shots before I noticed it and just thought the poor shots were my fault. 

One time on a tee shot the ball broke into at least two pieces and I watched the biggest piece as it sliced off into the woods.

I knew there used to be a rule that said you played your next shot from where the biggest piece came to rest and since the biggest piece was not findable I took a penalty stroke and teed up again.

According to DynoMite's comment that rule may no longer be relevant and I could have teed up again without penalty???

I guess it cost me a stroke not knowing the current rules. 

I broke a ball once by blading an iron. 

Other than that, every ball i drive gets smashed into at least 3 pieces...