Alternative to Sharpies for Marking Balls?

[DoubleAce]

Title says it all. There's got to be a better option out there that more closely lives up to the meaning of "permanent".  Anyone found something better?

[pganapathy]

Currently the best alternative is getting balls with a customised logo or your name on them.  However, that is expensive and not a solution for golf balls you find or buy from elsewhere

[DoubleAce]

2 minutes ago, pganapathy said:

Currently the best alternative is getting balls with a customised logo or your name on them.  However, that is expensive and not a solution for golf balls you find or buy from elsewhere

There's gotta be an option somewhere between sharpie and custom printed logo. 

[iacas]

6 hours ago, DoubleAce said:

There's gotta be an option somewhere between sharpie and custom printed logo. 

Why?

You can stamp your own but that’s just a fancy Sharpie.

[DoubleAce]

2 hours ago, iacas said:

Why?

You can stamp your own but that’s just a fancy Sharpie.

I do have my own design that I 3d printed. Have always felt like the sharpie smears easily. But it's much more apparent with a larger custom mark. Just wondering if there's a more permanent option that doesn't smudge/smear, even after having days to dry.

[iacas]

10 minutes ago, DoubleAce said:

I do have my own design that I 3d printed. Have always felt like the sharpie smears easily. But it's much more apparent with a larger custom mark. Just wondering if there's a more permanent option that doesn't smudge/smear, even after having days to dry.

If a ball can absorb ink, it could absorb water more readily. So…

I think you're asking for something which kinda defies the design and/or science.

[ChetlovesMer]

10 hours ago, DoubleAce said:

Title says it all. There's got to be a better option out there that more closely lives up to the meaning of "permanent".  Anyone found something better?

Golfballs.com

Golfballs.com will custom print all kinds of different ways. Anything from pictures, to logos, to words, to lines. They are always running promos where they will print what ever for buck or sometimes even free. 

Although, I have to ask. I know all kinds of folks who use a sharpie to mark their ball and don't have any trouble. What are you doing to your golf ball that causes the sharpie to come off? 

[DoubleAce]

2 hours ago, iacas said:

If a ball can absorb ink, it could absorb water more readily. So…

I think you're asking for something which kinda defies the design and/or science.

Obviously I understand that. But the issue isn't water. It's smudging sometimes after just one shot. I'd rather have it flake off. So maybe a paint pen. 

And I'm not under the illusion that there's some magic solution that's wholly permanent. But all ink is not created equal.

2 hours ago, ChetlovesMer said:

Golfballs.com

Golfballs.com will custom print all kinds of different ways. Anything from pictures, to logos, to words, to lines. They are always running promos where they will print what ever for buck or sometimes even free. 

Although, I have to ask. I know all kinds of folks who use a sharpie to mark their ball and don't have any trouble. What are you doing to your golf ball that causes the sharpie to come off? 

See above. I'm running into mark smudging (pretty significantly in some cases) with impact. Sometimes after just one shot. And having googled sharpie alternatives for golf, I've noticed that I'm not alone. I do think part of it is how you're marking the ball. If you're just filling in a dimple or two, it's less ink to smear, and the ink is a little better "protected" being recessed in a dimple.

ETA: And maybe in the future ordering them with logos will work. But I have 4 dozen brand new balls I purchased already that will likely last at least a season.

Edited April 27, 2022 by DoubleAce

[Darkfrog]

You could try a lab marker, which are similar to Sharpie but better resistance to removal from water, smudging, chemicals, etc.

It may be that the force of impact of club on ball is going to remove some of the ink regardless of how indelible/permanent it is.

[DoubleAce]

1 hour ago, Darkfrog said:

You could try a lab marker, which are similar to Sharpie but better resistance to removal from water, smudging, chemicals, etc.

It may be that the force of impact of club on ball is going to remove some of the ink regardless of how indelible/permanent it is.

That's an interesting suggestion. Will look into those!

The abrasion through impact is something that's just a reality. But inks/paints/whatever that can handle it better is what I'm after. 

Again, I'd be happier if the ink just didn't smear. And instead only flaked off. 

[ChetlovesMer]

5 hours ago, DoubleAce said:

I do have my own design that I 3d printed. Have always felt like the sharpie smears easily. But it's much more apparent with a larger custom mark. Just wondering if there's a more permanent option that doesn't smudge/smear, even after having days to dry.

Do we get to see this custom printed mark? 

Picture, please.

[billchao]

13 minutes ago, ChetlovesMer said:

Do we get to see this custom printed mark? 

Picture, please.

 

[DaveP043]

In the olden days, I used to take a nice sharp golf pencil and "drill" a couple of dots into the balata cover on the ball.  I haven't tried it in decades (because sharpies work just fine), but you should still be able to make a little spot in the newer golf ball covers.

[DoubleAce]

Can't edit my prior post, but here's a pic of the cheetah ball my son wanted. Also the thread I started specific to 3d printing golf stuff.

 

https://thesandtrap.com/forums/topic/106399-3d-printing/

[iacas]

7 hours ago, DoubleAce said:

But the issue isn't water.

My point was/is that if you want more "permanent" ink, it would need to be absorbed a bit and golf balls that absorb liquids or something aren't going to be very good golf balls.

There's a lot of friction with a golf ball and a club. It's gonna smear a bit.

[billchao]

Spray paint.

[DoubleAce]

1 hour ago, billchao said:

Spray paint.

I did consider that in addition to a paint pen. Will still wear off (how quickly I don't know). But at least it shouldn't smear when dry. 

For now I ordered a few of these after doing some more research. Allegedly designed specifically for marking golf balls. Will do some side-by-side testing and report back.

3 hours ago, iacas said:

My point was/is that if you want more "permanent" ink, it would need to be absorbed a bit and golf balls that absorb liquids or something aren't going to be very good golf balls.

There's a lot of friction with a golf ball and a club. It's gonna smear a bit.

OK, I get your point. And I realize the friction from impact is just something that can't be controlled. But it doesn't mean that there's not a product out there that's better performing in terms of durability or smear resistance. 

[pganapathy]

On 4/27/2022 at 1:47 AM, DoubleAce said:

There's gotta be an option somewhere between sharpie and custom printed logo. 

You would hope so, but I don't see it.  Either you get something printed to help identify a ball or you put it on via a sharpie/paint/nail polish/permanent marker or some similar means of identification.  Sharpies are the most practical of these options