When do you stop playing a ball for wear?

[hawk45]

I've been playing for years casually and have played every cheap ball under the sun.. even range balls at one time during my high school days. Now that I can afford better equipment I still use cheap balls but usually bag them if they get scuffs and burrs on them.

Am I thinking that these minor flaws will really affect my game or do they? How beat up does a ball have to be before you put in the bag for a range ball?

[Carrsbie]

Usually after a couple of scuffs or bad shots...which ever comes first.

[BigTazz53]

Mine don't make it that long, I think the life of a fruit fly is longer than
my balls.
But kudos for keeping yours around till they get old and wise.

I'd hit it as long as it didn't show scuffs or feel dead coming off the club.

[Ruckus]

Before I started using Vokey SM and Callaway MD wedges, a ball would last me a whole round (assuming i didn't, umm, misplace it during play). However, I have to check each ball after a wedge shot now to ensure it is not shredded. As long as there is still some shine on the scuff, I continue to put 'em out there. But about 1/3 of the time I have to retire a ball after using my 58* and 64*.

[P3R3]

Whenever the ball has a cut that is into the mantle or multiple bad scuffs.

[M2daRizzle]

I use it as long as there is not a cut in the cover. I use balls with scuffs and they dont seem to affect the playability at all. I usually lose a ball or 2 every 3 or 4 rounds, so they usually dont get to bad, but I have had a few balls that lasted 5-6+ rounds and they looked awful, but played fine.

[-Mini-]

I play it till I lose it, have a bad hole and throw it in a pond... or it gets scuffs on it

[bruce]

Usually after a wedge shreds it i get rid of it.

[MI Rob]

Usually play a ball till it's pretty shreded or I for some reason just have multiple bad shots with it then I use it for a range ball. But I play with most of mine for a few rounds before bagging them.

[zeg]

Usually start a round with a brand new ball and use it until I lose it. If I lose, I will replace with another new one. At the end of the round, the ball I'm using goes in the practice bag.

[laxbballgolf]

I rarely take one out of play for wear. I don't mind scuff marks, and it feels like a waste of money if I don't get at least a couple of rounds out of the same ball. It doesn't always work that way, of course, haha.

[tricky]

I would previously play a ball until I lost it. That used to happen before any serious scuff marks made the ball unplayable. I'm getting a bit better now and not losing so many (except for yesterday, don't ask) and am finding that my ping wedges (and even the irons) are shredding the balls I use. Unfortunate, but it sees like an improved short game is going to cost me more in balls.

[imtomtomim]

Haha, yeah, I usually play them until I lose them. I actually like a little scuff on my golf ball. It gives me a smidge more feel of contact and gives me a better touch on spin control. That's only after the ball's been scuffed for 6 or 7 holes. As long as there is nothing sticking out of the ball that makes it not a perfect sphere, I'll play it.

[lumpuckeroo]

I play them until they get scuff marks on them, then I "take them out of play" and use them on the 195 yard par 3 over water with a 20 mph wind in my face hole. It's a fitting end for them....

[Leftygolfer]

I usually only play a ball for less than 2 rounds. As posters above, they get shredded by my wedges and seem to wear. I haven't used the new pro v1s yet so hopefully they are a bit more durable.

Don't you just love losing a ball that is perfect. It is great. First hole, OB, gone, brand new ball. Thanks poor alignment

[Chief Broom]

I rarely take one out of play for wear. I don't mind scuff marks, and it feels like a waste of money if I don't get at least a couple of rounds out of the same ball.

This is the way I feel about it. Golf balls do better the more they are roughed up. It's why they put dimples on them. Obviously if it is so cut up it won't role straight it would have to be pulled but cosmetic marks and blemishes don't adversely affect performance. I've also never noticed and change in feel when playing a ball that has seen multiple rounds of use versus one that is brand new. Good contact with both seems to perform similarly. I can certainly believe that there is some degredation in performance the more you use it, but for the average golfer (and even the above average one) that difference is negligable. Golf is a game where appearance and impressions can have a strong impact, and so those who don't like looking down at an old ball pulling a "bad" ball makes sense.

[Zeph]

Don't remember the last time I stopped playing a ball because of wear. Done it a few times because of wedges tearing them up. I usually lose the ball before it's that damaged.

I'm currently using used Pro V1's and the outer paint is falling off here and there, but I still use it. Only a severe damage to the shell is reason for putting it away. I don't want a ball to roll bad on the green.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Ive found i can play the new prov's up to 36 holes per ball if i dont scuff them. Ill rotate them out to short game practice after that weather they are scuffed up or not. Im pretty sure the ball is dead at that point.