Balata Ball Stripped of Cover, Rubber Bands Exposed

[Hacker James]

I had this really beat up Titleist Tour Balata that the cover was nearly gone, so I finished the job and peeled it off leaving a dense sphere of rubber bands. It stayed intact so far.  Actually, it flies pretty straight and the circumference looks to be about the same as a British ball. Kind of fun to whack around a bit. 

[Hatchman]

Why?

[Kalnoky]

I collect those Titleist Balata, whenever I find them lost on the course. I only collect them if they're not damaged.. so far I have four. They're probably not worth squat, but I think they're kind of cool. 

 

 

[Hacker James]

Just now, Hatchman said:

Why?

just to see how it would react. 'sides, no way with chunks of cover missing. Other than that, no particular reason. 

[colin007]

Pics or it didn't happen.

[Hacker James]

1 minute ago, colin007 said:

Pics or it didn't happen.

no camera ever since deep six in Kayaking adventure. Pacific Ocean, February 2013 ? 

[Hatchman]

17 minutes ago, Hacker James said:

just to see how it would react. 'sides, no way with chunks of cover missing. Other than that, no particular reason. 

I understand.  I did too as a young un.  Would precisionly hacksaw the skin then unwind the rubber bands to the core.  If I remember some had a gel center.  Then I went off to school :).

 

[Hacker James]

Thinking of dumping it in the Sarengeti to see if a Dung Beetle will roll it across the Savannah. Probably wrong chemical foot print however.

3 minutes ago, Hatchman said:

I understand.  I did too as a young un.  Would precisionly hacksaw the skin then unwind the rubber bands to the core.  If I remember some had a gel center.  Then I went off to school :).

 

h aha...reminds me of recent TV with Anthony Borurdain (parts unknown) and President Obama eating a hot dog in some country. Bordain asked the prez if one should put ketchup on a hot dog? President replied "Not if you are over eight years old".

[Hatchman]

17 minutes ago, Hacker James said:

 

h aha...reminds me of recent TV with Anthony Borurdain (parts unknown) and President Obama eating a hot dog in some country. Bordain asked the prez if one should put ketchup on a hot dog? President replied "Not if you are over eight years old".

See, now you younger guys and gals are getting to experience some of the fun some of us Grey Beards did as youngsters.  The balls back then weren't politically correct.  Now that same ball may be considered a hazardous waste and have to be labeled as such!

Edited December 7, 2016 by Hatchman

[iacas]

The British Ball was only 0.06 inches smaller in diameter than the U.S. ball at the time: 1.68 to 1.62 inches.

[Hatchman]

9 minutes ago, iacas said:

The British Ball was only 0.06 inches smaller in diameter than the U.S. ball at the time: 1.68 to 1.62 inches.

Interesting.  Then, I just read, conformed to one size not too long ago.  Big difference in performance?

[Hacker James]

12 minutes ago, iacas said:

The British Ball was only 0.06 inches smaller in diameter than the U.S. ball at the time: 1.68 to 1.62 inches.

didn't actually measure it. Obviously would be only the thickness of the balata cover different. Just eyeballed it (dont have a mic), looks to be about 1/16th inch thick which would be .0625 so I would say its pretty close. Not bad for a "trivia" guess.

4 minutes ago, Hatchman said:

Interesting.  Then, I just read, conformed to one size not too long ago.  Big difference in performance?

probably go further. To wit....just went outside and tried to spin it with a gap wedge, it flew a good twenty yards further than I would have done otherwise into neighbors yard. The two dogs are now fighting over it. Experiment is now "dead" or in Italian parlance   "Bucco di Lupo".

[Hatchman]

5 minutes ago, Hacker James said:

 

probably go further. To wit....just went outside and tried to spin it with a gap wedge, it flew a good twenty yards further than I would have done otherwise into neighbors yard. The two dogs are now fighting over it. Experiment is now "dead" or in Italian parlance   "Bucco di Lupo".

I agree.  A super ball from what I recall from my experiments.  The problem is they would unwind and/or deform when I hit them with a BAT!    The sport I loved as a youth.  Boing....boing.