How long can golf balls be stored before they start to lose their punch? (Optimum performance)?

Question

How long can golf balls be stored before they start to lose their punch? (Optimum performance)?

Answer 1

Taylormade used to sell their balls in plastic cases because they said balls stored in the traditional cardboard boxes would absorb moisture over time, and reduce the balls' performance. I don't have any statistical proof of this, but it makes sense to me and it's certainly noticeable that very old balls don't go as far.

Anyway, from what I remember, the data they showed said balls would lose 15-20% of their performance after about 3 years.

Answer 2

The above answers were true for older golf balls (balata covers, rubber band wound, etc.) Modern golf balls are much more resilient and less susceptible to change over time. Just be sure to keep them from temperature extremes (hot and cold).

Here's what Titleist says on their web site about golf ball life:

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Today's Titleist golf balls can be safely stored for five years or even more, as long as they're kept away from excessive heat. Attics and cars, for example, can get very hot during the summer and can dramatically shorten a ball's life. Normal indoor conditions should be fine for storage.

You should also consider that golf ball technology is improving rapidly, so if you're playing balls that were made more than a couple of years ago, you may be missing out on improvements that have been made to that model, not to mention completely new models.

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Have fun!

Answer 3

IK have heard, although I honestly don't know for sure that golf balls can be stored for 12 months before performance degrades.