It’s a question that’s frequently posed to little objects. Sink or swim? In general, heavier objects sink while lighter ones float. But what about golf balls? They’re not that heavy, are they? Do golf balls float is a frequently asked question concerning golf balls, and the answer is provided in this article.
Golf balls are an exciting object constructed of rubber and wrapped with either thermoplastic resin or urethane, also used in insecticides.
Do Golf Balls Float?
When objects are placed in water, some sink, and others float, a heavier object, such as a rock or a golf ball, would sink to the bottom because it is heavier than the water keeping it up.
Things lighter than the water holding them up, such as paper and leaves, will float due to buoyancy, and hollow objects, such as Ping Pong balls, will float.
Unlike Ping Pong balls, Golf balls are comprised of a thick rubber core with a thin plastic shell. This material is sturdy since a Golf ball is designed to be hit several times by a Golf club; hence it adds weight.
A golf ball’s diameter is no less than 42.67mm, implying that a significant quantity of mass is contained inside a limited surface area. As a result, a golf ball unit is significantly heavier than a water unit. It does not float due to its density. As a result, the golf ball drops sharply into the depths of those vexing lakes, rivers, and ponds.
The majority of common golf balls, such as those made by Titleist, Callaway, and Taylormade, are dense and do not float in water.
Is It Possible To Get Floating Golf Balls?
Yes, it is possible to purchase floating golf balls. Golf balls that float are usually referred to as floaters, and yes, such balls do exist. Instead of sinking, these balls can float to the surface of the water.
Although it is incredibly rare to come across a floating golf ball, certain companies manufacture and sell them.
Although they are of lower quality and will not fly as far in most circumstances, these balls are ideal for recreational players who are prone to hearing splashes many times throughout their round or whose home course features multiple bodies of water.
Floating golf balls are ideal for striking into a pool, lake, or beach so that they don’t sink to the bottom of the water. Many stores carry floating golf balls used to hit into the water when you are out golfing. Local golf shops may stock them, but there are many possibilities available online, such as on sites such as Amazon.com.
What Causes Golf Balls To Float?
The composition of golf balls is what causes them to float.
Floaters are built differently than standard golf balls. What causes golf balls to float? This floats because it is molded to have a gravity less than 0.98, allowing it to float in both freshwater and saltwater.
Like all golf balls, Floaters are designed following the rules established by the United States Golf Association.
It comprises various polymers, including monomers, elastomers, polymerization initiators, and fillers, which help reinforce the combination.
How Do Floating Golf Balls Compare To Regular Golf Balls?
The primary difference between regular and floating golf balls is quality.
A four or five-piece ball, such as a Titleist Pro V1x, Pro V1, TaylorMade TP5, TP5x, or a Callaway Chrome Soft, will be the highest quality.
These balls are heavier, denser, and will spin faster. They will, however, easily sink to the bottom of a pond. The same may be said for a medium-quality three-piece ball like the Srixon Q-Star.
The majority of floatable golf balls are two-piece balls.
They’ll have more distance and rollout, but they’ll be more difficult to spin from the fairway and on-chip approaches around the green. These balls will be more difficult to handle.
Many amateurs do great with two-piece balls, so if you’re a high-handicap player who prefers to play a floatable ball because you frequently discover the danger, sticking with a floater over a multi-piece ball isn’t a big concern.
What Happens To A Golf Ball When It Is Submerged In Water?
Golf balls absorb water; it takes about 12 hours for the water to infiltrate the plastic covering and enter the core. The amount varies based on the sort of ball and how long it has been underwater. After six months underwater, a multi-layer ball can shed around 15 yards of distance.
What Factors Influence The Amount Of Water Absorbed By A Golf Ball?
- The kind of ball (2-piece, 3-piece, 4-piece)
- The material of the cover (Surlyn or urethane)
- The water’s temperature (warmer water will increase absorption)
- How long has it been submerged?
The core can expand and split from the cover or mantle layers to absorb water.
Being in the water makes the golf balls tougher and less spherical at the time of impact, causing them to fly shorter.
In tests using a two-piece ball, the carry and roll after eight days were 244.9 yards compared to 250.7 yards when new. This shows a loss of 5.8 yards in only eight days.
After three months, there is an additional three-yard loss. A multi-layer ball loses six yards after eight days, twelve yards after three months, and fifteen yards after six months.
Water in your golf balls will always impact their performance and distance.
Final thoughts: Do Golf Balls Float?
So the next time you see a floating golf ball, you’ll know it’s a “fake,” because:
- “Real” golf balls (the ones you use to play a round of golf) sink because they are denser than water.
- “Fake” golf balls (such as those used at a mini-golf course) float because they are hollow and consequently less dense than the water on which they float.
Hopefully, that has answered all of your questions concerning golf balls floating. When it’s time to hit the green or answer a fun trivia question, you’ll know what distinguishes the many varieties of golf balls.
You probably already know that golf balls don’t float, but there’s a reason for that. If they were any lighter, they wouldn’t fly nearly as far, and your scorecard would look way worse.
Over the years, golf ball design has been fiddled with and polished. If we have to watch them drop to the bottom of lakes and ponds now and then (far too frequently in my case! ), it’s a small price to pay for peak performance.
