Have you ever seen golf balls floating and asked yourself, “Why do golf balls float?”
The truth is actual golf balls don’t float in water. Therefore, if you see a golf ball floating, it means it’s phony.
If that’s the case, why do some golf balls float and some don’t?
Actual golf balls are denser than water, so they don’t float. In addition, they carry adequate mass and don’t have air in them.
You can quickly tell if a golf ball is phony when it’s less dense in water and hollow in shape.
Discover why golf balls don’t float by skipping through the article below.
Do Golf Balls Float?
Actual golf balls manufactured by reputable firms like TaylorMade, Callaway, and Titleist are denser, so they don’t float.
Balls intended for golfing aren’t hollow and are produced using a thin plastic cover and massive rubber core.
The materials used for actual golf balls are durable, making them tenacious even when hitting several times with golf clubs.
This heavy composition adds more weight to the ball, making them denser than water and not floatable. The idea here is that the greater the density of the ball, the less likely it’ll float.
Floating golf balls are ideal for beaches, lakes, or pools; however, they don’t fly further than actual golf balls.
Interestingly, floating golf balls are less expensive and ideal if your home course features several bodies of water.
Similarly, if you’re a golfer who hears a splash several times during a round, floating golf balls work excellently.
Can I Make a Golf Ball Float or Purchase Unique Golf Balls That Float?
You can buy floating golf balls, but they benefit golf practice only. Actual golf balls need to be more durable on the fairway.
They tend to produce increased spin, causing long iron and wood shots to balloon and lose distance.
Golf balls maximizing your distance on the fairway will sink, especially when they come into contact with water.
Floating Golf Balls
Floating golf ball manufacturers utilize two approaches to manufacture them. First, they increase the diameter and sustain the same weight as regular balls.
Alternatively, producers decrease the weight and sustain the necessary diameter. Regardless of the approach used, the primary purpose is to lessen the ball’s density to make it float.
The Most Recommended Floating Golf Ball
EliteShine Floater Golf Balls
These floating balls are a must-buy if you’re looking for floaters that keep floating on the water’s surface. You’ll be impressed as they’re unsinkable, making them plain sailing to gather and use again.
These floating golf balls look similar to regular range balls, particularly in size and appearance. Practicing golf for newbies is no hassle with these functional and unsinkable floaters!
Key Features
- Same size and appearance as regular range balls
- Top-quality plastic material
- 15 pieces per pack
Who should use this product?
These floating golf balls are for golfers who require more frequent practice. They’re also great to use if you like having fun on beaches, lakes, or pools.
Saltwater
Do you remember when your teacher discussed saltwater carrying a greater density than freshwater in your Science class?
Freshwater contains 1 gram per milliliter density. So, when you add salt to it, this number increases.
Hence, if your golf ball contains 1.09 grams per milliliter density, it will float in saltwater.
Remember, adding salt to your existing pond or pool won’t ensure it’ll float. Without enough salt, the ball won’t create an impact and will merely sink to the base.
What Do I Need to Make A Golf Ball Float?
There are some things you need to prepare to make a golf ball float, and some of these include:
- Salt
- Stirring Spoon
- Water
- Mixing canister
- Golf Ball
- Food coloring
- Transparent canister (It must be tall, thin, and more extensive than the golf ball.)
- Masking tape
Procedures:
1. Fill your canister with water (It must be half-full.) and pour it into your mixing canister.
2. Position the ball in the mixing canister. As it sinks, continue adding salt and stir using the spoon until the ball floats.
3. Remove the ball and place it in the canister. Then, pour the salt mixture into the canister.
4. Pour freshwater into the mixing canister. Please note that the freshwater must be adequate to brim the top half of the canister.
5. Afterward, add four drops of food coloring. Then, gradually put the colored freshwater into the canister until it’s brimmed.
6. Label the ball’s height in the canister using a pen and masking tape.
What Happens to Golf Balls When I Leave Them Underwater?
When you leave a golf ball underwater, it will absorb water. The process typically takes approximately twelve hours for H2O to infiltrate the cover and hit upon the core.
For most models, being left underwater usually makes the ball harder in compression. Additionally, it decelerates the ball’s capability to reclaim its roundness after impact, keeping it from flying remotely.
Multiple factors influence the amount of water a golf ball absorbs when submerged.
Such factors include the following:
- The golf ball’s covering material
- The length of time you submerge the golf ball in H2O.
- Type of golf balls (i.e., 4-piece, 3-piece, or 2-piece)
- The water’s temperature
Do Golf Balls Float in Saltwater?
Golf balls don’t float in saltwater because their density heightens the more saline solution there is.
FAQ’s
The USGA asserted that you could consider a golf ball illegal to play if it weighs above 45.93 g or 1.620 oz.
Manufacturers produce floating golf balls to comply with the USGA regulations, making legal models quick to find.
The manner manufacturers produce floating golf balls, and their composition is what makes them float.
Floating golf balls are capable of holding gravity that’s less than 0.98. This gravity allows floaters to float in chlorinated pools, fresh and saltwater.
These balls feature several polymers, such as monomers, polymerization initiators, and elastomers, which make the ball durable.
These compositions make the balls playable, ideal for rugged use, and floatable. Manufacturers also add hollow glass spheres that allow the balls to remain floating.
Floating golf balls tend to lose their distance. Generally, players set the ball up to generate optimized backspin rpm, generating a soft landing and superior launch.
Nonetheless, doing so urges faster golfers to produce extra spin. As a result, you lose distance and encounter ballooned strike.
Since regular golf balls have a 1.09-gram per milliliter density, they can sink in freshwater. The density of freshwater is 1 gram per milliliter.
Due to their density, regular golf balls sink to the base whenever they touch freshwater.
You can buy floating golf balls on Amazon or other online stores or outlets. While you can find them in local golf stores, you can select more options online.
You can choose from excellent-performing floating golf balls that are ideal during a round.
On the other hand, there are less expensive options, which are best for recreation and practice.
Yes. Due to its design, a range ball can fly ten to fifteen percent shorter than a standard golf ball.
Chiefly, they cannot fly further since they contain more drag. For this reason, you can only utilize them for practicing, not on the fairway.
The density of a golf ball is approximately 1.09 grams per milliliter. Its density means it has sufficient mass within a tiny surface area, making it denser than a water unit.
You must add one tablespoon of salt to a cup of water in the canister. After that, cover the canister and shake well until you see the salt dissolves thoroughly into the H2O.
Then, place the golf ball in the canister and observe if it sinks or floats. Add and dissolve more salt in the canister if it does not float.
Remember, it’s essential to add a tablespoon of salt one at a time until the golf ball floats.
So long as players utilize top-quality two-piece balls, floaters can go as distant as standard golf balls.
It’s good to note that two-piece golf balls have more release off the tee and carry. Newbies and older players who find it challenging to hit far distances utilize floaters.
Nevertheless, utilizing range balls might not be ideal for the green since they get broken quickly. Not to mention, they don’t travel remotely through the air.
Final Thoughts
Do golf balls float? As read in this post, a golf ball won’t float because of its density.
Actual golf balls, the ones you use on the course sink, because they have more density than a water unit.
On the other hand, floating golf balls float because of their hollow design and have less density than water.
The next time you wonder why a golf ball is floating, you can quickly tell it’s not real.
Actual golf balls made by credible brands such as TaylorMade, Callaway, and Titleist can help you spot the difference.
How about you? What are your thoughts about floating golf balls? We’ll be happy to hear your thoughts, so please comment below.
Read more:
- Best Golf Balls for Slower Swing Speeds
- 8 Best Golf Balls for 95-100mph Swing Speed
- Top 10 Longest Golf Balls
Matt Stevens is the founder of Golfrough.com. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf since he was four years old. Having experienced every high and low golf has to offer, his writing helps the average golfer avoid the mistakes he has made in 28-years on the course.