Are you used to fishing your balls out of the pond or mud? Perhaps you’ve just found yourself a bulk load of dirty balls and want to get them in good shape again. Regardless of the reason, if you want to start cleaning your golf balls quickly and easily, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’re going to look at the best way to clean your balls and a few other issues associated with doing just that.
Having clean golf balls is always a good idea. Not only will other members at your club not appreciate you turning up with a load of dirty balls, they’re also better for you, too. When you hit your ball, having a clean one will be a lot easier to spot in the sky and follow. Not only that, it’ll also be a lot easier to find on the ground, and in the rough or other hazards. While balls can get dirty, especially in rainy or otherwise non-ideal golfing conditions, it’s a good idea to always start with a clean ball and make sure you keep it as clean as possible as you continue your round.
Aside from cleaning your ball during play, you should be aware how to clean balls at home. Golf balls aren’t that expensive, but a great way to save money is to buy second hand or used balls. The one drawback of these balls is that they might not be clean. That’s what this article is going to help you with.
The benefits of used golf balls
The most obvious benefit is that they’re cheaper. It really doesn’t get any more complex than that. If you’re still learning to play golf and haven’t got your handicap down yet, then you probably hit a lot of balls into the wild. That means many of them can get lost. What’s the point in using new and expensive balls when you’re losing a lot of them anyway? You should stick to second-hand ones and get more bang for your buck. The only problem with second hand and used balls is that they might be dirty. That’s what this article is going to help you with.
Where to find used golf balls
If you’re allowed, you can simply pick up used balls around the golf course. Other balls people have lost. That makes them really cheap—free. If you can’t do this, you can head to the pro shop and should be able to find buckets of used balls at a fraction of the price. Failing that, then have a look online where you should be able to find loads of bulk discount used balls at very low prices. Golf courses tend to have a surplus of used balls at all times, so they’re not expensive to get your hands on. Other second-hand stores and charity shops might also have plenty of them.
How to clean used golf balls
Now you’ve got your used balls, what’s next? Let’s have a look…
The simplest and most straightforward way to clean dirty washing balls is to put them in the dishwasher. That’s right, it couldn’t be easier than that. Some balls might get damaged by the hot water washing process, but that’s actually a good thing as it helps you get rid of the poor quality used balls in your collection. Most good balls will be fine with it, and will come out clean and new.
But what if you haven’t got a dishwasher, or what if your balls are really dirty? You might need a different option. Some balls can have algae or other stubborn mess stuck to them that might not come off in the dishwasher anyway. With them, soak in a bucket of hot water that has oxalic acid in it (being careful at all times). Another option is to apply bleach or another similar product (do not do this if they’ve got acid or other cleaning products on them). You might then try and scrub them or use something abrasive to knock the dirt off. They can then be rinsed clean and allowed to dry. You could also put them in a container and add denture cleaning tablets. One of these tips should work for you.
Failing that, good old scrubbing could do the trick. Although this can be time-consuming.
How to keep your ball clean during play
As we’ve already touched on, it’s important that you keep your ball clean during your round. You don’t want to use a muddy ball or otherwise dirty one. Hitting a ball with mud on is unpredictable, and it won’t go to where you intend. You should give it a good clean after each hole, and even during a hole if you’re allowed to lift and place your ball. Cleaner balls will also go further when you hit them, and there aren’t much better reasons to keep them clean than that.
Having a dirty ball during play isn’t a good idea, not just because it might behave differently when you hit it, but also because it might be harder to spot and find. Following a golf ball in the sky is difficult, but it’s even harder if the ball is dirty. And having a dirty ball will be much harder to find on the ground, too. So keeping it clean during play is important.
Carry a cloth or towel with you on your round and clean your balls whenever you can. You might even want to wash them quickly with some water if possible. For particularly dirty balls, you can simply use a new one for your next round and then follow the cleaning instructions we looked at earlier when you get home. So next time you hit the course, all your balls are like new again.
Hopefully, you’ve found a good way to clean your balls both at home and on the course. Keep your balls as clean as possible and your game could improve. Hopefully!
0 comments