25 replies to this topic

[Kevmonton]

How much performance is lost on a ball with a cartpath scuffmark on it? I have a fair amount
of balls in perfect condition excluding the dreaded scuff!

[Socrates]

It really depends on a few factors.  How precise of a ball striker you are, how big the scuff is and what is your tolerance level for a less than perfect ball.  With really aggressive grooves, I've come to terms with playing balls that get really chewed up, but it reaches a point where done is done and it depends on whether I'm playing for something or not.

The more precise of a striker you are and I have to assume that your tolerance for slight misses is less, the more it will affect you.  If you hit it all over the lot, it's not going to make a difference.  A really big scuff on one side might give you funny ball flights.

[TJCDAS]

If you play a draw you lose 5.8% distance with a driver, straight 6.8% and the fade is effected the most at 8.3%.

[Colby327]

TJCDAS, on 21 November 2012 - 12:06 AM, said:

If you play a draw you lose 5.8% distance with a driver, straight 6.8% and the fade is effected the most at 8.3%.

Really? Where did you get those numbers from?  

I would never have guessed there's that much effect...

[duffer987]

Colby327, on 21 November 2012 - 12:12 AM, said:

TJCDAS, on 21 November 2012 - 12:06 AM, said:

If you play a draw you lose 5.8% distance with a driver, straight 6.8% and the fade is effected the most at 8.3%.

Really? Where did you get those numbers from?  

I would never have guessed there's that much effect...

Please be the punchline, to his pisstake.

[driverwedge]

Colby327, on 21 November 2012 - 12:12 AM, said:

TJCDAS, on 21 November 2012 - 12:06 AM, said:

If you play a draw you lose 5.8% distance with a driver, straight 6.8% and the fade is effected the most at 8.3%.

Really? Where did you get those numbers from?  

I would never have guessed there's that much effect...

Did you know that 83.65% of stats are made up on the spot?

[TJCDAS]

Colby327, on 21 November 2012 - 12:12 AM, said:

TJCDAS, on 21 November 2012 - 12:06 AM, said:

If you play a draw you lose 5.8% distance with a driver, straight 6.8% and the fade is effected the most at 8.3%.

Really? Where did you get those numbers from?  

I would never have guessed there's that much effect...

Pulled right out of my arse!!!!!!!!


There is not an anser scuffs are different, balls are different.  Most likely cost you about the same distance loss as playing a dirty ball.

Edited by TJCDAS, 21 November 2012 - 08:46 PM.

[Shiram]

In my experience, not much. I've never really noticed any difference using scuffed balls. There may be a mental aspect if the scuff bugs you but it doesn't really bother me. I usually play it for the rest of the round and then retire it to the shag bag before the next round.

[golfin2]

I've never seen an effect really. I've played some of my best golf using balls that are scuffed and have been played for 18+ holes. There's no actual testing on this.

[cristphoto]

If the scuff marks bother you simply take a rag dampened with acetone (or nail polish remover - same thing) and wipe a couple times. The mark disappears. Be sure to immediately thoroughly rinse the ball off in water as you don't want the acetone to soak in.

[Kevmonton]

cristphoto, on 22 November 2012 - 09:50 AM, said:

If the scuff marks bother you simply take a rag dampened with acetone (or nail polish remover - same thing) and wipe a couple times. The mark disappears. Be sure to immediately thoroughly rinse the ball off in water as you don't want the acetone to soak in.

Great tip, thanks I will try it.

[War_Eagle3]

TJCDAS, on 21 November 2012 - 12:06 AM, said:

If you play a draw you lose 5.8% distance with a driver, straight 6.8% and the fade is effected the most at 8.3%.

This response is EPIC!  
But to answer the question, i think for non-tour players it is 100% mental

[Sean2]

Please remember there are lies, damn lies, and statistics.

[monkeynaut]

Not all scuffs are equal.  A scuff on top of the ball will cause knock downs. A scuff on the bottom will make it balloon.  On the left side will make it draw on the right will make it more likely to slice.  

You also want to avoid scuffing against the grain.  Those will exaggerate the effects.

[MadGolfer76]

Sean2, on 24 November 2012 - 11:13 PM, said:

Please remember there are lies, damn lies, and statistics.

I prefer fluffy lies.

[2zlinks]

monkeynaut, on 25 November 2012 - 01:35 AM, said:

Not all scuffs are equal.  A scuff on top of the ball will cause knock downs. A scuff on the bottom will make it balloon.  On the left side will make it draw on the right will make it more likely to slice.  

You also want to avoid scuffing against the grain.  Those will exaggerate the effects.

Just my .02 but I don't think your entirely correct. I would  guess that a scuff, much like a ball that has mud on it will tend to travel away from the where the mud is on the ball. i.e. mud on the right the ball will tend to go left and vice versa. I don't think this concept works when talking about mud on the top or the bottom as you suggest due to the rotation of the ball after being struck.

[jdhallissey]

I am being honestly here, I notice about 5 yards on iron shots with a beat up ball. Now with a ball that has one cart path mark or wedge scuff I can not tell a difference.

[twixster888]

scuff balls will play with your mind.  not worth it.  i just put it in a shag bag made of premium balls.  i practice chips and short pitches with it.  then when it gets too worn out, i use it at the driving range for warm ups before a round.....thus the ball gets recycled to someone else, probably a beginner, who would be excited at the chance of playing with a pro-v.  its a win win.   To answer the main question though.....i think it greatly affects it.  just as baseballs can have more movement with doctored balls, i see no difference when comparing the two.

[BigJae]

OP- if the cover of the ball is torn, or "fish gilled", it will affect the flight of the ball. Most importantly it will affect the roll of the ball when putting.

[Night train]

We play a game where grass, dirt, and sand gets trapped between the clubface and ball at impact, we putt on on an uneven surface with hundreds of footprints and countless turf imperfections. A minor scuff should be meaningless in the total equation.

People want rougher surfaces on their wedges to grip the ball..........a scuff just helps a little more.

No facts...........just things to ponder







\\

[hangubber]

The first carpath scuffmark on a given ball usually adds about 15-20 yards on the shot.  If you can consistently hit the cartpath, you can realize this performance improvement on every shot.  Each scuffmark is worth 17.5 yards.

[DBo9]

hangubber, on 04 December 2012 - 07:53 PM, said:

The first carpath scuffmark on a given ball usually adds about 15-20 yards on the shot.  If you can consistently hit the cartpath, you can realize this performance improvement on every shot.  Each scuffmark is worth 17.5 yards.

Best answer ever, haha. Once had a drive carry only 250 yrds. (pre-cart path scuff) and it rolled out pin high on a 380 yrd par 4 after being scuffed. True story

[8thehardway]

Kevmonton, on 19 November 2012 - 08:26 PM, said:

How much performance is lost on a ball with a cartpath scuffmark on it? I have a fair amount
of balls in perfect condition excluding the dreaded scuff!

I couldn't find GD's original test but found a copy of it in this reference and a comment from TM


probablegolfinstruction

Golf Digest did an interesting study which it announced in its May  issue < either 2005 or 2008 >. They had Golf Laboratories test several balls with their launch monitor and computer-controlled robot using a
10-degree Callaway driver and Titleist NXT golf balls. The balls varied in condition, though.
   In the table below are the results for the different conditioned balls. All distances are in yards. Dispersion is the yardage off-line, left or right of the target.  

Table doesn't copy well but compares effects of mud and grass on ball, range ball & after one round of golf - for scuffed  vs new ball yardage the results were


NEW carry 225 - total 250 - dispersion 4.6

USED  carry 219 - total 244 - dispersion 2.7      

so a 6 yard difference, which matches what TM said in the following article



Golf Digest, may 2009

Ball cores are commonly designed to withstand at least 100 strikes at 125 miles per hour before cracking. That's seven rounds of Tiger-like drives.
Of course, the cover will often go first, especially if you have a steep angle of attack or fresh grooves or tend to rely on cartpaths for extra distance. But these minor scuffs won't affect performance. "As long as the cover is relatively smooth, maybe a little paint missing, you're fine to play it," says TaylorMade's Dean Snell. Still, our testing showed that a serious scuff could cost you six yards on a tee shot.
A urethane cover's durability comes from being soft with an elastic memory. Ionomer covers are more durable because they're firm.
TIP: To minimize scuffing, dry your irons and wedges with a towel. A wet clubface increases the shear force, causing the ball's cover to slide over the grooves and tear, instead of gripping and rolling like it would on a dry face

Edited by 8thehardway, 14 February 2013 - 09:02 AM.

[KILLEDBYASHANKEDWEDGE]

Never makes it past the first green it sees.

[Socrates]

[KILLEDBYASHANKEDWEDGE]

Socrates, on 14 February 2013 - 09:21 AM, said:

bl130212.gif

Most likely teeth marks.