Cutting Open Lake Balls vs New Golf Balls - What's Inside? (Titleist TRU-FEEL)

Welcome to Close Up Golf, your one-stop-shop for detailed, insightful reviews of the latest golf equipment.

Cutting open lake balls and new golf balls - what will I find inside and will there be a difference in what we see?

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Here, we take you closer to the golf gear than you've ever been, meticulously examining and explaining every detail that can influence your game. Our reviews range from clubs, balls, bags, to golf clothing and more, making it easier for you to navigate the vast world of golf equipment.

Whether you're a seasoned pro seeking to upgrade your gear, you'll find the guidance and clarity you need on our channel. It's not just about the renowned brands; we love uncovering lesser-known gems in the industry and introducing them to our viewers.

Subscribe, turn on your notifications, and never miss out on the finest golf equipment on the market. Your journey to enhanced golfing begins right here on Close Up Golf. You’re just one swing away from your best golf purchase decision.

Please be aware, if you click on the links above I will earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on a link provided and make a purchase, I might receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

This helps support my work and allows me to continue to provide valuable content to my audience. Thank you for your support

◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️◽️

⬇️ More stuff you should check out ⬇️

** 10% DISCOUNT OFF USED GOLF BALLS **
(Use code FUNGOLF)

** 15% DISCOUNT OFF SHOT SCOPE PRODUCTS **
(Use code FUNGOLF)

** CHECK OUT OUR AMAZON SHOP FOR RECOMENDED ITEMS **

** VISIT THE FUN GOLF WEBSITE **

[laurencegoulty]

I will play golf with any ball I find that looks in good fettle, the main problem for the average golfer is they seem to think balls like pro v1 are the best when in truth they cannot generate enough club head speed to launch them. I played my best ever round using a Dunlop tour soft which is probably less than a pound to buy new, so what does this tell us? Well you tell me 😊

[asphaltmilkshake]

One of the companies that does scuba diving for the resale of submerged golf balls actually commissioned a study with Oakland University to allay any concerns people might have with their product. They tested brand new balls against those that had been submerged for 1, 3 and 5 months with the Golf Laboratories robotic player set for "Average Golfer" parameters. The results were almost identical for all of the golf balls tested, no matter the length of time submerged or not.

[sambaritone]

It would be interesting to see the difference in elasticity of the cover. After sitting out in the sun and weather for a long time, it might be hard, so the ball wouldn’t compress as well. I play found balls, but I use a simple bounce test on the concrete floor to compare with a new ball. The majority are good.

[stevecrist]

What did you expect to see by cutting both open? A better test would be putting both (how is feel impacted)? Or a simple drop test from 6 or 7 feet. Finally take both to the course and play side by side.

[rogerszmodis]

When I was a kid my friends and I would go out when nobody was playing and we would stop on the water holes and the one with the thick woods and collect balls. I never noticed any difference in found balls bs new balls. I couldn’t afford to buy the good ones most times but an hour of looking around the woods and wading the stream would always net me like $50 worth of premium balls.

[Harold-uc]

I just have a feeling that, when playing a found ball, it always wants to go back to being lost. So I give them away when I find them, especially to opponents.

[mixterx]

What does it mean?
It means - the skin on the ball is made of urethane blends that is essentially water proof.
The core is also an elastopolymer that is not permeable by water.
Depending on the acidity of the water and of the sediment there could be some minimal permeation of staining into the skin but not likely enough to make any difference in flight.
The chlorine and caustic cleaning solutions that strip the oils away have a far greater negative effect on the skin than does the lake water.

[jzak]

Balls do degrade over time. A friend gave some balls that were never used. Still in the box that were probably +10 years old sitting in a Florida garage. They were garbage, the cover was distorted. So heat effects them over time. That said brands may have different chemistry and degrade at different rates.

[jamesa]

You just saved me hundreds of dollars in the years ahead. I always wondered if the covers were porous and it looks like they aren't.

[jts]

I've heard that because the cover material is "hydroscopic" (absorbs water), the cover is adversely affected by being submerged in water. I'm curious to see if the weight of a ball changes significantly indicating that the ball has absorbed water.

[BakoSooner]

I would expect the difference would be minimal if at all since the material used (cover and core) are impermeable thus should not be water logged. Do they weigh the same? Or would the weight of both balls be within margin of error from manufacturing? I find ton of water logged balls on my course and I have not noticed any noticeable difference (7 handicap). But I am very happy that lots of people at my club buys and plays brand new pro v1s as they're simply just donating to my ball budget.

[robertsandidge]

This is what I have found a few times and just recently. I sneak on courses and recover many many balls for my personal use and friends. I find them in water in mud in dirt just laying exposed to the elements. Now and then I will play one that just doesn’t fell right. I only play top end balls Prov-1’s mostly but Bridgestone B’s, Taylor Made Tour preferred Chrome Soft and so on. Recently I was playing a Pro-V1 that didn’t feel right or have the usual distance. I cut it open and it looked good but something was amiss. I don’t know if it was a submerged ball or one of the others (I have to many to keep track) but something changed the character of that one and others. 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

[ponnappaganapathy]

My understanding is water will eventually seep inside the golf ball if it has been under water long enough. I would definitely pick the new ball because it means I have consistency in performance when I take them out of the pack. Lake balls will be inconsistent because one might spin more/less or go further/shorter than another

[walterrichmond]

Interesting! I would have liked to see a bounce test comparison before you cut them.

[johnryan]

Remember the old rubber band style balls?

[gdouglass]

It would have been interesting to see if the lake ball had absorbed any water and was heavier or was larger then the new one. Could you do another vid where you weigh them & check the size with calipers?
edit: Never mind just watched part 2 :)

[mydetlef]

Not enough data. I don't suspect the inside of the ball. For me the shell could be causing a problem. Plastic also ages, becomes brittle, etc. To get a solid answer you would need a ball machine, a golf pond, lots of balls and patience. Then sink some in the pond and store the other part differently. Compare new balls bought every year with the balls stored in the pond and in a dry place with the ball machine. I think sunlight and heat will age the balls - but that's just speculation.

[SmokeyRider]

I’m more interested in how there’s air voids in the rubber. No wonder my putts always miss and my drives keep going right! No more titleist for me!

[tillyoudiefromit]

Sitting in water i feel was way more detrimental to older golf balls with a rubber band core. New balls have less space or voids for water to get in.

[RAMelloh-ijsl]

As long as the jacket is not compromised in any way, the used ball should fit in my bag just perfectly. Please send four dozen.