Glow Balls
Glow balls are golf balls with an integrated light element for playing in the dark.
Glow balls belong to night golf, in other words to rounds and events after nightfall. There are three common designs: balls with an LED in the core that are activated by the impact of the stroke, balls with a shell for inserting glow sticks, and phosphorescent balls that you charge up with a lamp beforehand. The important classification: glow balls do not comply with the equipment rules for the official ball and are not allowed in stroke play rounds or tournaments. They are purely event and fun equipment.
In practice, night golf takes place on floodlit facilities or on shortened holes. An example: a club event with nine holes after sunset, the flagsticks carry glow sticks, and the green is marked with light rings. Your tee shot glows through the night in an arc, and you find the ball again even in the rough again, because it glows by itself. Many driving ranges also use glow balls for evening events, because the hitting area is illuminated anyway.
A typical misconception: glow balls behave like normal balls. They do not. The hard construction with the glowing core costs feel, spin and a few metres of length, especially on the green and in the short game. So do not reach for them as a secret trick to turn your evening round into a handicap round. For serious training at dusk, a bright marking pen on a normal ball is the better choice.
FAQ
Am I allowed to play an official round with glow balls?
No, glow balls do not comply with the equipment rules and are not allowed in stroke play rounds or tournaments. They are purely event and fun equipment for night golf after nightfall. For serious training at dusk, a bright marking pen on a normal ball is the better choice.
Do glow balls play like normal golf balls?
No, the hard construction with the glowing core costs feel, spin and a few metres of length, especially on the green and in the short game. The difference is clearly noticeable on every putt. So do not reach for them as a secret trick for your handicap round.
What types of glow balls are there?
There are three common designs: balls with an LED in the core that switch on through the impact of the stroke, balls with a shell for inserting glow sticks, and phosphorescent balls that you charge up with a lamp beforehand. You will find all three again in the rough too, because they glow by themselves. For evening events on floodlit ranges and shortened holes, they are the standard equipment.