What Does Soaking Golf Balls in Epsom Salt Do?

Soaking a golf ball in Epsom salt is a classic trick golfers use to find its center of gravity. This article will show you exactly how to perform this test, explain the theory behind it, and most importantly, give you a coach’s verdict on whether it’s a worthwhile use of your time in the modern game.

The Theory: Why Soaking Golf Balls Makes Sense (on Paper)

You’ve seen it on golf forums or heard it from an old-timer in the clubhouse: to find a perfectly balanced golf ball, you need to float it in salt water. The core idea behind this practice is rooted in simple physics. No manufacturing process is absolutely perfect, and the theory suggests that some golf balls might have an imbalanced core or an uneven distribution of material. This tiny imperfection makes one side of the ball fractionally heavier than the other.

You wouldn't notice this by just holding it, but when suspended in a dense fluid - like a concentrated solution of Epsom salt and water - gravity takes over. The heaviest point of the ball will naturally rotate downwards, towards the bottom of the container. The lightest point of the ball will, therefore, be at the very top, pointing towards the surface of the water.

The logic then follows that if you can identify this "light side" or the ball's true equator, you can use that knowledge on the greens. By marking a line around this equator and aiming that line directly at the hole when you putt, you can prevent the ball from wobbling or veering off-line due to its imbalance. In essence, you’re taking the ball’s minor imperfection out of the equation, ensuring a truer roll. This, in theory, should lead to more holed putts and greater consistency. It sounds compelling, and it’s why this DIY method has stuck around for so long.

How to Balance Your Golf Balls: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you're curious and want to try this test for yourself, it's a simple experiment. You can test your entire bag of balls in under an hour. Here's exactly what to do.

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

You don't need much to get started, and you likely have most of these items already.

• A clear container: A tall, clear glass or plastic container works best so you can see the ball from the side. A pint glass is a good size.
• Epsom Salt: You will need quite a bit of this. A standard 1-2 pound bag from the pharmacy or grocery store will be more than enough. Regular table salt can work, but Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) dissolves easily and is very effective at creating a dense solution.
• Warm Water: Using warm water will help the salt dissolve much faster than cold water.
• A waterproof marker: A fine-tipped permanent marker, like a Sharpie, is perfect.
• A spoon or stirring rod: For mixing the solution.
• Your golf balls: The test subjects!

Step 2: Create the Saline Solution

The goal is to make the water dense enough for a golf ball to float. A golf ball has a density slightly higher than plain water, which is why it sinks. By adding salt, you increase the water’s density.

1. Fill your container about three-quarters full with warm water.
2. Begin adding Epsom salt to the water, a few tablespoons at a time, stirring continuously with your spoon.
3. Keep adding salt and stirring until no more salt will dissolve. You'll see undissolved salt crystals settling at the bottom of the container. This is a sign you've created a saturated solution, which is exactly what you want.
4. To test it, gently drop a golf ball into the container. If it floats with about the top quarter or third showing above the surface, your solution is perfect. If it sinks, you need to add more salt. If it bobs too high (more than half the ball is out of the water), add a little more water to dilute the solution slightly.

Step 3: Float and Settle the Ball

Now for the main event. Place one golf ball into the solution. It will bob around for a moment before settling. To ensure you have found its true resting point, give it a gentle flick or spin with your finger a few times. Let it come to a complete stop.

If the ball is truly imbalanced, it should return to the exact same orientation every single time you spin it. The heavy side will always be pulled down by gravity. Give it two or three spins. If it consistently settles with the same spot facing up, you’ve likely found an imbalanced ball. If it settles in random orientations, the ball is either well-balanced or the imbalance is too minuscule to detect with this method.

Step 4: Mark the "Equator"

Once you’re confident the ball has found its resting orientation, it's time to mark it. With the ball floating completely still, take your fine-tipped permanent marker and place a small dot right on the top - the highest point facing directly up. This is the ball's lightest point.

For putting, many golfers prefer a line rather than a dot. Carefully draw a line around the "equator" of the floating ball while it’s in the water. This line represents the side-on, balanced center. When you place this ball on the green, you will align this line with your target line to promote a smooth, wobble-free roll.

Step 5: Rinse and Repeat

Carefully remove the marked golf ball and rinse it under fresh water to remove the salty residue. Let it dry completely. Now, repeat the process for all the other golf balls you want to test. You might be surprised to find that most of your premium golf balls show no consistent settling point, while some older or found balls may show a clear bias.

Does It Actually Work? The Modern Manufacturing Verdict

So, we've walked through the process. It's easy enough to do. But now for the million-dollar question every golfer should ask: is this worth my time? As a coach, this is where I urge players to look past the anecdotal evidence and consider the reality of modern golf equipment.

The Evolution of Golf Ball Manufacturing

The Epsom salt test was most relevant decades ago, back in the era of wound golf balls. These balls had a small rubber core with miles of rubber thread tightly wound around it and a soft cover. With so many components, it was common for the core to be slightly off-center, leading to noticeable imbalances that could affect a putt.

Today, however, the story is completely different. Modern multi-layer, solid-core golf balls from major brands like Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, and Bridgestone are made with extremely precise, computer-controlled processes. The quality control is phenomenal. Cores are perfectly centered, and layers are applied with incredible uniformity. The probability of buying a sleeve of premium balls with a significant balance issue is now exceedingly low. Top manufacturers conduct far more sensitive tests than our kitchen-counter salt bath. For a premium ball to be seriously "out of round" or imbalanced is almost unthinkable today.

Are You Measuring the Core or the Cover?

Even if you find a ball that consistently settles in one position, what are you actually measuring? Some argue that what the salt bath reveals isn't an off-center core, but rather tiny inconsistencies in the cover. A slightly thicker application of paint on one side or the sheer weight of the ink from a large company logo could theoretically be enough to influence how the ball orients itself in dense water. While this is an imbalance, it’s so infinitesimal that it would have no measurable impact on the roll of a putt under real-world conditions.

A Coach's Perspective: A Far Better Use of Your Time

Frankly, spending an afternoon testing balls for imbalances that likely don't exist and wouldn't affect performance if they did is a pursuit of diminishing - or nonexistent - returns. As your coach, I would advise you to put the salt back in the cupboard and invest that time where it truly counts: your practice.

The quest for a "perfectly balanced" golf ball often comes from a desire to find a silver bullet - a secret trick that will suddenly fix your putting. The truth is, that secret doesn't exist in equipment, it exists in fundamentals. If you really want to hole more putts and lower your score, spend that hour focusing on these areas instead:

• Perfect Your Alignment: Most missed putts by amateur golfers are due to poor alignment, not a wobbly ball. Use an alignment aid, a chalk line, or even just two tees to create a gate, forcing you to start your ball on the intended line.
• Dial In Your Speed Control: Distance control is the single most important skill in putting. Practice lag putting from 30, 40, and 50 feet. Getting your first putt close is the key to eliminating three-putts, which will save you far more strokes than a "balanced" ball ever could.
• Develop a Consistent Stroke: Work on maintaining a steady tempo and a square clubface through impact. The best putting strokes are repeatable, and that repeatability comes from mindful practice, not from finding a magic ball. Record your stroke on your phone to check for any unwanted movement.

Confidence on the greens doesn't come from wondering if your ball is balanced. It comes from knowing your aim is true, your stroke is solid, and your speed is dialed in. That kind of confidence is earned on the practice green, not in a glass of salt water.

Final Thoughts

Soaking golf balls in Epsom salt is an interesting piece of golf lore and a fun science experiment, but it's a practice whose time has passed. With the stunning precision of today's golf ball manufacturing, the chance of finding a faulty ball is tiny, and your time is better spent sharpening the skills that truly impact your score.

Concentrating on a sound strategy is always more beneficial than relying on quick fixes that don't hold up. We designed Caddie AI for this very reason - to give you accessible, expert-level advice on the course. Instead of wondering about factors that likely don't matter, you can get instant guidance on club selection, strategy for a tough hole, or how to play a tricky lie, letting you focus on execution and play with genuine confidence.