Marking a Golf Ball - Golf Laser Engraving Guide&Tips

So, you want to add some serious style to your custom golf balls? We know all about cool ways to mark your golf ball. Laser engraving your golf ball is the pro move to make your set look as good as your swing (or at least, how you remember your swing). Whether it's for custom engraved golf clubs or a personalized golf ball marker, this process turns your ball into one-of-a-kind treasures. Let's talk about how it works, what you can do, and why it's the best thing for golf ball customization and beyond.

Basics for Golf Laser Engraving

A standard golf ball cover is almost always made of high-performance polyurethane or ionomer (like Surlyn). These materials are essentially special, highly durable plastics that provide a soft feel, spin control, and abrasion resistance. In broad chemical and materials classification, they belong to the "plastic" category.

Therefore, when choosing a laser, priority should be given to an Ultraviolet (UV) laser (355nm). CO2 lasers (10.6μm) and blue diode lasers (450nm) are secondary, acceptable options, but when using these, pairing them with the "blackening method" is recommended—simply coloring the area to be marked with a black marker beforehand. A fiber laser (1064nm) can also mark, but the result will be poorer than the first three, often appearing as a faint yellow mark with unpleasant odors, and may even cause the ball's surface to blister. Thus, it is not generally recommended.

Considering official golf rules, "unnatural surface alterations" to a ball may make it non-conforming for tournament play. Therefore, this laser process is more accurately described as marking rather than deep engraving—the laser merely creates a shallow surface mark for your golf ball logo. So, these customized golf balls are better suited for casual rounds, gifts, or promotional activities.

Laser Engraver for Golf Engraving

Generally, for marking plastic items, a UV laser machine is most recommended. Its extremely short wavelength and high energy are highly absorbed by the white plastic of a golf ball. It changes the material's surface color through energy without generating the high heat that melts or deforms plastic, a principle known as "cold processing." This allows for crisp, high-contrast dark marks without compromising the ball's smoothness or flight performance—ideal for custom photo golf balls or intricate logos.

If, beyond custom golf balls, you also want to engrave other equipment like golf clubs, engravable golf ball markers, or personalized golf tees, we recommend a dual laser engraver, and at EM-Smart, the EM-Smart Dual SE is your go-to choice.

Why choose a dual laser engraver? For your golf gear custom projects, a dual desktop laser engraver offers:

1. Fiber + Diode dual laser sources. The diode laser can mark on golf balls, and the fiber laser is able to mark on other golf gear, like golf clubs, metal golf ball markers, and golf tees.

2. Total creative freedom. Common custom stamps for golf balls only mark balls with single designs, while with a desktop laser engraver, as long as you have a logo or design file, you can engrave freely. Three steps to customize: import files, set parameters, and click to engrave.

3. Great efficiency. For a simple logo on a ball, this machine takes about 30 seconds per ball. With its 200×200mm work area, you can engrave 6-9 balls in one batch. (I have to acknowledge, it's a bit slower than a physical stamp for very high volumes, but far more versatile.)

4. Permanent marks. Different from ink-based golf ball stamps, laser-engraved golf balls leave a permanent mark on the surface.

5. A great side-hustle opportunity. Recently, more people are searching for ways to personalize golf balls or other customized services. Online, a customized golf ball stamp service might charge around $12 per logo. Offering personalized golf balls with a laser could let you charge a competitive $3-$4 per ball while building a brand.

How to Mark Golf Balls - Main Steps

Can you laser engrave a golf ball? Yes, and it is easy to learn. There are two ways you can choose to customize your golf balls:

1. Using a flexible fixture or sphere holder: Best for small-area marking. A golf ball is a 3D curve. With a fixed laser head, only a small area at the top is in perfect focus. As marking extends, the surface moves out of the focal range, causing the "fading pattern" effect due to defocus.

2. Using a rotary attachment: This is the key to full, consistent coverage. The laser head moves on the X-axis while the rotary spins the ball on the A-axis. This keeps the surface constantly within the optimal focal distance, ensuring uniform, sharp, and consistent golf ball markings.