Have you ever had your golf cart go dead on you in the middle of a round? If not, take my word for it; it’s a rough experience. A lot of times, when this happens, a faulty controller is to blame.

My cart went dead on the 17th hole at a golf course in Indiana. I had no idea how it happened but thankfully, one of the course marshalls drove by and radioed for help. I had to hitch a ride with him back to the pro shop and didn’t get to finish my round.

A bad controller could be the culprit if your golf cart starts acting up on you while on the course. Here are 8 common signs to look for and some possible solutions.

If you feel uncomfortable trying any of these methods, there’s no shame in finding a golf cart mechanic in your area. Ask the folks in the pro shop about the issue since they usually have a maintenance person on staff that fixes their club cars.

1. The Golf Cart Slows Down Out of Nowhere

Have you ever been cruising on the course at top speed, and your golf cart unexpectedly slows down? This can happen even if the accelerator pedal is pushed all the way down, and it is one of the common symptoms of a bad golf cart controller.

A sudden slowdown can toss your golf bag out of the cart or, worse, cause you or your passenger to be thrown from the cart. That’s why it’s important to troubleshoot this type of problem as soon as possible.

How to Troubleshoot: Sometimes, there’s a communication problem between the speed controller and the speed sensor. If you start slowing down abruptly, the best thing to do is to pull off the cart path to get out of harm’s way. Unexpected slow downs can cause accidents if the person operating the golf cart behind you doesn’t react quickly enough.

After finding a secluded area away from other golfers, hit the Tow Mode button. After doing this, check the battery and all of the wires to see if you can pinpoint the root of the problem.

2. The Cart’s Not Going as Fast as It Should Be

Does your golf cart seem to be losing speed? It could mean your controller is slowly going bad. This is similar to problem #1 but is usually more of a gradual slowing than a sudden one.

How to Troubleshoot: Get to a safe place as soon as possible. After safely parking the golf cart, inspect all the wires. If none of the cables are loose, try hitting the Reset button to see if that fixes the issue.

If neither of these solutions works, it’s best to let a mechanic take a look or go ahead and order a replacement controller.

3. Your Golf Cart Won’t Start

Hopefully, this problem happens before your round starts so that you can rent a cart from the pro shop. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Whether you have an electric cart or a gas golf cart, not being able to get it started is a major pain!

How to Troubleshoot: If you have an electric golf cart and notice a click when you turn the key, the problem is more than likely one of the electrical components. If you have a gasoline cart, it could be a battery issue. If there’s no clicking sound when you turn the key, it could be a problem with the solenoid or the starter.

If your cart is electrical, make sure all of the battery packs are fully charged. If they’re not, let them sit on the charger for a while. If that’s not the issue, check all the battery cables to ensure there isn’t any corrosion or damage.

For a gasoline cart, you want to follow the same procedure for the battery. If that’s not the issue, make sure your cart just simply isn’t out of gas. A lot of times, the gas gauge can go bad and give you a misreading.

4. The Cart Keeps Stalling Out of The Blue

This problem is scary and dangerous when it happens! You’ll just be driving along thinking everything is fine, only to have your golf cart suddenly stall. Though your cart may start back up when this happens, you need to get to a safe place as soon as possible to troubleshoot the issue.

How to Troubleshoot: You need to inspect the controller for any type of damage that may be causing it to malfunction. Take a look at the ignition coil to see if you notice anything strange. If you notice any type of wire damage, attach new ones if you’re comfortable or have an experienced technician do so.

If you’re unsure of what’s causing the golf cart to stall, get it to a trained mechanic. Don’t make the mistake of simply ignoring the problem. Stalling issues never just get better on their own.

5. Sudden Speed Bursts While Driving Your Golf Cart

Have you ever been cruising around in your golf cart when out of nowhere, it starts going faster than normal? This problem may seem kind of fun at first, but it’s a sign that you may need a new controller.

When the controller starts to go bad, you may notice unexpected speed bursts, even if you only have the pedal down about halfway. It’s a scary feeling when you feel like the golf cart is driving you and not the other way around.

This sudden acceleration problem is very dangerous for both you and your fellow passengers. When these types of symptoms occur, the golf cart will often sprint forward for no apparent reason. Get off the cart path and to a deserted location before putting the cart in a neutral position for troubleshooting.

How to Troubleshoot: Before anything else, put the golf cart in Tow Mode while you check for further symptoms of controller failure. If no wires or smaller terminals appear to be loose, it’s probably time for a new controller.

6. The Steering Wheel Starts Shaking

If you’re ever driving on the course and notice any shaking or vibrations from the steering wheel, it could be time to replace the controller. Even if you don’t notice a ton of vibration in the wheel, you may hear an unusual amount of club chatter from your golf bag. This is because the golf cart is stuttering.

How to Troubleshoot: Any type of shaking or stuttering usually comes down to either a bad controller or a faulty throttle sensor. Switch the maintenance switch to Tow Mode and take the black wire out of the battery for maximum safety.

If all wires are firmly connected, try recharging your battery. If that doesn’t fix the issue, replace the controller or have an expert examine it.

7. Controller Doesn’t Show Any Voltage

If no volts are registering on your controller’s voltmeter, it may be time for a replacement. However, this problem could have a simple solution, so don’t panic.

Try resetting your controller by completing the below steps. A controller is like your computer; it needs to be rebooted every so often for peak performance.

How to Troubleshoot: Resetting the controller is a rather simple process. Turn the key switch into the OFF position and put your golf cart in neutral. Put the tow switch into low.

Take the negative battery cable out of the battery set. Flip the tow switch to RUN and flip the reverse switch. Turn the key switch to the ON slot. You’ve now successfully reset your controller.

8. The Operation Light Starts Flashing Repeatedly

This is another telltale sign of a controller that’s starting to go bad. Most golf carts have an operation light that flashes a code when there’s something wrong. If the light starts flashing like crazy, pull over and research what the code means.

How To Troubleshoot: Seeing the operation light come on is never a good feeling. However, there’s no reason to panic. The controller may just need to be reset as we did in symptom No. 7.

Try resetting the controller first. If that doesn’t clear the code, you may need to consider buying a new controller. If you don’t feel comfortable changing it out yourself, take your golf cart to a licensed mechanic.

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

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Are you constantly hitting a snap hook off the tee? 

Do your iron shots miss to the left also? 

If so, you may be suffering the effects of a left hand golf grip that is too strong.

If your left hand is gripping the golf club too strong, it can cause issues with your golf game. Learn more about what causes this problem and how to fix it. Having a good grip is essential if you want to improve as a golfer.

What is a Strong Left Handed Golf Grip?

There is an easy way to tell if you have a strong left handed golf grip. Take your normal grip on the golf club and line up like you are about to take a full golf swing. While in the address position, count how many knuckles you can see on your left hand.

If you can see three knuckles or more on your left hand, you have a strong left hand golf grip. Beginner golfers are often taught by golf instructors to employ a strong left hand grip with the hopes that it will help them avoid a slice. To make a strong left-hand grip work, the golfer must use a ton of body rotation.

How a Strong Left Hand Grip Can be Problematic

Though there are several pro golfers on the PGA Tour that use a strong left hand grip, it won’t work well for the majority of beginner golfers. Here is why a strong left hand grip can be problematic.

1. It Can Cause Golfers to Hook the Golf Ball

Probably the most common problem of using a left hand grip that is too strong is hooking the ball. Why does this happen?

When a strong grip is used, the left wrist often snaps the clubface shut just before making contact with the golf ball. This causes the ball to go left most of the time and results in inaccurate shots and lots of frustration.

2. Lower Ball Flight

Golfers who prefer stronger grips often hit the ball much lower than folks who use a neutral grip or a weak grip. This happens because a strong grip delofts the golf club, which naturally causes a much lower ball flight.

A lower ball flight may not sound like that big of a deal, especially when talking about the larger golf clubs like the driver and fairway woods. However, a lower ball flight can impede a golfer’s ability to hit accurate iron shots. This is especially true with the wedge shots that are close to the green.

3. Short Game Problems

Another huge problem that a strong golf grip can cause has to do with the golfer’s short game. Many golfers who use a strong left hand grip have a hard time hitting accurate chip and pitch shots. It’s tough to generate enough spin on all short game shots when using a strong grip.

As with a full golf swing, the wrist position with a strong grip delofts the club. This makes it difficult to hit any type of high chip shot. A strong grip also makes the clubface harder to control which is very detrimental to the short game.

How to Fix It

If you are hitting the golf ball just fine with a strong left hand grip and shooting low scores, don’t mess with what you are doing. There is no reason to fix something that is working well for you. 

However, if you’re fighting a hook, hitting the ball too low, or struggling with your chipping, here’s how to fix your grip.

1. Put the Left-Hand Knuckles in Neutral Position

Instead of having three or more knuckles on the left hand visible at address, try weakening your grip slightly so that only two knuckles can be seen. If you can see two to two and a half knuckles at address, this is a neutral left-hand grip, which is our goal.

With a strong left hand grip, you won’t be able to see your left thumb because it is tucked on the other side of the shaft. However, with a neutral left-hand grip, you should be able to see your left thumb.

2. Use the Correct Right-Hand Grip

Instead of seeing no knuckles on the right hand like with a strong grip, you should see one or one and a half knuckles when moving to a neutral grip. This will make it much easier to use either an interlocking grip or an overlap grip style.

3. Check the V’s

When working on a grip change, it’s vitally important to check which way your V’s are pointing. Not sure what we mean by V’s?

When gripping the golf club, each index finger and thumb form a V shape. If your hands are in a truly neutral position, the V of both hands will point at your right shoulder.

4. Practice, Practice, PRACTICE!

Undergoing a grip change is a tremendous challenge, especially if you have been using the same type of grip for years. The best way to get comfortable with a new grip is to spend more time at the driving range.

PGA Tour legends like Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods all went through grip changes at various points in their illustrious careers. You can bet they each spent countless hours on the practice range while getting used to their new grip.

Mike Noblin

Mike has been involved with sports for over 30 years. He’s been an avid golfer for more than 10 years and is obsessed with watching the Golf Channel and taking notes on a daily basis. He also holds a degree in Sports Psychology.

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When you drop $50 on a box of premium Titleist Pro V1s, you pray and hope they will last forever. We know how the story ends. 

You lose one 3 holes later and regret spending top dollar on urethane golf balls. That depends on whether the ball doesn’t spoil first. In this article, I answer the question, do golf balls ever go bad?

In addition, I will teach you how to determine what shape your ball is in. Plus, I detail tips to help you extend the lifespan of your golf ball to reduce unwanted expenses.

Do Golf Balls Go Bad?

In short, yes golf balls do go bad. Sometimes you’ll notice that your ball will stop flying or spinning consistently. That’s one of the telltale signs that it’s time to replace your ball. 

How to Tell If Your Golf Balls Have Gone Bad

The reality is that you will likely lose a golf ball before you notice wear and tear. However, if you can hold on to the same ball for more than one round, this list helps you identify when to toss it out.

Scuffing And Degradation

You can detect visible damage on the surface of your ball with ease. First, check for scratches and scuffs on the surface. These reduce your grooves ability to grip the ball and produce optimal ball speed and spin.

Golf ball covers are predominantly crafted from urethane and surlyn. Urethane is a softer cover typically applied to premium golf balls. However, these covers scuff easily if they strike a cart path or bunker.

Surlyn covers alone boast superior durability. That picture changes when ionomer polymers partner with urethane. Entry-level 3-piece construction golf balls often contain solid rubber cores, urethane outer casing, and surlyn cover. These three features weaken the surlyn and cause it to be as susceptible to scuffs as urethane.

A 2005 report by Golf Digest suggested that a minor scuff could reduce your distance by approximately 6-yards.

When this occurs, it leads to the reduced aerodynamics of your ball. That causes it to fly inconsistently, increase drag and reduce carry distance.

In addition, if you have a high spinning product that releases more than usual, the ball cover may no longer produce optimal spring and compression.

Bounce 

The bounce of your ball impacts your roll on longer shots and stopping power on short strikes. Place your old golf ball in one hand and a new one in the other. The make of the new ball must be the same as the old one to compare apples with apples.

Then drop them onto a flat hard surface to see how they bounce. If the bounce is consistent with both, then your used dimples are still on point in this department, and you can put your new golf balls back into the storage compartment.

Balance 

Balance impacts aerodynamics and results in increased drag and poor flight. This leads to a lack of carry distance. If your ball is sufficiently balanced, it will travel consistently and produce optimal yards on the fly.

I don’t suggest conducting this test on the golf course because it requires water and Epsom salts. Bryson DeChambeau’s coach Mike Schy demonstrates how to carry out this test. 

Mix the salts into the water and place the ball in the liquid. Your ball should float below the surface line of the water, with the lighter side of the ball visible from the top. If your used balls do this, then their balance is in order.

Should the balls sink to the bottom, or the heavy side is on top, it is time to turf the old-timer. Grab one of your unused golf balls and tee it up.

Launch 

If your ball is struggling to get airborne or it does not fly consistently, you may need to play a new ball. When this happens, your ball is unbalanced, or outer layer dimples hamper its ability to fly long and maximize your long irons and driving distance.

Distance 

It may be time for modern golf balls when you notice your total distance dropping for no reason. A scuff alone can cause you to lose an average of 6-yards on each shot. Before you toss away your ball, make sure that it is the ball and not your inconsistent swing speeds or mechanics.

Things That Cause Your Golf Balls to Lose Performance

Water On The Clubface

A wet clubface reduces friction with your golf ball and causes your grooves to cut into the ball instead of gripping it. That leads to abrasions on the ball and permanent damage over a period of time.

Bunkers

If you spend a significant amount of time in the sand, your ball will start to scuff, especially if it has a urethane cover.

Hard And Dry Ground

When your ball strikes a cart path or a hard, dry place, it can scuff the cover and reduce its shelf life. Avoid bouncing your golf balls on hard surfaces for no reason. 

Trees

Trees, like other hard surfaces, can inflict scratches on your ball. 

Normal Wear And Tear

Those who are fortunate enough to have the same ball for several 18-hole rounds will ultimately need to toss it. Eventually, the ball will wear and tear without you causing damage.

Heat Damage

Heat damage is a rarer form of golf ball destruction, but it is still one to watch out for. If your golf ball is exposed to temperatures above 170-degrees Fahrenheit, it can cause the polymer material to melt.

Avoid this by ensuring that your storage unit is cool and dry and will not cause your balls to flair up.

How to Prolong The Life of Your Golf Balls

Wipe Your Clubface

A simple approach to boosting the lifespan of your golf balls is to wipe your clubface before every shot. Ensure you have a towel attached to your golf bag at the start of every round to rid your face of moisture.

Clean Your Ball 

A golfers ball picks up grass, mud, and general dirt during your round. If you do not wipe it off, it is further ingrained into the ball with every shot you hit. Eventually, the compressed dirt will scuff the soft cover, impacting launch, flight, and distance. So make sure to clean your golf balls regularly.

Do Not Bounce On Hard Surfaces

As tempting as it is to bounce your golf balls wherever you can, I advise you to refrain from doing so on hard surfaces. Do not throw your new golf balls and throw them onto concrete for fun. That will quickly scuff your ball and reduce its lifespan.

Hit Straighter

I know my request is outrageous, but better accuracy will help you avoid the sand traps, cart paths, and other hard, rough surfaces. Spend time at the range working on your aim and ball striking to improve your results. More time spent on the fairway equals less possible damage to your ball.

How Often You Should Replace Your Balls

An article by Golfweek suggests that a golf ball will hold its shape and performance for 7 complete 18-hole rounds. That is if you do not scuff or misconfigure your ball.

The truth is, very few average golfers will hold onto one ball for such a long period. In fact, a study by Golf Magazine found that casual golfers lose an average of 1.3 golf balls per round.

Additional Resources to Find Great Golf Balls

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years.

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