The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-26
TO SAVE ON GOLF BALLS.
hints In View of the Advanced Price of
Gutta PrrchR.


Gutta Prrcha.
An advance OF IL per cent. has been made
during the week In the retail price OF one brand
or golf ball aud similar advance 10 pre-
dicted by tho local dealers on all the
grades a. a development o! the spring
trade. The balls that now retail for
$3.50 dozen will sell tor $500 and
there will be corresponding advance In the
price Of the balls that now sell for 81. 90 box
The dealers here state that the advance Ia
forced on them by the increased prices charged
by the maI"rs In Great britain. who Justify
themselves by the statement that there Is u
shortneSs in IN" visible supply OF gutta percha.
caused By the unprecedented demand for tho
product for submarine cable aud other electri-
cal work In which gutta percha Ia used
20 FAR as known. the strlngency in the Rutta
pcrcha market will not Affect the prices Of the
American made golf balls. at least for tho COM
ing year. in which. II is stated. the proportion
OF pure gutta percha IL somewhat less than In
the mported balls. The immediate results in
the advance in cost OF gutta percha In the
LnglIsh market seems to be tho endeavor to
make popular ab road a smaller ball. but OF full
weight. and to stimulate the efforts to procure
less expensive substitute.
In the days OF the feather and leather balls
the standard was weight, but now the standard
is size. Those who made the balls OF three
pieces OF leather tightly packed with feathers.
found 1t impossible to produce a uniformity
In size. so that each ball was weighed AMI
marked with pen and ink. from which custom
the present trade marks OF 81. 27h and -
pennyweigEts is derived. Tho metal
monedo at present permit exact measure
ments In size. tho ball most In use.
marked 27h. measuring about ~ inches
In diameter In asking for a 27b ball the
player Ia guided by the size. AMI he does not
weighs He ,casSihes on the same basis a
~ ball as too big and ~ bail as too small.
TS by SSie the ball inches
has become the proper ono for matches aud
Aside rom size. resiliency and durability arc
the points that move player in putting his
10 tn in one brand rather thnn IN another In
use Of new balls than they are abroad. whore
/ those that have been remn! are not only gem
| orally used in Informal play but the tnsk o.
rrmaKInR them, and OF rerainting battered
balls. Is u regular occupation for many ANA
tours in their idle hours, Aside from any ex-
ara ma more balls lost on the links here. VIII, re-
the region Just on tho course is too often
Or rank gran ,hrn on
and. too, whather from poorer lies or worse
play. our players hack the ball more
account II j. timely. parhaps, in view of thu in
creasing value OF the golf ball. for our players
to learn now 10 make tn' III itldl outlay ne ol IA
, much value to them ~ possible. by practicng
tho repainiing or remaRing OF the original
| stock OF halls.
In planning out the work the golfer, as pre-
| liminary, must garner up the balls hc has
| used In their first bloom and sort them into
| others must go into the remaking pile. When
| remaining only Is to be attempted the work Ia
' very simple To achieve the hest results the
| old paint should be removed by soaking the
, balls over night IN n solution OF cnustic soda.
The next operation is to brush out any paint or
| dirt which may remain In the grooves. wear
| ing rubber gloves 10 protect the hands. and
| next the balls should be washed with soap and
cold water, They may be- left to dry Tor day
then a thin coating ~ paint Is rubbed on with
| the palms Of the hands.
| Paint In pound tins Is sold at the stores ready
to uso on golf balls, The best way 10 dry tho
! balls is to place them on Il large tray, the
| the slight marks made by standing. After
| three coats the balls will he as good as pew IN
! looks. and. according to same, better in flight
| and hardness than when new. After the third
kept as long as needed. Care must be- taken
| not to put the paint on too thick.
| KemaEinR bal Ia is n harder task. After
cleansing them from old paint they are put in "a
| n pot OF boiling water. When the gutta percha
| Ia thoroughly soft, the ball IL worked about IN
ready Tor the mould This should be for a bn
smaller than the original one In size, to allow
| for waste in trimming The moulds are Of
tachment and cost from sis to 500 Tor an out.
1T. The ball should he rubbed slightly with
vasoline. or some other lubricant. and then
placed In the mould aud under, pressure for
about Ave minutes, From the mould the ball
IA dropped into perfectly cold water and then
Il ls,Yf m m n.