How to Engrave Golf Balls With a UV Laser

If you're looking for a quick and easy way to make money with your UV laser engraver, engraving golf balls is one of the best options. It's actually very easy to do; it takes just about a minute once everything is set up in LightBurn, and it isn't costly at all. Apart from the cost of the balls themselves, there are no repeat expenses involved.
Engraving golf balls was one of the easier projects I attempted with my UV laser, and it didn't take me long to figure out.

Engraving Golf Balls With a UV Laser Engraver: Step-By-Step

The process of engraving a golf ball with a laser engraver is quite simple: you create a jig to hold the ball, prepare your design in LightBurn, input the settings, and let the UV laser engraver do the engraving. If you are engraving a laser ball for the first time with a UV laser, here is what to keep in mind:

• The most demanding step will be creating the jig so that the measurements are accurate
• Using the right settings is very important: if the engraving is too deep, it will compromise the material integrity of the golf ball.

Step 1: Create a Jig to Hold the Ball

The purpose of a jig when engraving golf balls is to secure the ball in place so it doesn't roll around during engraving. 
Even a small shift mid-engraving can blur the design or throw off the alignment, so a solid, repeatable jig is what makes the difference between a clean result and a wasted ball.
Your goal is to create a rectangular platform with 5 holes: one in the middle to hold the ball, and one at each of the four corners to secure the jig onto your UV engraving machine's platform. Here's how to build one:

• At the center of the workspace (where the laser beam comes down), place a piece of paper. 
• Mark the four corner holes in the platform below the edges of the paper on each side; these are the holes you'll later drill and screw bolts into to keep the jig in place.
• Then, go back to the center point where the laser beam hits the paper, mark it (I use an X), and carefully measure the distance from that center point to each of the outer corner holes. 
• Take these measurements carefully, since you'll need to enter them into LightBurn.

Step 2: Import Your Dimensions Into LightBurn

1. Open LightBurn and start with a blank canvas.
2. Draw a circle at the center of the canvas; this represents the center of the jig where you'll place the golf ball.
3. Duplicate that circle and position a copy at each of the four corners, following the dimensions you measured on paper.
4. Draw a rectangular outline connecting all five holes.

You should end up with a rectangular outline in LightBurn containing five holes, each positioned according to the measurements on your piece of paper. Make small adjustments if your laser doesn't come down exactly at the center of your workspace.

Step 3: Cut the physical jig

•  I usually cut my jig from a piece of ¼-inch plywood, using my OMTech Polar Lite 55W CO2 laser engraver to cut it out.
• Position the jig on your machine: Center the jig on the workspace, where the laser comes down, then hand-tighten the bolts on each side. Place the ball in the middle hole and focus the laser to the height of the ball.

Step 4: Choose Your Design and Settings

There are three types of designs you can engrave on a golf ball with a UV laser: simple text, logos, and images. 
Of the three, simple text is the most common and easiest to do. Logos are pretty common too, while images are relatively rare.

i. How to Engrave Text on a Golf Ball

Start by turning off the jig's output in LightBurn. That way it's still visible for alignment, but you can't accidentally alter its dimensions or structure.
Drop your text into the workspace and center it so it aligns with the middle of the jig, where the ball will sit. Then adjust your settings to the following:

Cross-check everything one last time, then send it to the laser to engrave. The process takes about a minute and produces clear text on the golf ball.

If you want darker engraving, you can reduce the line interval (LPI); a smaller interval packs the engraving lines closer together, which deepens the contrast. But it's not recommended to go too low, as the extra passes add heat and can compromise the ball's structural integrity.

ii. How to Engrave a Logo on a Golf Ball

• Import your logo into LightBurn and center it so it aligns with the middle of the jig where the ball will sit, just like you did when engraving simple text.
• Adjust the size of the logo; you can go up to 22 mm², but beyond that you may start to see some distortion.

• The settings for engraving a logo are the same as for text:

Send everything to the laser engraver and start the engraving. It should take about a minute.

Engraving a Photo on a Golf Ball

• Import your photo into LightBurn and place it at the center of the jig outline. Adjust the size to about 18-19 mm².
• Use Stucki dithering for rendering, since UV lasers generally can't engrave greyscale directly; dithering converts the photo into a pattern of tiny dots that simulates shading using only "on" and "off" laser pulses.
• Then adjust your settings as follows:

Send everything to the laser engraver and start the engraving. It should take about a minute.

Engraving Text vs. Logo vs. Photo on Golf Balls: What's the Difference?

The main differences between engraving text, logos, and photos onto a golf ball come down to design size and settings:

• With text and logos, the design can be as large as 22-23 mm², but photos need to be smaller, usually 18-19 mm².
• The settings for logos and text are the same, while photos require different settings, as shown above.

What Kind of UV Laser Do You Need to Engrave Golf Balls?

To engrave golf balls, you need a UV laser with the right wavelength and sufficient, but not overbearing, power. These are the two most important considerations when choosing a UV laser engraver for golf balls:

• Wavelength: It must be exactly 355nm. This is the standard wavelength for ultraviolet marking machines, and it's what allows the laser to mark plastics and coatings through a photochemical reaction rather than by burning them with heat.
• Power output: It should be within 3-5W. You don't need a high-wattage machine like a 20W fiber laser, because UV light has a high absorption rate in plastics; a low-power beam is already enough to leave a clean mark, and going higher just increases the risk of damaging the ball.

What Are the Best Golf Balls for UV Laser Engraving? White vs Colored Golf Balls

If you want the cleanest, highest-contrast results, look for premium, tour-level golf balls with urethane covers. Urethane is a softer, more UV-reactive material, so it reacts better to the UV beam and marks with sharper contrast than cheaper Surlyn hard-shelled balls, which are more resistant to marking.

White golf balls also engrave best. It is possible to engrave colored golf balls (like pink, green, or orange), but the results are rarely very visible, since the engraving ends up close to the same color as the ball itself.

Safety and Quality Tips for Laser Engraving Golf Balls

• If you're working with a sports golf ball made of polymer or urethane, keep in mind that excessive heat can melt or distort the cover.
• Always keep the power low. Start with lower power and higher speeds to take advantage of the "cold processing" nature of UV light. Unlike CO2 or fiber lasers, which mark through heat, UV light breaks molecular bonds directly, which is what lets it leave a mark without generating much heat, but that advantage disappears if the power is pushed too high, so it helps prevent deep burns or surface bubbling to keep it low.
• Always run heavy exhaust or wear a respirator mask, since vaporizing plastics, coatings, or paints releases toxic and harsh fumes.
• Use a dedicated fume extractor. UV lasers generally do a good job minimizing burning, but vaporizing golf ball plastic still releases micro-toxins and chlorine solids that are highly corrosive to both your lungs and your machine components.

Yes. Based on your blog, I’d recommend an FAQ section that targets high-intent, long-tail searches around UV laser golf ball engraving without simply repeating the step-by-step content.

Key Points and Frequently Asked Questions About UV Laser Engraving Golf Balls

1. Can you engrave golf balls with a UV laser?

Yes, you can engrave golf balls with a UV laser. A 355nm UV laser is particularly well suited for marking golf ball covers because it can create precise marks with relatively little heat. This makes it possible to engrave text, logos, and even photos without significantly damaging the ball when the correct settings are used.

2. What type of laser is best for engraving golf balls?

A 355nm UV laser engraver is generally the best choice for engraving golf balls. A low-power UV laser in the 3–5W range can produce clean, detailed marks on golf ball covers while minimizing heat buildup. UV lasers are especially useful for materials such as plastics and urethane that can be damaged by excessive heat.

3. What golf balls are best for UV laser engraving?

Premium golf balls with urethane covers generally produce the best results with UV laser engraving. Urethane responds well to UV marking and can produce sharper contrast than harder Surlyn-covered balls. White golf balls are also preferable because the engraved area is typically easier to see.

4. What can you engrave on a golf ball with a UV laser?

You can engrave text, logos, names, numbers, and photos on golf balls with a UV laser. Text and logos are the most common applications because they are easier to align and produce clear, consistent results. Photos can also be engraved using dithering techniques such as Stucki dithering.

5. How long does it take to laser engrave a golf ball?

A UV laser can engrave a golf ball in approximately one minute once the jig, design, and laser settings are prepared. The actual engraving time depends on the design, size, and settings, with photos generally requiring different parameters from simple text or logos.

6. What settings should I use to engrave text on a golf ball?

A starting point for engraving text on a golf ball with a UV laser is 1000 mm/s speed, 15 kHz frequency, and a 0.002 line interval. These settings should be treated as a starting point rather than universal values, since results can vary depending on the golf ball material and specific UV laser.

7. Can you engrave a logo on a golf ball with a UV laser?

Yes. Logos can be engraved on golf balls using a UV laser and LightBurn. For the setup described in this guide, logos can be engraved at up to approximately 22–23 mm² without significant distortion. The same basic settings used for text can be used as a starting point for logos.

8. Can you engrave a photo on a golf ball?

Yes, but engraving photos requires different settings and preparation than engraving text or logos. Because UV lasers do not directly engrave conventional grayscale images, dithering can be used to convert the image into a pattern of dots. Stucki dithering is one option for creating photo-like results on a golf ball.

9. Do you need a jig to laser engrave golf balls?

A jig is strongly recommended because golf balls are round and can easily move during engraving. A properly aligned jig keeps the ball stationary and makes it easier to position text, logos, or images consistently. It also allows you to repeat the same engraving setup across multiple golf balls.

10. Can you engrave colored golf balls with a UV laser?

Yes, colored golf balls can be engraved with a UV laser, but the result may have less visible contrast than engraving a white golf ball. White golf balls are generally the easiest option for producing clearly visible marks, while colors such as pink, green, and orange may produce more subtle results depending on the cover material.

Final Thoughts on Laser Engraving Golf Balls with a Laser Engraver

Engraving golf balls with a UV laser is a straightforward project once you have the right setup. The jig is the part that takes the most care to get right, since accurate measurements are what make alignment repeatable every time. 
Beyond that, it's really just a matter of matching your design type, text, logo, or photo, to the correct size and settings, then letting the laser do the work. 
With a 355nm, 3-5W UV laser, a properly built jig, and the settings above, you'll have clean, professional-looking engraved golf balls in about a minute each, a simple, low-cost project with strong potential as a side business.

You may also be interested in the different ways you can combine UV printing and laser cutting to make even more unique and marketable projects and ideas.