Nothing more frustrating than not being sure if the golf ball you find is the one you hit or the one a fellow player was using. I got into creating golf ball models to help make this a more enjoyable game to play and the stencils are items I use a lot.
This article covers the ongoing journey to be able to customize a golf ball using 3D printed golf ball stencils using a marker or spray paint.
This article is based on 3D printed golf ball stenciling models that I have created and that are available at 3D printed stencils and accessories on the printables.com platform.
In summary the stencil marker version is great for rapid on the golf course marking of golf balls and is faster, less prep, less materials and simpler to complete than the spray paint version. The spray paint version is more durable, looks more professional, and can handle finer detailed stencils/detailing. The best results so far are a mix of using a 0.2mm thick stencil with an ultra-fine and fine marker.
Stencils marked as “Spray Only” will not work well if using a marker due to their detailed line work. The Golf Ball Stencil holder can still be used to add alignment lines on the sides for these items.
Stencils (use marker versions)
Golf Ball (standard sized)
Sharpie (assorted colors of ultra-fine and fine)
Place stencil(s) into sides of holder
Place clean ball in holder and close (magnets should hold in place)
Draw respective lines along sides of holder (if required) with fine marker
Draw outline of stencil edges using ultrafine marker (depending on stencil used)
Draw center of stencil with fine marker
Let dry for a few min
There are some limitations related to stencil design details and also durability for this stencil marking method.
Solution for durability - lightly spray a coating of clear auto grade enamel over the stencil logo on the golf ball (this limits the on the go marking of a golf ball due to time)
Solution for durability - find a marker that is water resistant and dries quickly
Solution for design limitation -
clearly distinguish between acceptable designs for markers versus spray paint.
Reduce stencil thickness to make it easier for the marker to contact the ball in areas of very fine detail (this does make them more breakable.
Solution for design limitation - find an assortment of markers with ultra fine (not sure if these exist) to allow smaller areas to be marked
hinged version of holder requires a multi-filament printer with PETG and TPU
unhinged holder version is simpler to print
golf balls that are marked with a marker does smudge and wear off if hit
Do not use this for indoor simulator golfing since it will leave a mark on the screen
use a fine or ultrafine sharpie to accurately get logo transferred onto golf ball
Paint Spray Stencil Jig (original version)
Stencils (use spray paint specific versions for best results)
Golf Ball(s) - standard size
Colored Paint Spray (recommend enamel/acrylic)
1000-1500 grit sandpaper
Clear Varnish (high Gloss) Paint Spray(automotive grade)
Turntable (optional)
Wash golf ball and dry
Scuff ball lightly with 1000-1500 grit sandpaper to provide more adhesion of pain in stencil area
Wipe golf ball with a damp cloth and let dry
Place stencil into the golf Ball Spray paint holder
Lightly spray interior of stencil with a repositionable adhesive spray and let sit for 20-30 sec
Place golf ball onto stencil in desired orientation and close holder and secure clasp
Place spray paint system into a Spray Paint booth or in a well ventilated area
Lightly mist spray stencil from a distance of 20-30 cm (6-12 inches) and let dry until tacky (<1hr)
re-spray a 2nd and 3rd light coat of paint within an hour of first coat
remove golf ball from jig while paint is still tacky (after 10 min but <1hr after last coat)
Let golf ball dry for 24hrs to fully cure
remount golf ball into spray booth on top of paint jig (without stencil)
Spray a few light coats of clear (matte or gloss) paint over stencil area
Let golf ball dry for 24hrs to fully cure before use
The ball rotating away from preferred orientation as the holder (threaded design) is closed.
Solution - to stop the ball rotating in the holder when being closed an updated design (in testing) uses a hinge and clasp setup upon closing does not touch the golf ball until the very end when the golf ball cushion compresses the ball in the final stages of closing.
The final painted golf ball design edges are not crisp and in some cases there is paint leakage.
Solution - For paint leakage it is a matter of spraying less for that specific coating of paint which reduces that type of bleeding significantly.
Solution - for the not crisp edges need to close/reduce the gap between the golf ball and stencil.
Use a temporary sealer between the golf ball and stencil to close the gap
There are repositionable tacky adhesive sprays available (have not tried that yet) that I am looking to use to spray the interior of the golf ball stencil prior to golf ball placement to see if that works.
modify the stencil design to have the stencil to better conform to the shape of the golf ball at the stencil edge interface.
requires the stencil to be more flexible
reduce thickness of stencil at the stencil apex
the original thickness of the stencils that I printed was 0.9mm and so I tried printing at 0.8 mm thru to 0.2mm thicknesses to get to a point where I could get the best balance of stencil durability and flexibility.
the 0.2mm apex thickness stencils were as thin as I could get without the stencil fine detail areas breaking off. This required a change in supports to have smaller interfaces and when finishing the stencil required more care. I would not use these thin stencils for the marker based golf ball holder.
Once I had printed the 0.2mm thick version I also slightly flattened the stencil prior to curing to ensure that any small delicate stencil extensions were pointing more inwards. This can also be accomplished by putting the stencil in hot water post curing and flattening while it is still malleable.
use a more flexible printing resin for the stencil creation
I originally used an ABS like resin which was tough but not very flexible. I then tried the Anycubic Ultra Tough resin which has more flexibility but still can snap into the respective golf ball holders. I have not tried anything more flexible yet but looking to try a flex resin next.
Store spray paint in a warm (20C) area and ensure it is not cold when using since it flows more easily when warm
The golf ball and stencil holder need to close against each other without rotating so a clasp closure system is better than a threaded closure system.
Use a turn table to rotate the the golf ball and stencil holder allows for better coverage of spray
The golf balls are dimpled so getting the stencil to be tight against the ball is a challenge since the stencils do not conform to the dimpled shape of the golf ball. To help with this issue it is recommended that you:
stencils for spray painting need to be as thin as you can make them (0.2 mm) in the stencil area so that they can conform to the golf ball shape. This work to convert stencils to be 0.2mm thick is underway but not published yet.
print stencils in a flex material (SLA resin) to allow stencil to more easily conform to golf ball shape. I am still looking to see if a more flexible resin will give a better result. Also slightly flatten stencil apex area prior to curing or in hot water post curing to ensure delicate stencil extensions are facing inwards.
use a repositionable tacky adhesive spray on inside of stencil prior to setting ball in place and then once jig is closed squeeze outer surface f stencil against golf ball to minimize gap. I have not tried this as of this time.
I tried using the markers (ultrafine and fine) on a 0.2mm thick stencil (in a paint jig) and the end result on the test item (rugby player) came out surprisingly good. I still need to try some others designs to validate this process further.
Use a PPE certified eye protection, gas mask and gloves when spray painting
spray paint in a well ventilated environment for air quality
Jan 2026 - initial article setup and updates
Feb 2026 - updated article with marker info, updates to spray section and new images
Mar 2026 - updated article with 0.2mm thick stencil and marker results
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