First off, we need to know what hail is. Hail is a type of precipitation in the form of small balls or lumps usually consisting of concentric layers of clear ice and compact snow, as defined by Merriam-Webster. This is caused when the air mass is unstable which happens when temperatures falloff. Hailstones can be up to 5+ inches in diameter. Because of the size that hail can get up to, this is why hail is taken so seriously. Factors such as wind, size, what materials the property is made of if there are any barriers and density add up to how much damage hail can do. Hail has the ability to just splatter or even crack windows. After a hail storm, checking around your property is a good idea. Often it depends on the materials such as shingle surfaces being damaged or a type of metal with dents. Having a professional look at your property can prevent further damages from happening. The dents or dings do not seem as significant as a broken window but they can evolve and become bigger than they seem to be at that moment. Identifying damaged property and contacting your insurance agent about having a professional check does not hurt to prevent further damages.
On average, it takes a 1″+ in diameter of a hailstone to cause damage to common asphalt shingles. Below are what the sizes of hail are indicated as:
Pea = 1/4-inch in diameter
Marble = 1/2-inch in diameter
Dime or penny = 3/4-inch in diameter (hail the size of a penny or larger is considered severe)
Nickel = 7/8-inch
Quarter = 1 inch
Golf Ball = 1½  inches
Tennis Ball = 2½ inches
Baseball = 2¾ inches
Teacup = 3 inches
Softball = 4 inches
