Used Golf Balls…Thumbs up or down?

[SV677]

 I have bought used balls from LostGolfBalls.com for years. I have bought both Mint condition and Refinished. (They guarantee the refinished ball is what it says it is. If it's a Pro V1, it is a Pro V1, not a lesser ball). I had one instance with Mint balls that had 4 or 5 lesser balls, but usually that was not the case. The Refinished balls have been excellent and I can't tell the difference from new other than they are all numbered 1. The price of the refinished balls beat the DTC balls by a mile and the Mint balls are still a better price. 

 

[Everardo]

8 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

I did it once and it was okay, but I don't intend on ever doing it again. With so many good DTC brands like Vice and more which have great deals on golf balls that perform really well there is little to no need to buy used golf balls where there is the uncertainty of the true quality or how old/long they have been lost and found for.

What he said There's so many good and affordable choices of quality balls out there that I don't see the appeal of used golf balls anymore. 

[ChuckZ]

If you loose a lot of golf balls during a round or use them to practice.  Could be the answer.  Go for it.    Where I play most of the guys find theirs's on the course.  Play in a senior men's league.  

[Golfnut0226]

1 hour ago, Ramon Rivera said:

I’ve bought used balls and have so far had a good experience. Especially when I purchase balls listed as in “mint” condition. I’ve purchased premium make golf balls at up to $20 dollars less than what these are listed for in the commercial market. I agree that Vice and others make excellent golf balls, but so far I give a thumbs up to purchasing off the used market. 

copuldn't agree more and they seem to go in the woods just as good

[Jim OMarra]

Just do a simple Google search and you will find a number of tests using robots that show that used ball perform just as well as new ones. And of course, at a way lower cost, or free if you're a good ball hunter.

 

PS. I'm not in the business of selling used balls.

[garyt1957]

 I personally buy used balls but only local from marketplace. I've found guys who live on a course and the balls were hit in their yard and surrounding areas, no water balls. Cheap, no shipping charges and haven't had any problems.

[Msnarr84]

Echoing some of what's been said above; I get pro v1s from LostGolfBalls.com for year round general play, also sticking with "Mint" condition. There's obviously some variability to be expected but on my normal weekend rounds I'm ok with that. If I get one that is scuffed up or feels/looks odd, I throw it in the shag bag.

This basically gives me room to stock up on new ProV1s for less than full price whenever available, whether it's the rare deal or if I have a gift card or pro shop cash to use. If I'm playing in any kind of tournament or event where I need to ensure quality, I'll use the brand new ones then.

Best of both worlds in my opinion...

 

[warbirdlover]

They're not that great of a savings.  I quit buying them years ago.

[TR1PTIK]

The biggest issue I see with used balls even when purchasing the highest grade/same model/same year ball is that they won't come from the same batch or lot. If you care much about your 2nd or 3rd ball performing like the 1st, this matters - even with Titleist. Used golf balls just create another layer of variability in a game with plenty of variables already and, as others have mentioned, there are plenty of affordable options in the tour urethane category to negate such a purchase. If you want some quality balls to practice with that's one thing, but I'd still prefer to just cycle in balls I've retired from my own bag and replenish those with new.

[Stuka44]

10 hours ago, skyryder said:

Curious what are the feelings about buying “used” golf balls from someplace like Used Golf Balls website.  My understanding is these are NOT refurbished balls ( a NO-NO) but I am thinking that maybe they are balls used on the range at professional or higher end amateur events or something similar.  Any input is appreciated.

Many here have brought up good points which directly bear on if used, new, cheap, premium, are right for you.    I provide this only as an example to point out why I would not buy used premium balls, and will continue to purchase New Srixon Z-Star  XV balls(which are 4 piece Urethane Balls.

Z-Star XV's start every year at $45 a dozen, I bought 4 dozen in December 2022, they were $40( with $20 off a $100 or more purchase from Dicks, I got them for $35 a dozen).  Now after the first of the year you can simply purchase "2021"  versions for $35.  I looked on Used Golf Balls, the 48 ball bucket (5A) Srixon Z Star XV's are listed at $112, or 28 dollars a dozen.

I played 43 rounds in 2022 at a cost of $1281, and I lose right round 4 dozen a year.  Here is the Math:

Used:  $1281 + $112(4dz lost balls)=$1393/43(rounds)= $32.39 per round.

New : $1281 + $140(4dz lost balls)= $1421/43(rounds)= $33.04 per round.

That is $0.65 a round.  For $28 dollars a year I choose to eliminate some possible negative variables, which come with the used balls.  I am not preaching, and I understand that each individual is different, and their circumstances are different(cost, # of rounds), and how they view the game of golf as a whole is different. Many, many things impact why one golfer chooses to use one ball over another.  I present this just as a point of consideration.  Depending on how many rounds you play in a year, the cost of those rounds, and how many balls you actually lose in a year the savings, of using used, or new middle of the road balls in the $25-$30 range may not save you as much as you think.  

 

[warbirdlover]

33 minutes ago, stuka44 said:

Many here have brought up good points which directly bear on if used, new, cheap, premium, are right for you.    I provide this only as an example to point out why I would not buy used premium balls, and will continue to purchase New Srixon Z-Star  XV balls (which are 4 piece Urethane Balls.

Z-Star XV's start every year at $45 a dozen, I bought 4 dozen in December 2022, they were $40( with $20 off a $100 or more purchase from Dicks, I got them for $35 a dozen).  Now after the first of the year you can simply purchase "2021"  versions for $35.  I looked on Used Golf Balls, the 48 ball bucket (5A) Srixon Z Star XV's are listed at $112, or 28 dollars a dozen.

I played 43 rounds in 2022 at a cost of $1281, and I lose right round 4 dozen a year.  Here is the Math:

Used:  $1281 + $112(4dz lost balls)=$1393/43(rounds)= $32.39 per round.

New : $1281 + $140(4dz lost balls)= $1421/43(rounds)= $33.04 per round.

That is $0.65 a round.  For $28 dollars a year I choose to eliminate some possible negative variables, which come with the used balls.  I am not preaching, and I understand that each individual is different, and their circumstances are different(cost, # of rounds), and how they view the game of golf as a whole is different. Many, many things impact why one golfer chooses to use one ball over another.  I present this just as a point of consideration.  Depending on how many rounds you play in a year, the cost of those rounds, and how many balls you actually lose in a year the savings, of using used, or new middle of the road balls in the $25-$30 range may not save you as much as you think.  

 

We agree on golf balls.  These are the best balls going for the price.  

[BMDubya]

11 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

I did it once and it was okay, but I don't intend on ever doing it again. With so many good DTC brands like Vice and more which have great deals on golf balls that perform really well there is little to no need to buy used golf balls where there is the uncertainty of the true quality or how old/long they have been lost and found for.

Really agree here! Two of our local clubs used to have found balls at the counter, usually .25/ea, $1.00/ea for premium balls. Those bins stayed pretty full the entire year. Even the older generations have caught onto the DTC companies, imo. 

[LebanonOz]

My wife and I play yellow balls and were using Snell before 2020.  Over the last couple of years yellow has been hard to come by so we looked for alternatives and settled on MaxFli Tours.  We looked for used ProV1 and find those available from golfballsdirect.com to be very good.  We've also ordered other brands and models from there and never had a problem.

If you want to give used balls a shot there is good information in this thread:  Forum Topic 54842: lostgolfballscom-mint-condition-aint-what-it-used-to-be

[Donn lost in San Diego]

Really?  I mean, really????  New are so cheap, so many, choices, colors, etc.  How much money is in your clubs, your greens fees, beer or cigar???   But I scoop up found balls when I play, and in the late evenning dusk, with no one behind me, I go to a wide fairway and hit a bunch of tee shots and leave them.

[Stuka44]

2 minutes ago, Donn lost in San Diego said:

Really?  I mean, really????  New are so cheap, so many, choices, colors, etc.  How much money is in your clubs, your greens fees, beer or cigar???

Agree 100%.  I've tried to point this out. That new $500 driver is actually adding  $8.33 to the next 60 rounds played.  But I'm going to save $1.49 per round buying used 5A Pro V1's,  or $.65 cents a round for  Srixon Z-Star XV's.  Golf balls are 'Too Expensive"!  It is just one of those things in golf that just won't end!

By the time you calculate as you said, greens fees, equipment, clothing, food and beverages purchased at the course,  All of that when calculated as adding to the cost of a round are all more than the cost of a couple new, EVEN premium golf balls, lost per round.

[Duxman130]

Maxfli Tour.  Buy them for $30 dozen new. Read the MGS review.

Titleist Pro V1 $35 dozen used mint condition on LostBalls.

 

[Bill Hendry]

I have purchased Pro-Vs, Bridgestone B series, TaylorMade mint balls averaging around $2.00 per ball including shipping when the new versions are now a bit over $4  per ball. I  can't tell the difference between a new ball and the mint used ball except sometimes you might get a logo ball and I don't care. I carry around a 8 handicap and my Scotch Irish heritage prevents me from paying more than twice as much for something when it seems like i can get the same thing for less. I do purchase the Maxfli balls when I buy new as they are fantastic even with the recent bump in price - I generally get two dozen for $60.

The only real pain is that to get free shipping you generally have to spend $80 - $90 but I don't mind stocking up for the season.

I like the amount of spin I can get around the green with the premium balls, but I am never going to spend $50 a dozen for balls.

I have ordered from both LostGolfBalls and FoundGolfBalls with success at both.

Edited January 6, 2023 by Bill Hendry

[tony@CIC]

1 hour ago, LebanonOz said:

If you want to give used balls a shot there is good information in this thread:  Forum Topic 54842: lostgolfballscom-mint-condition-aint-what-it-used-to-be

Yup  - I use to be a proponent of lostgolfball.com but then DTC came into the picture. Snell, Vice, etc. and have never been back to lost balls. Brand new Vice Pro Plus for 29/doz. and you know they haven't been in the water or shanked into the woods. 

[CarlH]

When I was a higher handicap player and frequently lost balls in the woods or dumped them in the ponds or cut them (balata era), I had no issues buying used golf balls (even getting X-outs).  As I got better, my preferences for golf balls evolved and I became more conscious of what ball I played. Now, I just prefer fresh, new golf balls.  

Last time I bought used golf balls was maybe 5 or 6 years ago when a kid was selling them from just off one of the tee boxes.  He wanted $1 per ball so picked out 5 balls, gave him $5, returned those 5 balls and gave him 5 more used ones from my bag and gat a big "thank you, sir" from his smiling face. 

 

[tbirds16]

I use LostGolfBalls.com and GolfBallsDirect.com. I normally get the 5A Pro V1's. I got 4 dozen at Christmas from GolfBallsDirect.com for about $23 a dozen. I've never had an issue of playability and losing one in the woods or water is not as painful. I've also tried Bridgestone Tour B RX and at much cheaper prices gives me the opportunity to try new brands. I had an issue once with LostGolfBalls.com order. The balls didn't seem to be the 5A that I paid for. I contacted customer service and they sent me replacements of the ones that were not what they should have been.

[RATOUR7]

Not a fan of playing used balls, although when practicing I will use them sometimes trying  tricky shots !!!

If They fly out into the boonies , no big deal... 

[SlowNLow]

Few years back I bought some used/refurbished Z-Stars and ProV1s.   I don't remember hitting any great shots with them or hitting any bad shots either, that I would say, "hey if that wasn't a used ball, it would have been in the hole...." or "damn if that ball wasn't used, I wouldn't have sniped it into that's lady's patio.."

Well I guess I did hit some bad shots with them because they are long gone but since then I got informed by others, maybe even by some on this website, that used golf balls may not perform as well for various reasons and I now will not use them even to the point if there is a bark mark/cart path bruise etc I will not use it anymore.  

Actually I never hit a great shot and say, "good thing that was a new ball..".   I do hit some (maybe more than some) awful shots and the last thing I would think of is that the golf ball is the problem.   

If we use that "Archer/Arrow" analogy, did the archer get away with blaming the miss on the arrow?  Or give the arrow credit for a hit?  Or was he too busy ducking?

 

 

[Tallwood88]

I've been buying used balls, mostly Pro V's for a few years now. I have zero complaints. I always buy the mint quality balls and usually when they are having a great sale such as Black Friday. I'll pick up 5 dozen at around $25 or less a dozen and free shipping. Nothing wrong with that. Plus, it's a few less pieces of plastic littering the planet.

[chisag]

22 hours ago, Donn lost in San Diego said:

New are so cheap, so many, choices, colors, etc.  How much money is in your clubs, your greens fees, beer or cigar???   But I scoop up found balls when I play, and in the late evenning dusk, with no one behind me, I go to a wide fairway and hit a bunch of tee shots and leave them.

 

... I never smoked and don't drink alcohol so I have even more money for golf balls.   As you and others have stated, new balls are inexpensive compared to most of golfs expenses. If I were a high index player, I would be using Kirkland balls at $15 a dozen or Maxfli Tours at $30 a dozen or some of the older ball deals like Trispeed and Trispeed Tours for a price somewhere in-between. There are always bargains on new balls if you look for them. 

... If I am a good player, I don't want that one ball that curves into a hazard because that "mint used ball" was defective. Even if that is one ball out of a dozen or two. If I am a high index player I really don't want a ball curving into a hazard when it wasn't my fault. Hard enough to hit good shots with good swings and when you do if the ball doesn't cooperate it could be very confusing instead of rewarding. 

... In the end it is your money and your golf game and while many of us may give our strong opinions as to why used isn't the best idea, if you are happy with used or just want to believe "mint" means it wasn't a new ball that was hit in the water with the first swing and then sat there for a year but looks great to your eye, that is certainly your prerogative. 

[MacTourney]

22 hours ago, CarlH said:

When I was a higher handicap player and frequently lost balls in the woods or dumped them in the ponds or cut them (balata era), I had no issues buying used golf balls (even getting X-outs).  

Ah, I remember those days, having about 35 balls in the leather bag wondering if you had enough balls to complete the round.  Hilarious looking back...

[RollingGreens]

I’ll stay away from refurbished. I will shell out the lineup if needed for pro v1s. If things get tight or I’m loosing balls left and right I didn’t have a huge issue with the vice pro plus. Recently I have the best deal in town with my in laws living on a course, part of the house sits on the last shot of a par 5 and then the other part is in a par 3 with a lake. I never thought I’d find so many premium errant balls. Plus they have an 18 foot ball retriever for the lake!

[fixyurdivot]

On 1/6/2023 at 5:09 AM, EasyPutter said:

I think it has to do with the retailer with the used balls and what their business model is like.  If it is just repackaged balls that were sorted for best quality then those would be no different than those stray, lost, neglected balls that every official and unofficial IGBRC member recovers and puts back into play.  If anything more is done with the balls such as repainting rebranding or some other intentional conditioning then those are to be avoided.  

^^^This^^^.  Some reputable sources are worth the savings and involve low risk on performance.  Generally, so long as balls haven't been submerged for extended time, they're fine... or at least from the standpoint that 99% of the forum wouldn't notice a difference on the course.  So "thumbs up" for me if acquired from well known/trusted sources.  

[silver & black]

On 1/6/2023 at 2:52 PM, Donn lost in San Diego said:

Really?  I mean, really????  New are so cheap, so many, choices, colors, etc.  How much money is in your clubs, your greens fees, beer or cigar???   But I scoop up found balls when I play, and in the late evenning dusk, with no one behind me, I go to a wide fairway and hit a bunch of tee shots and leave them.

I'm guessing you make six figures a year...lol. Some of us don't. Some of us find ourselves having to be financially frugal and creative to get by and still be able to play the game we love. Just sayin'...............................

[Donn lost in San Diego]

2 hours ago, silver & black said:

I'm guessing you make six figures a year...lol. Some of us don't. Some of us find ourselves having to be financially frugal and creative to get by and still be able to play the game we love. Just sayin'...............................

Nope.  I am a grocery store checker, in California, in the Food & Comml Workers Union, make $51 thou.  In California.  where everything costs a bit more and  . . .     . . .    . . . At least, I live and work near Callaway, Titleist, Evnroll, Torrey Pines, etc. etc. 

[hankf47]

My background is in the manufacturing and testing of golf balls. Golf ball initial-velocity does degrade with time (about 1 yard for every feet/second loss). The environment the golf balls are exposed to will have a direct impact on, what I call, "performance loss factor". For instance, a hot and/or wet environment will have the highest "performance loss factor" on golf balls.

Having said that, most high handicappers will not be able to discern performance loss on "refurbished/old golf balls" due to their lack of distance/dispersion control of their shots.