Do used/refinished gold balls perform differently than new ones?

[RocktimusPryme]

So I pretty much always use tour balls, unless Im really strapped for cash, then I will occasionally use TM Burner TPs, or Bridgestone E5+s.

Ive for a while been considering buying a bunch of Nike Ones, or Bridgestone B330-s off ebay so I would be set on balls for a while, without having to shell out $40 for a new dozen every week. But Im just wary of buying the used or refinished balls they advertise even though they look perfectly fine.

I mean i see the divers in the lakes at my courses sometimes. if a balls been submerged in water for 2 months will that affect the ball. Or as long as the ball isnt beat up will it perform just like one new out of the box would?

I ask because Im looking at that rockbottomgolf.com site from another thread, and this place has some killer deals one like new refinished tour balls. They also have like 3 dozen hx tour 56s for $60. i liked those balls alot before they were discontinued so I may jump on that

[uttexas]

I saw a study on used ball performance---Golf Digest, I think. I forget the details, but there is drop off after 3 rounds or so (not much)

Personally, I would buy brand new Top Flite Feels or Gamers. At $15-$18 per dozen for brand new balls, these are great. I play both Top Flite Feel and Bridgestone e5+. I notice a slight difference. The Feels actually fly better, but don't putt quite as well.

[RocktimusPryme]

I saw a study on used ball performance---Golf Digest, I think. I forget the details, but there is drop off after 3 rounds or so (not much)

But with a tour ball, theres no way you could use a ball for more than 2 rounds I would think. I mean i ussually use one sleeve per round, and if I mostly just use one ball that balls pretty well done by the end of the round. my CG12s shread balls. Just seems like for them to resell a ball in mint condition it cant have been used for more than a few shots, if its a tour ball anyway.

[uttexas]

I forgot that most people don't play with 10 year old wedges like I do. Good point on the scuffing. Something to keep in mind---unless your handicap is less than 5 or so, not sure how much benefit you get from Tour performance balls. Of course, I have only played a round or two with Pro-Vs. I did notice overall better performance (trajectory, accuracy, putting roll), but the difference wasn't dramatic (didn't shoot much lower).

Try the Top Flite D2 gamers and feels a go. At $15 a dozen, you won't be disappointed.

[RocktimusPryme]

I forgot that most people don't play with 10 year old wedges like I do. Good point on the scuffing. Something to keep in mind---unless your handicap is less than 5 or so, not sure how much benefit you get from Tour performance balls. Of course, I have only played a round or two with Pro-Vs. I did notice overall better performance (trajectory, accuracy, putting roll), but the difference wasn't dramatic (didn't shoot much lower).

Its sort of like HD TV. If you have a decent regular TV, and then go to HD, you wont notice a huge difference. However, if you watch all HD for a year, and then go back to regular TV it looks bad.

I started playing with tour balls early even when i lost 10 balls around, mostly because Im allergic to money. And while not very smart, Ive just gotten used to the feel (especially off the putter oddly enough) that the other balls just bug me. And Im sure its as much a mental thing as anything else, I just feel more confident over a One Platinum than I do over a Karma. As fas as the D2s go, those are pretty much universally my recomendation to people looking for inexpensive balls, that still play decent.

[Pinseeker81]

I'm sure I'm not "supposed" to be playing expensive balls, but the first time a pitched with a One Platinum and it checked and stoped without rolling off the other side I was hooked.

[microcrayfish]

Hell if my golf balls were made of gold I wouldn't be hitting them anywhere!

I don't buy used balls, I've read a study that claims they get waterlogged and lose distance if they sit in water for even a short while and since I'm not a long hitter I can use all the help I can get.

Then again, a slightly shorter tour ball might still perform better than a crappy new one but if you're used to using brand new tour balls you might notice a difference.

[RocktimusPryme]

Im leaning towards giving it a shot. Ive made alot worse mistakes than $60. Hell I could pay $500 for a rock, and it wouldnt be the worse purchase Ive ever made

[Yanks Fan]

I've played with brand new Pro V1x's and refurbished Pro V1x's and to me, they play the same. Granted I am a 15 handicapper who really hasn't played golf for much more than a year so take that as you will.

[mako224]

I would buy ProV1 X-outs before I would buy used. They are usually $24 to $29 a dozen.

If you have a Golfsmith store nearby they usually have a large clearance section of discontinued and last year's balls for cheap. I have had real good success there. I recently got 3 dozen HX-tour balls for cheap there.

[MiniMoe]

Your expectations should determine your choice to play or not play experienced golf balls. If you are a higher handicap, the difference in performance might not be enough to notice, especially when you factor in the cost. Being a lower handicap, I will notice the difference in performance. My expectations in score along with side bets and the need to play as well as I can, used golf balls are not for me.... but I will play a new ball until it is literally dead... unless big money is on the line where I will only use new.

A few guys I play with only play with what they find. They never notice a difference.

[flopdarock]

i love the high end stuff but i hate paying for it... i havent noticed any diff between brand new and gently used... but if they were giving away the brand new stuff... then id definately get that over used... until my pockets get fatter... the used ones are fine with me even if they come to 2 bucks a ball... still half price off a new one

[Eeryck]

This year I bought a bag of the "found" balls and after sorting through them and picking out the obvious trash I marked the rest and threw some in my bag.

I limit myself to one new sleeve of balls per round (Bridgestone e6+) and then it is on to the used balls.

I have had a few of the used balls that looked good perform like rocks. I knew after 1-2 shots that the ball was garbage so I just threw it in a garbage can. I would say about 70% of the balls did not have a signifigant performance difference for me on the course at my handicap. With the other 30% going in the trash.

Overall, as I am still learning the game my 1-sleeve rule encourages me to strike better as I do prefer the new balls even though it is probably mostly mental.

-E

[kfowler]

I would never buy used or refurbished balls. Here's why. Take a ball that's been sitting in a lake. Use a drill press to drill into it. See how much water comes out. It's disgusting. Certainly all used balls have not been sitting in a lake but how do you know?

[mako224]

Speaking of water inside balls....a while back I cut an old Titleist ball in half for something I was working on and this particular model had a liquid filled bladder as its core and was wound with a rubberband like material. I believe it was a Tour Accuracy model but it was filled with liquid. Pretty cool.

[wachesawgolfer]

Just curious but seems like you go through a lot of balls at a dozen a week. I think you can play a ball several rounds and not see a decline in it even with some scuffing. I rather play my ball for several rounds than pick some refurbished one which was a range ball....lost in a lake for two years.

[RocktimusPryme]

Just curious but seems like you go through a lot of balls at a dozen a week. I think you can play a ball several rounds and not see a decline in it even with some scuffing. I rather play my ball for several rounds than pick some refurbished one which was a range ball....lost in a lake for two years.

I supppose its worth noting that I play 3 or 4 times a week, so I dont go through many a round. I just play alot. Maybe Ill just buy the new HX tours they have on clearance.

[anthonykim3]

i find this very intrerest so i did my own test seing as every one esle has done it says ther a 25 hadicap so take it as you will so me beeing lowiss handicap i tried it and well the preformance is the same on tour balls because first of all the new balls with urthane covers do not lose distance or spin in the water for a long period of time and the tour balls couldnt of been used much cause there isnt any scuffs and most of them scuff i have how ever seen i diference in used ball i little lower line like the topflite gamer and srixon ad 333