Used Golf Balls...good deal or bad investment?

[Dr_Fu_Manchu]

I have been seeing more and more sites dedicated to used balls. In fact, I have seen them sold in retail stores more often as well.

What are your thoughts? Would an 18 handicap know the difference? How much difference would there be from a new Pro V1 vs a recycle that may have been sitting in a pond?

[Dpricenator]

Check out the ratings, Mint, AAAA+, AAA. some are sold as Ground balls. So you know nothing ever went in the water. Some will have pen marks from the launch monitor, or from an istructor. IMHO They are perfect for those of us who are just trying to hit it straight. Sure some balls spin more or are better for long distance or for women, what do I know? I do know that I got 9 dozen titleist balls for $35 delivered to my house. When I looked through them I found no reason tobe disapointed with my purchase. I bought a 12 pack of Nike One balls, and promtly lost 3 in the 1st nine holes. Well that can get expensive if you're going to lose balls at that rate. So I got these used balls, and if i lose one, it doesn't have to start ruining my day. I like thae auctions on Ebay that say what type of ball you are getting, and it's not just a mixture of one brand. Those auctions are more expensive, but still better than buying new. For now at least.

[DJYoshi]

i think if you get them from a dealer that rates and shows you pics, then you're good to go. you can also get the x-out balls etc that are the same as brand new with something stupid off like the printing...

but i would say get fit for a ball before you go investing. with the launch monitors they can pretty much tell you what ball is best for you based on your swing

[kfowler]

Here's why I'll never buy used balls. Take a ball that you know has been sitting in a lake. Drill into it. See what comes out. It's disgusting and smells bad. How do you really know what a used ball has been through? Even if the cover is shinny.

[Big_M]

I have used used balls and didn't notice a difference, BUT every time I came up 6 yards short I wondered if it was the ball, especially when all else felt good. I currently prefer to find cheap new balls... for instance right now I play Maxfli Fires, a 3-piece ball that I can usually find on clearance for $10-13. It plays very similar to an NXT tour.

[elsito99]

If you like the Prov1 try the Precept U tri Tour.

I find it to be very similar, with a soft feel from the putter.


I used to buy used Prov1's but recently changed to the Precepts and to the E5's also.


That said, I currently have a bag with like 50 rocks (top flites mostly) that I am going to start using at difficult courses to dispose of them.

[albatross]

I agree that they are a good investment for an 18 handicapper. Some may have been in water but there was recently something in golf digest talking about how much this really impacts a ball and it wasn't enough to convince me to stop buying used balls.

The commercial sites that are selling balls are a good deal. I've ordered a few dozen from www.lostgolfballs.com and they have been in awesome shape.

[HytrewQasdfg]

Bad investment.

IMHO, you are better off using a lower cost NEW ball than a used pro-v1.

[Rob]

I think used balls are the way to go if you get a good quality ball .I`m a pretty decent golfer,and I buy from Lostgolfballs.com. Never been disapointed,the AAA`s are like new for the most part.I get bang for my buck,and use the extra I save for clubs,green fees,tournaments.But that`s just me,frugal.

[Dr_Fu_Manchu]

Bad investment.

did you see something that lead you to that opinion or just a personal preference?

[goblue107501]

I haven't had many, if any problems, with used balls. I haven't personally bought any as I get logoed balls through my work. My dad bought a few dozen pro v1's off e-bay and he didn't notice any difference. I use some of them and they seemed fine to me. Some of them might be beat up a little more than others, but not enought to affect play.

My thought is if you want to use a premium ball and not have to pay for them then go ahead. Especially if you lose them often. Paying $3-$4 per ball can get pricey if you play a lot. I doubt the majority of golfers out there could tell the difference. If you come across any with my mark, I want them back.

[IcemanYVR]

I purchased used ProV1's for use only in my shag bag for chipping and putting in the practice area. I use new ones in the round, and if it lasts the whole round, then it also goes in to the shag bag.

I read somewhere once that a ball in the water for a month is useless, for the life of me I can't remember how, but at the time it made sense.

[earn_h]

I don't see a problem playing or buying a used ball. Hell, I'll buy used ProV's at Meijer or a golf show. My wedges just eat ProV's and give them road rash, no point throwing my money away for one hit.

Water logged or lawn mower balls will hurt your game though.

[kfowler]

I read somewhere once that a ball in the water for a month is useless, for the life of me I can't remember how, but at the time it made sense.

From what I've read, even though the cover of a ball looks sealed. It's actually permiable. Over time water seeps in. The ones I drilled through certainly proved that.

[lumpuckeroo]

I just bought 3 dz. NXT Tour, mint, for $29 off of eBay. Out of the 36 balls, I would say 6 were questionable, either print on the logo, number or Titleist were worn and looked they may have been much more than a one hit wonder. This 6 did not have any marks or scars or anything like that. The remaining balls were in very good condition, some didn't even look as if they have been hit.

I have not had a chance to play with them yet, hopefully this weekend, but IMHO, they are worth the price. Even if you are just going to use them for casual rounds and play new balls for more serious rounds.

[kafka01]

There have been studies on how lakeballs suffer distance loss the longer they stay in the water. Golf Digest wrote an article about that.

I´m not sure if its allowed to post a link to another golf forum who has the article posted, but if the mods dont like it, they could just delete the link:

http://forum.ottawagolf.com/showthread.php?t=9079

[HytrewQasdfg]

did you see something that lead you to that opinion or just a personal preference?

A little of both.

1. You can never be certain of the condition of the ball (which except for cuts, can not be determined by looking at the ball.) You don't know how much that used ball has been played before it was lost. Most golfers know from experience that even if you never nick the cover, a ball plays differently the more it is struck (we haven't even gotten to the water issue.) 2. The mental edge. As someone stated earlier, whenever they hit a drive a few yards short with a used ball they wonder if it is the ball or them? Golf is as much a mental game as anything else. For me, a used ball blunts my mental edge (I can see how for others using a pro-v1, used or new, would give them a mental edge so that point can go either way.) 3. There are some pretty good lower priced balls out there. Someone mentioned a Precept ball earlier. Take a look at these user reviews: http://www.golfreview.com/cat/balls/...8_2943crx.aspx . There are a number of pro-v1 users on there that compare that ball very favorably to pro-v1s. I quick check on Amazon found them for $21 (including shipping.) $6 cheaper than the "Like New" used pro-v1s (which is before shipping.) For me, golf is about consistency. I feel I'm getting a more consistent and reliable product with a new ball than with a used one.

[IcemanYVR]

There have been studies on how lakeballs suffer distance loss the longer they stay in the water. Golf Digest wrote an article about that.

Yes, that was the article I read... and I don't carry a fishing pole