Recycled golf balls - no significant difference

[MasterP]

Not 100%, but 90%. Do you know if they were fine to play with before you hit them, or after you put them into play?

If your handicap is correct the last thing you should be thinking about is how pristine and consistent your ball is. You have much more to worry about than if your ball is a bit scuffed, or is minus 5 yards off the tee. If it isn't correct, then my apologies.

[HytrewQasdfg]

If your handicap is correct the last thing you should be thinking about is how pristine and consistent your ball is. You have much more to worry about than if your ball is a bit scuffed, or is minus 5 yards off the tee. If it isn't correct, then my apologies.

What's that old lawyer saying? When the facts are on your side, argue the facts. When the facts are against you, attack the person.

[Stretch]

When the ball is in front of you, attack the ball?

I looked up those studies, which are quite interesting. Irrelevant, obviously, to buying buckets of 100 AA grade Z-Stars to use as short game shag balls, but might make one think twice about always playing recycled instead of new on the course.

I'm pretty sure I remember that the recyclers paid for their own study in rebuttal, that very unsurprisingly could detect no differences between new and gently used balls. Anyone have that, or a link to it?

[pxc]

What's that old lawyer saying? When the facts are on your side, argue the facts. When the facts are against you, attack the person.

Pointing out your cap and saying you might not be the best person to judge something like the importance of golf ball consistency is not attacking you. There are several mid-cappers and even a +1.5 in here who have said their recycled balls are fine, which leads me to believe it probably isn't that big of a deal.

[sean_miller]

Pointing out your cap and saying you might not be the best person to judge something like the importance of golf ball consistency is not attacking you. There are several mid-cappers and even a +1.5 in here who have said their recycled balls are fine, which leads me to believe it probably isn't that big of a deal.

How much of a difference would be classified as, "significant"?

Some people take a ball out of play once it's hit a tree or it's been hit out of a bunker. Other guys try and get every last ounce out of a ball even if it's out of round or has pieces hanging off it. I'm probably somewhere in the middle. I reduced my lost ball count and now there's no need to buy balls in egg cartons.

[golfaddiction]

The study I read is this one: http://www.golfballtest.org/whitepapers/scribd.php

You have to register/log in to read it, but it takes a second to register. I wouldn't be surprised if the study was sponsored by the recycled ball companies, but the findings are pretty conclusive IMO.

[sean_miller]

The study I read is this one:

Come on man, are you questioning the journalistic integrity of Golf Digest?

[NI4NI]

I bought three dozen refinished Pro V1's last month for the heck of it (Links Choice). Gave two golf balls each to my golf buddies (one is 2.6 HCP and the other 7.7 HCP). Ball cost was ~$1.15 per ball. Feedback received was that the balls did look different (both guys are devout Pro V1 addicts) - drives were ~5 yards shorter (could have been the weather), approaches to greens seemed ok, and putting was also average (one 18-hole-round). To them, there was no siginificant difference. This was my first refinshed golf ball purchase, so I cannot state with any certainty that these were a bad purchase - feedback seems to support them as ok. To each is own...

[Gilly]

After the first time you hit your brand new ball, it becomes a recycled ball - what's the difference? You get ONE swing with a new ball - after that, it's used like any other.

+1 I just bought a bucket of 100 AAA recylced balls...I'll let you know how they work out. My assumption is they will be absolutley fine.

[Greg]

I guess what nobody has stated yet is that all recycled balls are not created equal. If there are no scuffs on them, then they should play as new. Not all ebay sellers or wherever you get them from grade their used balls the same. Some "mint" balls are anything but and some other sellers "good" condition balls are just fine as many sellers on ebay are not golfers so they have no idea how to judge the condition of used golf balls. Best way to tell if you're getting a good deal is if they have closeup pics of the balls they're selling or perhaps a detailed description of how they rate them.

[drglew]

I've been playing recycled (NOT refinished) ... and 90% of them are fine to play in my book.

To clarify, in my AAA buckets from Lostgolfballs about 10% were too marked up for even me to want to play during a round. The other 90% looked like a new ball i might have played for a round or two. AAAA balls from Lostgolfballs to me look like a ball that has only been played a few holes. I've not noticed performance differences from either compared to new. (never bothered trying their AAAAA's, as the AAAA's look & play so close to new to me so why bother shelling out the extra cash).

If you're one to break out a new ball every couple of holes due to a minor blemish/scuff, then recycled ain't for you. If you're like me and try to play the same ball until there's a major scuff or smile, then recycled are great. Certainly saves some cash, especially if you're into premium balls.

[adamgoodman]

I've been thinking about moving to recycled balls... All the ball fittings I've gotten always put it at the Nike One Tour, but I've never had the nerve to spend so much money on it... I don't see what the harm is, it's not like we're all Tour Pros here.

[Golf Guru]

I've just started using recycled balls recently and it hasnt made me play any worse or better thats for sure, i mix and match for certain holes. I totally agree with (adamgoodman) its not like we are all tour pros, although i wish i was :(

[BonoVox]

ordered 9 dozen pro v1's from lostgolfballs.com at AAAA grade. The balls play great, good distance and stop on a dime. I have seen no difference between a new box.

I won't buy new ProVIs. Lostgolfballs.com AAAAA are basically brand new. If I stayed with ProVIs that is where I would continue to buy them, I was very happy with the quality. $24-$26 vs $46 (plus tax) a dozen.

Then I found Nike ONE Tours on ebay BRAND NEW in box for same price. So I went that way. (something about the swoosh that makes me happy, must have been 37 years of Nike brand marketing burned into my brain! LOL) I love the performance too.

[txwhitetail]

When I was playing a lot and a 0.0 or +1 golfer I only played recycled ProVs and never had a problem and saved a load of cash in the process.

[mtsalmela80]

I think you have to be an incredibly good golfer before a brand new or slightly used ball with make a difference in your score. I bet any tour pro could pick a ball out of the woods at your local muni and shoot a 72.

[spike]

Ill never buy new balls again. Lost Golf Balls .Com

[Undr Par]

I bought 3 dozen Pro V1's 2 yrs ago off of EBAY and have had no issue with them...granted they were AAAAA or AAAA quality (I wouldn't go under AAAA though)......I still have over 2 dozen left