How to Use or Refurbish Old Golf Balls
- Collect Them. First things first—get yourself a ball retriever, scour the woods on the edges of a golf course, and dig in the little pond that’s at the back ...
- Clean Them. Easier than it sounds. ...
- Polish Them. You want them to look good, so add a bit of wax or polish and make them shine. ...
- Apply New Logo. ...
- Test Thoroughly. ...
What is a refurbished golf ball?
A refurbished or refinished golf ball is one that was used previously, has some wear and tear showing, and is brought back to its former looks; this is done by blasting away the outer paint coatings down to its original base. Then, the ball gets repainted, and the logo is reprinted.
What to do with used golf balls?
You can also donate your golf balls to local clubs and thrift stores. Simply pick a company, or organization, gather your golf balls, and bring them in. Beyond playing golf, try repurposing golf balls into unique craft projects. Either way, you can easily recycle your used golf balls.
How to tell if a golf ball is refinished?
Used golf balls also have a rating scale to determine which are high-end and which are the low-end type of balls. Lost Golf Balls has its very own grading scale that can be used to judge how well a golf ball is refurbished. The five categories are: Mint (5A), Factory Refinished, Near Mint (4A), and Good (3A).
Are used golf balls cheaper than new ones?
At most local ranges, the golf balls used are refurbished or refinished ones that are cheaper to use and maintain than buying new ones in bulk. However, should there be concerns with using used refurbished and refinished golf balls as opposed to new?
Can you refurbish golf balls?
How To Refurbish A Golf Ball. Golf ball manufacturers are forever refurbishing balls and then selling them on for a lower cost than the originals. For this, the balls will undergo a sand blasting process and are then repainted and relogoed.
Are refurbished golf balls worth the money?
Instead of blasting the cover clean and then re-coat and re-paint, these balls are improved cosmetically based on need. Basically, if there is an arrow that needs painting or a logo that's fading the refurbished process will make them look as good as new.
How much do refurbished golf balls go for?
Price Difference: Refurbished vs. New Golf BallsPrice (Dollars/12 balls)Mint$21.99Refurbished$15.99Near Mint$16.99Good$11.241 more row
How do you refurbish an old golf ball?
Soak your golf balls in undiluted bleach or white vinegar or ammonia. Do not mix these chemicals together. Allow the golf balls to soak for two to three hours and then wash them off using clean water. Mix water in making soda until you create a paste.
Are 20 year old golf balls still good?
So keep your balls in a cool, dry place and they will last for awhile. The golf ball researchers at Titleist state, "Today's Titleist golf balls can be safely stored for five years or even more, as long as they are kept away from excessive heat. ... Normal indoor conditions should be fine for storage."
Do golf balls lose distance with use?
Its results confirmed that in the absence of visible damage, repeated use had no effect on a ball's performance. However, it also found that even small scuffs led to a measurable loss in distance, reducing driver distance as much as 6 yards.
What is the difference between refinished and recycled golf balls?
In essence, you're getting a golf ball that looks brand new but is a second hand ball that has been stripped of some of the outer layer and repainted. A recycled ball on the other hand is a ball found on the golf course and resold in the condition that is was found.
Do golf balls lose performance with age?
While golf balls do get old, the overall performance will generally be maintained with proper storage and care.
Are old golf balls worth any money?
When recovered and cleaned up, these used balls sell for as little as six cents wholesale and up to $1 or more retail. It's a $200 million industry, and a golf ball diver can make $100,000 per year, according to Golf.com.
How do you make old golf balls look new?
0:140:49The Best Way to Clean Recovered Golf Balls - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo just a good dish soap or car wash soap tends to be the best thing to use on.MoreSo just a good dish soap or car wash soap tends to be the best thing to use on.
How do you make used golf balls look new?
Add a small cap-full of dish soap and stir it around. Then drop in the golf balls. Allow the balls to soak for 30 minutes to remove any excess dirt. Get a soft bristled brush, such as a toothbrush, and scrub each golf ball individually.
Is it OK to Soak golf balls in water?
While it's okay to let your golf balls soak in warm water for at least 30 minutes, don't let them sit for too long. You don't want your used golf balls to become waterlogged. This would also affect how they react when you hit them during a round of golf.
How Do Refurbished Golf Balls Compare To New?
Let’s face facts; in an ideal world, everyone would be able to buy brand new golf balls all the time and old ones would be recycled into other materials.
What Are Recycled Golf Balls?
You will often hear about recycled golf balls and it would be easy to assume that these are similar to refurbished golf balls.
How To Refurbish A Golf Ball
Golf ball manufacturers are forever refurbishing balls and then selling them on for a lower cost than the originals.
Conclusion
Golf is not a cheap sport. Your clubs alone could end up costing you thousands of pounds at the extreme end of things and that’s before you’ve considered your attire, club membership, golf trolleys and everything else.
What is the difference between refurbished and recycled golf balls?
In essence, you're getting a golf ball that looks brand new but is a second hand ball that has been stripped of some of the outer layer and repainted. A recycled ball on the other hand is a ball found on the golf course and resold in the condition that is was found.
What is a recycled golf ball?
A recycled ball on the other hand is a ball found on the golf course and resold in the condition that is was found. The seller will more than likely clean it with some soapy water and a towel but you're getting a ball that hasn't been altered other than by nature.
Is there anything wrong with recycled balls?
There's not too much wrong with recycled balls. If you buy them from a reputable seller, you'll get a decent collection with five out of every fifty being a bit scruffy but still playable. The only real issue with recycled balls are the ones that have been burned by fire or have their cover chipping and peeling away.
Can you bet on a lost golf ball?
In general, with the huge demand for used golf balls, lost balls don't spend too long in the water or the woods. There's always someone finding them and reselling them so you can bet on them performing very close to a new ball.
Do recycled golf balls have a stigma?
There's a bit of a stigma attached to both recycled and refurbished golf balls. While that stigma may be valid particularly against the refurbished balls, there's a bit more to it.
What to Do With Old Golf Balls
Disposing of golf balls has become a concern for all golf players, both in terms of economic and environmental problems.
FAQs
There’s no doubt that proper ways of reusing and recycling golf balls help you avoid waste disposal and contribute to protecting the environment.
Conclusion
Old golf balls are not a waste or burden of disposing. Instead, they can bring many benefits if you know how to take advantage of them. After reading this content, I hope that you can apply different methods in your own way.
What Is a Recycled Golf Ball?
Recycled golf balls are collected by a person or group of people or organizations from bushes, lakes, forests, or locations around the golf course, cleaned and sorted, sent to stores for resale.
What Is a Refurbished Golf Ball?
Refurbished golf balls are also used like recycled balls. However, these balls have a new and more eye-catching appearance thanks to a fine coating and fresh paint. The existing symbols on the blurred shadow will also be completely redrawn.
Which Ball Should You Buy?
Recycled or refurbished golf balls are all perfect for beginners or practice. Because you don’t need to spend a lot of money but still own good quality balls. Besides, the first toddler shots always have a high risk of losing the ball, so losing a small amount is always less painful.
FAQs
You may still have some doubts about the recycled and refurbished Golf Balls. So, I gathered and answered some of the frequently asked questions about them. Let’s take a look!
The Bottom Line
There are some differences that make recycled and refurbished golf balls unique, but in general, they all have the main purpose of helping golfers own good balls at a better price.
How to get used golf balls?
1. Contact a local golf course to see if they can use the balls for practice. Search online to find golf courses or driving ranges in your area, and look for the "Contact Us" section. Then, call the company to ask an employee if they accept used golf balls.
How to make a caterpillar out of golf balls?
To make a caterpillar, paint 2-3 golf balls yellow, green, or orange, for instance. Use hot glue to glue each ball together in a row to create the body. Locate a wire hanger to use to make the legs. Cut 6 sections of wire about 2–3 in (5.1–7.6 cm) from a hanger with wire cutters.
How to make snowmen with golf balls?
1. Use old golf balls to make snowmen Christmas decorations. For a fun holiday decoration, use a hot glue gun to apply a small dab of glue to 1 golf ball. Then, hold a second ball where you applied the glue to secure them together and add a third golf ball if you’d like .
Can you accept used golf balls?
However, if they have a large number of used balls already, they may not accept yours at the time. If you do not have the minimum number of golf balls, you should not contact the company . Wait until you have enough if you want to pursue this option.
Jon Robert
I'd bet there is not one person on this forum that can tell the difference with out a visual clue. This summer my favorite ball was an alligator cracked relic I found in the woods. It was like throwing darts it just always ended up on target. Then I lost it in the leaves in the fall. It was dull grey color. Some say a beat up ball flies better.
Norboo
They're the equivalent of generic Chinese balls that come in a plain white can labeled "GOLF BALLS" and sold by the gross. You have no idea what you're getting other than they are the size and weight of golf balls and they're pretty and white.
Jon Robert
I remember years ago Golf Digest did a study for an article on water logged balls. They tested a variety of balls and kept them in water for different periods of time. The results were incredible. If the ball stayed under water for more than a day, it would start to lose distance exponentially.
What is a golf ball cover?
The golf ball cover is usually wet blasted that removes the logo, number, and any other marking on the golf ball. Assuming all marking are able to be removed the golf ball gets a new clear coat, it’s re-painted, then a final clear coat. There are many companies who do this and the majority stamp “refinished” on the ball.
What is an X out golf ball?
A. 'X-out' is the common name used for a golf ball that a manufacturer considers to be imperfect (usually for aesthetic reasons only, e .g., paint or printing errors) and, therefore, has crossed out the brand name. A 'refurbished' golf ball is a second-hand ball that has been cleaned and stamped as 'refurbished.'.
Can a refurbished golf ball be used in a competition?
In the absence of strong evidence to suggest that an 'X-out' or 'refurbished' ball does not conform to the Rules, it is permissible for such a ball to be used. However, in a competition where the Committee has adopted the condition that the ball the player plays must be named on the List of Conforming Golf Balls (see Note to Rule 5-1), ...
