How can I tell if my golf balls are still good?
There are a few things you can do to test your golf balls. Since most are made to handle enough force to travel over 130 MPH (the record being 211 MPH), they’re more resilient than you think. Try these quick and easy tips out to see if they’re still functional. Simply done, you take a new golf ball and bounce it next to the old golf ball.
Can you tell the difference between New and used golf balls?
All testing was done with the help of Club Champion. In our feel testing, no one was able to distinguish between the new, used, or refinished golf balls. Our testers were allowed to hit as many putts as they wanted. Most of them stated that every ball they hit felt the same.
Are my golf balls good enough to keep playing with?
If you can, use a laser rangefinder before you hit the balls to figure out how far you want them to go. If they went as far as you needed them to, and you didn’t have to throw your back out to send them this way, then they’re good enough to continue playing with.
Where can I buy used golf balls?
Many websites sell used golf balls in varying conditions to golfers who are looking to snag a discount. For this test, I was sent 3-dozen Titleist Pro V1 balls in varying condition from the website Two Guys With Balls. Like many of the other companies, they rate there balls in several categories based on visible wear.
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."
Is it OK to play with used golf balls?
The truth is golf balls are so well made today that they can spend a few nights or even weeks in the water and come out just fine -- at least for casual play. (I mean, if you're playing in the U.S. Open qualifier, break out the new sleeves.) Does that mean all recycled or refurbished balls are the same? Of course not.
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.
Do golf balls expire?
Yes, golf balls can go bad, but it is dependent on a number of factors. The materials used to construct the golf ball, storage temperature and care and maintenance all play a huge part in the life of a golf ball. Most golf balls can last for several hundred rounds of golf or up to 10 years.
How do you know if a golf ball is bad?
Monitor the way the balls move. The newer one is likely to have some more bounce to it since it's never been used before, but your older golf ball shouldn't be far behind it. If they both bounce at relatively the same height, your older golf ball should be okay.
Is it worth buying recycled golf 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.
How do you check a golf ball?
0:061:09Whenever you hit a ball to check up on the green you're going to want to carry it almost all the wayMoreWhenever you hit a ball to check up on the green you're going to want to carry it almost all the way to the flag. With putting spin on the ball it'll stop within a couple feet of the hole.
Does the brand of golf ball really matter?
The quality of golf ball you use definitely matters and impacts on your game. Higher quality, more expensive golf balls generally have a urethane cover, leading to greater 'feel' and spin control. Premium balls will usually perform longer and hold greens more consistently, helping you shoot lower scores.
Do scuffs on golf balls make a difference?
A slight scuff like the one pictured here, will actually make hardly any difference to your shots. The truth is, most of the damage that can occur during a round of golf makes no real difference to the performance of the ball.
What do you do with old golf balls?
What Can You Do With Old Golf Balls?Christmas Ornaments. You can make Christmas wonders with your old golf balls. ... Garden Critters. This is another project you can choose to do yourself by using used golf balls at your disposal. ... Vase Filler. ... Table Cloth Weight. ... Massage. ... Tool For Tenderizing Meat.
Are used golf balls worth anything?
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.
When should you change golf balls?
You can always use a new ball when starting a hole. You can also substitute a different ball any time you are taking relief, including both free and penalty relief. Unless the one-ball Local Rule is in effect, the substituted ball could be any brand.
Best Used Golf Balls
Our review team hit brand new balls and these used golf balls, with careful analysis and tracking equipment.
Used Golf Ball Reviews
Our team of expert reviewers compared a performance grading scale, with the same clubs, for these refurbished Callaway golf balls. They were compared against the same model of balls from Callaway.
Refurbished Golf Balls
The look and feel of used balls are discussed by our review team as similar to brand new Callaway balls. There only may be less obvious surface defects such as discoloration or scuffing.
Frequently Asked Questions: Refurbished Balls
Refurbished golf balls are second-hand balls, generally taken from a water feature on a golf course or hazard past the rough of a course where golfers do not go. Used golf balls are ranked from “mint” to “value”, with mint being classed “AAAAA” and value: “AA”.
Is golf expensive?
Golf Is Expensive. Golf is expensive. Damned expensive. Not only do you spend a small fortune buying clubs, you pay $20, $50, $100, or more on green fees every time you play. But the worst part is golf balls. Hit it into the drink and not only does your score explode, but you’re a few dollars poorer.
Is golf a cheap game?
Golf isn’t going to become a cheap game anytime soon, but thanks to high quality direct-to-consumer golf balls (learn more HERE) and the ability to buy used golf balls, you can make it a little less expensive. If you’re flexible about the brand of ball you play, you can save 50% or more on tour quality golf balls.
Can scuffs affect golf?
It is possible that outdoors, especially with wind, the scuffs could affect performance. Even after seeing the used golf balls match the new ones with the wedge and iron, there was skepticism about whether they could perform equally with the driver.
How many golf balls have been lost?
Hundreds of Millions of Lost Balls. There is an enormous secondary market for used golf balls. It is estimated that there are as many as 400 million lost golf balls out there, and guys like this risk their lives to recover them.
Can you discard a Pro V1 golf ball?
To me, this test proved a couple of things. If you are playing a premium golf ball like a Pro V1, don’t be so quick to discard them if they start showing some visible signs of wear.
Are Used Golf Balls as Good as New?
When golfers hear about the fact that we have so many used golf balls for sale at such reasonable prices (we’ll say it, they’re downright cheap), the initial reaction is usually a mix of excitement and hesitation.
Get the Golf Balls You Love at the Price You Want
Whether you are looking for used range balls, AAA used golf balls, hit-away practice balls, or anything in between, we’ve got the golf balls for you–and at a great price!
How many golf balls have been sold since 1992?
The operation began in a garage using washing machines. Since 1992, LostGolfBalls.com has sold more than 650 million golf balls. Last year, sales were close to 55 million and reaches out to nearly 5 million golfers, according to Semih Dilek, director of e-commerce for LostGolfBalls.com.
Where are lost golf balls located?
The largest online retailer of used golf balls is LostGolfBalls.com, located in Sugar Land, just southwest of Houston. The company was started more than 25 years ago by four former Texas A&M golfers, who used their connections in the golf industry to contract divers at various golf courses, starting primarily in Texas.
What states are LostGolfballs.com in?
The top producing states for LostGolfBalls.com are Texas, Florida, the Carolinas and California.
Do golf balls lose performance when they are recovered from water?
And it used to be truer than it is now. The golf manufacturers have long made claims that balls recovered from water lose a significant amount of performance. But much of that was before the solid core technology and advanced cover materials used today.
What are the main elements of a golf ball?
Golf balls have 3 main elements which matter – the cover, layers and compression – and whatever the design or make of the ball you use it will simply be a variant of a combination of these 3 main elements. Two-piece (i.e. 2 layered) ball – Most players are best to start with a two-piece ball with low compression.
What is a 3 piece golf ball?
Three-piece (i.e. 3 layered) ball – A 3-piece golf ball has a solid core which is surrounded by an outer layer and a soft cover on the outside. The additional layer and softer cover are designed to promote a greater rate of spin and allow more control over the ball for more skilled golfers. This ball type will typically be more expensive. The frequently best-rated 3-piece ball is the Titleist ProV1.
How fast can a golf ball swing?
They can stand repeated high-speed swing speeds of up to 125mph without changing shape or deforming according to Golf Digest.
What is surface cover in golf?
The ‘surface cover’ is the element of all golf balls most susceptible to damage. Provided a ball suffers only small scuffs or paint loss it can continue to be played without any loss of performance. You might think it’s obvious whether a golf ball is still able to be used or not.
Why does water damage a golf club?
The presence of water on the clubface when you hit the ball can worsen damage to the cover. Water decreases the friction between the club and the ball, which leads to slipping and a ‘grabbing’ of the ball by the grooves on your club and therefore increased wear and tear on the ball.
What to do if it's raining on a golf course?
So if it’s raining, or the course is wet, make sure you dry the clubface with a towel before you hit your next shot. It will reduce the damage on the cover of your ball and make it last longer.
Is a golf ball resilient?
Well it turns out that the modern golf ball really is incredibly resilient.
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.
Golf Is Expensive
The Myths
- Myth #1 – Used golf balls feel as good as new Myth #2 -Used golf balls perform like new with a wedge Myth #3 – Used golf balls perform like new with an iron Myth #4 – Used golf balls perform like new with a driver
How We Tested
- In this test, we evaluated four different kinds of used golf balls. We tested what LostGolfBalls.comcalls the AAAAA (the best), AAAA (mid grade), AAA (low grade), and Refinished. We tested each of these qualities of Titleist ProV1 against brand new ProV1 balls. To evaluate feel, our testers hit putts with their eyes closed, not knowing whether they were hitting a new or …
The Results
- In our feel testing, no one was able to distinguish between the new, used, or refinished golf balls. Our testers were allowed to hit as many putts as they wanted. Most of them stated that every ball they hit felt the same. There were a couple of testers who said that some balls felt different, but there was no correlation with the grade of golf ball. Anecdotally, the testers’ perceptions of the b…
Conclusion
- Golf isn’t going to become a cheap game anytime soon, but thanks to high quality direct-to-consumer golf balls (learn more HERE) and the ability to buy used golf balls, you can make it a little less expensive. If you’re flexible about the brand of ball you play, you can save 50% or more on tour quality golf balls.