
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 happens to refurbished golf balls?
Also, a refurbished golf ball will almost certainly lose their full capabilities, the more it is hit. Some companies and individuals will blast away the paint down to the original, find the ball is of a lower-end brand, repaint the golf ball, and then stamp a higher-end golf ball logo on it to up the asking price of the refurbished golf ball.
What is a recycled golf ball?
Hint: A recycled, refinished, or refurbished golf ball is a USED golf ball no matter what anyone says!! See above “Used golf balls.” Nothing special is done to “recycled” golf balls. Some people use recycled as a marketing ploy but they are used golf balls cleaned and sorted.
What happens to a golf ball when it is covered?
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 the difference between old and new golf balls?
Now the obvious difference between an old golf ball and a new one is that one has not been used yet. Technically speaking, a golf ball becomes used the first time it is hit. But, there is a bigger difference between gently used and greatly used. A gently used golf ball is one that you will use for an entire round of golf.

What is a reconditioned golf ball?
Refurbished golf balls are sandblasted by the company that purchases/finds the, In the sandblasting process, a fraction of the cover is stripped away to remove all exterior scratches. After the sandblasting process, they then paint the cover with a glossy finish and restamp the ball with the desired brand and model.
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
Are 20 year old golf balls still good?
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 there a difference between used and new golf balls?
The conclusion was clear. None of these “myths” was in fact a myth. Whatever club in the bag was used by testers, and with any of the grades of used ball tested, there was no significant impact on performance.
Are refurbished balls worth it?
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.
Can you use refurbished golf balls in competitions?
A 'refurbished' golf ball is a second-hand ball that has been cleaned and stamped as 'refurbished. ' 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.
When should you throw away a golf ball?
Now, see if your ball is going to float. Drop it in, and walk away for a minute or two. If the cover is intact, then there should be absolutely no leakage to the internal area of your golf ball. If it starts to sink or you see any air bubbles coming up at all, it's a sign that the cover has a microfracture.
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.
How many rounds should a golf ball last?
sevenWithout visible damage, a golf ball can last up to seven 18-hole rounds without any loss of performance.
Do golf balls lose distance as they age?
A wound ball which is approximately 10 years old, stored at room temperatures and low humidity, will have lost about 0.5 to 1.0 % of its IV (Initial Velocity) which will affect its distance by a couple of yards.
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 performance with age?
Do golf balls go bad over a period of time? Mike. A: I called my sales representative from Callaway Golf and he indicated that golf balls have changed a great deal over the years. He stated golf balls are now designed with multi-layer surfaces and solid cores, therefore will not go bad or impact performance.
How much do used golf balls sell for?
Generally you'll be paid between 6 and 12 cents per ball selling them wholesale. If you're good at collecting, that can add up to hundreds of dollars daily. If you're not a diver, or you don't find more than a few hundred balls at a time, you might consider retailing the used golf balls yourself.
Where does lost golf balls get their balls?
Where do you get your golf balls? We work with many premium golf courses across the country to retrieve lost golf balls. Some of these courses include PGA Tour sites. We also buy golf balls from people who have collected thousands and need to get rid of them.
Are recycled golf balls OK to use?
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 new golf balls go further than old ones?
Lab tests, including our own, show little or no loss in yardage compared to new balls, and most golfers report no appreciable difference in play. But most of this research is based on tests of mint-quality used golf balls pulled from water hazards with no understanding of how much time each ball spent underwater.
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 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), ...
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.
What is a refurbished golf ball?
A refinished or refurbished golf ball is a very low quality golf ball that goes through an aggressive surface preparation by chemical and/or mechanical stripping the original paints from the golf ball. The stripped used golf ball is then repainted and reprinted.
Why is my golf ball changing size?
The weight of the ball may have changed, the actual size of the golf ball has been changed due to excessive paint or the dimples of the golf ball have been improperly filled by paint. There is also some processes that are performed on used golf balls that involves buffing out light scuffs, scratches and marks followed by painting ...
Refinished Golf Balls
Refinished golf balls are also sometimes called refurbished. In the refinishing process, the ball’s clearcoat is mechanically stripped off. Next, the ball is repainted and the logo and any other manufacturer marks are added freshly. A new clearcoat is then applied to the ball.
Recycled Golf Balls
In the recycling process, used balls are found, washed, then sorted by type, condition, and brand before being resold. Many people are concerned that used balls will be waterlogged, but this is an unfounded concern in this day and age. Contemporary golf balls are made from plastics with solid core technology that does not absorb water.
How We Grade Our Golf Balls
Very close to brand new condition. There is essentially no difference (other than price!) between these and unused balls.
Should I Buy Recycled Balls or Refinished Balls?
It all depends on your preferences in the end, but recycled balls are a surer bet. This is because the stripping, repainting, and recoating process of refinishing can alter the balance and weight of a ball, whereas with recycled balls, you can rest assured that the ball’s physical attributes have not been changed.
