When it Comes to Golf Balls it’s Out with the New, In With the Old

Every year, major golf companies release new products that are supposed to revolutionize the game, and using the new products one way to get better. That is all fine and good for professionals—who don’t really worry about the price—looking for an edge on their competition.

For the average golfer, price is a big factor when it comes to the sport. That’s why there are so many websites that offer hot deals like a reduced tee time. I have discovered another way in saving money, and that is by using recycled golf balls.

I have decided to switch to recycled golf balls because I am always looking for a way to save money, and I believe the golf ball is one of the most overpriced pieces of golf equipment. I have recently acquired 50 used Titleist ProV1s, and I really haven’t noticed a big change in distance between the two sets of balls.

The price difference was also too good to pass up, because those 50 ProV1 balls cost $49.97 on Amazon compared to 12 new ProV1s costing around $57 on Amazon. Some of the balls weren’t necessarily in the best condition—they were a little worn down and came with some pen marking—but overall I found the purchase to be the right move.

Used golf balls are also perfect for beginners, because they are cheap and come in bulk. When I first started playing golf, I would go through tons every round, so much that playing golf became a lot pricier than it already was. While losing a ball never feels good, it feels a lot better when you think about the low cost.

Another advantage of buying used golf balls is that you can try out different brands without the worry of cost. If you buy a brand new set of golf balls for over $50, and end up not liking them, you might feel obligated to use them because of how much you payed for them. However, buying used will take away this obligation and provide the ability for people to try all the different brands at a reasonable cost.

I do want to caution people that there is a fair amount of risk involved with buying used balls online. Consumers may want to be wary of basing their purchase off a picture and a description that claims the balls are in great condition, when in reality they could be worn down.

Nevertheless, the way to avoid this, like anything online, is to check out the profile of the seller and by reading customer reviews. While Amazon and other online stores do a good job showing the best-reviewed products, it still is very important to read what customers are actually saying.

Many golfers are stubborn in using new balls every time, and if that’s what you want to do, I say go for it. But from the results I have gotten from switching to recycled, I don’t see myself going back anytime soon.