New balls versus used

After a 20 year layoff I’ve been getting back into the game and found myself completely hooked. I’m playing 3 times a week and most days I’m making it out to do some practice. In 3 months I worked my way down from around 100 to the low 80’s (when I stopped playing after high school I was keeping it in the mid 80’s). I’ve lost a good amount of swing speed over those years. I now hit my driver at around 230 on average (hard for me to admit that if I’m honest and I almost wrote 250 which is where I max out at, but the truth is that an average well hit drive is closer to 230ish). My iron play is far and away the strongest part of my game. I don’t like hard balls. When I first started back I thought that balls like the Callaway super soft felt fantastic. That soft feel felt like balata, and I was always excited to use that back in the day as my dad, rightfully, would not let me do that much lol. As I started getting better and using those balls more I realized that I was suffering as far as making the ball stop on approach shots and having a hard time around the greens (conversely they are perfect for my wife). So that leaves me with an issue. The issue is that I can not afford to spend 45 a dozen. I’ve been buying prov1’s off eBay used for around $2 a ball and have been happy. The AAAAA grade balls look brand new to me and I haven’t had any performance issues I can tell. That said, I have read about balls that have been in water for any length of time hurting performance. What do you guys think? Are the AAAAA grade balls unlikely to have suffered in a way that effects performance? In general, if the only options were a mint condition used top tier ball or a lower quality ball like a super soft or Bridgestone e6 which route would you go. Balls like the snell mtb are also a possibility but honestly at 35ish per dozen are still a bit more than I’m looking to spend...

thanks for the feedback!

Used balls. I honestly think until you can go a full round without losing a ball then it shouldn't matter what ball. Buying 4 dozen prov1 a month is like 150 bucks. If you worked 5 hours less a week and spent that time on chipping, putting, or approach shots your scoring would be much better than any adv u get from a nice new ball. I used to want new premium balls in my bag too. But honestly while shooting 85 you wont be picking up any strokes from a prov1, you might actually lose a couple. Any sidespin, or wind will be amplified with prov1. You should just get a bunch of cheap balls for now.

I stick to one ball and have started pulling new ones when they get scuffed too much. I don't lose many so they typically last about 18-27 holes, then get down graded to use if I just want to drop a ball, and then to be a practice ball. My strategy is to buy a bunch when they are on sale, usually in the spring when a new model comes out. I don't think any ball from year to year is going to be such an improvement that it drops multiple shots a round so I'm comfortable playing the previous year model for about $25 per dozen.

I been buying recycled mint balls for at least 10 years now. I can count one hand how many balls didn't perform exactly like a brand new ball and will have fingers left over. If you buy mint condition recycled balls, the odds of getting one whose performance is not the same as a brand new ball is extremely low. Keep in mind that recycled and refinished are two different things. I have bought refinished just one time and cannot say the same thing about them.

Agree 100%. Don't plan to buy new balls again.

SuperHomerBoy alert here. I have been using the MG (MasterGrip) balls for quite a while and at $20 a dozen you can't beat them IMO. They have a big write up on their site about head to head with ProV1's prior generation being at least even or better. Personally I have not put both to test. At that price you might want to give a box a try. And their gloves are cheap and excellent. Been using them for, ahem, decades.

Similar thread a week or two ago you'll like. https://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/comment/19499776

If you are shooting low 80’s you can’t be losing more than one ball every second round.

Treat yourself.

Side note. When buying used balls you don’t just have to be worried about lake balls but how do you know that ProV isn’t also 20 years old?

Get yourself some AAAA balls from the site below. Their top quality is AAAAA but, I have found that if you buy, for example, 4 dozen AAAA, at least 40 of them look like a ball that has been hit once.

https://www.golfballsdirect.com/

Chrome Soft has a urethane cover I think. I usually find them for around $34/dozen. I seem to use no more than 2-3 per round even if I am hitting it bad.

Pretty much every site will identify what version of the ball they are selling so that is pretty much a non-issue.

I got a membership this year and I have had the chance to play a lot because of working from home. I played so far my used golf balls (5A quality) and my new golf balls. I cannot feel or see any difference. I average 80 on my home course and I rarely lose any golfs. I am an average golfer who drives the ball on average of 230 yards. I use Game Golf to track what I am doing and so far after 10 games. But as someone said, treat yourself if you shoot in the 80's and rarely lose golf balls.

I haven’t tried them much outside of a few that I have found. I’m planning on it though. It seems there compression may fit my swing speed better than pro v1

I don’t I don’t lose many but I kinda like being able to just throw them in the shag bag if they get scuffed or whatever. At $4 I’m gonna keep hitting it...

See I struggle with wether the pro v1 is a plus or not. At my skill set I’m not hitting lots of greens so getting up and down is very important. Even if I give up a little accuracy with the long game I’m not sure I’m not getting it back around the green and with my short irons. I suppose the pro v1’s don’t bother me off the tee, but something like e6 or super soft bother me around the green so I go the pro v1 route. Something like a chrome soft that is lower compression but good quality might be the play. Mostly it’s not a huge deal to me as long as I have the same ball and know what to expect and the pro v1’s are easy to find used in really good shape

Srixon q star tour might be a good middle ground. Not overly soft with pretty good check up of the irons and wedges. Prior generation on sale right now at $15 dozhttps://www.golfballs.com/m/Golf-Balls/Balls/Srixon-Q-Star-Tour-2-Golf-Balls.htm

Those are a good choice as well. I think you want a urethane cover. That has been the "replacement" for the spin of balata. After that it is what feel do you prefer imo. Some folks like firmer, some softer feel. But as a whole the balls spin less now than with balata or wound balls.

Damn, that seems like a great deal that would work well for me. I just ordered 6 dozen chrome soft though...kinda wish I would have seen your post first. I got a good deal but still could have saved another 50-60 bucks...

Great deal for an excellent ball. I've never considered buying used for exactly this reason - you can almost always find great prices on prior gen balls.

2 hours ago, Nebraska said:

You just never know with second hand balls

Is that for real or photo shopped??? 

5 hours ago, Nebraska said:

You just never know with second hand balls

What? You didn't know titleist bought out callaway??

Stay away from refinished. You will not feel the difference between a new ProV1 and a used one. You may be able to see discoloration if any, light scuffing and some marks but, if you're coming off a 20 year hiatus, you won't notice. I always encourage people buy from the 5A Mint / 4A Lightly used or Practice ball group.

I bought a 48 box of ProV1X from 2017 and they were all in excellent condition and acted the same. Keep in mind I was playing 3 days a week at the time. 

On 12/7/2022 at 6:00 PM, phizzy30 said:

Is that for real or photo shopped??? 

Saw this on My Golf Spy hate to admit since I only play new balls I did not read the beyond the caption.  But I’m assuming it is real.  I read an article years back were a bunch of “used and reconditioned” golf balls were cut in half to reveal they were not as labeled. 

I only buy used off lost golf balls 4A. I used to be a stickler about it but not anymore. Typically shoot 74-82 but can be a bit wild off the tee so no sense in paying full price. 
 

I do avoid refurbished though (which isn’t the exact question) but many studies have shown those to be firm, poor covers, and inconsistent results. Excellent/VG condition is fine IMO!  

On 12/11/2022 at 3:27 PM, Nebraska said:

Saw this on My Golf Spy hate to admit since I only play new balls I did not read the beyond the caption.  But I’m assuming it is real.  I read an article years back were a bunch of “used and reconditioned” golf balls were cut in half to reveal they were not as labeled. 

I have heard this, too.  They take a ball, sand off all the paint and the label.  Then repaint it, re-label it and that old TopFlite is now a Titleist Pro V1.