used golf balls

I just bought some AAAA NXT TOURS from walmart 9.99$ curious to see how it goes.

I never noticed a difference with my AAA tour ix's from LGB...

Been using used Pro V1's, B330, Zstars, and Tour D's and see no difference in performance.

I have been playing used Tour IX (not reurbished) balls for 2 years now and cant tell a difference. I get the same performance as a new ball. JMHO

for the most part you should be fine but keep in mind that most "used" balls are taken out of the ponds on the courses. Depending on how long they've been in there the water could effect the ball. In most cases if your buying AAAA or above you should be ok but personally i wouldn't go below AAAAA.

Typically picked up used prov1x's from a local shop here and never have noticed a difference in performance. In fact the only thing I notice is the difference in price when I cant make it to the used ball place and have to pay normal prices.

1. IMO, if you have been using AAAA or above, and think there is no difference, how do you know?

2. What bugs me is simple: I don't know where or who or how long or what the ball has been through..no matter what a classy web site tells me.

3. I have played less than one round with a cally ix and noticed a drop off in performance. Fished from a pond, not thanks. I will find that new ball bargain, no matter what.

There is a slight difference between 4 and 5A golf balls and new balls, but really not enough to make a difference in my score.

[quote name='TCMP' timestamp='1282264013' post='2650100']
There is a slight difference between 4 and 5A golf balls and new balls, but really not enough to make a difference in my score.
[/quote]

What about AAA

AAA spin a bit less on short chips and pitches. I could play them and probably not notice a whole lot of difference in my score. If you hit the correct shot, the ball would maybe roll out another 1-2 feet. I bought AAA Z-Stars from LGB and they still spin very well.

People that have used Lostgolfballs. In your opinion is there much of a difference between the AAAAA and AAAA??

I am a bit suspicious on the used balls . At times they do not perform well and feel a bit hard than usual ( AAAA or AAAAA mostly ) . I have decided to buy new from now on .

[quote name='Robmc826' timestamp='1282306622' post='2650837']
People that have used Lostgolfballs. In your opinion is there much of a difference between the AAAAA and AAAA??
[/quote]

I've bought AAAAA, AAAA, and AAA. Until recently I'd say not really. But just got some Tour D's AAAA that were more like the AAA's I've gotten before. So not sure what's going on with their grading. Maybe I just got a bad batch. Contacted them and it two tries and week to get a reply. They offered to send me a shipping label to send the balls I didn't like back for replacement. By then I had already played a few of them so just kept them to use during casual rounds.

Played both new and "AAAAA" from LGB TM TP Red LPDs and TP Black LDPs and the only difference that I can tell is that some of the balls from LGB aren't quite as white as a new ball. Other than that I have yet to be able to tell the difference in performance.

[quote name='Robmc826' timestamp='1282306622' post='2650837']
People that have used Lostgolfballs. In your opinion is there much of a difference between the AAAAA and AAAA??
[/quote]

Sometimes the AAA will be like a 4A ball or better. Sometimes they look pretty bad. For the most part, they are pretty good balls. The 5A balls do not have any blemishes (at least the batches of ProV1X's that I have purchased)

[quote name='silver77' timestamp='1282261145' post='2650020']
I recently started to buy used golf balls but looked new AAAA rating. I have noticed that the used golf balls don't bite as much as a new ball on the green. I played cally tour i and have noticed this a lot during the round. has anybody else notice the difference on spin with a like new recycled or used ball or is it just me?
[/quote]

Several studies have shown that golf balls fished out of the water (which includes 99% of the balls from the big used ball sites, from AAAAA down to AA) lose a significant amount of distance (up to 15 yards off the driver). Given that time in the water obviously affects the physical properties of a ball, an effect on spin certainly seems possible, though I haven't seen any specific research about it.

[quote name='domer' timestamp='1282317442' post='2651148']
Several studies have shown that golf balls fished out of the water (which includes 99% of the balls from the big used ball sites, from AAAAA down to AA) lose a significant amount of distance (up to 15 yards off the driver). Given that time in the water obviously affects the physical properties of a ball, an effect on spin certainly seems possible, though I haven't seen any specific research about it.
[/quote]

Agreed. I know that all lostgolfballs.com used balls come from water (even says so on their site!). Not sure how long they have been submurged by the time LGB receives them for cleaning. I am sure the body of water they are pulled from has a big effect as well (ex. clean running stream vs dirty, stagnant pond)

I bought a stack of the cheap used ProV1's from WalMart and they are/have been all fine. Surely a ball is "used" as soon as you've hit it so not sure how any difference could be there.
Just my $0.02

[quote name='kilmidyke' timestamp='1282362040' post='2652502']
I bought a stack of the cheap used ProV1's from WalMart and they are/have been all fine. Surely a ball is "used" as soon as you've hit it so not sure how any difference could be there.
Just my $0.02
[/quote]

I know this thread has gotten a bit off track, so I apologize to the OP, but there's a difference between a ball hit once off the tee and one that has been sitting in a lake. That's the point we've been trying to make.

For what you pay for USED balls you can be real close to BRAND NEW PRACTICE BALLS

These are the same thing, USGA legal for play in tournaments (x-outs aren't) but still, if your playing in a tournament anywhere, use a new and normal ball - not a practice lol.

Seriously, titleist, srixon, callway, and taylormade ALL MAKE PRACTICE BALLS and they are usually 30+% off their full priced sisters. With only cosmetic (you rarely can see anything even up close) blemishes. X-outs are not legal for play, some can be juiced and I have seen some with poor covers out of the box.

In regard to titleist product, I played their practice balls as my "new" ball for many years, and have a shag bag full for practicing with now. I buck up the $40 (small discount) per dozen for new normal prov1's, its worth it if you aren't losing them often.... INCENTIVE to keep it in play!

JC

[quote name='Robmc826' timestamp='1282306622' post='2650837']
People that have used Lostgolfballs. In your opinion is there much of a difference between the AAAAA and AAAA??
[/quote]

In my experience the difference is nominal, maybe about 2 balls per dozen on average are significantly different in quality. If it's only a buck between 4A and 5A I go with 5A, if it's more than that I'll usually go with the 4A.

[quote name='domer' timestamp='1282317442' post='2651148']
[quote name='silver77' timestamp='1282261145' post='2650020']
I recently started to buy used golf balls but looked new AAAA rating. I have noticed that the used golf balls don't bite as much as a new ball on the green. I played cally tour i and have noticed this a lot during the round. has anybody else notice the difference on spin with a like new recycled or used ball or is it just me?
[/quote]

Several studies have shown that golf balls fished out of the water (which includes 99% of the balls from the big used ball sites, from AAAAA down to AA) lose a significant amount of distance (up to 15 yards off the driver). Given that time in the water obviously affects the physical properties of a ball, an effect on spin certainly seems possible, though I haven't seen any specific research about it.
[/quote]

The only study that I have seen was done in the 1990's on balata/wound golf balls. Are tere any more recent experiments/studies that have been published? You would think so but I don't recall having seen any.

Thanks.

dave

ps. I have played new and AAAAA used Pro V1's and V1x balls (lostgolfballs.com and knetgolf.com). I could not detect a performance difference.

[quote name='DaveLeeNC' timestamp='1282934149' post='2664364']

The only study that I have seen was done in the 1990's on balata/wound golf balls. Are tere any more recent experiments/studies that have been published? You would think so but I don't recall having seen any.

Thanks.

dave

ps. I have played new and AAAAA used Pro V1's and V1x balls (lostgolfballs.com and knetgolf.com). I could not detect a performance difference.
[/quote]

Actually it looks like Golf Digest just re-published that same article in 2005 or something, which made me think that there were two separate studies in play when really there's only that one. The study that you refer to did include 2-piece Surlyn-covered balls and reported a 6 yard difference after a week in the water and 10 yards after a couple of months. Note that from a chemical perspective Surlyn is just as 'waterproof' as Urethane. Here's a response from a Harvard professor of chemical engineering concerning the effect of water on a non-porous polymer such as Surlyn or Urethane: "Given how long they were in the water, there are two things that might have happened. You might have absorbed a little bit of water into the ball so the ball might not only be a bit heavier, but it might have a slightly larger radius, and both of those factors, in general, will tend to affect the aerodynamic performance, making the ball fall faster. Water may also affect the structure of the molecules in the ball and might cause it to swell a little, a common effect in polymers." So again, the idea that [b]nothing [/b]is changing about Urethane balls after a month in the water seems exceptionally unlikely, but scientific numbers are difficult to come by. And if the effect is small enough, it might not matter to most of us anyways...

[quote name='domer' timestamp='1283031987' post='2665979']

Actually it looks like Golf Digest just re-published that same article in 2005 or something, which made me think that there were two separate studies in play when really there's only that one. The study that you refer to did include 2-piece Surlyn-covered balls and reported a 6 yard difference after a week in the water and 10 yards after a couple of months. Note that from a chemical perspective Surlyn is just as 'waterproof' as Urethane. Here's a response from a Harvard professor of chemical engineering concerning the effect of water on a non-porous polymer such as Surlyn or Urethane: "Given how long they were in the water, there are two things that might have happened. You might have absorbed a little bit of water into the ball so the ball might not only be a bit heavier, but it might have a slightly larger radius, and both of those factors, in general, will tend to affect the aerodynamic performance, making the ball fall faster. Water may also affect the structure of the molecules in the ball and might cause it to swell a little, a common effect in polymers." So again, the idea that [b]nothing [/b]is changing about Urethane balls after a month in the water seems exceptionally unlikely, but scientific numbers are difficult to come by. And if the effect is small enough, it might not matter to most of us anyways...
[/quote]

Thanks for the info/update.

One comment on the professor's comments. It is far from clear that a slightly heavier ball will lose distance. Most illegal golf balls are actually a bit heavier than normal golf balls (e.g., the Bandit golf ball). The larger size will hardly do anyting good I would think.

dave