New cheap golf balls vs premium lake balls

ashleyjamesben · February 2, 2015

Thanks for reading. Hopefully you can help in my dilemma.

I started playing golf with the cheapest balls I could buy and whatever I found in the trees, as I was searching in them quite a lot! Once I stopped losing multiple balls I started buying Srixon Distance balls as they are cheap (roughly £0.66/$1) and I could do with the help in distance.

Six months later, new clubs and generally getting better (down to 19hcp) I don't feel the need for a distance ball and I'm starting to find the Distance balls kind of hard/clunky around and on the green.

I want to upgrade the balls but if I'm completely honest, I'm a tight Yorkshireman. The cost seems to sky rocket for the softer balls and I'm not prepared to pay the price (£1.20/$2 a ball) so was wondering if you guys might recommend lake/recycled balls?

I've been checking online (American Golf/Direct Golf) and they seem to have some specific brands that sell titleist, etc for cheap and I'm tempted by these rather than other online places that might just be some bloke diving in his local golf course.

Would you rather play brand new distance balls? Or recycled premium balls?

Any help would be great!

SteelieD · February 2, 2015

First quality "pre played" balls are just fine and can be had at good prices. I'd much rather play a premium ball that a cheap rock.

Try Lost Golf Balls.

golfdad907 · February 2, 2015

One of our regular weekend foresome only buys used "tour balls" in 4A or 5A condition from one of those lost ball sites. Mostly they are in good shape and pretty cheap, under 50 cents per ball.

He did get a couple of batches where balls were cracking and stuff, so you never know.

Likely sponsored by ball OEMs Golf Digest ran an article and tested water logged balls and found performance degraded quickly, but that was years ago. Likely newer materials are better.

Buy some from lost ball site, not reconditioned though, as those are repainted and see if you like them.

cristphoto · February 3, 2015

[quote name='golfdad907' timestamp='1422905378' post='10869665']
One of our regular weekend foresome only buys used "tour balls" in 4A or 5A condition from one of those lost ball sites. Mostly they are in good shape and pretty cheap, under 50 cents per ball.

He did get a couple of batches where balls were cracking and stuff, so you never know.

Likely sponsored by ball OEMs Golf Digest ran an article and tested water logged balls and found performance degraded quickly, but that was years ago. Likely newer materials are better.

Buy some from lost ball site, not reconditioned though, as those are repainted and see if you like them.
[/quote]

You're saying he can get 4A or 5A Tour balls (ProV1, Lethal, RZN, etc.) for less than $6.00 a dozen?

BillyZ2 · February 3, 2015

I'm a 10 hc who plays TopFlite Gamers and Gamer Tours. I bought them brand new for $7.99/doz, and $12.99/doz respectively, on sale. To me, they are plenty good enough. I know many in here will not like this comment, but, if you could switch the logo's between Gamer Tours and ProV's many golfers would never know the difference in performance. I have bought some used golf balls from Raven Golf Balls (link below).

[url="http://www.ravengolfballs.com/"]http://www.ravengolfballs.com/[/url]

Edit: I only live about 4 miles from Raven Golf.

golfdad907 · February 3, 2015

[quote name='cristphoto' timestamp='1422978886' post='10875769']
[quote name='golfdad907' timestamp='1422905378' post='10869665']
One of our regular weekend foresome only buys used "tour balls" in 4A or 5A condition from one of those lost ball sites. Mostly they are in good shape and pretty cheap, under 50 cents per ball.

He did get a couple of batches where balls were cracking and stuff, so you never know.

Likely sponsored by ball OEMs Golf Digest ran an article and tested water logged balls and found performance degraded quickly, but that was years ago. Likely newer materials are better.

Buy some from lost ball site, not reconditioned though, as those are repainted and see if you like them.
[/quote]

You're saying he can get 4A or 5A Tour balls (ProV1, Lethal, RZN, etc.) for less than $6.00 a dozen?
[/quote]

Last batch my buddy got, were 43 cents a ball, on sale, bought like 12 dozen or something like than, those were Lethal. The Titleist Sheeple in the world will pay more for Pro V1s, as always.

cristphoto · February 3, 2015

[quote name='golfdad907' timestamp='1422979609' post='10875851']
[quote name='cristphoto' timestamp='1422978886' post='10875769']
[quote name='golfdad907' timestamp='1422905378' post='10869665']
One of our regular weekend foresome only buys used "tour balls" in 4A or 5A condition from one of those lost ball sites. Mostly they are in good shape and pretty cheap, under 50 cents per ball.

He did get a couple of batches where balls were cracking and stuff, so you never know.

Likely sponsored by ball OEMs Golf Digest ran an article and tested water logged balls and found performance degraded quickly, but that was years ago. Likely newer materials are better.

Buy some from lost ball site, not reconditioned though, as those are repainted and see if you like them.
[/quote]

You're saying he can get 4A or 5A Tour balls (ProV1, Lethal, RZN, etc.) for less than $6.00 a dozen?
[/quote]

Last batch my buddy got, were 43 cents a ball, on sale, bought like 12 dozen or something like than, those were Lethal. The Titleist Sheeple in the world will pay more for Pro V1s, as always.
[/quote]

That's a great deal.

SteelieD · February 3, 2015

[quote][color=#282828]Last batch my buddy got, were 43 cents a ball, on sale, bought like 12 dozen or something like than, those were Lethal. [/color][/quote]

The Lethal is a fantastic ball. Stupid name tho.