Most golfers think a used golf ball is just a new ball somebody already hit. Sometimes it is. Sometimes it’s been stripped and repainted, and you can’t always tell by looking at it. Here’s exactly what the grades mean, how recycled and refinished balls differ, and what to check before you order.
Are Used Golf Balls Worth It?
Yes, used golf balls are worth it when you pick the ball model first and the condition second. The word “used” doesn’t tell you much on its own, so don’t shop the label. Shop the ball.
So here’s how I’d do it. Start with the ball you’d actually buy new. If you don’t know what that is yet, my best golf balls guide is the place to start, and in my best golf balls video I go from pro-level balls all the way down to budget picks. Those are all new balls, but the first job is the same. Figure out which ball fits your game, then go find that exact model used.
Here’s why the order matters. The whole reason you’re shopping used is to pay less for a ball you’re going to lose anyway. But a cheap ball that’s wrong for your game isn’t a deal. And once you’ve got the model, put the used price next to a new box of that same ball, with the same quantity and shipping, before you decide.
What’s the Difference Between Recycled and Refinished Golf Balls?
A recycled golf ball still has its original cover and paint, and a refinished golf ball has had its outside worked on. That’s the biggest split in the whole used market, and it’s the first thing I’d look for on a listing.
Take LostGolfBalls. It says its recycled balls go through a proprietary cleaning process, then get sorted by make, model and condition. Its Factory Refinished balls are a separate category, and those may be stripped, painted, stamped or clear coated.
Now, that doesn’t make a refinished ball junk. It just makes it a different product. If what you want is the same ball you’d pull out of a new sleeve, buy recycled. A refinished ball has been reworked on the outside, so judge it as its own thing, not as a cheaper copy of the original.
What Do Used Golf Ball Grades Actually Mean?
Used golf ball grades are each seller’s own labels, so a top grade at one store doesn’t promise the same thing as a top grade at another. There’s no one grading scale everybody uses.
LostGolfBalls sorts its recycled balls into Pristine, Mint (5A), Near Mint (4A) and Good (3A). Here’s the part a lot of people miss. Mint can still have player marks and logos on it. If you want a ball with nothing written on it, Pristine is the grade that rules those out. Near Mint can have cosmetic blemishes, some discoloration or lost luster. Good is free of cuts, but it can have slight scuffs, blemishes, discoloration and smudged print, and the bag can include higher-grade x-outs and practice models.
Two Guys With Balls does it completely differently, with Eagle, Birdie and Par. Eagle leaves out refurbished, x-out and practice balls. Birdie can include practice balls. Par can include x-outs, refinished, refurbished and practice balls, and the company says Par balls can have noticeable imperfections that may affect flight. If you want more on that seller, here’s my Two Guys With Balls review.
So here’s a tip. If you want every ball in the bag to be the exact model you paid for, stay up in the grades that keep out x-outs and practice balls. A lower grade can still make sense when you just want something to hit. It’s just not a matched set.
What Should You Check Before You Buy Used Golf Balls?
Check three things before you order: the exact model, what the grade allows in the bag, and the return policy.
The model sounds obvious, but it’s the one people skip. Make sure the listing names the ball you want and its generation, not just the brand. A bag of one company’s balls isn’t the same as a bag of the one ball you play. And for the grade, read the seller’s own definition, not the name on the button.
Then read the whole return policy, not the badge. LostGolfBalls shows a Free Returns badge on its grading page, but its returns page says you have to let it know within 30 calendar days after you get the order. The balls have to be unused and in the condition you got them. And you pay the return shipping unless the order showed up damaged or wrong.
That unused part is the one to remember. Open the box and look at every ball before you take one to the course. Check for cuts and cracks, check that the model is right, and check for logos or marks you didn’t want. Once you’ve played one, it’s not unused anymore.
Can You Use Used Golf Balls in a Tournament?
Yes, you can play a used golf ball in a tournament, as long as it’s a conforming ball. Rule 4.2a of the Rules of Golf requires a conforming ball, and it says you can’t play a ball whose performance characteristics were deliberately altered.
Here’s the thing. The grade on the listing doesn’t tell you any of that. Mint is a description of how the ball looks, not a ruling that it’s legal for your event. So if you’re playing in something that counts, I’d stick with a recycled ball of a model you already know is conforming, and if your event has its own rules, check those too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 5A mean on used golf balls?
At LostGolfBalls, 5A is the Mint grade. Near Mint is 4A and Good is 3A. Other sellers use their own names, so don’t assume a 5A at one store lines up with a top grade somewhere else.
Can you switch between used and new golf balls during a round?
Yes, between holes. Rule 4.2 lets you change balls between holes, but it doesn’t generally let you swap to a different ball for a different shot on the same hole. A scratch, scrape, damaged paint or discoloration doesn’t let you swap mid-hole under Rule 4.2c either. The ball needs a visible cut or crack that happened during that hole.
Where’s the best place to buy used golf balls?
Buy from a seller that publishes its grade definitions and its full return policy, so you know what’s in the bag before you pay. LostGolfBalls and Two Guys With Balls both post their grading scales, and that’s the minimum I’d want from anybody selling used balls.
Are refinished golf balls worth buying?
They can be, if all you want is a clean-looking ball to play. Just know it’s had its outside reworked, so it’s not the same as a recycled ball with its original cover. If you want the original cover and paint, stick with a recycled grade.
What should you do with your own old golf balls?
Don’t let them sit in the garage. Here’s what to do with old golf balls, including selling them, donating them and putting them back to use.
Conclusion
The catch with used golf balls is that you’re buying a description, not a ball you’ve held. A clean cover doesn’t tell you how a ball was stored, whether it sat in water, or what it got hit with. And a seller’s grade isn’t an independent performance test. That’s the downside you’re accepting.
Used golf balls are worth it if you lose a few balls a round, you already know the model you like, and you’re buying a recycled grade from a seller that spells out what’s in the bag. They’re not for you if you need a matched box of the current model for an event, or if the used price isn’t far off a new box of the same ball. In that case, buy new and don’t think about it.
About the author
Paul Liberatore
Paul Liberatore is the founder of Golfers Authority and a former three-year golf gear contributor to Sports Illustrated. He tests golf equipment hands-on to help golfers make better buying decisions.