Opinions needed on "used" golf balls

**rockford35** · 08-24-2004

I had a thought last night on "used" or "previously hit" golf balls.

Now, if these used balls are rated as "Mint, AAAAA, or A++++", that to me means zero play, as if they had been hit once into the water/bush/farmer's field/parking lot.

But, if you're buying balls like HX tour or ProVx's, you'd think these balls would be played by people that had a decent notion of the game and wouldn't be a slasher.

So, are these balls defective out of the sleeve, or are these good balls that are being played by people that shouldn't be playing balls that cost 6 bucks each?

I'm curious to hear people's thought's on this. I expect many opinions, and I welcome all of them.

Thanks in advance,

R35

**buddha33** · 08-24-2004

Originally Posted by rockford35

or are these good balls that are being played by people that shouldn't be playing balls that cost 6 bucks each?

R35

I'm willing to bet there's a good many of these people out there. I've found four stray Pro V1's in a round before.

**jc@bg** · 08-24-2004

Originally Posted by rockford35

I had a thought last night on "used" or "previously hit" golf balls.

Now, if these used balls are rated as "Mint, AAAAA, or A++++", that to me means zero play, as if they had been hit once into the water/bush/farmer's field/parking lot.

But, if you're buying balls like HX tour or ProVx's, you'd think these balls would be played by people that had a decent notion of the game and wouldn't be a slasher.

So, are these balls defective out of the sleeve, or are these good balls that are being played by people that shouldn't be playing balls that cost 6 bucks each?

I'm curious to hear people's thought's on this. I expect many opinions, and I welcome all of them.

Thanks in advance,

R35

Gotta agree with Buddha. Lots of the ProV1s go out of the pro shop in outings, etc., where the "golfer" in question can't hit it out of her/his shadow unless it's in a very non-straight line. The old "Give us 75 bucks and you'll get 18 holes with cart, a taco salad lunch, a sleeve of Pro V1s, and some nice parting gifts" ploy. I'm an equipment junkie myself and always want to push that edge in terms of what I can do on the course, but when I'm playing the last 3 holes of the back nine after sunset, it doesn't matter one bit what ball I'm playing. Plus I've noticed this funny thing: sometimes I get a ball that refuses to be lost or replaced. Darn thing keeps going fairway-green, fairway-green and I don't have the heart to pull it from the lineup. Forget that it has 15 "carties" (we have those wraparound cart paths throughout the course), little worry lines around about every dimple, and came from a box that was $12.99 for 18 balls, the darn ball's got game.

This is America. I believe in egalitarianism. It's demeaning when I'm playing with strangers and I'm not using Pro V1s, but I try to take it like a man.

**BLADEMAN** · 08-24-2004

the only exeperance I have had was this year my pro shop got a coulpe of cases of pro V's x-outs and they were $20. doz and were supposed to be no differant than the pricey one's execpt these had some sort of blimish on the cover. I played them and could not tell anything differant, I did wonder if they were V1 or V1x's ? are mixed . his stash is gone for the season. I did find a good condition Preciep Laddie on sunday morning and played it a couple of holes and liked it a lot , soft and spun pretty good

**ploya** · 08-24-2004

I bought 60 AA ProV1's on Ebay for $50 and I couldn't be happier. Sure they have some scuff marks but nothing that would affect play. Sometimes, I have the same problem as jc@bg, i get one that just doesn't want to die. Little booger just keeps bouncing off of cart paths and trees and coming back for more. How can you beat $.83 cents a ball for ProV1's, they still fly straight and spin and roll into the hole. They just don't look as pretty as the ones fresh out the sleeve. Brand new balls are destined to go swimming. I want my ball to know what the water already feels like, hopefully he's developed a little indignation for it and won't want to return, ever.

**rockford35** · 08-24-2004

Ploya,

I think you hit the nail on the head there.

83 cents for a ball, that might have been hit once makes perfect sense to me. I bought 24 Callaway Rule 35's early last year that were in mint condition. I could not for the life of me see how they weren't new. I payed 12 dollars for them, 50 cents each.
I gave a few away for guys to try, but they lasted just about all of last year. Only out of retirement did i have to give them up (scuffs, ect). Out of those 24, i probably gave away 6, and lost only one.

Now, are we stupid for buying new sleeves when these are so readily available? Or, are we playing with fire?

R35

**Dave Ireland** · 08-25-2004

I vouch for the other cheap option which is the closeout sale, as happened when Taylor Made took over Maxfli and discontinued the A10. I was picking up 3 dozen plus P&P for 50 euro, unfortunately I've exhausted all the avenues now so I'm looking at the Wilson True Tour (not Elite) as a viable alternative.

The ball I currently can't lose is a Maxfli M3 - snapped it 20 yards into the trees with heavy undergrowth on Monday evening, I had 1 quick look for it and it just sat up waiting to come to daddy. In view of this kindly retrieval I spared it the ignominy of being slashed out of the trees and took an unplayable and as a special treat popped him in da ball washer on the 3rd. Who ever said treat'em mean and keep'em keen ..........

**Irishgolfer** · 08-25-2004

Originally Posted by jc@bg

This is America. I believe in egalitarianism. It's demeaning when I'm playing with strangers and I'm not using Pro V1s, but I try to take it like a man.

A guy I used toplay with a lot, a scratch golfer, never played a balata in his life. His short game was electric and he played with rocks (still does!!).

He was once playing an ex International, who commented on the fact he was playing a Top Flite. "Do you always play TFs" says he. "Naw" says yer man, "only when I run out of Pinnacles". I laughed so hard when I saw the ex Ints. look of complete contempt. Needless to say my freind beat him at the last, oneupmanship at its best.

**jc@bg** · 08-25-2004

Originally Posted by Irishgolfer

A guy I used toplay with a lot, a scratch golfer, never played a balata in his life. His short game was electric and he played with rocks (still does!!).

He was once playing an ex International, who commented on the fact he was playing a Top Flite. "Do you always play TFs" says he. "Naw" says yer man, "only when I run out of Pinnacles". I laughed so hard when I saw the ex Ints. look of complete contempt. Needless to say my freind beat him at the last, oneupmanship at its best.

Irish,

You make a good point. There are lots of equally "good" ways to garner a good score, and if rocks suit your game, so be it. My home course has a fair number of what I consider run-up holes, because false fronts and elephants buried in the middle of the green make high-flying shots too much of a risk, especially when the course is playing firm (not a Shinnecock, but a couple of the holes remind me of #10 at that venue). In those conditions, Pinnacles and Top Flights do very well indeed, and they're virtually indestructible. Not that I'm superstitious or anything, but if a ball keeps coming back for more, it might not be wise for me to shun it in favor of the latest-greatest in suck-back spin.

**Frog** · 10-01-2004

A friend and i were following a very slow single a couple of days ago. He was in no hurry to get around the course , but any ball he hit outside of the fairway stayed outside of the fairway. well to make a longstory short i went on a treasure hunt to see if i could up my ball count by adding his bad played balls to my bag and to my suprise the balls i was finding were callaway hx tour balls i added four of these to my bag that day and i hope to play behind Gramps da slicer again.

**Classic** · 10-01-2004

Watch out, as there are fake golf balls being sold on eBay.

**gunner** · 06-14-2005

I bought 10 doz Top Flight XL 3000 ball on E-=Bay for 35 bones they were rated AAA++++ mint and they were. K-Netgolf seems to be up and up on thier products.
There was not one damaged ball. I`m a Pro v1x person myself but for Sunday mornings
smacking the ball around why waste a good one.

**Brent Nadeau** · 06-14-2005

I was using new Maxfli A10 soids so far this year, so I picked a dozen salvaged ones for half the price. I honestly could not tell any difference between the two. The drives were long and straight (when I hit them long and straight), and they felt nice off the irons...why pay more than necessary.

**jordoo** · 06-14-2005

I've seen some bad golfers buy a couple sleeves of pro vi and have to re up at the turn. The funny part is a ball that spins more like that will slice or hook even further than a cheaper ball cracks me up. Until I slice my already lost and found Pro V1 into the woods.. Doh

**pegleg2005** · 06-14-2005

Used balls are the greatest thing since sliced bread. I have not bought a ball all year.

I work right around the corner from a public golf course. Each day at lunch I take a walk over to the course. I walk in the rough and woods between the fairway and the road for a couple of holes. I am usually good for about a half dozen or more balls a day.

There is a very private country club a few miles away. It is near the public gardens. I drive over about once a week and park at the gradens and follow a path the leads to the fairway on one of the holes. Must be just the right distance from the tees as I usually find a few here. A little farther is water hazard, pond, and if I bring a ball retriever I can dig some more out of here.

I take them all home, clean them up, inspect and sort them. I have threee grades. Shag balls that I take to the driving range, balls I keep to play myself and the rest. I give the rest away to my friends but also keep some around.

**elbe-one** · 06-15-2005

In less than one season of golf (maybe 20-30 rounds), I found maybe 30 pro v1's on the courses where I played. Most I found with my water ball retriever, but not all of them. I found a few "one hit wonders." I even found one in a parking lot, far from any hole (must've fallen out of someone's pocket).

**wirehair** · 06-15-2005

One of the golf magazines did a comparison & found that balls soaked in water for a period of time are shorter by a couple of yards. But I can't see myself hitting $5 balls with my 50 cent swing.

Just bought several lots on E-bay. 12 dozen XL-3000's, 6 dozen NXT's & 6 dozen Dunlop LoCo's. Total cost about $90 delivered.