Selecting the Best Used Golf Balls

Constantly purchasing premium golf balls can take a large hit on a budget, and the current economic climate has made purchasing used golf equipment more accessible. Although the sales of golf clubs have decreased, a market research study has revealed that more people are purchasing golf balls. Research from April 2012 shows that the $25 billion golf industry has survived the economic upheavals and is steadily growing. If you are searching for a way to save money while still playing the sport, learning how to select the best used golf balls is beneficial.

Accurately Assess Your Skill Level

The first step to finding the best used golf balls is to accurately assess your skill level. Beginners usually do not need the premium sets to practice. Their large number of lost golf balls means that spending money on brand new equipment is usually a waste. Most trainers recommend finding durable balls that can be safely used for practice and will not cause heartbreak if they disappear at the bottom of the pond after the first swing.

Learn the Grading Scales

Used golf balls have their own grading scales that can be used by consumers to determine their condition. Similar to baseball cards, the scales attempt to rank them based on damage. Although there are several variations in existence, the unified grading scale is the most common and can help determine the condition of the item. Serious players can often determine the condition by simply glancing at the equipment.

The 5A or mint condition golf balls are at the top of the scale and have no issues. They are perfect, have no blemishes on the surface and are the most expensive used golf balls you can find. The 4A or near mint condition balls are in the next level and have some slight blemishes. They may be almost perfect. The 3A or third grade level has golf balls with more problems that range from fading to slight wear. The 2A portion of the scale has balls with severe blemishes that can still work for beginners. Finally, the practice level golf balls are not suitable for advanced players and have a lot of blemishes. Refinished golf balls are also an option for beginners interested in saving money.

Understand the Source of Your Equipment

Many golfers searching for a way to save money do not stop to consider the source of the used equipment and think that all golf balls are the same. It may be tempting to place a bid on eBay for the least expensive options and trust the images are reflecting the true quality, but this is risky. It is important to select sellers with good reputations who will not try to ship you refinished products after you have paid for 5A or 4A grade balls.

Many golf courses and practice ranges sell used equipment, so they are one option to evaluate. You may also be able to find used equipment at sporting goods stores. However, there are reputable online retailers with money back guarantees that can save you money. For any of these options, it is important to ask questions about the source of the golf balls. If they are only selling balls that have been sitting in ponds for weeks, they should not be charging customers for the 5A grade level. It is crucial that golfers find out how the retailers get their products.

Never Buy Anything with Cuts

Although advanced players have learned the type of equipment they need to avoid, many beginners have fallen for the trap of buying used golf balls with cuts because they are the cheapest. You should not purchase anything with cuts because it will not be useful even for practice. Cuts can have a severe impact on the quality of the game, so they should be avoided.

Join the Era of Recycling

Budget conscious golfers are not the only ones who are turning to used golf equipment. Recycling has become trendy, and more businesses are trying to promote the concept. This is why many players have noticed retailers labeling used golf balls as recycled golf balls. They are still placing them in the same grading scale as before but are calling this a more energy efficient way of staying active. Beginners should not be fooled by the name. Recycled golf balls are still used and must adhere to the same quality standards.

Many have continued to reference a CNN article that found golf balls require 100 to 1,000 years to completely decompose. Calling this a serious litter problem, Christina Macfarlane pointed out that they can release toxic metals as they begin to degrade and hurt the surrounding environment. Recycling seems to be the easiest answer. Golfers who are trying to save money can also be helping the environment by turning to used golf balls.