It is estimated that about 300 million golf balls are lost or thrown away every year in the US. With such a large number of balls, it will be a pity and can seriously affect the environment if discarded.
Therefore, many people have used different methods to collect those balls and resell them as recycled golf balls.
What’s about the refurbished golf ball? Do they differ in appearance, performance, quality, or price? To learn more about these two lines, let’s find out through this article.
>> See also: Matte vs Regular Golf Balls – Which One Is Better for You?
Table of Contents
What Is a Recycled Golf Ball?
Recycled golf balls are collected by a person or group of people or organizations from bushes, lakes, forests, or locations around the golf course, cleaned and sorted, sent to stores for resale.
Golfers lose these balls during practice. Therefore, the recycled ball can be a new and X-out ball or a used, refurbished ball. So, some are very new, and others are scratched due to long use or weather wear. But overall, they’re pretty good and usable.
What Is a Refurbished Golf Ball?
Refurbished golf balls are also used like recycled balls. However, these balls have a new and more eye-catching appearance thanks to a fine coating and fresh paint. The existing symbols on the blurred shadow will also be completely redrawn.
Refurbished balls are not simply about improving the look; they are also the result of the golfer’s requirements. Some players who want a golf ball with their character will often choose to refurbish an old ball that is cost-effective and true to their preferences.
What’s the Difference Between Recycled and Refurbished Golf Balls?
In addition to the difference in appearance, recycled and refurbished golf balls have many other distinctive features. These differences create a clear hierarchy between the two lines of balls as well as their prices.
1. Production Process
To create these two types of balls, the material you need is old golf balls. Old here is a scratched appearance, not new, used, and meets the required performance of a golf ball.
Once you have the correct ball, you proceed to recycle or refurbish it. For recycled balls, the process is very simple and quick. You just need to wash them and sort them by brand. Then, sell it back to stores to bring to players.
In general, you don’t need to do anything to get in or out of the ball. Therefore, the recycled ball will have the same characteristics as the original, which may be new or sometimes have many scratches, even torn cover.
Meanwhile, refurbished golf balls go through a multi-stage work process before reaching the pitch, such as cleaning old balls, re-coating and repainting then applying new stamps to the balls.
The refurbished ball will transform completely and look like a new ball. It will be very difficult for people to recognize it as a refurbished old ball if the seller does not disclose it.
In a nutshell, recycled golf balls are only cleaned from old balls, meanwhile refurbished balls are made from used balls. One side is very simple and does not take much effort. The other side is complicated, takes a lot of effort and time.
2. Performance
In general, the shots from recycled golf balls are not much different from new ones other than those too torn or too old. But you can see the balls’ condition easily while making a purchase.
Besides, the balls only go through the cleaning process, so they may not be durable for long games. Therefore, the recycled balls are only suitable for informal training or friendly matches.
On the other side, the refurbished balls have better performance. They have no or very little difference from the new ball.
And, of course, most of these balls provide a more satisfying shot for players than recycled ones.
3. Quality
The performance of these two balls is quite good, but are they good enough for you to play for a long time or a long-term companion?
It isn’t easy to judge the quality of a used golf ball. What you can believe is that it depends on how lucky you are. Recycled balls are inherently old, so you will see them clearly showing scratches and scuffs when out in the sun.
However, this does not affect the quality inside. You can also trust it to be good enough for a long time if you choose to buy from a great brand and reputable seller.
Many people also think that using a recycled ball is more secure than using a refurbished ball because the smooth outside paint may be hiding something inside. What a buyer like us should not be aware of is major damage or poor quality.
In addition, some places use poor quality materials, which leads to the paint peeling off to reveal the old shell. Or the refurbished manufacturer has passed a logo from another brand, possibly more premium than the original ball.
Buyers who are completely unaware of this are easily fooled into spending large sums of money on a product that is not commensurate. Better yet, buy from a reputable place or use recycled balls.
4. Price
Recycled and refurbished golf balls are cheap for everyone. Since they are all pre-used balls, the price is much lower, with maybe half or less than half of the new ones.
Recycled balls will usually cost less than refurbished ones, and the price will depend on how new the ball is. Therefore, there is no fixed price.
These balls are great for beginners or those who lose the ball a lot. Believe me, you will save a huge amount compared to losing a brand new one.
A Quick Rundown of Recycled and Refurbished Golf Balls
| Recycled Golf Balls | Refurbished Golf Balls | |
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Which Ball Should You Buy?
Recycled or refurbished golf balls are all perfect for beginners or practice. Because you don’t need to spend a lot of money but still own good quality balls. Besides, the first toddler shots always have a high risk of losing the ball, so losing a small amount is always less painful.
So, Which one should you use to play? The answer is that they are all great for your shot. However, if you want to save money and be safer, then recycled balls are reasonable.
If you want an attractive and new ball but the price is not too high, then a refurbished ball will satisfy you. But you should be careful and choose wisely when buying this type of ball.
FAQs
You may still have some doubts about the recycled and refurbished Golf Balls. So, I gathered and answered some of the frequently asked questions about them. Let’s take a look!
Are Refurbished Golf Balls Legal?
No, refurbished golf balls have the “refurbished” mark, and balls with this mark are illegal to play in official tournaments.
Besides, the USGA mentioned a list of conforming balls allowed in the professional events, as well as all USGA Championships. Accordingly, refurbished golf balls are not on the list, and they can only be played at practice courts.
How to Choose a Good Recycled or Refurbished Golf Ball?
Whether you choose to buy a recycled or refurbished ball, you need to keep the following in mind to get a good ball with the best quality:
A reputable place to buy is essential. Since used balls are difficult to determine the exact quality, an honest seller telling you it is necessary.
Try to pick the high-level quality ball as you can. Maybe, you will spend a little more, but the quality will be safer and more guaranteed.
Pay attention to the feel. A hardball is better than a softball. Its bounce is higher. In many cases, hard balls will be more durable than softballs that break easily.
Both recycled and refurbished balls are already very cheap. So, don’t save too much money and choose the most affordable among them. Instead, you should find balls that match your desires and preferences and buy them when they pass quality and performance tests.
Should I Buy a Recycled and Refurbished Ball or a New Golf Ball?
If you look closely, there doesn’t seem to be a big difference in the playability of these balls. But new balls are much more expensive than recycled and refurbished ones.
If you play in a tournament or official games, you must go with the new balls that are on the USGA Conforming Golf Ball List.
If you just want to play with your friend or practice, then consider buying a recycled or refurbished ball is not a bad idea.
The Bottom Line
There are some differences that make recycled and refurbished golf balls unique, but in general, they all have the main purpose of helping golfers own good balls at a better price.
Hopefully, through this article, you will have a more objective view of these two types of reusable balls to choose a suitable product for yourself. If you find the information interesting and useful, please give me feedback and share it with your friends.
