New vs Used Golf Balls: How Much Can You Actually Save?
If you play golf regularly, the cost of golf balls can add up surprisingly quickly. A new dozen of premium golf balls can cost £40, £50 or more, and if you lose several balls during a round, replacing them can become an expensive part of playing golf.
But how much can you actually save by buying used golf balls instead?
At The Golf Ball Guys, we sell second hand golf balls from some of the biggest brands in golf, and the savings compared with buying new can be substantial.
New vs Used Pro V1 Golf Balls
The Titleist Pro V1 is one of the most popular premium golf balls in the world, but buying a brand-new dozen can be expensive.
A new Pro V1 has an RRP of £55 per dozen.
Compare that with our second hand options:
- Mint Pro V1 – £30 per dozen
- 2022/2023 Mint Pro V1x – £28 per dozen
- Grade A Pro V1 – £22.50 per dozen
That means you can save:
£25 per dozen by choosing Mint Pro V1 instead of new.
£27 per dozen by choosing 2022/2023 Mint Pro V1.
£32.50 per dozen by choosing Grade A Pro V1.
The Grade A option works out at just £1.88 per ball, compared with £4.58 per ball when buying a new dozen at £55.
That's a saving of almost 60%.
What About Titleist Tour Soft?
You don't have to choose a premium Pro V1 to see significant savings.
Our Titleist Tour Soft golf balls are just £16 per dozen.
At £16, you're paying less than half of the £34 price of a new dozen Tour Soft golf balls.
That's a saving of £18 per dozen.
If you're a recreational golfer who doesn't necessarily need a tour-level golf ball, this can be an excellent way to reduce your golf ball costs without sacrificing the benefits of playing a recognised Titleist model.
48 Golf Balls for Just £25
The biggest savings come when you prioritise value over appearance.
Our 48 mixed-brand Grade B golf balls cost just £25.
That's four dozen golf balls for approximately 52p per ball.
The box contains golf balls from recognised brands, making it particularly popular with beginners, high handicappers and golfers who tend to lose several balls during a round.
The balls have more noticeable cosmetic wear because they're Grade B, but they're perfectly suited to golfers who care more about getting plenty of playable balls for their money than having them look perfect.
How Much Could You Save Over a Year?
This is where buying second hand really starts to make a difference.
Imagine you use one dozen golf balls every month.
That's 12 dozen a year.
If you bought new Pro V1s at £55 per dozen, you'd spend:
12 × £55 = £660 per year
Buying Mint Pro V1s at £30 per dozen would cost:
12 × £30 = £360 per year
That's a saving of £300 every year.
Choose Grade A Pro V1s at £22.50 per dozen and you'd spend:
12 × £22.50 = £270 per year
That's a massive £390 annual saving compared with buying new Pro V1s.
And if you use more than one dozen a month, the potential saving becomes even greater.
Does Buying Used Mean Sacrificing Quality?
Not necessarily.
The biggest difference between our grades is cosmetic condition.
Mint golf balls are selected for their excellent appearance and can look very similar to new balls.
Grade A golf balls are in great playable condition but may have minor cosmetic marks.
Grade B golf balls have more noticeable cosmetic wear and are aimed at golfers who prioritise price over appearance.
This means you can choose how much you want to spend.
If you want your golf balls to look as close to new as possible, choose Mint.
If you want a balance between appearance and price, Grade A is a great option.
If you simply want the lowest possible cost per ball, Grade B offers exceptional value.
Is It Worth Buying Used Golf Balls?
For many golfers, the answer is a definite yes.
If you're playing regularly, losing golf balls or simply looking for ways to reduce the cost of playing golf, buying second hand can save you hundreds of pounds over the course of a year.
You can still play Titleist, TaylorMade, Callaway, Srixon, Bridgestone and other major golf brands, but without paying the full price of buying new.
And perhaps the biggest advantage is psychological: losing a golf ball isn't quite as painful when it cost £1.50 rather than £4 or £5!
New vs Used Golf Balls: The Bottom Line
Buying new certainly has its advantages if having a completely untouched golf ball is important to you. But for golfers who want to get more value from their money, second hand golf balls are an excellent alternative.
From saving £25 per dozen on Mint Pro V1s to getting 48 top-brand golf balls for just £25, there are options for almost every budget.
If you play regularly, those savings can quickly add up.