Most golf balls are lost long before their performance ever declines.

Modern golf balls are designed to withstand hundreds of impacts, but many golfers lose several balls during a typical round. That means a high-quality used ball can deliver the same feel, distance, and control as a new one while costing significantly less.

Used golf balls are one of the simplest ways to play premium golf without paying premium prices.

At Two Guys with Balls, every ball is carefully cleaned, inspected, and sorted by condition so you know exactly what you are getting.

You can play the same models the pros use. Just without the retail price tag.

Golf has become an expensive sport. Between green fees, equipment, apparel, and balls, the cost of playing continues to rise. Used golf balls are one of the easiest ways to reduce that cost without sacrificing performance.

This is the question almost every golfer asks first.

Independent launch monitor testing consistently shows that clean, undamaged used golf balls perform extremely close to new ones. Distance, spin, and ball speed differences are typically minimal when the cover remains in good condition.

In other words, the condition of the cover matters far more than how many times a ball has been hit.

To remove our own bias from the equation, we asked two respected golf publications to independently test used golf balls and evaluate how different grades perform under real playing conditions.

Many golfers assume a used ball must have lost performance. In reality, modern golf balls are designed to withstand significant impact. A driver strike lasts less than a millisecond, and today's golf balls are engineered to handle hundreds of impacts before structural damage occurs.
 
For most golfers, the biggest factor affecting performance is the condition of the outer cover.

When the cover is clean and intact:

⛳ Distance remains consistent
⛳ Spin rates stay stable
⛳ Flight characteristics remain nearly identical

However, balls with deep cuts or severe scuffs can affect trajectory and spin. That is why proper grading and inspection matter.

Every golf ball we sell is sorted by condition so you can choose the right balance of appearance and value.

Eagle Grade
Mint condition with minimal cosmetic markings.
Best for golfers who want a ball that looks almost new.

Birdie Grade
Light imperfections or small player logos.
Excellent performance and the most popular value option.

Par Grade
Visible cosmetic wear and scuffs, but still fully playable.
Ideal for practice rounds or golfers who lose several balls per round.

All grades are performance playable. The difference is appearance, not core performance. 

Click here to learn more about our grading scale.

Golf courses lose an enormous number of balls every year. Estimates suggest that hundreds of millions of balls are lost annually in the United States alone.

Many of these balls are recovered from water hazards and rough areas, cleaned, sorted, and returned to play.

Choosing used golf balls helps extend the life of products that would otherwise become waste. It is a simple way golfers can reduce environmental impact while still enjoying the game.

Better value for your wallet. Less waste for the environment.

Short answer: almost every golfer.

Modern golf balls are engineered to withstand hundreds of impacts. Most balls are lost long before their performance ever declines. That means a properly graded used ball can deliver the same distance, spin, and feel as a new one.

For the vast majority of golfers, there is simply no performance advantage to paying full retail price for brand new balls.

Even low-handicap players often choose used balls for everyday rounds. As long as the cover is clean and undamaged, performance remains extremely consistent.

That is exactly what Eagle Grade is designed for.

Eagle Grade balls are near-mint condition with minimal cosmetic marks. They perform the same as new balls while costing significantly less. Many golfers use Eagle Grade for competitive rounds, leagues, and weekend games.

And if you are wondering whether golfers actually trust used balls, our customers say it best. Two Guys with Balls has a 4.9-star customer rating, the highest in the industry.

If you are not playing on tour, chances are you can enjoy the same performance while spending far less per round.

Are used golf balls worth it?

Yes. For most golfers, used golf balls provide nearly the same performance as new balls while costing significantly less. As long as the cover is clean and undamaged, distance, spin, and ball speed remain very consistent. Since most golfers lose balls long before performance degrades, buying used balls is often the smarter value.

Do used golf balls lose distance?

Not in any meaningful way if the ball is in good condition. Independent testing and launch monitor studies show that properly graded used golf balls perform extremely close to new ones. Distance differences are typically minimal when the cover is intact.

How long does a golf ball actually last?

Modern golf balls are designed to withstand hundreds of impacts. For most recreational golfers, a ball is lost long before performance ever declines. Damage to the cover, such as deep cuts or severe scuffs, is usually the only factor that noticeably affects performance.

What is the difference between used and refurbished golf balls?

Used golf balls are simply cleaned and sorted by condition. They still have their original manufacturer finish and cover.

Refurbished golf balls are repainted to improve their appearance. This repainting process can alter the original surface of the ball, which may affect consistency. For that reason, many golfers prefer properly graded used balls over refurbished ones.

How are used golf balls graded?

Used golf balls are sorted by cosmetic condition after being cleaned and inspected. At Two Guys with Balls, we use three main grades:

Eagle Grade – Near-mint condition with minimal cosmetic marks.
Birdie Grade – Light cosmetic wear or small player logos.
Par Grade – Visible cosmetic wear but still fully playable.

All grades are performance playable. The primary difference is appearance.

Are used golf balls safe to play?

Yes. Used golf balls sold by reputable retailers are inspected and sorted to remove balls with structural damage. Balls with deep cuts, cracks, or severe damage are removed during the grading process.

Do professional golfers use used golf balls?

Tour professionals use brand-new balls to maintain perfect consistency. However, most recreational golfers will not notice a measurable difference between a new ball and a properly graded used ball during normal play.

Why are used golf balls cheaper?

Used golf balls are recovered from golf courses, cleaned, and sorted by condition before being resold. Because they have already been played, they can be sold at a lower price even though their performance is still very close to new.

Are used golf balls better for the environment?

Yes. Millions of golf balls are lost on courses every year. Recovering and reselling those balls helps extend their usable life and reduces waste. Choosing used golf balls is a simple way golfers can reduce environmental impact while still enjoying the game.

Who should play used golf balls?

Used golf balls are a great option for most golfers, including recreational players, mid-handicap golfers, and even low-handicap players during everyday rounds. If the ball is properly graded and the cover is intact, performance remains very consistent while the cost per round is much lower.