Select the right golf ball, and it will be the quickest & easiest way to improve your golf scores.(And it just might be the cheapest way too!)

All too often a golfer will choose a ball based on some advertisement they’ve seen or a recommendation from a friend. When the Titleist Pro V1 was first introduced, many pros and low handicap golfers fell in love with it because of how it improved their game. Naturally, other golfers not familar with the design of the Pro V1 thought that it would be the best ball for them. However, this was not the case.

The best ball for you depends entirely on the type of game you have. Typically, the four basic groups of golfers (beginning & high handicap golfers, mid handicappers, low handicappers, and senior, junior, & ladies) have different types of swings, requiring balls that have significantly different performance characteristics.

Beginners & high handicappers generally are distance challenged with ball flights that curve left and right. These golfers need a hard ball that will maximize their distance while reducing the spin that causes their ball to curve so dramatically. Fortunately for them, this type of ball also tends be the least expensive ball.

At the other end of the spectrum is the low handicapper. This golfer is generally happy with their ball flight and is more concerned with being able to control or “work” the ball. So a high spin ball that doesn’t sacrifice distance is the ball they want. Not surprisingly this is the most expensive ball.

In between is the mid handicap golfer who seeks a compromise ball that best balances distance and control.

The fourth group of golfers who need to select the right golf ball are the senior, junior, & lady golfers. These golfers generally have in common a relatively slow swing speed and require a ball that is softer, easily compressed, spins less, rolls more, & get up in the air quickly.

You can find more about how to select the right golf ball at knet Golf and at Guide to Golf Equipment But make sure you come back here for more advice from the Frugal Golfer on buying new or recycled golf balls.

“Use recycled golf balls” is probably the single best advice a frugal golfer can get.

From scratch golfers to duffers and for anyone in between, you can get quality recycled balls that will suit your game and are virtually indistinguishable from new balls in appearance and playability. AND, there is no reason to ever pay more than HALF the price of retail for these balls!

How often have you hit a brand new ball once or twice & then lost it? Retrieving & recycling lost golf balls is big business on the internet. These companies typically have up to 4 grades of golf balls. The top of the line are usually called AAAA, PEARL, PERFECT, 1st QUALITY, or GRADE 1. These balls will look and play perfect (although you will occasionally find logo balls among them). The next grade will have minor cosmetic imperfections, but will play perfect. The third grade will have noticeable scuff marks, but are still playable. The fourth grade are suitable only for practice.

I have been playing the top grade (I’m a bit picky) recycled golf balls for the last 4 years & I can honestly tell you that I have never been disappointed with the appearance or performance of a single recycled ball. Should you play with either of the top two grades, neither you or your playing partners will be able to tell that you didn’t start off with a new ball! Visit Knetgolf.com, Used Golf Ball Deals, and LostGolfBalls.com, 3 of the largest and best websites for recycled balls that I recommend based on my personal experience, and I guarantee you’ll find major savings!

So, how much can you save playing with recycled golf balls? Let’s take, as an example, the very popular (and very expensive) Titleist Pro V1. Although the MSRP for a dozen of these new balls is $58, you can find the same balls on the internet for about $45. Compare those prices with recycled Pro V1s. You will pay $24 for a dozen of highest grade Pro V1s, $18 for the second grade ball, $14 for the third grade, and $8 for the fourth grade (all prices approximate). With these kinds of savings, you can easily finance an extra round of golf!!!

When you combine the frugality of the recycled golf ball with selecting the right golf ball for you , savings can become even more impressive. The Titleist Pro V1 is the best selling golf ball for a good reason – professional & low handicap players love it for its outstanding performance characteristics. Many mid & high handicappers then reason it is the best ball for them, but in most cases it’s not! The design of the Pro V1 makes it best suited for golfers with a very high swing speed who control the ball well. If that description does not fit you (feel distance challenged? fighting a slice?), you will be much better off with a considerably cheaper ball. The top grade recycled golf ball that is the best performance ball for many of you, especially the high handicapper, will cost much less that $10 per dozen.

Think back to how you winced the last time you lost a $4 golf ball? How much less would that pain have been with a $.60 ball? Not only that, but if you hit that $.60 ball further & straighter, you probably don’t even lose it!

Like playing with a particular brand of ball? Trade golf balls with your buddies, and you won’t have to buy your own brand as often!
I play Titleist NXT Tour – my golf buddy plays with Nike One. We’ve agreed to swap whenever we come across the other’s ball. If you’re like me, you find plenty of balls (invariably any but my own). You get a box of new balls as a present or a sleeve as a tournament favor. I use to have a drawer full of these new balls that I wasn’t going to use because they weren’t my brand.

I keep my eye out for Top Flight XL3000s, Callaways, & Titleist Pro V1s for some of my other buddies. A couple of my playing partners aren’t particular about what they play, so I’ll trade them 2 or 3 of the other brands of balls for 1 Titleist NXT Tour!

Trading golf balls won’t eliminate having to buy more balls. However, the frugal golfer always looks for opportunities to maximize his golf dollar, and when you swap golf balls, you don’t have to pay a cent!

Don’t EVER spend list price for new golf balls! There are just too many ways for the frugal golfer to pay less.

The first step in paying less for your new golf ball, of course, is knowing the make and model of that ball. If you’re not firmly committed to a particular ball or a particular type of ball, I urge you check out my page on selecting the right golf ball .

Next, get a baseline price for a dozen of your balls from your local golf or sporting goods store. Most of these stores have websites making it easy to check out prices (if not a simple phone call will get it quick). Once you know what the cheapest price is in your area, the baseline for your ball becomes that price PLUS any state & local tax. That’s the price to beat!

SHOP ONLINE

Check out some of the comparison shopping sites e.g. www.bizrate.com, www.pricegrabber.com, www.mysimon.com, or www.dealtime.com for your ball. Although I’ve had mixed results shopping this way, occasionally you can find a real bargain. Make sure you factor in the shipping costs to the final price.

Use Google, Yahoo, Ask.com or other search engines to identify online golf stores that offer discounts. Some of the stores you might want to check out are golfbargains.com, golfballs.com & golfcow.com .

Try eBay! There are always plenty of new & recycled golf balls of just about every model for bid. And eBay veterans know that a high supply of any item means many opportunities for significant savings! Those of you who haven’t tried eBay should check it out here to find out how easy, exciting, & downright fun it can be.

Also, you will find eBay’s outstanding Trust and Safety Progam will help to ensure a positive auction experience. However, as with any online dealings, be sure to follow these safe online shopping tips .

LOGO OVERRUNS

Printing logos on new golf balls for golf courses, tournaments, businesses & private individuals is a thriving business. Inevitably, there are logo overruns. Although these brand name balls play as new, the overruns typically are sold online at a good discount. Type in “(your ball) logo overrun” at a search engine & see what happens. Finding your ball available as a logo overrun requires good timing and a bit of luck, but if you do, the savings make it worthwhile.

COUPONS

The frugal golfer always checks for coupons when buying golf equipment from any online store. Check out my page on Golf Couponsfor tips on how to find them.