I’ve never bought used golf balls. I’ve heard that if a ball is from a pond it can have an effect like being water logged. Anyone saving money buying used? Opinions?
Used or refurbished balls are a gamble. The refurbished don’t fly true, you’re definitely better off with used balls.
To try and save money I only use new balls in competition rounds.
I normally go wading/swimming once a year and get a few hundred balls that last me all year. I use them during practice rounds and on my driving range at home on the farm, where I loose a lot of balls in the summer. haha.
I’ve never noticed any major issues with lake balls. I think refurbished balls have more issues.
Here is some testing I did with used balls
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I haven’t purchased balls in years. My parents live on a golf course and find plenty of Pro V’s and others that I use. I’ve found that used golf balls around about 40% less likely to go OB or into a hazard on a tight hole over a new $4-5 ball. 
I had a nice round this weekend using a <Pro V1 392> from '03 or '05. Still flew reasonably straight, and maybe a few yards shorter with the driver. It had some dings and some paint chipped but still worked.
Water logged balls can definitely impact the performance, especially if it causes it to be lop-sided, but you can usually tell in a hole or 2 if the ball is mis-behaving.
Short answer is, you’re probably not going to lose any significant amount of performance. I’ve found I like used balls better than refurbs just because you can’t really tell if what’s under the new coat of paint is correct. Playing near-mint to mint used balls have never been an issue for me.
Additionally, I’ve recently switched to the TP5 Pix (I like the visual design) and got “practice” marked balls for $19.99 a dozen. Still brand new balls, just supposedly have some type of cosmetic imperfection, but looking through them I can’t find anything significant. Another decent way to get premium balls at a significantly lower price.
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prefer used, get from ‘reputable’ online dealers. easy on the budget & mental state of round too. 
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Love them. I order used balls in bulk and outside a couple bad ones per batch I don’t notice a difference. They’re also six times cheaper.
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The only used balls I use are the ones I find. I would buy used over refurbished though.
Biggest question is “how used are they”
I’ll play a ball I find on the course, but don’t buy used
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I’ve gotten some used balls, but some of the “refinished” ones are suspect. I think you need to look for the AAAAA rated used ones. I tend to look for deals on new ones instead. I can usually find premium balls for $20-$25 dozen and sometimes less.
When I Joined my club I bought 1 dozen brand new balls and have never opened the box. Because I hit to all parts of the course I I find good balls while looking for my own plus there are a couple of artificial OB area on my course. Down in gullies on the inside of the doglegs where you can find lots of balls. I have found a lifetimes supply of balls. I prefer Srixon soft feel or Callaway superhot or Wilson Staff duosoft.
I play new Snells… $30 a dozen, and I know what I’m getting every time…
I can and will play different golf balls on occasion, including ones I find on the course… but I usually start a round with a Snell (either one from a previous round already in my bag, or start a new sleeve).
I don’t think it’s a big deal either way, but I like keeping my variables as limited as possible… so I prefer a ball that I know where it’s been.
If I was losing lots of balls, I’d probably do something different.
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Interesting article - thanks! So you have to wonder where do these guys selling used get their golf balls? Are they diving?
I’m sure they have deals worked out with courses and those guys that seem to love to scuba dive with gators!
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At my club I regularly see guys in wet suits diving for balls, but we are in Delaware where all the ponds/lakes are man-made and the most vicious creatures you’ll find there are catfish and other bottom-dwellers. The guys are very nice to lady golfers and often present them with handfuls of colored balls.
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If I find a used ball at a course, if not to damaged I will take it home,wash it up,check for cuts and if it seems sound I will place it in my old ball pocket. The only time I will use them is on a water hole or a very tight fairway with trees so I don’t lose my new ones.
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It’s a significant business. I can’t remember where I read the article, but a guy who regularly scuba dives (and has had gator encounters) for balls made himself a mint!
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No used balls for me. I strongly doubt whether used balls perform noticeably different from new ones. But I am certain that a used ball cannot replicate the good feeling I get when I tee up a shiny new ball.
I’ve played with Practice ProV1/x balls – they are conforming per their website and it’s about the only way to get a ProV1 at any kind of reasonable discount. I’ve had one or two guys give me a strange look that they might be range balls or something but I just tell them my nickname is “Practice”.
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