Is LostGolfBalls.com Worth It?

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When it comes to buying golf balls, clubs, gloves, etc. I have always looked for a deal! The idea of getting a “MINT” golf ball for a fraction of the price, always sounded great to me but, I had my reservations. I have played with a few people who have bought used balls, recycled balls, refurbished balls, etc. and I have seen some bad performing balls. I gave the refurbished Pro V’s that you can buy at a Wal-Mart or Target a try, and was completely let down. This led me to believe for many years that a company like Lost Golf Balls would be the same story. My brother had used LostGolfBalls.com many times, so I decided to buy some and check it out.

I currently play the Srixon Z-star golf ball and found a nice sale on LostGolfBalls.com. I ordered the “96 Srixon Z-Star Yellow Mix Bucket” in “Mint” condition. Total cost delivered to me, after I found a coupon code, was $99.73! That is $1.04 a ball!

“Mint” described by LostGolfBalls.com:

  • Appear and feel similar to a new ball.
  • Will show no or very little wear.
  • Player pen markings or logos of all shapes and sizes can be present.
  • 100% Satisfaction Guarantee | Free Returns

Cons

  • After opening the pack and inspecting each ball, I believe that I received 12 balls that I would consider to be less than “Mint”. They were definitely playable, but probably closer to a “Good” Rating than their ” Mint” rating.
  • This was probably my fault, but I thought that the Srixon Z-Star Mixed Bucket would have had just Srixon Z-Star balls. However after receiving them, I quickly learned that MIXED meant MIXED! This is what I received:
    • 42 Mint Srixon Z-Star
    • 30 Mint Srixon Z-Star XV
    • 9 Mint Srixon Z-Star SL
    • 3 Mint Srixon Z-Star X
    • A mix of 12 balls that I did not see as “Mint”
    • I could see the mix of balls being an issue for someone who only plays a specific ball, but for me it was not an issue. I have played all of these balls in the past and can’t see much of a difference in performance.
Balls separated by type. After reviewing 3 of the non-mint balls, I determined they were “Mint”, so I ended up with 12 non-mint balls.

Images Of The 12 Less Than “Mint” Balls Below:

12 Non-Mint Balls

Pros

  • After removing the 12 balls that were less than “Mint”, I was left with 84 “Mint” premium golf balls. $99.73/84 balls leaves me with a price of $1.19 per ball.
    • Currently I can find a dozen Srixon Z-star balls on Amazon for $22.99 with free shipping, or $24.99 on Golf Galaxy. I believe because of the Covid-19 outbreak, this is a reduced sale price, as the usual price is around $39.99. Even at $22.99, you are saving $.72 per ball, and at the normal price of $39.99, you are saving $2.14 per ball!

Is It Worth It?

If you ask me, as long as you stick to a couple of rules, I would say YES!

  • Rule #1 — Always order the “Mint” Grade!
    • I have seen someone order the “GOOD” Grade with some golf balls that act very funny when hit. I would stick to “Mint”
  • Rule #2 — Understand the difference between a mixed bucket and a non-mixed bucket
    • If you want one specific ball, make sure you are not ordering a MIXED BUCKET!
  • Rule #3 — Have realistic expectations! These are not brand new balls (even though many look like it), but the only time you ever really play with a brand new ball is on the first shot! Realize that you are playing with a ball in the condition you would usually play it in, and you are getting it for a fraction of the cost!