What to Do with Found Golf Balls

Finding a Titleist Pro V1 nestled in the deep rough feels a bit like striking gold on the golf course. But once the initial excitement wears off, the question becomes: what now? This article breaks down exactly what to do with found golf balls, guiding you through how to assess them, clean them, and ultimately decide if they’re best for your bag, your wallet, or your practice routine.

Is This Ball Worth Keeping? A Quick Field Assessment

Not all found balls are created equal. Before you fill your pockets, a quick 10-second inspection can tell you whether you’ve found a treasure or just a piece of trash. A ball that’s been sitting out in the elements for weeks isn't going to perform like one that was just shanked into the woods an hour ago.

The Look and Feel Test

Pick up the ball and give it a quick once-over. Here’s what to look for:

• Scuffs and Scratches: Minor scuffs are fine for practice, but deep scratches, "cart path rash," or cuts that have broken through the outer cover mean the ball’s aerodynamics are compromised. A ball with a significant gash will not fly straight or consistently.
• Discoloration: Is the ball a brilliant white or a pale yellow? A heavily yellowed or faded ball has likely been exposed to sun and water for a long time, which degrades the materials.
• Slickness: If you pull a ball out of a pond or creek, run your thumb over the dimples. If they feel slick or slimy even after a quick wipe, it's a a sign the cover is starting to break down. This is particularly true for urethane-covered balls (the premium kind). These "lake balls," as they're often called, can lose significant distance.
• Range Balls: Look for a distinct colored stripe (often red, black, or blue) or the word "PRACTICE" or "RANGE." While great for the driving range, they are designed for durability, not performance, and often have a limited flight. Leave these at the course for the staff to collect.

The Bounce Test

This is a quick, old-school method. Hold the found ball at shoulder height alongside a new ball from your bag. Drop them both onto a hard surface like a cart path. While not perfectly scientific, a ball that’s water-logged or has a degraded core will often have a much duller "thud" and a significantly lower bounce than the new ball. If it sounds and jumps like a dud, it probably is.

The Cleanup and Sorting Process: Your New Side Hustle

Once you’ve collected a haul of keepers, the next step is to clean them up. A little elbow grease can turn a mud-caked ball back into a perfectly playable little gem. Getting them clean also allows you to properly grade them for use or for sale.

How to Clean Your Found Golf Balls

You don't need fancy equipment. A standard bucket and scrub brush will do the trick.

1. The Soak: Get a bucket of warm water and add a few squirts of dish soap. Drop all your golf balls in and let them soak for about 20-30 minutes. This will loosen up any caked-on dirt and grime.
2. The Scrub: Take each ball and scrub it vigorously with a stiff-bristled brush. An old dish brush or vegetable brush works perfectly. Focus on getting the dirt out of the dimples.
3. The Problem Areas: For stubborn scuff marks or sharpie ink, try using a magic eraser or a dab of rubbing alcohol on a rag. This can often lift those marks without damaging the ball's cover. Avoid harsh abrasives or acetone, which can eat away at the cover itself.
4. Rinse and Dry: Rinse the balls under clean water and lay them out on a towel to air dry completely. Don’t store them wet, as this can encourage mildew growth.

Sorting and Grading Your Collection

Now that they're clean, it's time to sort them. This is the most important step if you plan to sell them, but it’s just as useful for managing your own supply. Group them into distinct categories.

• Mint / AAAA Grade: These look and feel like they’ve just come out of the sleeve. They have no scratches, no discoloration, and retain their original shine. They might have a small player marking or logo on them, but they are otherwise perfect. These are your true premium finds.
• Near-Mint / AAA Grade: These balls are still in excellent condition but may have one very minor imperfection, like a small scuff, a slightly faded logo, or minor discoloration. Performance will not be affected. The vast majority of good finds fall into this category.
• Good / AA Grade: These have visible imperfections. Think noticeable scuff marks, discoloration, or bigger pen marks. They are still perfectly fine for casual play or for those risky shots where you don't want to lose your best ball. They have plenty of life left but aren’t cosmetically perfect.
• Practice / A Grade: These are the scuffed-up, heavily discolored survivors. They might have cart path rash or be older, less desirable models. They aren't fit for a serious round, but they are perfect for your shag bag or for practicing chipping in the backyard.

Option 1: Using Found Balls in Your Game

For most golfers, the primary benefit of finding golf balls is saving money. A sleeve of premium balls can cost over $15, so a dozen Mint or Near-Mint Pro V1s is a significant score. As a coach, I'm a big believer in playing a consistent model of golf ball to get predictable performance, especially around the greens. But there's absolutely a place for found balls in your bag.

The "Scout" Ball and "Worry-Free" Shots

Every golfer knows the feeling of standing on a tee with water all down the right side. The last thing you want to do is send a brand new $5 ball to a watery grave. This is the perfect time to pull out a Near-Mint found ball. Psychologically, it takes the pressure off. If you lose it, it's no big deal, which frees you up to make a more committed swing.

Your Practice Bag

The lower-grade balls are an invaluable resource for practice. Your "Practice" and "Good" grade balls are perfect for this. Load them into a shag bag and take them to a field to work on your wedge distances from 30 to 100 yards. They are ideal for backyard chipping into a net or for working on your putting stroke on the carpet. You don't need a pristine ball to work on your fundamentals.

Option 2: Selling Them for a Profit

If you find more balls than you can use, there is a thriving secondary market. Your organized, graded collection can easily be turned into cash for green fees or new gear.

Where to Sell Your Used Golf Balls

• Online Marketplaces: Platforms like eBay and Facebook Marketplace are popular spots. Take clear, well-lit photos of your graded lots. Buyers on these platforms are savvy and appreciate honesty about the condition.
• Directly to Golfers: Let your friends and regular playing partners know you have quality used balls for sale. Many golfers are more than happy to buy a dozen AAA Pro V1s at half the price of retail.
• Local Golf Forums: Many cities or regions have online golf communities or forums where you can post your inventory.

How to Price Them

Pricing depends heavily on brand and condition. Here’s a general rule of thumb:

• Premium Mint/AAAA Balls (Pro V1, TP5, Chrome Soft): Price these around 50-60% of the retail price per dozen.
• Premium Near-Mint/AAA Balls: Price these around 30-40% of retail. This is the sweet spot for most buyers.
• Good/AA and Non-Premium Brands: Bundle these into larger lots (e.g., 50 balls for $20) and sell them as "shag balls" or "casual play" bundles.

Always sell in dozens and be upfront about the quality. A title like "One Dozen Titleist Pro V1 - AAA/Near Mint Condition" is clear and sets proper expectations.

The Etiquette of Ball Hunting

Last but not least, be a good steward of the sport. Finding balls should never come at the expense of a good experience for others or the integrity of the game.

• Know When a Ball is Lost: The rules state a player has 3 minutes to search for a ball. Never pick up a ball if there's any chance another group is looking for it. Stay out of adjacent fairways or any area where a ball might be in play.
• Don't Slow Down Play: The best a-la-foray hunting is done while you're walking to your own ball or during waits. Never hold up the group behind you by going on an extended search mission.
• Respect the Course: Be careful around environmentally sensitive areas, and don't venture into out-of-bounds areas that are marked as private property or protected habitats.

Final Thoughts

Those treasure hunts in the woods can be a fantastic part of the golf experience, turning another player's misfortune into your gain. By learning to quickly assess, clean, and grade your finds, a found golf ball can become a valuable asset - saving you money, funding your next round, or improving your practice.

Making smart decisions on the course, like knowing when to use a found ball instead of a new one, is what lowers scores. To help you make smarter decisions on every shot, we developed our app, Caddie AI. When you're facing a tricky lie in the rough - the kind of place where you often find lost balls - or you're unsure of the correct strategy for a hole, the app delivers quick, expert advice. It gives you the clear plan and confidence you need to take guesswork out of the equation and focus on your swing.