While golf is a highly enjoyable sport, it can be quite expensive. In addition to golf course fees, you’ll need to spend a significant sum on the golf sets used to play the game.
With that said, the only thing that you’ll consistently use in all golf games is your golf balls. So how much do golf balls cost?
Like many aspects of the game, golf balls can be slightly expensive. Ideally, a typical standardized golf ball will cost you anywhere between $2 to $4, with a few costing slightly more or less. The variation in price usually reflects the quality of the balls, which impacts performance and control.
If you want to find out more about golf ball prices, the factors that may affect their cost, and more, keep on reading this guide!
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How Much is a Golf Ball?
The average price of a golf ball is anywhere between $2 to $4. However, there are some options that cost as little as $1.5 and other ultra premium options that cost over $8 to $10 per ball.
Most golf balls on the market are sold in packages of 12, 24, 36, or 48. On the other hand, used and refurbished golf balls will typically cost around $1.4 to $1.9 per ball and they’re usually sold in large packages of 30, 50, and up to 100.
Why Are Golf Balls Relatively Expensive?
There are plenty of reasons why golf balls are relatively expensive. Although they look relatively simple, golf balls are made of various layers of materials, and some of these materials are quite pricey.
Additionally, the technology used to incorporate these materials and studies performed to improve the design of the ball all cost a lot of money, which adds up to the price of golf balls.
Factors That Affect the Price of a Golf Ball
As previously mentioned, different aspects may play a significant role in making golf balls relatively expensive.
However, even among golf balls, there are various factors that can make some of them more expensive than others. In the following section, we’ll take a closer look at them:
Brand Recognition and Technologies Used in Design
Brand recognition plays a role in determining the price of a golf ball. For example, some golf ball brands are known for using high quality materials and designs in their balls, such as Titleist, Callaway, and Taylormade.
These brands usually conduct a variety of studies and tests to implement new technologies while designing their balls, which make their balls much more expensive than others.
On the other hand, there are brands that are known for their affordability and budget-friendliness, such as Nitro golf ball.
Materials Used
Golf balls are made of various materials, such as urethanes, ionomers, and surlyn. Urethane is usually the highest quality (and most expensive) material, and it’s used in tour-grade golf balls because it offers high spin for low handicappers.
On the other hand, ionomers and surlyns are cheaper, more durable, and offer a decent trajectory, making them an ideal choice for beginners.
Number of Layers
Different golf balls have several numbers of layers used in their construction. For example, expensive golf balls will usually have more than 2 layers of materials used in their construction.
These layers will have different functions, which impact the performance and control of the ball. Yet, such a difference mostly improves ball control, such as stopping and spinning.
This is mostly important for low handicappers, so you can get away with a double layered golf ball if you’re new to the game.
Added Costs and Fees
Lastly, other factors like marketing, packaging, and shipping can all have an impact on the price of the golf ball. Taxes and other fees in your region can also increase the price of a golf ball set.
Tips to Save Money on Golf Balls
Just because golf balls are pricey doesn’t mean that you have to shell out hundreds of dollars every month on balls alone. In this section, we’ll walk you through valuable tips to help you save a lot of money on golf balls:
Get Brightly Colored Golf Balls
If you have a habit of losing your golf balls in bunkers or water hazards, one of the best ways to find them is by using colored golf balls.
White colored balls easily blend with their surroundings when you look at them from a far distance, especially underwater.
By having a colored golf ball, you’ll be able to retrieve your balls easily, which saves you the cost of buying new ones.
Buy in Bulk for Best Prices
As previously established, most golf balls are sold in packs of 12 or 24. However, for marketing purposes, many golf ball manufacturers sell their balls at a discounted price for bulk packages.
This way, you’ll be able to bring down the price of a single golf ball by a few cents, which can make a huge difference in the long run.
Keep an Eye Out for Clearance Sale
Speaking of buying in bulk you should know that the price of golf balls will vary depending on the time you’re buying them.
For example, in winter, new models are usually released and older models, including balls, usually become on sale.
If you know the average number of golf balls that you use per season, you can buy such a figure at a much better price during clearance sales.
Refurbished and Used Balls Are Great Alternatives to Buying New Ones
Lastly, if you find the price of your favorite brand new golf balls expensive, you might want to buy refurbished or recycled golf balls from a reputable vendor.
According to myth-busting tests made by PluggedInGolf, used and refurbished golf balls were found to provide almost the same performance as new ones, despite being cheaper!
Final Thoughts
This wraps it up for today’s guide about golf ball prices and the factors that can play a role in their price.
To sum things up, you should expect a golf ball to cost you as little as $1 per ball and all the way up to more than 4 dollars. The price can vary depending on the brand/model of the golf ball and the materials used to make them as well as extra shipping and packaging fees.
Premium golf balls may cost you more but they’re usually built with better materials, which help in improving the ball’s speed, trajectory, spin, and control.
With that said, there are plenty of good value golf balls that will give you a huge bang for your buck, such as Srixon Z Star golf balls.
