Every ball we sell is looked at by a person, not a machine. It gets washed, checked under good light, and put in one of four bins. That is the whole system, and it is why we can tell you what you are getting.
We grade conservatively on purpose. An over-promised ball is a refund and a bad review, and neither of those is worth two dollars to us.
Like New
Industry equivalent: 5A, Mint
Looks like it came out of the sleeve. No visible wear from play. It may carry a previous player's identification mark or a course logo — that is the one thing a used ball almost always has, and it does not affect how it plays.
Very Good
Industry equivalent: 4A, Near Mint
Light cosmetic marks from being played. No cuts, no scuffs through the cover, no discolouration. If you tee one of these up, nobody in your group will say anything about it.
Good
Industry equivalent: 3A
Visible cosmetic wear. Some marks, maybe a little dulling. It plays the same for an everyday round — this is the grade most golfers should be buying and most golfers talk themselves out of.
Hit-Aways
Shag and pond balls
Real wear, and often staining from sitting in water. These are for the range, the net, the back garden, and the water carry you keep failing. They still fly.
What a grade does not tell you
A grade describes the cover, not the model. A Like New Pro V1 and a Like New Chrome Soft are the same condition and completely different balls. Pick the model first, then the grade.
About the marks
Most used balls have a dot, a line or a set of initials somewhere on them. Players mark their balls so they can identify them, and the mark survives the wash. If you want unmarked balls, Like New is your best odds, but we will not promise it.