I used to do the same thing as you. I would use used balls and if one was sluggish I'd just replace it with another used one but they worked just fine. Now with my winnings from the course I play at I use the certificates for new Titleist balls and will play a new ball up to five rounds if I do not loose it. At my skill range new or used work just fine.

I play a ball until I get a blemish or scratch/cut on it. Once that happens it goes into the back of my truck. Once the back of my truck gets a decent amount I'll put them in my range bag and take them to a range and hit them. I have friend that will play a ball until he loses it no matter how banged up the ball gets.

As long as they aren't covered in scuff marks from kissing the cart path too much, I play most of my Pro Vs at least a couple rounds or more...or until I lose them. I average about 1 lost ball every 4 or 5 rounds. I have so far played over 100 rounds this year and still have a dozen or so Pro Vs left from my original 4 dozen I got in April through the Titleist Loyalty Rewarded program. (4 dozen for the price of 3 with custom printing.)

However, when I find a nice clean 2015/16 edition Pro V, I do put my mark on it immediately and put it into play when the need arises. I have probably found at least a dozen of them so far this year, without going ball hawking. I just happen to come upon them off in the deep rough when going to my own ball. Yesterday I found one in a greenside bunker. No one around to claim it. No one in sight anywhere. I played out the hole and still no one in sight, so, I marked it as mine and put it in my bag. Looked brand new. Poor guy who hit it probably never realized it was right there in the bunker as he searched the tall weeds adjacent to it.

When the ball I have in play becomes scuffed or has any damage to the cover, it goes into the shag bag for practice sessions. I can usually get a full 18 hole round out of a ProV1x, but sometimes you catch it just right with a wedge and the cover tears a bit.

I'm one of the "new ball" everyone round guys. There's just something about a pristine Titleist being teed up to start your round. I also have enough OCD that of the ball every hits a cart path, it's done.

No one likes to loose a ball. But ideally, when the ball is cut, I'll retire it. More ideally is when I've played it a couple of rounds and the shine starts to fade- then I'll toss it for chipping around. I'm sure it's known to all or most that it's a better habit to play three balls (a sleeve) at a time in a round. I like doing that so that I can play three new balls again and retire the older three. Every once in a while there would be that one shiny ball out of the three and I'll usually play those on a practice round or hole.

I usually play a ball competitively until it the cover becomes scuffed or marked up. I will use these balls for practice rounds since I'd rather not lose brand new balls when I am hitting multiple balls per hole, trying different shots, etc. The dimples do have an affect on the flight and roll of the golf ball so in competition, I don't want my golf ball to be the reason I hit a bad shot. My cousin, who plays in college, has an equipment sponsorship with TM and receives balls for free. He will change his ball every 6 holes in competition, regardless of wear. If I had access to free golf balls, I might do the same. Something about having a fresh ball makes me play better.

Once the cover cuts or flakes then it's done and it goes into the practice shaggy bag

In tournament rounds I usually use new balls, which e keep on using later on until I lose them or their worn out very bad

as much as i would like to play a new Pro V each round. That's just not realistic. The price tag on these balls is very steep. (as with any premium ball) I do play Pro V1 and Pro V1x but i must admit my father scourers the course for all the lost balls and gives me all the pro v's. I play them until they get a cut/slice. I play them with scuffs (minor-mid) any deep scuffs yes I will grab a new to me ball and go. I think golfers need to realize that these balls are very durable and you do not need to change that often. However its your money and if you want to spend it on a box of 12 for $60 then by all means its your money. I can afford to buy new myself but there is no need I just prefer to to play your lost ones.......lol

Generally a new ball every round, I like the look of a pristine Pro V1 off the first tee.
My two sons reap the rewards of my manic golf ball behavior!

I usually purchae lake balls in good conditions and play with those.

When they get too worn out, I either throw them out or I save them for play in the autumn and winter, because I don't want to spend to much time looking for golf balls at that time of the year. And at that time i loose a lot of golf balls due to mud stucked to the balls and leaves on the course.

Pretty much once there is a deep scuff in the cover. A trip across the cart path or a couple of bunker shots and you can feel the roughness on the cover. There is water or marsh on 14 holes on my home course so I'll tend to dump on in a hazard before it gets too scuffed up. Unfortunately our water hazards have some nasty water in them and it dies the covers a awful yellow color!

No set policy for me, I just know when it's time.

Like most, I play a new ball every round.. I also like to take the "retired" ball and add it to the home range, or shag bag whichever is closest at the time of retirement. I think it is also just fine to use it as long as possible if that is your choice. There was a time in my life where I couldn't afford to retire it quickly. Luckily, times have changed and my play allows for a lot of balls....

If I'm having a good round with a ball I stick with it. For me, not losing a ball is a good round. I played 54 holes with the same ball this summer, then went through 6 balls in one round playing in a scramble (if you got one to play, go for it). But typically for me its 1 new ball per round with 1 spare that may last a few rounds. If I find a ball on the course I'll play it, as long as its a Titleist. I've played cally and TM in the past but couldn't get a good feel for them. Whether it's DT Trusoft or Pro V1, Titleist is the ball I go with.

I play mine until it is either scuffed really bad or I lose it. I will start a round with a ball that I played with the last round.

I don't very often lose a ball so I retire mine when the ball is scuffed up to the point I can't see it too well in flight. Seems like everytime I get into the rough I'll find a couple balls, on rare occasions I'll find a Pro V1x and put it into my bag, but most of the balls I find are Noodles and I just toss them onto the fairway.