How Many Golf Balls In A Sleeve?


The majority of golf ball manufacturers put 3 golf balls in a sleeve.  There are typically 4 sleeves for a total of 12 golf balls.  Some companies may sell golf balls in packs of 15, but the majority sell packages of 12.

In the market for new golf balls?  There are plenty of options and many questions that come up when purchasing golf balls.  If you are new to the game of golf, it can be quite confusing. 

My goal is to provide you with answers to many of the frequently asked questions related to golf balls.

I want to make sure you have the right information to feel confident in your purchase and to ensure you are ready when you arrive to the golf course. 

Half the battle when you are a beginner in the game of golf is having confidence that you are on the path towards success and that you won’t look foolish.

Golf balls are essential to your overall game!

How Many Golf Balls In A Sleeve

Different companies have tried different packaging as part of marketing plans, but generally speaking a high percentage of golf balls are sold in sleeves of 3 for a total of 12 golf balls. 

These prices can range from $15 a dozen up to $52 a dozen.  Stay with you and we will provide three great options for the different levels of golfers!

Why Are There Three Balls in a Sleeve?

The thinking of why there are three golf balls in a sleeve is that when someone is headed to the course, if they have a sleeve of golf balls they should be fine for the round. 

While some beginner golfers may need more than 3 golf balls to complete a round, the mid handicapper and better should be able to play a round of golf with only 3 golf balls.

Unless of course, they are playing a course with water on every hole.  In that case, the golfer should grab at least two sleeves and hit the course.  Most golf bags are designed with plenty of space, sliding 2 to 3 sleeves of ball into a side pocket is easy enough.

How Long Does A Golf Ball Last?

Golf balls can perform at a high level for multiple rounds.  There was a professional golfer on a mini tour that used the same golf ball all four rounds and won the tournament. Tests have been completed to show that you don’t lose performance several rounds into a golf ball unless there is a severe mark from a cart path or tree.

How Long Does A Golf Ball Last – Complete Post

Our recommendation is that you can continue to play with the same ball for at least 2-3 rounds in a row. 

It all depends on rough you are int he golf ball.  If you hit the ball fairly straight and keep it out of the tree, the golf ball should last you 4 or 5 rounds and you will get a high performance out of it.  In fact the cheaper the ball is, the longer it will more than likely last. 

The more expensive balls have a softer cover which can get beat up a bit depending on where you hit your golf balls.

Should I Play With Used Golf Balls?

Yes, if you are a beginner golfer there is nothing wrong with playing a used golf ball.  Just simply clean the ball up a bit and head out to the course.  I would recommend keeping anywhere from 12-18 used golf balls in your bag and keep a sleeve or two of new golf balls. 

Maybe start each round with a new golf ball and then once you lose that one turn to your used golf balls.

I think most people like to start the round of golf with a new golf ball, but it can get expensive if you lose several golf balls per round or hit golf balls in the water hazards.

A website I recently found was lostgolfballs.com.  They sell golf balls at different ratings for reduced pricing.  I ordered 4 dozen Titleist Pro V1s and was absolutely pleased and somewhat surprised at how good these golf balls were.

I have now played 3 rounds with these golf balls and have not noticed any drop in performance with the golf ball.

I was able to get these golf balls that were lost at some point by a golfer at half the price.  The quality was impressive and the performance was the same.

How Many Golf Balls Can I Carry In My Bag?

There is no limitation by the rules and we would recommend 12-18 golf balls. If you are carrying your bag, loading up with too many golf balls can weigh your bag down. 

Keep your golf balls clean and those that you wouldn’t play with once they reach certain conditions add them to a shag bag that you can use to practice chipping at different places.

Which Golf Balls Are Best?

Every golfer has a different swing speed, spin rate, need for feel and many other items that go into making a decision on the best golf ball for that person.  We would recommend playing with a Titleist Pro V1 for the low handicap golfer.

Let’s quickly take you through the assessment below and rate each question with a scale of 1 thru 5.  1 being not true at all to you and 5 being very true.

  • You lack overall distance in your game.
  • You lack soft touch around the greens.
  • You seem to not be able to hold greens.
  • You want to be able to flight the ball and control your curve.
  • You need some spin around the greens on those 30-40 yard pitches.

Now quickly look and see where you rated your highest numbers.

Now for our recommendations.  See which category you fall into:

  • Are You seeking a soft feel around the greens, but don’t want to spend top dollar?
  • Are you Looking for a balance of the 5 categories, but don’t want to spend a premium dollar?
  • Are you seeking the best golf around to take your game to the next level?

We recommend the Callaway Super Soft, Callaway ChromeSoft and the TItleist Pro V1 for each of the different levels.

For a complete breakdown, check out this post here on the best golf balls.

How Many Golf Balls Should I Buy At A Time?

I would recommend buying at least several dozen at a time.  Oftentimes you can get discounts on buy one get one free or buy two get one free.  We prefer to use the lostgolfballs.com and buy in big quantities as they offer different discount codes to save money and save you on shipping. 

The last thing you want to worry about on the golf course is if you have enough golf balls.  If you are going to play the game, make the investment and be ready for your round of golf!

Bonus Tips – Testing Golf Balls

The key to golf and testing what golf is best for you is to measure how you can control the curve of the ball, the flight of the ball (high or low) and if you have enough overall distance. 

I believe in looking at the three fundamentals of golf when evaluating your game and equipment.  

The Stack and Tilt Instructors said it best when they described what they believed were the fundamentals of golf.  They explained it somewhat similar to this:

  • Fundamental #1: The golfer’s ability to control the bottom of the golf swing.  The best golfers will hit the ground in the intended spot, close to 100% of the time.
  • Fundamental #2: The golfer’s ability to control the curve of the golf ball. The best golfers are able to start the ball to the right or left of the target line and have the ball curve towards the target without the ball over curving past the target.
  • Fundamental #3: The golfer’s ability to have enough power to play the golf course.  This means they are able to hit the ball far enough to play the course in regulation.

By looking at fundamental 2 and 3 for golf balls, you want the ball that provides the best combination between the two. If you are lacking greatly in distance, then it might be time to sacrifice some control for some distance.

Here are three video to help you with each fundamental above.

Low Point Control – Stack and Tilt Instructors (Fundamental 1)

Start Point and Curve of Ball Control (Fundamental 2)

Gain Distance (Fundamental 3)


I love the SuperSpeed Training Tools.  They are top notch and you truly can gain 5-8% in swing speed as early as your first time.  I have experienced this increase and have maintained it throughout the season.

Here is a way to save $10 on your purchase.  Use discount code golfjourney365 at the link below:

SuperSpeed Golf – Gain 5-8% in Swing Speed

Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better

What does this mean for you?  I believe in the following recipe to get better:

1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor.  Here are some options:

Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:

2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed.  Here are some options:

Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:

3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier.  Here is a series on breaking through:

We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.

4 – Practice Frequently

Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system?  It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:

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