Under the rules of golf, you are allowed to take any ball out of play that is damaged in the course of play. For example if upon arriving at a green, you see your ball has struck a cart path, sprinkler head, out of shape, etc. you can take it out of play and replace it with a new one. Touring pros generally take their balls out of play between holes and use them for 3 or 4 holes at most. Watch a PGA tourney and see when they show an opponent a scuff or scrape on a ball, that is getting agreement to take a ball out of play.