How odd

[Mr_T]

So after a week of not a lot going right golf wise, I got down to the range this evening to put in some serious practice, was hitting it great (phew) but one shot had me completely baffled, I had the driver out and belted one what felt like out the middle, was dead straight for about 175 yards then what confused me was it veered about 30 yards to the right at almost 90 degrees, bearing in mind there was no wind so it can only have been ball spin... But why and how would it happen like and that and has it ever happened to anyone else

 

[chris661]

Nope, sure it wasn't wonky range balls?

 

[Mr_T]

Looked pretty spherical to me, although I'm not gonna say I was giving it a thorough inspection because I wasn't it would be a plausible explanation although I was chatting to my pro the other day and he said all the balls were a brand new batch as they'd just arrived

 

[chris661]

There is a range near me and the regularly get brand new crap balls!! I had one in each hand and dropped them one came back to waist height the other barely made it over my shin

 

[Hobbit]

A chunk gets knocked out of the ball and seriously affects its flight characteristics.

 

[Mr_T]

You may be right then Chris, I'm just not observant enough then! There was no obvious divot or blemish hobbit, hence why I was baffled

 

[stevelev]

If a ball has very little spin either vertical or horizontal, as it slows air pressure will always be greater on one side and this will suddenly force the ball to the opposite direction. That is how footballers manage to get the ball to dip or swerve at the last minute but up to then it is dead straight.

 

[Imurg]

If it was an old range ball then it'll probably have no dimples on it.
fish one out next time you're there, give it a whack and see how far it doesn't go....

 

[Garush34]

this happens to me all the time when i use the driver at the range, i always assumed it was cos of the slice i used to always hit so didnt bother with the driver but havent been in a while so dunno if it still happens with my new none slicing swing