Lets Talk Balls

Jones-UK, It is hard to put a % down for range balls, and I am not sure it is a linear figure anyway. The harder you hit them, the worse they are, so I figure for a wedge there is no discernable difference (infact, for me, up to a 7i is pretty much the same as for a real ball), and then the difference ramps up very quickly, almost exponentially.

The range owners like it like this, as you can use a shorter range, which costs less money to buy and maintain. This theory is blown out by people like me who like to finish their range session with a few 'pick ups', to see if it is possible to carry the back fence (sometimes, depending on the range / weather).
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Thanks for that murphthemog.

Just come back from the range and that makes sense actually. Was hitting pretty badly initially with my woods and long irons so decided to slow it down and just concentrate on hitting them cleanly and sweetly. Even when I do this at the range they go pretty much as far as when I'm going at it full tilt and hitting fairly well.

Will take the distances with a pinch of salt from now on for the longer clubs and try and work it out my distances on the course for them.
 
Ive used Bridgestone B330-s for about 6 months and they are great and got 5 dozen for £100 which was the deal breaker,just picked up some more for less than that.

If prov1's didnt ruin so quickly and money was no object i would use them everday of the week.As i tend to wear 2 balls around not counting lost balls they are too expensive
 
I can tell the difference between a range ball and a others, but not between a Warbird and a Pro V1.
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How much difference do people think there is between typical range balls and half decent balls for rounds, eg Warbirds?

I'd be interested to know because I, as I'm sure others do, spend time working out distances on the range and have always wondered about the difference and how much distance it amounts too.

Cheers
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Depends on the quality of balls used by the range but generally speaking the difference is huge. I never put any faith in range balls, some are deformed, some are worn out completely, some have minute splits in them, most are of the cheapest quality and all of them are damaged in some way through constant use.

Distance will be varied.
Accuracy will vary.
Feel will be poor.
Consistancy will be negligable.

All of the am will be small differences, but enough not to get too excited about.

A range for me is a means of swing practice and ball striking consistancy with little concern for the results purely due to the crappy balls used, though you can obviously get some idea of how well you are doing, its not very accurate. ;)
 
I have to say Maidenhead Golf Centre use the yellow Srixon range balls and they are all in top order. I've been going there about 4 months and I've never had a broken one. I think distance is relative and I never worry about how far I hit each club. I try and use the outside bays as they are further away from the markers and so there is no temptation to try and hit a 6 iron 150 yards because I would on the course. I have a gap between the 150 and 175 marker that is probably the width of a decent sized green and so as long as my ball lands between the two markers I'm happy.

As for balls to use on the course, I have a huge supply of Pro V's from various wins, gifts etc. I started playing the TP black so there are a couple of dozen of them. I won 2 dozen Nike Platinum from GM in the December review competition and I think I have a couple of dozen Cally itour and Srixon URC knocking around. There are also about a dozen harder balls (NXT AD333) I have acquired and I use if the conditions are rubbish (frozen temporary greens etc)
 
Really cant make up my mind what ball I prefer.

Srixon Z-Urs is a great ball. Find that it works really well. However last year I bought a packet of Taylor Made TP Reds due the pro shop not having any Srixons left. I have to admit I was extremely impressed with the TP Red, and if I'm being honest I thought it felt better comming off of the putter face. That ball made me really think about changing and I'm still considering.

That said I believe that Srixon are bringing out a new ball which has got alot of Pros talking about it and its meant to be the dogs danglies.

Andieritchie, I tried the Bridgestones and found that they were just as bad as Nike's for cutting up, I didnt like the ball at all and thought it was poorer than a Strata, but its each to their own!
 
AG have Z-URS on offer at £19 I bought these to play with at the Belfry, I am very happy with them and they are just as good as pro v1's.
 
During this winter I have mostly been using srixon mid price balls. Looking forward to this year and getting out with the Cally IX tour, bridgestone B330-s and also the prov1x (which was my usual ball).
It will be intersting to see if the bridgestone does work better with the driver over the titleist.
 
Range balls are not designed for distance. The average hitter will hit them around 250 yards. Some people will be able to hit them further.
 
My choice has been Wilson Staff PX3s for over a year now. Tried others but nothing has come close for a mix of distance and control in the sub £20 price bracket.
The dimples look a bit weird but get used to them and they are as good as you will find.
 
it depends on the conditions for me.

If the ground's soggy as hell the the NXT Tour comes out. If its rock hard then any old thing will do. Normal conditions I'll go for a Prov-1 as 1st choice followed by Z-urs,Cally iX Tour and Nike One Platinum in no particular order.

I always thought the Molitor was the hardest ever ball. I hit one into a brick wall for fun once and it actually dented the wall but didn't mark the ball at all
 
Range balls are not designed for distance. The average hitter will hit them around 250 yards. Some people will be able to hit them further.
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And quite a few of us a lot less.... lol!

I use a fair old variety of balls, preferring the slightly softer feeling two piece variety like NXT, So-Lo, Noodles etc. I've just stocked up with some Srixon "Soft Feel" which seem to go well, and have some Bridgestone B330-S's sitting in reserve. The Srixon seem to be my ball of choice at the moment though.
I don't use rock hard balls during the winter, I just cannot putt with them.
 
Only to putt with.

Most golfers can only dream of a 250 yard drive, with a proper golf ball, let alone a range ball.

Get a gps, and you will find out how far 250 really is.
 
I've generally been using either; TaylorMade Burner-TP balls, or Titleist NXT Tour ball, with occasional forrays into Srixon Trispeed & ZURS.

Thinking about trying out Bridgestone B+7 balls. To see if they are as good as TaylorMade TP Red, or Burner-TP balls, or some of the others I normally use.

I generally don't like to spend more than £20 for a dozen.
 
As to the Z-URSs, I don't find them hard. Certainly not when compared to 'distance' balls.
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A top flite is soft compared to some of them!! I generally use AD333 or NXT Tours and found the Z-URS's heavy on the dance floor.
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I'm not disagreeing with you, it's just how I feel about them. But then again, we all know how I play :D

What do I know :(
 
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