Practice Balls

[Matty]

Just wanted to get your collective opinions on the value of light weight practice balls. You know the ones, thin plastic with lots of air holes.

So, what are they good for? I've had some a while and I do think they are helping groove a reasonable swing (I'm getting more consistent scores with fewer miss hits) but I'm still struggling around the green with chipping and short range (not full swing) pitches.

What should I be expecting to do with this type of golf aid and how should I aim to develop my pitching and chipping in my own garden? (Without smashing any windows!!)

 

[JustOne]

They just get you used to seeing a ball in front of you which is a great help, the result is of very little consequence unless you are fatting everything

 

[birdieman]

They go back over your head on a windy day don't they.
Of no real use I don't think, might just possibly help an utter beginner get club to ball but that's about it.
Get a practice net for the garden so you can hit full shots with real golf balls, good through the winter to keep the golfing muscles going if you can't get to a range.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not worth the effort. They don't recreate any realistic shot and so any feedback apart from maybe the strike is negligible.

 

[Matty]

They go back over your head on a windy day don't they.
Of no real use I don't think, might just possibly help an utter beginner get club to ball but that's about it.
Get a practice net for the garden so you can hit full shots with real golf balls, good through the winter to keep the golfing muscles going if you can't get to a range.

No kidding, it's pretty windy here today and they are all over the place - at least I'm blaming the wind and not my swing!!

As for a practice net - I'll still worry about the windows so I'll use the driving range near me for full shot swings in winter. Might keep the practice balls for when it's not quite as windy