Range Balls

[AxelBenito]

How much distance, percentage wise, does your average driving range ball lose? I was hitting a few yesterday and I can only get the ball to roll up to the 250yard back fence, so maybe 260 in total, although it is a slight bowl shaped range.
But amongst the basket of balls there was an old Nike ball, which I managed to clatter into the back fence with ease. Also how do they perform in the air, compared to a brand new one out the packet.

Alex

 

[sydney greenstreet]

I always believed range balls were only able to go a certain distance.

 

[Fore]

I visit about 5 different ranges from time to time. At best the balls are about 80% distance compared to what i normally expect a ball to travel. Side spin seems to be exaggerated too.
The drop in distance seems noticably more with the Driver, Woods and Hybrids.

 

[Foxholer]

From the figures posted in another thread, about 15% in ball-speed and probably another 10% from effect of greater spin.

Doesn't seem too much to me off short/mid irons but anything above gets quite severely 'punished'.

 

[Scottjd1]

They will vary from range to range but the average is probbaly around 80-85%

The one local to me take 40% off!! Dont go there anymore....

 

[garyinderry]

They will vary from range to range but the average is probbaly around 80-85%

The one local to me take 40% off!! Dont go there anymore....

i doubt that very much! 40% is far too much of a hit. what were you using, small rocks ? :mmm:

 

[Scottjd1]

i doubt that very much! 40% is far too much of a hit. what were you using, small rocks ? :mmm:

Thats what I thought - I could barely hit my 5 iron beyond the 100 marker, I called up and the owner of the group of ranges called me back and they had to have them like that due to a ball escaping and hitting someone on the head - the council were about to shut them down unless they did something like this.

I udnerstand they are a business and I dont go to the range to see how far I hit but it was like hitting rocks,so I go elsewhere, I am sure some of the local 'big-hitters' still tell everyone they carry the 250 marker over the back fence lol.

 

[patricks148]

Thats what I thought - I could barely hit my 5 iron beyond the 100 marker, I called up and the owner of the group of ranges called me back and they had to have them like that due to a ball escaping and hitting someone on the head - the council were about to shut them down unless they did something like this.

I udnerstand they are a business and I dont go to the range to see how far I hit but it was like hitting rocks,so I go elsewhere, I am sure some of the local 'big-hitters' still tell everyone they carry the 250 marker over the back fence lol.

I don't go to the local range in Inverness at all, its like hitting stones off the beach. And as for hitting the ball out of the range, i doubt it i'm lucky if it reaches the 200 yard marker. Even a friend of mine who hits it a long way says he's the same 200 yards at best.

 

[garyinderry]

Thats what I thought - I could barely hit my 5 iron beyond the 100 marker, I called up and the owner of the group of ranges called me back and they had to have them like that due to a ball escaping and hitting someone on the head - the council were about to shut them down unless they did something like this.

I udnerstand they are a business and I dont go to the range to see how far I hit but it was like hitting rocks,so I go elsewhere, I am sure some of the local 'big-hitters' still tell everyone they carry the 250 marker over the back fence lol.

so it was like hitting rocks. madness !! the range beside my bro is like that with the back fence at around 230yards. when you play the wee 9 hole beside it, its really dangerous as balls come over the fence non-stop and pepper the fairway behind. good fun hitting a load back into the range whilst trying not to get hit yourself! KER-AZY GOLF indeed.

 

[JustOne]

i doubt that very much! 40% is far too much of a hit. what were you using, small rocks ? :mmm:

A range near me uses 40% off balls, yellow(ish) ones and on a decent strike they go about 50ft!!!.. not so much rocks as slugs!

They're something stupid like 60 compression.. or less

Link.... http://www.free-online-golf-tips.com/golf-practice-range-tip.html :thup:

 

[Mattyboy]

The limitation depends on the ball selected by the range themselves. It can go up to 50% I think. Google 'Cayman Golf'. Nicklaus designed a course on the Cayman Islands (where land is scarce I understand) which was half sized, so they use half distance balls (Cayman Balls).

Theres a similar thing in North Devon I think.

 

[garyinderry]

im shocked! i wouldnt waste my time with that. you might as well just hit shots into a net at home!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It depends where you go. There are two ranges near me where the balls are so old and devoid of dimples you could get Timmy or Steve or any of the 300+ hitters and I reckon they'd struggle to get them more than 200 yards and they definitely won't fly straight or properly.

I never worry about how far I'm hitting it at the range. Its about how I'm hitting. I know my yardages for when I play (not allowing for an extra 90 yards with the first bounce off the frozen fairway or green) so I just hit it and see how and where it went and not how far

 

[DAVEYBOY]

The Srixon range balls are the best in my opinion....

Well they seem to go further anyway.

 

[Dreamer2]

i reckon you lose 20/30 yards

 

[moogie]

A range local to me, used to use Srixon range balls, and they were very good, u could even get them checking up on wedges
NOW......they use Yellow RFT ( reduced flight tech.....?? ) and they go NOWHERE.......awful:angry:
U can hit a 6 iron same as a 9 iron.......!!!

There is another range, just 2 miles from me, Close House, and its Range Balls are very good, they are Logo'd up with Close House on, but have been told they are Titleist..........wouldnt be surprised, it is a 'No Expense Spared' Golfing Complex.........even sponsor Lee Westwood ( cap )

If weather is fine Id rather take my own Practice Balls to the Practice Ground at my Club, much better

 

[Scottjd1]

Thats what I thought - I could barely hit my 5 iron beyond the 100 marker, I called up and the owner of the group of ranges called me back and they had to have them like that due to a ball escaping and hitting someone on the head - the council were about to shut them down unless they did something like this.

I understand they are a business and I dont go to the range to see how far I hit but it was like hitting rocks,so I go elsewhere.

So with the weather all the local ranges are closed and the ones at the courses I use are closed (and uncovered!) so i had to bite the bullet and go back just to get a few sswings in.

For the firs dozen balls i wish i hadnt bothered, but then I started hitting some nice ones, i diodnt look at the range markers as they were difficult to make out in the snow.

Its weird hitting a really hard ball with a forged iron. You can feel you have 'middled' it but just unusual.

the last few i made a point of distance.

8 iron - 100 (140/5 normally)
5 iron 120 (170/5)
3 wood 150. (210/20)

I wont be going back but it was good just to get a few swings in without breaking something at home!!

A fiver for 50 balls - is that normal ?? (rip off!!)

 

[Dave B]

The range is good for practicing shots and consistency of shots but I take no notice of the distance I get. In addition if you buy or try a new driver I tend to find as others have indicated any tendencies to slice, hook, fade or draw the ball are often exaggerated which in itself isn't a bad thing however distance is generally severely reduced.

 

[tagnut69]

I think the range I use has adjusted the markers to allow for the reduced distance beacuse I can get 200yds out of the moon rocks there with my driver 150 6iron same as in real life
£5 for 50 is twice what I pay, depending on where I go it is either £5 for 100 or 110.

 

[Piece]

World of Golf at New Malden uses bath sponges as range balls....