Beginner chipping/putting practice question

When practicing chipping/putting at a driving range, or course practice area, do you use their balls (from a bucket you're going to hit) or your own?

As a beginner, I would recommend using the range balls just to get a good feel during chipping. For putting tho, I would use your own balls. I'm more of an intermediate player and I still like to take my small bucket to the chipping range and practice with them for about 20 minutes.

Range balls.

Depends on the facility. The driving range and the putting/chipping green are in different areas at some of the places I practice at. To tote a bucket of balls halfway across the course isn't convenient and I've never seen anyone using range balls on the chipping green there. At the club we have a practice green with a small fairway, about 100 yds leftover after a remodel that made number 7 a par 5. To practice there requires dragging the shag bag out. Typically I hit range balls on the range and my own balls for all other practice activities. Just filled a new shag bag with 4 doz Noodle+ last night.

that's gotta be a money pit, I mean I scuff balls on wedge shots from 100 in from trapping.

Typically I hit my own balls for chipping and always for putting. Range balls are not going to play/spin/check the same way as your normal ball. That makes practicing very inconsistent - a chip with your ball may roll out 5 feet where the range ball rolls out 10 feet. Range balls are ok if you are working on a specific drill and not actually trying to hole your shots. If you are serious about your chipping practice pickup a shag bag or tube and stock it with 2 dozen of your normal ball. The investment will pay big dividends.

That's why I use the Noodle for that. I can get an entire season out of 4 doz and the balls were less than $40 with tax. I only go out there a couple of times a month. At the range a large bag is $12 and the balls are in worse shape. Though range balls are "free" at the club, cost me $400 a month to hit those Callaway practice rocks.

I use range balls to chip, and my own balls to putt with (I mark my balls light-side up so they roll true [see Pelz - Putt Like The Pros ]).

During chipping practice I don't care if the balls give inconsistent spin, my only goal is to have them land in a hula-hoop sized area that I'm focusing on.

Ideally, I suppose you'd use your "gamer" balls for both chipping and putting ...but like many others I tend to use range balls to chip and my balls for putting...