Driving Range Yardages

[Tiger Spuds]

Has anyone else noted that the yardages stated at their local driving range aren't exaclty accurate?I was at a Range last night, my first time at that particular one, and I immedietly thought that the yardages couldn't be right.The last marker was 250 yards, and they said the range itself went on to around 280, but it just didn't look that long.My suspicions were confirmed when I started driving balls past the fence at the end and into the next field, which would have been about 310 yards if the marked yardages were correct I usually hit a decent ball, but not that long.And it wasn't just the long markers that were off either, unless I've somehow developed the ability to hit my 5 iron 230 yards

Reading up a little about it, it seems to be a common occurrence.I find that annoying, I like to know exactly how far I'm hitting each club and dodgy distance markers at a range doesn't help.There's a theory too that they adjust their yardages for range balls.They're compressed, so they go 40/50 yards shorter than a relatively new ball etc.I'm not sure I buy that though.

Anyone else come across this?

[jamo]

They're compressed, so they go 40/50 yards shorter than a relatively new ball etc.I'm not sure I buy that though.

I think the normal rule of thumb is about 20% shorter. Most range yardages are off for one reason or another, but i've always blamed it on carelessness.

[Zeph]

The difference from the ball you play and the range balls can be a lot. Even with accurate yardages on the range, you can't use the distance in your game because the balls don't fly as far as those you play on the course.

[Taggsy]

Almost all the ranges in my part of town are measured out in meters for some reason. Not only that but I'm sure Usain Bolt could sprint to our 100 meter marking in about 6 seconds judging by how close it appears.
Still it's not all bad, at least I can blame my poor scores on the range!

[SSJLaletas]

They never seem to be right, and the balls never seem to fly that great either. My local courses have better balls, but no yardage markers, oh well at least you get guestimates.

[kfowler]

There's a huge amount of variability from range to range. For both quality of balls and target distances. I was also told by one of the range owners that the dimples on the balls really wear off during the winter months due to the frozen ground.

[MiniMoe]

The distances on the ranges are often measured from the very back of the tee box. If you are hitting from the front of the box you are going to be at least 20 yards closer. I like ranges with greens and flags, then have plates with yardages to those flag from different areas of the tee box..... or I just take my laser. But in the end, it doesn't matter that much because most of the range balls don't fly correct distances anyway.

[Tiger Spuds]

I was also told by one of the range owners that the dimples on the balls really wear off during the winter months due to the frozen ground.

Definitely.The one's I was hitting last night were shockin'.The outer skin was coming off and sticking in the grooves of my clubs

You can't expect anything else at a driving range though I suppose. Is it possible though that balls that poor could actually hinder you from learning anything at the driving range?If you're trying to get an understanding of your ball flight and it's behaving completely differently to what it would with decent balls.

[Zeph]

Almost all the ranges in my part of town are measured out in meters for some reason. Not only that but I'm sure Usain Bolt could sprint to our 100 meter marking in about 6 seconds judging by how close it appears.

You do live in Europe, where the metric system is most used.

The sooner everyone converts to metric, the better.

[kfowler]

Is it possible though that balls that poor could actually hinder you from learning anything at the driving range?If you're trying to get an understanding of your ball flight and it's behaving completely differently to what it would would decent balls.

If you practice at a range with really bad balls, it's possible. I was practicing once last year and the range owner was right behind me. I hit a balls and it started out great and then just dropped like a duck being shot. He said "bad ball". I think you'll see most of the issues in distance and not necessarily in side spin. I tend to just try and watch ball flight and not worry about distance. In the winter months here, length is all shot to hell anyway.

[kfowler]

BTW, I use a GPS on the course but I would love to have a laser range finder just for the purpose of driving ranges.

[Taggsy]

You do live in Europe, where the metric system is most used.

I'm all for metric, it's just a pain when the golf courses are in yards and the driving ranges in meters.

[Bullitt5339]

I would say that the yardage markers at the range I practice at are correct. But the worn out, low quality golf balls make it impossible to judge my distances on the course when I'm using my premium golf balls.

[MrKadash]

I have a local aquaintance who owns his own outdoor/indoor range with golf shop. He puts yardage markers out knowingly a bit shorter to try to sell that extra driver, thinking people will notice how much further they can hit it. I jokingly tell him I hit my 1988 Snakeskin driver 300 all the time.

[Tiger Spuds]

I have a local aquaintance who owns his own outdoor/indoor range with golf shop. He puts yardage markers out knowingly a bit shorter to try to sell that extra driver, thinking people will notice how much further they can hit it. I jokingly tell him I hit my 1988 Snakeskin driver 300 all the time.

That's a bit underhanded isn't it?I know he's only trying to make a living for himself, but it's unfair, depending on how much he's shortening it by.Imagine going to the course next time out and wondering why you're hitting it 20/30/40 yards shorter than at the range haha, fairly cruel.

[James_Black]

You do live in Europe, where the metric system is most used.

England uses the Imperial System. i.e Yards, Gallons, Miles

[PaddyHarrington]

England uses the Imperial System. i.e Yards, Gallons, Miles

Some of the course I play on are in yards,others are in meters...

I wish they would all just stick on one or the other,would prefer yards myself

[MrKadash]

That's a bit underhanded isn't it?I know he's only trying to make a living for himself, but it's unfair, depending on how much he's shortening it by.Imagine going to the course next time out and wondering why you're hitting it 20/30/40 yards shorter than at the range haha, fairly cruel.

That's why he's just an aquaintance.