Range vs. "Round" Ball

[andef]

I haven't had a chance to play on the course since november due to the snow which has finally melted. in the last few days i've been to the range quite often and today I noticed something about the ballflight of my clubs (mainly the 6-4 irons and woods). whenever i hit a good shot the ball seems to fly well, with a high trajectory but after it reaches its peak it seems to fall straight down. Now this is not a problem with the short irons and wedges because I play the ball in the middle of my stance so I get a penetrating trajectory but it seems to lead to a distance loss in the other irons.
so my question is whether anyone notices a more penetrating trajectory when using their normal balls compared to range balls. if i'm correct the ball i play (pro v1x) should help me with a more penetrating trajectory that should fix the problem and give me even gaps between my irons.
anyone noticed the same thing?

[James_Black]

Most range balls have no dimples (they're worn down) so you end up hitting the ball and it then drops dead at the peak of it's trajectory.

Range balls are only good for seeing if your making good contact, they don't work for anything else.

[CrazyXGolfer]

Well it really depends on the balls your hitting when your their. IF the dimples are worn out thats what the ball will usually do. If you are hitting under neath the ball and applying to much backspin or adding loft to your golf clubs this is what will also happen and what you are discribing is commen if you are lofting the cub. Short Irons go well then longer clubs suffer.

1 more thing, range golf balls are usually softer then normal golf balls so you can usually add a good 10m on all your shots.

[billysandy]

Range balls are generally going to fly 80% of the distance you see with a regular ball. Though there are the more expensive ranges that have better balls i guess

[WUTiger]

One of our local ranges has two types of balls: Two stripers (distance balls) and three stripers (distance/spin balls). Owners charge a dollar-a-bucket premium for three stripers.

The three-stripers seemed to bite better, especially on partial shots. Not sure if they went normal distance. In late summer they quit sorting by stripes and just charged for the lower-priced buckets. Not sure what they'll do this year.

Anybody else seen ranges where they offer distance and spin balls?

[Gebus]

I am lucky to have a friend that works at a premium golf course in Montreal called the Mirage (it is owned by Celine Dion), their range is on beautiful grass and is lined with pyramids of PRO V1s, I know what your thinking they must get screwed up pretty fast but there are also NXT tours if your are practicing full wedge shots. I usually have a practice session their at the start of the season with my range finder to record my yardages with all my clubs. Most of the driving ranges around Montreal use horrifically used balls and charge $9 for a basket, thank god I work for a golf course that lets me hot all the balls I want and they are relatively new (1-2 seasons).

[Dub]

I think I also get around 80% action out of normal range balls....certainly enough to provide me with the knowledge on how well or poorly I'm hitting it.

I don't count on range sessions to "know" my distances...too many variable. That is a shot-to-shot decision for the course.

[bong_crosby]

Talk to the guys at the range and ask them about the balls they use. I was hitting at my range (they use Srixon range balls) and even with tailwind, I was having a tough time getting the ball to the 250 marker on really solid shots. I had a couple old balls in my bag and gave them a try - sure enough, I was able to get them past the 250 marker. I asked the person working at the counter and he told me the distances for the longer shots (past the 150 marker) need to add 10 to 20 percent. Shorter shots, like wedges, should be accurate.

Next time you go to the range, take a handful of old balls and see how far you can hit them. I think you'll see they go quite a bit further than the range balls.

[andef]

longer shots (past the 150 marker) need to add 10 to 20 percent. Shorter shots, like wedges, should be accurate.

short irons are quite accurate in terms of distance, it's just that the 6-4 iron have a really small gap (5 yards) when i hit shots at the range but go back to normal on the course (if i remember correctly...i haven't played in a long time)

[kpaulhus]

One of our local ranges has two types of balls: Two stripers (distance balls) and three stripers (distance/spin balls). Owners charge a dollar-a-bucket premium for three stripers.

I would hate to be the kid who has to sort out which balls are which after the picker puts them all in a basket.

[sean_miller]

I would hate to be the kid who has to sort out which balls are which after the picker puts them all in a basket.

Hmm . . . is it too late to patent this? Let's make one ball much bigger (to build confidence - wink) then get a selective picker.

Range balls are for contact, excercise, and mechanics. A guy working at one local range was reaming out the long drive guys for hitting range balls beyond the fairway and across the road (over 300 yards just to the end of the range). I almost sh** myself.