Why Cant I Hit Practice Balls?

[live4u120]

Well since I started lessons, my swing has become so much more powerful. The drawback to this, is that I can't hit those little foam practice balls anymore. Does anyone know why a golf ball goes far, while a foam ball goes straight up with loads of spin? Thanks!

[Zeph]

Here is why:



The foam ball is lighter, more compressed, spins more and won't penetrate the air. You can keep hitting them, it's not like the ball flight can tell you anything anyways.

[live4u120]

Here is why:

Really? Well thanks for that answer. I also seem to have much more confidence hitting a golf ball, it goes really straight... Why do I slice the practice balls? Is it still the higher compression principle?

[Zeph]

I'm no physicist, but it could be that the foam ball is so light that it sticks to the club face longer during impact. Since your normal ball flight is straight, you have an in-square-in swing path. The club head will be square for the fraction of a second. Because the golf ball is so hard, it will be compressed and fly off very quickly. The foam ball is softer and lighter, so it does perhaps stay longer on the club face, while the swing is going back in. If the club face is square and swing path moving back in, you will impart sidespin, which cause the ball to fly to the right.

I wouldn't pay too much attention to the ball flight of a foam ball, or any ball not being a golf ball. The dynamics and characteristics in a golf ball is so different that you won't get any useful information. You can of course use the foam balls to work on your swing, but like I said, don't look at the ball flight. If you hit it straight and long with a golf ball, that is really all you want to know.

[TigerWoodz]

I dont know how you can get any kind of feedback from practicing with a foam practice ball..?