Distance Robbing Range Balls

[Zeph]

Range balls can go farther than the ball you play, or they can go shorter. Most common are distance limited balls that fly 10-20% shorter. I don't look at distances on the range, I'm looking for starting direction, flight trajectory etc. Distances is something I work on at the course.

[Bryan SD2]

I never work on distance or try to establish any distances with range balls. It's just useless. I find at least a 10% decline, maybe 15%. What I do work on at the range is line. I try not to hit at yardage markers, even as targets, but hit to flags instead. It's helpful as I don't know thenyardage to the yellow flag, or blue or white etc. I will even sometimes line up at a tree or other target at the END of the range, and hit WEDGES towards it. I'm 200 yards short, but I don't care - all I am worried about is direction.

Why hit 10 seven irons to a bogus 150 yard sign with a ball that won't fly anywhere because the dimples are half worn off and the cover is as smooth as 50 year old driveway?

As previously posted, learn distances with new clubs ON the course with a real golf ball. make note of positions for irons hit (draw each hole if you want) and later use Google Earth to measure. Par 3's for sure...

[WUTiger]

Some ranges seem to have better balls than others. Also, one on-course range has mostly three-stripe balls which seem to "hang on the clubface" a split second on good strikes.

Anyway, I came upon a solution for gauging distance of different clubs. I go to a youth soccer or football field and calibrate my clubs with the balls I use in play. I can hit my wedges on down to 8i or sometimes 7i. Also, since the balls are all hit by me, I can look at shot patterns - fade or draw on tried straight shots?

Then, I compare my normal ball to distance of the range balls. If the range balls are in decent shape, they go maybe about 90% as far.

I have some choices on ranges, so I avoid the ones with beat-up balls - they also have beat-up facilities.

[The Recreational Golfer]

Yesterday I was at the range hitting limited-flight balls that were stone cold, and barely getting my 4-iron to the 145 flag. But the ball flight was good, so I wasn't bothered.

[ERdiesel]

At chelsea piers and another local range in the nyc area, i hit my pw just a little past the 100 yard pin, however, on the course my pw is my 125 yard club, so i would say the distance loss for me with range balls is pretty significant