Range ball vs. premium ball distance

[Stonecold]

I have been hitting the range a lot practice my swing and getting a feel for my distance.

Only able to play a couple of rounds so far this year but I am noticing a big differnce in how far I hit on the course.

Nailed a 4 iron 198 yards with a Bridgestone RX on the course but only hitting a 4 iron 175-180 on the ragne.

Can the ball make that big a differnce?

[baseballfrk8998]

Yes if it's a limited flight ball. They do this so everyone doesn't knock them through the back of the range. Not to mention how many times range balls have been hit..

[ND Fan]

range balls run the entire gambit they can be longer or significantly shorter.  Many ranges use limited flight balls because it keeps them in a smaller area from which to pick them.

[B-Con]

Also, range yardage markers can be off. Look at Google Earth in satellite mode, find the range, and measure the distance from the teeboxes to the flags, just to be sure that they're correct.

[baseballfrk8998]

Originally Posted by B-Con

Also, range yardage markers can be off. Look at Google Earth in satellite mode, find the range, and measure the distance from the teeboxes to the flags, just to be sure that they're correct.

Or use a rangefinder.. Much faster if you or a friend has one!

[Stonecold]

I think it's a combination of

• The range markers are off
• The range is only 200 yards so they probible do have limited flight balls

Never knew about the balls or thought to check the markers.

Really eye-opener

Thanks!

[newtogolf]

There's a number of reasons why your ball on the course went 198 yards but on the range it's less

1. Range uses limited flight balls - already said
2. Range markers are off - already said
3. Course had a downward slope that gave you some extra roll out
4. Wind was at your back
5. You hit the ball in the sweet spot or thin and it traveled further than usual.
6. Some combination of the above.
   

Originally Posted by Stonecold

I have been hitting the range a lot practice my swing and getting a feel for my distance.

Only able to play a couple of rounds so far this year but I am noticing a big differnce in how far I hit on the course.

Nailed a 4 iron 198 yards with a Bridgestone RX on the course but only hitting a 4 iron 175-180 on the ragne.

Can the ball make that big a differnce?

[colin007]

BTW, keep in mind that a "premium/tour" ball (ie. proV, penta, z-star...) is not the longest ball.  i always chuckle when people list those in threads that ask for the longest ball out there.

[jamo]

A lot of range balls (at least at the places I go) are nearly smooth. A lot of dimples have worn off, and that can make the ball go shorter.

[Pleadguitar]

ive noticed that at most driving ranges i can barely get over 250 yards, but on the course using my e5's i can get closer to the 300 mark

range balls definately cannot compare to the balls we use on the course

[lhshurdl3r]

A couple of days ago I was at the range and they use Nike practice balls.  Not sure which model though.  Anyways, I was having a decent day striking the ball, and hitting it well with the driver I picked up on Ebay recently ($25, TM 320 Tour TI 8.5*).  So I decided to toss a couple in the bag and see how they played out on the course when I played 9 yesterday.

Holding the ball I initially teed off with.. it's scuffed a bit, but it survived the 9 holes and to be honest... one of the better balls I've played with.  It was nice around the greens, and off the tee it was great.

[ettsn]

I tend to hit range balls [i]longer[/i] with my driver than I do normal balls. I liken that to a combination of range rocks being much harder versus premium balls and the reduced stress of not really caring if I mishit. I mean, I want them all to go well, but on the range it's "oh, that was a duff" compared to "oh man, my next shot is gonna be tough" on the course. Do you know what I mean? Fewer consequences make for a little more "free-wheeling" swings at the range maybe?

[Stonecold]

I took a lesson late May and really rebuilt my swing from the ground up on the practice range in June.

As a result of always thinking about my swing I was hitting the ball well and strait but short.

Now I feel more comfortable and find that on the course I am thinking about the goose that hissed at me on the last green.

"I didn't do anything to him,  maybe he's just a jerk..."

An than wham the ball is flying (hopefully down the fairway) but a good 10-20 yards further than what I hit when I was thinking about hitting.

And I am thinking "eh maybe that goose is just having a bad day..."

I guess the free wheeling part of my game is making a come back.