What is the difference in a ball marked "practice"

[satch_ip]

Golfsmith has Black Max practice balls on sale for $13.99. What is the difference in a practice ball and a normal ball?

[pickapocket]

They are the equivalent of the old "X-outs" that you used to be able to get 10+ years ago. There will be something wrong with them, paint defect, dimple patterns etc.

I do not think they would be legal for use in competitions altough they would generally fly just like a normal ball. For that price its probably worth picking up a couple of dozen for use in friendly matches. Don't play for money, your opponetns might raise an objection and refuse to cough up the dough at the end of the match!!

[Q.Q.Quillume]

Here is some info I clipped & pasted from the Titleist website http://www.titleist.com/customerserv...sp?faqid=62475

I would guess that this info would also apply to Maxfli balls, but I’ve been wrong before.

1. Pro V1 Practice golf balls are conforming products that differ only due to a cosmetic blemish such as paint, ink or registration of stamping. Pro V1 Practice golf balls do not have any construction or performance deficiencies.

Q: May I use a ball stamped with "Practice" or "X-Out" to play a round of golf?

A: Our present policy provides that if the List of Conforming Golf Balls or the One Ball Condition is in effect, a practice or logo ball may be used provided the other markings on the ball (i.e., pole and seam) correspond exactly to a ball listing on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls. Balls labeled with ''PRACTICE'' or a circled ''P'', are essentially treated as a logo ball (such as a Mickey Mouse emblem). A player's name stamped on the ball is also acceptable. However, the original ball markings (i.e., pole and seam markings) must be readable in order for a Rules Official to determine whether that ball is on the List of Conforming Golf Balls. X-Out balls are not permitted to be used in any competition in which the List of Conforming Golf Balls or the One Ball Condition is in effect. However, if neither of these Conditions are in effect, X-Out balls may be used because all balls are presumed to conform unless they have been tested and found not to conform or are obviously non-conforming (e.g., too small or too heavy). (See Decisions 5-1/4 and US/5-1/101).

As a result of the potential for an X-Out to be non-conforming if tested, we do not recommend using this model during tournament play.

[golfgolfer]

I may be wrong but I heard somewhere that the x-out balls and practise balls are slightly different.

the x-out balls are the ones that have the sight "defects" that was mentioned in previous post.

The practise balls are ones that have lower compression than the regular normal golf balls.

Does this still hold true ?