Top Flite practice Range ball distance?

[Golfs-for-Fun]

The range I usually go to has closed for the season, so I drove all the way across town to check out this indoor/outdoor range.

Its a lot better and even has a pro shop.

At the old range the balls were real golf balls of all brands, but at this place they were ALL TopFlite Range Practice balls.

The old ones seemed to hit just like any old golfball, same distance as the balls I carry in my bag, but these TF Range balls were weird as hell. No matter how good a shot, even with a driver, they wouldnt fly out any further than about 200 yards then theyd drop like a sack of bricks.

I even tried my 7 wood which on the old range when Id hit off a tee the ball would go up and out and then you could see the trajectory raise a little when what I believe was backspin slowing down. I generally can get a hell of a lot of distance out of my 7 wood. Its been VERY consistent with normal balls.

But these TF range balls, while flying very straight, didnt seem to carry nearly as far as Im used to with regular balls.

I did notice that this particular range is VERY Short compared to what Im used to. A 300 yard hit would actually be over and across the back fence and onto another property, so I wondered if they intentionally bought balls that wouldnt fly that far.

Its no huge deal to me, Im less interested in hitting them a mile and more interested in controlling the ball, but I was beginning to feel a bit inadequate until I saw that no one with a driver was hitting as far as even the 275 mark.

Thoughts about the TF range practice balls?

[raygrinberg]

Those TF balls were most likely "Restricted Flight" balls specifically made for smaller spaces.

[Golfs-for-Fun]

Originally Posted by raygrinberg

Those TF balls were most likely "Restricted Flight" balls specifically made for smaller spaces.

so they do make balls for shorter flight like that?

It was driving me crazy until I got almost home and thought maybe that was the case.

The seemed 'lighter' than normal balls, not quite the same heavy feel as a normal ball.

Would being lighter make them not fly as far?

It was weird when I was out there because I caught hold of a few balls that I just knew were going to fly well.

You know that 'feel' when the swing is just right and you can feel how the club caught the ball and that distinct sound you get.

So Im looking for at least a 240-250 minimum.....and plunk. Out to about 175 or so and dropped out of the sky like a giant turd.

Its like once the ball slowed down even slightly it would then lose ALL its forward energy and just drop.

[poser]

Yea limited flight balls are worthless for practice.  There is a range up the road that has them due to limited space and you can get some really weird shot shapes.  Balls that will fly out 200 yards then hook or nose dive into the ground.

[Golfs-for-Fun]

Originally Posted by poser

Yea limited flight balls are worthless for practice.  There is a range up the road that has them due to limited space and you can get some really weird shot shapes.  Balls that will fly out 200 yards then hook or nose dive into the ground.

Its really good to know all this. I was really getting a bit down there

They have an indoor range and you can sneeze and hit the end of it. Maybe 160 yards tops.

It is sort of cool to hit inside because it was really windy today and once your ball gets into the sky its not so easy to see.

This indoor range is a nice color that your ball really highlights against so you can see it good enough. But driver shots end up hitting against the end, not really a huge problem since I usually know if Ive hit a bad one by that distance.

Thats why I went outside to see how far my balls were actually going because I had some really nice shots, but outside they didnt go a whole lot further and Im thinking what the hell

[The_Pharaoh]

Do they not tell you this before you purchase the balls? I'd ask for my money back.

[Golfs-for-Fun]

I found this other thread on the topic;

http://thesandtrap.com/t/16079/limited-flight-range-balls

I was trying to draw the ball and I have to say that altho the distance was shorter on these range balls I was able to aim right of the flag and pull the ball back to pretty much where the green would be.

They seemed to handle well enough as far as that goes.

[Mr. Desmond]

I've used ranges with restricted distance balls and didn't have issues as I could discern the initial ball flight and curvature.