Difference between "Nike Practice" good condition range balls and Prov1 distance

[Backspinalot]

Hi,

I am wondering what is the difference if any at all from range balls and play balls? I know it varies on the person etc. But say compare a Titleist ProV1 to a Nike Practice range ball, assuming no scuffs on the cover or anything they are good range balls. I am hitting with an estimated 105-107 CHS, I don't get crazy amounts of backspin, I would say in the 2k-2.5k range with a ProV1 I am wondering because today in calm conditions (hardly any wind) I hit a pretty good ball at the range (those Nike Practice ones) and it flew into the lower part of a pine tree I lasered to be 271. Mind you, our range is just slightly downhill and I am at 4500 feet above sea. This is with a Titleist 910 D2 8.75 loft and Aldila RIP 60 stiff shaft 45" which I love. I wouldn't say my CHS is exactly accurate, I measured at a Uinta golf in a little hitting net area they had a Vector pro thing and it said I was getting 115-117 CHS but then the guy said it reads up to 10-12 mph fast so not too reliable. I will hear older gentlemen sometimes say the range balls are 20 yards short of play golf balls just to make themselves feel better but I don't know, just curios


Thanks

[WUTiger]

I asked a driving range pro and a club pro about this. Both said the range balls don't go quite as far as "play" balls.

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Exception: You belong to a country club with a $40,000 initiation fee which stocks their range buckets with new ProV.

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Two years ago I spent an afternoon calibrating my wedges at a local range using fairly new range balls. I hit quarter, half and 3/4 shots for all my wedges, and took the average distance of solid hits.

Came back a couple of days later, and and re-checked a couple of the wedges and partial swings... pretty close to day one. I even made myself a laminated distance card to hang off my golf bag.

Problem was, when I went out to play I landed long on all my partial wedges - sometimes by 10 yards. This happened over three rounds. So, I was lagging for bogey instead of having a 5-footer for up and down. Later that summer I asked the pros about practice ball length.

Also... if the range balls in your bucket are faded and nicked up, this also would cut down on distance.

[The Tin Man]

A range ball gets played everyday and is picked up, washed and dispensed by machines every time they are hit. The #1 criteria of a range ball is that it lasts a year (or more) of such abuse. We don't call them "Range Rocks" for nothing.

(I think "distance limited" is an aftereffect of making them tough.)

PS: The range I go to uses Nike's  Range Balls - they are not blemished balls downgraded to range duty - these are Range Rocks.