Beginner chipping/putting practice question

[zombywoof]

When practicing chipping/putting at a driving range, or course practice area, do you use their balls (from a bucket you're going to hit) or your own?

[VoidOfEnigmas]

Originally Posted by zombywoof

When practicing chipping/putting at a driving range, or course practice area, do you use their balls (from a bucket you're gonna hit) or your own?

As a beginner, I would recommend using the range balls just to get a good feel during chipping. For putting tho, I would use your own balls. I'm more of an intermediate player and I still like to take my small bucket to the chipping range and practice with them for about 20 minutes.

[kevans23]

Range balls.

[Dave2512]

Depends on the facility. The driving range and the putting/chipping green are in different areas at some of the places I practice at. To tote a bucket of balls halfway across the course isn't convenient and I've never seen anyone using range balls on the chipping green there. At the club we have a practice green with a small fairway, about 100 yds leftover after a remodel that made number 7 a par 5. To practice there requires dragging the shag bag out. Typically I hit range balls on the range and my own balls for all other practice activities. Just filled a new shag bag with 4 doz Noodle+ last night.

[VoidOfEnigmas]

Originally Posted by Dave2512

Depends on the facility. The driving range and the putting/chipping green are in different areas at some of the places I practice at. To tote a bucket of balls halfway across the course isn't convenient and I've never seen anyone using range balls on the chipping green there. At the club we have a practice green with a small fairway, about 100 yds leftover after a remodel that made number 7 a par 5. To practice there requires dragging the shag bag out. Typically I hit range balls on the range and my own balls for all other practice activities. Just filled a new shag bag with 4 doz Noodle+ last night.

that's gotta be a money pit, I mean I scuff balls on wedge shots from 100 in from trapping.

[1puttit]

Originally Posted by zombywoof

When practicing chipping/putting at a driving range, or course practice area, do you use their balls (from a bucket you're going to hit) or your own?

Typically I hit my own balls for chipping and always for putting. Range balls are not going to play/spin/check the same way as your normal ball. That makes practicing very inconsistent - a chip with your ball may roll out 5 feet where the range ball rolls out 10 feet. Range balls are ok if you are working on a specific drill and not actually trying to hole your shots. If you are serious about your chipping practice pickup a shag bag or tube and stock it with 2 dozen of your normal ball. The investment will pay big dividends.

[Dave2512]

Originally Posted by voidofenigmas

that's gotta be a money pit, I mean I scuff balls on wedge shots from 100 in from trapping.

That's why I use the Noodle for that. I can get an entire season out of 4 doz and the balls were less than $40 with tax. I only go out there a couple of times a month. At the range a large bag is $12 and the balls are in worse shape. Though range balls are "free" at the club, cost me $400 a month to hit those Callaway practice rocks.

[lostmyballs]

I use range balls to chip, and my own balls to putt with (I mark my balls light-side up so they roll true [see Pelz - Putt Like The Pros ]).

During chipping practice I don't care if the balls give inconsistent spin, my only goal is to have them land in a hula-hoop sized area that I'm focusing on.

[stogiesnbogies]

Ideally, I suppose you'd use your "gamer" balls for both chipping and putting ...but like many others I tend to use range balls to chip and my balls for putting...