golfrewind.com

A couple of questions about golf balls and how long they last:

I have only played a few rounds of golf (as I am still learning and have elected for better or worse to try to divide my “golf time” into about 80% practice (learning the swing) and about 20% of my time actually playing (on a Par 3 course). In the few rounds of golf that I have played, I noticed that the good balls that I have purchased seem to fly further than they when I am at the range. (Note: I practice "a lot".) My favorite range is a first class facility in every way and uses only one brand of ball—a “Top Flite Practice Ball” stamped by the OEM on each ball.

It seems to be the general consensus on Golf Rewind that range balls are not the same quality balls that are used in “game” conditions and that “game” balls will travel about 20% further than range balls. Assuming that the GR consensus is true, at ranges where the owner uses re-conditioned or formerly lost "game" balls of all makes and brands---I frequesnt a few of these too---, do these former game balls also tend to travel shorter distances? In general, (and assuming that you don’t loose the ball while playing it), how long will the average ball last? Maybe another way of putting the question is to ask how many good "hits" are in the average golf ball before it begins to loose distance or carry? (OK, maybe it’s a dumb question, but remember that I have been playing for less than a year.)

Most range balls are Pinnacle or Top Flite since they will last the longest becuase they have a very durable (surlyn) cover. I don't know about the "20%" less distance. If I don't shred one of my premium balls, I can play several 18's with one. If the cover remains intact, I think the balls will last longer than most people will play with them.

On a testing maching like Iron Byron, range balls (2-piece) and premium (3,4-piece) balls will travel similar distances. The big difference is in feel and spin. Remember, no ball maker has the secret for the "longest ball" - even though they all say they are the longest. It all depends on how subjective, or slanted, their testing methods are.

I would say a golf ball will last a years worth of hits. Now I am talking about one persons years worth of hits. When your looking at range's those same balls could get hit 500-600 times a week and some set out there for a while in wet conditions. Most the ranges use ****** balls to begin with is why they don't last as long and are not good performance.

I believe the practice versions are made to not only withstand the abuse of daily hitting, but also to limit the distance they carry, so that ranges don't have to be 400 yards long. Last time I was at the range, mixed in to the bucket of standard TopFlite practice balls were a few well-used Titleist, Callaways and Nikes. I figure someone found a couple of dozen balls and decided to use them for a better idea of how they were hitting. I noticed a big difference in the feel of those "used" balls versus the way the standard practice balls felt. The back fence on this range is an 8 foot wood privacy fence, about 260yds out, and I wasn't even close with the range balls. I drove 2 Titleists and a Callaway into the fence, about halfway up. The Nikes would have hit, but I hit hard fades with them.

Anyway, how many hits per ball? For me, it depends more on how many lakes and thick woods I have to stay out of than the durability of the ball!

i usually try to get 5 rounds in with a ball and by that time its toast from all of the cover lost from my wedges. Another thing is cartpath, if i hit cartpath and i have most of my round left i will change but if i hit cartpath with only 5 or 6 holes left ill keep playing with it. Otherwise its lost in the woods or water.

Then don't worry, you probably have quite a few years of losing them before they go bad ahead of you. I haven't kept one long enough for it to detoriate yet.


This is also why my Titlest balls say "NXT Tour" on them instead of "Pro V1"

Top Flight makes both regular and limited distance range balls so it depends on which ball your range uses. I think most use the regular unless they are space restricted.

http://www.topflite.com/products/ran...=limited-flite

There are other brands as well.

http://www.caymangolf.com/Merchant2/...ry_Code=rballs

I would say that you shouldn't have to worry about a golf ball made in the last few years going bad unless the cover is scratched/scraped , etc. Range balls a lot of times don't go as far because of the lack of dimples. At least around here, some courses change range balls so little that they don't have any dimples!

For me, it's how many times I hit my Vokey wedges. Those wedges shred the balls and I have 3 Vokeys hehe.

I use a new ball whenever I start a round. Most pros use between 1 and 2 dozen balls in a tournament. I just read an article about John Daly - he said he uses about 3 dozen in a tournament. Ya hit 'em hard and you beat 'em up.
It really does take some of the life outta them.

Im with him on this one. I have yet to use a ball and not lose it. so who knows how long my balls will last. I did have my hubby laughing to the point of stitches yesturday because i bought some colored balls i really liked the color of and when i launched it straight for the pond and went running after it i swear he almost wet his pants laughing at me.

Ahhh, for him to have a video camera would have been excellent!

it still ticks me off i lost two of those balls and i cant say i thought i could really get the ball back, but if he hadn't stopped me i might have tried jumping into the muckky water just to get them back.. I know i can buy more but that was not the thought process in my brain At least i can laugh at myself now. and my hubby got a really great laugh.

i have the same sort of thing with my missus, always looking for a ball 10 minutes after its obviously gone, she can't stand losing balls, the amount of arguments ive had with her, telling her its only a ball and telling her to stay in the woods looking for it,whilst i play the rest of the round if she wants .

I just started getting to where I could keep a ball long enough to tear the cover off of it. I would much rather tear the cover off a ball than hit it in the water.