"PRACTICE" Golf Balls at Bay Hill

I worked on the driving range at the Bay Hill tournament and all the balls the players used on the range were stamped "PRACTICE." They were all top line balls - Pro V1s, Pentas, Nike 20XI, Srixon Z Star but all marked practice. Does anyone know what they are and if anything is wrong with them. I picked up a few and am playing them and they seem fine to me.

Same thing as the real ball.

Yep, same thing as the real ones.

Not sure how many you have, but you could probably sell some of the Nike 20XIs for a decent amount. A lot of people are waiting to try them, but they're not available to the public for another month.

In other words you were stealing??

Btw, just messing with ya Tin Cup

we have "Practice" Pro V1s at our driving range and i've played with a couple of them (i'm just trying to be honest), but i've noticed they lose their "shine" a lot quicker than a regular ball. they turn a little more cream color, quicker than a ball that's brand new out of a box.

nonetheless, the playing characteristics are pretty much identical. it's definitely tempting not to use more of them....but i'm really not a cheapskate and i would feel like the biggest idiot if i was ever caught using one.

Same ball. Mostly done so people don't take (steal) them out to the course and also to help distinguish range balls off the side of the fairway etc. It's a classy move giving you quality balls to practice with but a potentially costly one.

yea i was wondering what they do with all those balls

[quote name='bill g' timestamp='1301603578' post='3106709']
I worked on the driving range at the Bay Hill tournament and all the balls the players used on the range were stamped "PRACTICE." They were all top line balls - Pro V1s, Pentas, Nike 20XI, Srixon Z Star but all marked practice. Does anyone know what they are and if anything is wrong with them. I picked up a few and am playing them and they seem fine to me.
[/quote]

How do you like the new Nike ball? Can you feel any difference in softness and spin?

They are the real deal. I have picked up dozens on ebay and usually works out for around $1/ball.
They are ok for use in club tournaments too. I take a sharpie and black out "practice".

[quote name='dj80d' timestamp='1301616634' post='3107408']
yea i was wondering what they do with all those balls
[/quote]

I remember reading somewhere that sometimes they donate the balls to local first tee courses so they can sell them in the bin for like a dollar a peice. other than that I'm sure people just take them or the course gives them away.

[quote name='jonn443' timestamp='1301617446' post='3107443']
[quote name='bill g' timestamp='1301603578' post='3106709']
I worked on the driving range at the Bay Hill tournament and all the balls the players used on the range were stamped "PRACTICE." They were all top line balls - Pro V1s, Pentas, Nike 20XI, Srixon Z Star but all marked practice. Does anyone know what they are and if anything is wrong with them. I picked up a few and am playing them and they seem fine to me.
[/quote]

How do you like the new Nike ball? Can you feel any difference in softness and spin?
[/quote]

I honestly don't see a big difference from the one tour ball - got both the x (distance) and s (spin) balls and have played them - i didn't notice them being significantly softer or longer - interestingly stewart cink said he still plays the one tour d ball in wind because he doesn't like the ball flight on the 20xi compared to the old ball

I always assumed they failed a quality control at some stage. Maybe only the top 50% of balls are sold retail and the bottom half become practice or something like that.

[quote]nonetheless, the playing characteristics are pretty much identical. it's definitely tempting not to use more of them....but i'm really not a cheapskate and i would feel like the biggest idiot if i was ever caught using one. [/quote]

why? does it really matter that much what other people think about the ball you play? besides, practice ProV's and Penta's are readily available for purchase at Golfsmith and other big box stores. at $30/doz, they're less expensive than balls that are not stamped "practice", but i'd hardly call them cheap.

"Practice" balls are structurally sound and will perform just like their full price cousins, but they don't pass quality control for purely cosmetic reasons (stampings mis-aligned, smudged number etc.) .

[quote name='sk373' timestamp='1301626901' post='3108122']
[quote]nonetheless, the playing characteristics are pretty much identical. it's definitely tempting not to use more of them....but i'm really not a cheapskate and i would feel like the biggest idiot if i was ever caught using one. [/quote]

why? does it really matter that much what other people think about the ball you play? besides, practice ProV's and Penta's are readily available for purchase at Golfsmith and other big box stores. at $30/doz, they're less expensive than balls that are not stamped "practice", but i'd hardly call them cheap.
[/quote]

No, i'm not talking about the fact that is says PRACTICE, I'm talking about the fact that it says PRACTICE and has our logo on it. Probably wouldn't be a good thing for somebody to see me on the course playing with one of our range balls...probably pretty highly frowned upon

[quote]No, i'm not talking about the fact that is says PRACTICE, I'm talking about the fact that it says PRACTICE and has our logo on it. Probably wouldn't be a good thing for somebody to see me on the course playing with one of our range balls...probably pretty highly frowned upon [/quote]

ah . . . missed that part. makes a lot more sense now.

The only thing labeled "practice" is that they are illegal to play in competition (like USGA events), and even some local amateur tournaments ban "practice" balls as well.

[quote name='sosinsurr' timestamp='1301675840' post='3109694']
The only thing labeled "practice" is that they are illegal to play in competition (like USGA events), and even some local amateur tournaments ban "practice" balls as well.
[/quote]

Are you sure? Here is the USGA Decision:
[b]5-1/4 Status of "X-out," "Refurbished" and "Practice" Balls[/b]

[b]Q. What is the status of "X-out," "refurbished" and "practice" balls?[/b]
A. "X-out" is the common name used for a golf ball that a manufacturer considers to be imperfect (usually for aesthetic reasons only, e.g., paint or printing errors) and, therefore, has crossed out the brand name. A "refurbished" golf ball is a second-hand ball that has been cleaned and stamped as "refurbished."

In the absence of strong evidence to suggest that an "X-out" or "refurbished" ball does not conform to the Rules, it is permissible for such a ball to be used. However, in a competition where the Committee has adopted the condition that the ball the player plays must be named on the List of Conforming Golf Balls (see Note to Rule 5-1), such a ball may not be used, even if the ball in question (without the X's or without the "refurbished" stamp) does appear on the List.

In most cases, "practice" balls are simply listed, conforming golf balls that have been stamped "Practice," in the same way that golf balls often feature a club or company logo. Such balls may be used even where the Committee has adopted the condition that the ball the player plays must be named on the List of Conforming Golf Balls.

Interesting, they must have changed it then. I remember doing a USGA application to play once and it said practice balls were illegal.

So you think companies are going to give The Pros a faulty Product? Or that The Pro would even use such? Come on now.
They are marked PRACTICE so to lessen their value should they be sold later, or to lessen the chance of them being stolen.

[quote name='sosinsurr' timestamp='1301678127' post='3109803']
Interesting, they must have changed it then. I remember doing a USGA application to play once and it said practice balls were illegal.
[/quote]

X-outs used to be illegal because they were usually smaller or heavier than USGA limits. Instead of incinerating them, OEM's would sell them as "xouts" with the label of the ball marked out with 3 X's (poison reference). Practice balls have always been comforming and viewed the same as a logo ball.

[quote name='Titleist1455' timestamp='1301605761' post='3106848']
we have "Practice" Pro V1s at our driving range and i've played with a couple of them (i'm just trying to be honest), but i've noticed they lose their "shine" a lot quicker than a regular ball. they turn a little more cream color, quicker than a ball that's brand new out of a box.
[/quote]

This is likely due to what they are being washed with.

so did the pros get mixed buckets/stacks of balls, or did some poor schlub (and I can say that since I worked a range as a teenager) have to sort the balls???

Yea these balls are great.. I get the pentas for 25 a dozen and notice no difference what so ever other than being easier on the wallet..

[quote name='avgjoe' timestamp='1301698083' post='3110746']
so did the pros get mixed buckets/stacks of balls, or did some poor schlub (and I can say that since I worked a range as a teenager) have to sort the balls???
[/quote]
At tour events these so called poor schlubs volunteer to separate each and every brand into its
own bucket. Callaways for Phil and Nike`s for Tiger and so on. I would love to do it at a tour event
just to watch these guys hit the ball up close.

Interesting, they must have changed it then. I remember doing a USGA application to play once and it said practice balls were illegal.

 

X-outs used to be illegal because they were usually smaller or heavier than USGA limits. Instead of incinerating them, OEM's would sell them as "xouts" with the label of the ball marked out with 3 X's (poison reference). Practice balls have always been comforming and viewed the same as a logo ball.

I posted this in another thread a while back regarding Pro V1 X-outs/practice balls........

Xouts ARE NOT out of round, out of spec, out of weight etc... They are cosmetic blemishes or have a small physical defect like a scuff, that's it.

They are also Not Illegal for handicap play.

They are NOT ILLEGAL FOR TOURNAMANT PLAY UNLESS the Tournament Rules Committee specifies that the List of Conforming Golf Balls is in effect, which usually only occurs for higher end tournaments.

[/font]

Direct from the USGA:

Normally, only the Committees in charge of competitions involving expert players (at the state, regional and national level for amateurs, or at professional events) introduce a Condition of Competition requiring a player to use a ball included on the List of Conforming Golf Balls, the penalty for breach of the Condition being disqualification. However, if this Condition is not in place, it is assumed that a ball used by a player conforms unless there is strong evidence to the contrary (e.g., a player used a 1.62 inch diameter golf ball).

5-1/4 Status of "X-out," "Refurbished" and "Practice" Balls

Q. What is the status of "X-out," "refurbished" and "Practice" balls?

A. "X-out" is the common name used for a golf ball that a manufacturer considers to be imperfect (usually for aesthetic reasons only, e.g., paint or printing errors) and, therefore, has crossed out the brand name. A "refurbished" golf ball is a second-hand ball that has been cleaned and stamped as "refurbished."

In the absence of strong evidence to suggest that an "X-out" or "refurbished" ball does not conform to the Rules, it is permissible for such a ball to be used. However, in a competition where the Committee has adopted the condition that the ball the player plays must be named on the List of Conforming Golf Balls (see Note to Rule 5-1), such a ball may not be used, even if the ball in question (without the X's or without the "refurbished" stamp) does appear on the List.

In most cases, "Practice" balls are simply listed, conforming golf balls that have been stamped "Practice," in the same way that golf balls often feature a club or company logo. Such balls may be used even where the Committee has adopted the condition that the ball the player plays must be named on the List of Conforming Golf Balls.

Direct from Titleist (assume same thing for other OEMs):

The Acushnet Company invests significant time and effort to ensure that our products are Best-in-Class in terms of quality, performance and consistency. As such, in the rare event one of our products fails to meet USGA requirements for size, weight, velocity or any other conformance criteriawe destroy rather than market such products.As such, only products that are of a minimal defect are available for purchase. These products are available in two offerings: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 V1Practice golf balls do not have any construction or performance deficiencies.2. Pro V1 X-Out golf balls are also conforming products.However, they usually have a cosmetic blemish and/or occasionally have a minor physical defect that should not significantly affect its performance. More often than not, the physical condition causing the ball to be stamped as an X-Out is so minute that it is not recognizable by the player.Both products may be used in the casual round of golf including those with scores posted for handicaps, and most competitions, with the possible exception of high level competitions invoking the Local Rule requiring balls to be on the List of Conforming Golf Balls. Please refer to the USGA Official Rules on the subject listed below for your reference: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.We appreciate you allowing us to clarify this matter and wish you much success with your game. Thank you for making Titleist an integral part of your game, as well as the #1 ball in golf.

I played at the LPGA Daytona course shortly after their tournament; they were selling the used practice Pro Vs in the pro shop. I can't remember the price but it was good enough that I bought 3 dozen.
I figure that my game is a lot more like the ladies, so I thought the mojo from one of them was still there to help. The balls played just like "real" ProV1s.

I just picked up some Z Star Practice stamped balls for about $0.50 a ball from someone who got them at a tour stop out west. Almost all of them were brand new and only a couple of the 6 dozen I got have a scuff on them. So far they play just about exactly the same as my regular Z Star (Tour Yellow). The only real difference I have found is I get a bit more distance with the White and the fly a bit higher than the yellows. Not sure if that is a common difference between the 2 colors or what as I have never played regular Z Stars in white. They play a little more similar to some XV's that I found on the course.

Aside from that, spin is great and the balls seem very durable. Haven't noticed any difference in wear between regular or practice. I say a Practice stamped ball is a great cost effective way to go.