Time to change ball used for my net return

Hack1 · February 13, 2015

So I was hitting a ball for a while and been hitting good flush shots when I started to hear what sounded like toe or heal shots time and time again. It seemed odd as normally I could alter my swing after an off center and flush it. Well this went on for about 5 hits and began checking the face for signs of a heel or toe and saw no ball imprints on the toe or heal. Looked closely at the ball and saw this.

I know it was probably the fact I have not changed the ball for about a month but would like think it was from those hitting down and flush shots lately. ;).

Also, it is a Callaway low compression ball if that matters. I like to use them for practice.

PAmatt83 · February 13, 2015

I had that with a crappy practice ball I hit in my garage.. i just figured it's cause it gets as low as 25 degrees in there

butch33611 · February 13, 2015

I dont think the ball matters. I have a nice net setup in my garage I use a lot over the winter months. I keep a dozen or so balls in a holder in front of the mat. A couple times a winter I'll hear that funky noise your talking about. First time I was like you thought it was the swing. Then I discovered it was a crack in the ball. Topflite gamer and bridgestone e6 were the balls in the tray at the time. Those balls were hit 100's of times. Thats way more strikes then a golf normally would used.

This never happens on the course because I rarely finish a round with the same new ball I started with.

Trash it, replace it and keep swingin,

benden · February 13, 2015

What sort of Callaway is it? Is it a 'supersoft'??

aflackhook13 · February 13, 2015

Yea its wintertime, dont break the ice.

Golfrnut · February 13, 2015

I have a surpluus of TP reds that I use out back in my hitting cage. I've probably split at least half a dozen of them by now. Premium balls just don't handle the abuse of being hit that many times. The same reason range balls are what they are.

dpb5031 · February 13, 2015

I also have a NetReturn...(awesome product BTW). I've had Pro Vs break, Srixons, Callaways, it doesn't matter. Enough repetition beats 'em up pretty good and they eventually fail.

Another think to consider is that after a while of repeated hits they get "roughed up," instead of smooth. This rougher texture is more taxing on your netting, so switching balls occasionally is a good idea anyway. IOW, Don't use a ball until it fails