Jump to content

PSA: You can't evaluate anything with limited flights balls!! (also water is wet)


MtlJeff

Recommended Posts

Just curious how many guys here belong to clubs, or frequent ranges that use limited flight balls....and if they have any fun anecdotes about how it has caused them to poorly evaluate equipment.

 

I should know better but anyway, i've been working my way through 3 drivers trying to pick the one i hit best, and i just find the range really gave me a bum steer

 

I've been avoiding my Cobra F8+ most of the season because i never hit it well on the range at my home club. It's the shortest of my 3 drivers every time i do a head to head before a round. Finally i take it out on the course just for fun.... because i have a few weeks between competitive rounds, and obviously i murder it all round....and then again and again for 3 straight rounds.

 

Turns out i was hitting it the shortest because i couldn't spin the balls _enough_, and they would just fall out of the sky. Once i got it out to the course with real balls the spin got up to something respectable , and the ball just went forever. It's the longest of the 3.

 

So yeah, don't base your club decisions on ranges with limited flight balls

 

Also, water is wet

 

 

Srixon ZX5 w/PX Hzrdus Red 60

Srixon ZX 15 w/PX Hzrdus Red 70

Tour Edge C723 21* w/PX hzrdus black 80

Titleist T150 4-AW w/PX LZ 6.0

Titleist Jet Black 54/60 with PX LZ 6.0

Deschamps Crisp Antique 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

LOL! This is why I absolutely love my Voice Caddie SC100.

 

I go to 3 ranges on the norm

Resort Course with Distance limited Balls

Normal range with all good "Yellow" practice balls

and my "Go to" range 5 minutes from my house that uses, left over collected balls (So there is a 50/50 mix of newer real balls to crap busted old whatever)

 

The resort course range limited balls are average about 10% less distance on average based on the the Swing Caddie Smash and ball speeds averages. Also the marked part of the ranges are true to the limit. So the 150 marker is actually about 135 yards away (lasered) etc etc..

 

The Normal range with yellow balls are about 5 yards shorter I am assuming to compression and spin. Markers are true to distance, but I can never reach them with the yellow balls.

 

My go to range, I just grab 2 baskets and sort (out of 100balls) .. 30+ish of them are good newer balls and the rest are just to warm up and get in a groove.

 

After that I setup up my voice caddie and the numbers are basically as true as it gets..... This gives me the best chance to see what I can actually do, consistency of ball speeds and actual distance.

 

Yes it cracks me up seeing people hitting the limited distance balls and yelling that was 300 yards.... or some getting pissed their driver doesnt got past the 150 and they get super mad.... Oh well...... All I can say is Voice Caddie is one of the best RANGE tools I have ever BOUGHT period...... limited distance balls or not..... I get the best consistency from it...

Cobra SZ - Rogue 60s
TM 15* M2v1 - RIP Phenom 60S
TM 18* M2v1 - Rogue 60S
Sub70- 649mbs-PW-6 ,639 CBs-5-4   PX 6.0 Rifles
Vokey SM7 - 50*/8*, 56*/10* & 60*/8* S200
Scotty Newport 2 - 33"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The balls at our range launch the ball about a club short for full iron shots. But the balls are not the big problem: The tee hitting tiers are at the top of a hill, with about a 30-foot drop to the bottom. So, you can't really compare those shots to distances on course.

 

That said, you can tell it you are hitting the ball consistently.

 

For ranging my wedges, I go to the top tier tee of the range on a Tuesday or Thursday when no one is around. I can hit my gamer balls with different swing lengths and audit my distances.

________________________________________________

Hitting off a hill caused me to get an exaggerated view of how high I hit my 3W a few years back. I realized this one day on a shorter par 5. I hit my drive of the month, it rolled out and left me 220 yards out going uphill. I hit my 3W dead-solid-perfect, but it clipped the top of the hill and ricocheted 90 degrees OB. I went to a flatter range elsewhere later that week, and found out I needed a more lofted FW.

What's In The Bag (As of April 2023, post-MAX change + new putter)

 

Driver:  Tour Edge EXS 10.5° (base loft); weights neutral   ||  FWs:  Calla Rogue 4W + 7W

Hybrid:  Calla Big Bertha OS 4H at 22°  ||  Irons:  Calla Mavrik MAX 5i-PW

Wedges*:  Calla MD3: 48°... MD4: 54°, 58° ||  PutterΨSeeMore FGP + SuperStroke 1.0PT, 33" shaft

Ball: 1. Srixon Q-Star Tour / 2. Calla SuperHot (Orange preferred)  ||  Bag: Sun Mountain Three 5 stand bag

    * MD4 54°/10 S-Grind replaced MD3 54°/12 W-Grind.

     Ψ  Backups:

  • Ping Sigma G Tyne (face-balanced) + Evnroll Gravity Grip |
  • Slotline Inertial SL-583F w/ SuperStroke 2.MidSlim (50 gr. weight removed) |
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I may be wrong, but I though I read somewhere that the faster your swingspeed the greater the discrepancy. Makes sense as the whole point for most places are to keep the balls on the range and not over the back fence. Hitting range rocks off mats is the worst possible way to practice but pretty much the only thing available to most folks. I just never focus on distance and work on hitting the shots I am trying to execute.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

> @rainkingjr said:

> I may be wrong, but I though I read somewhere that the faster your swingspeed the greater the discrepancy. Makes sense as the whole point for most places are to keep the balls on the range and not over the back fence. Hitting range rocks off mats is the worst possible way to practice but pretty much the only thing available to most folks. I just never focus on distance and work on hitting the shots I am trying to execute.

 

yeah i mean it's still good for grooving the swing and getting a warmup going. I'd rather have that than nothing.

 

Just fairly brutal to really gauge how clubs are performing versus other clubs. Height , spin etc.

 

We have a few grass range clubs around here that use decent balls, but i'll probably never join those courses. Sadly the course i really want to join next season has a pretty awful range too

Srixon ZX5 w/PX Hzrdus Red 60

Srixon ZX 15 w/PX Hzrdus Red 70

Tour Edge C723 21* w/PX hzrdus black 80

Titleist T150 4-AW w/PX LZ 6.0

Titleist Jet Black 54/60 with PX LZ 6.0

Deschamps Crisp Antique 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My local range uses limited flight low trajectory balls. The distance signs are placed to reflect this, so the 150y marker is actually 135y from the tees. I've found that my distances with my short irons is about right, but from 7i to driver, it's hard to get a fair idea of distance. I can hit the 7i on the range 180~190 yds (going by their signs, simply because the balls are low spin. I certainly do NOT get that distance on the course with proper balls. I've also pretty much given up hitting these balls with my driver because I don't get enough height (or distance), and then find myself playing with my swing to try and get the desired ball flight (sorry, "traj"). Very similar story to your, in fact, MtlJeff.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love you, Jeff.

As of  10/11/2021

9 Callaway Mavrk Sub Zero with Ventus Black 7X

13 Degree Srixon 3 wood Project X Black 6.5

19 Degree Sub70 939 Pro with Proforce V2

4 Utility Sub70 699u 22 degree Proforce V2

5-GW Srixon Zx5 with Project X 6.5

Sub70 286 54

Sub70 JB Low Bounce 58

SeeMore milled Tri-Mallet fit and built at SeeMore 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

> @hef63303 said:

> If you are judging distances by using range balls, you are fooling yourself. Range balls will not perform the same as the golf balls you play with on the course. If they do, you need to start playing a better golf ball.

 

This is at least slightly different... he was testing clubs against each other using the same balls... unfortunately the spin difference made his tests pointless.

As of  10/11/2021

9 Callaway Mavrk Sub Zero with Ventus Black 7X

13 Degree Srixon 3 wood Project X Black 6.5

19 Degree Sub70 939 Pro with Proforce V2

4 Utility Sub70 699u 22 degree Proforce V2

5-GW Srixon Zx5 with Project X 6.5

Sub70 286 54

Sub70 JB Low Bounce 58

SeeMore milled Tri-Mallet fit and built at SeeMore 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My home course range uses real balls which is nice but most of the other facilities use limited flight balls,usually srixon. The flight is much lower, some of the nike limited flight balls they had in play would not spin enough to hit driver. Another one of our ranges use balls that fly much higher than a normal ball (they're taylormade) but the ballspeed is the same or a touch higher than prov 1 or chrome soft that I normally play.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

> @rainkingjr said:

> I may be wrong, but I though I read somewhere that the faster your swingspeed the greater the discrepancy. Makes sense as the whole point for most places are to keep the balls on the range and not over the back fence. Hitting range rocks off mats is the worst possible way to practice but pretty much the only thing available to most folks. I just never focus on distance and work on hitting the shots I am trying to execute.

 

My range is like this, it's a non linear relationship. My range is into a prevailing wind, wedges go similar distance due to lower spin, long clubs over compress so you see some weird stuff. I have a mevo and ball speed with 7i is pretty much the same, driver is down 10mph vs using a real ball.

 

So I worry less about actual distance and more.a out relative distance.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just to add to this conversation, I also never go into a golf store without a Snell MTB (primary ball I play) in my pocket. We only have a local Golf Galaxy which uses Maxfli rocks. Easy 5mph difference in ball speed between the Maxfli's and the ball I bring with me. I was in there a couple of years ago and was going to purchase a new driver. I asked the salesman if he could break out some Bridgestone B330S balls ( my primary ball at the time) for testing and he looked at me like I had two heads. He accommodated me because he knew I was making a purchase. Walked out with a G30 LS tec that day. He saved the sale by letting me hit the Bridgestones. Now I just carry a few balls in my car at all times.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’ve lost too many nights of sleep thinking about my ball flight at the range with limited flight balls. It’s psychological torture for golfers.

Former professional golfer. Current amateur human being.

Driver: PXG 0811X Gen 4 7.5 HZRDUS Smoke iM10 Green 60 TX 45.9" D3

Driver 2: Taylormade Burner Mini 11.5 HZRDUS Smoke Green 70 X D5

Fairway: PXG 0311XF Gen 5 4 Wood; Smoke iM10 Green 70 TX D6

Irons: PXG 0317X; PXG 0311T Gen 5; 5-GW DG 105 X D7

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM9 56 S Grind;  Cleveland RTX Full Face 64 DG 120 X E0

Putter: PXG Battle Ready Raptor 38” Wristlock Grip

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

> @Kingcat990 said:

> The solution to the dilemma is play limited flight & range balls on the course. Be like eating potatoes for dinner. Forever.

 

I did that on the Norman course in the Bahamas....but only because i ran out of balls LOL

 

There is a TON of water on that course

Srixon ZX5 w/PX Hzrdus Red 60

Srixon ZX 15 w/PX Hzrdus Red 70

Tour Edge C723 21* w/PX hzrdus black 80

Titleist T150 4-AW w/PX LZ 6.0

Titleist Jet Black 54/60 with PX LZ 6.0

Deschamps Crisp Antique 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My local range has a mix, and I always save the "real" balls for when i'm hitting driver. The range is a strange shape as well so there is only one area I can aim to keep drivers from leaving the property. The left side of the range seems to end around ~220y but the right side has a finger that extends out beyond 300y. I need a better place to practice, lol.

Titleist TSi3 9* Tensei AV White 65TX 2.0 // Taylormade SIM 9* Ventus TR Blue 6TX
Taylormade Stealth+ 16.5* Ventus Black 8x // Taylormade SIM Ti V2 16.5* Ventus TR Blue 7X
Callaway Apex UW 19* Ventus Black 8x // Srixon ZX Utility MKII 18* Graphite Design AD-IZ 95X
Callaway X-Forged Single Diamond 22* Nippon GOST Hybrid Tour X 
Bridgestone 
J40 DPC 4i-7i 24*- 35* Brunswick Precision Rifle FCM 7.0
Bridgestone J40 CB 8i-PW 39*- 48* Brunswick Precision Rifle FCM 7.0

Taylormade Milled Grind Raw 54* Brunswick Precision Rifle FCM 7.0
Vokey SM6 58* Oil Can Low Bounce K-Grind Brunswick Precision Rifle FCM 7.0
Scotty Cameron Newport Tour Red Dot || Taylormade Spider X Navy Slant

Link to comment
Share on other sites

> @Myherobobhope said:

 

> > If you are judging distances by using range balls, you are fooling yourself. Range balls will not perform the same as the golf balls you play with on the course. If they do, you need to start playing a better golf ball.

>

> This is at least slightly different... he was testing clubs against each other using the same balls... unfortunately the spin difference made his tests pointless.

 

> > @hef63303 said:There is enough difference from one range ball to the next that any test is useless.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 6 months later...

I just want to thank everyone who's posted on this thread. I just started really getting into golf this past year, getting on the course hopefully once a week. I live in Minnesota and winter has hit, and I can't get on to the course. In order to satiate the golf bug I've done a couple things. I have basically replaced every club in my bag (irons in particular were old) so I got to use the sim at my 2nd hand store a lot. However now that I seem to have found some good clubs for me I've been trying to go to some golf domes, I'm getting swings in but it's hard to tell full ball flight and true distance. One of the domes in my area has toptracer technology which allows me to see distance and I use the app to keep track of my stats. I've noticed that on my best hits the distances are about 10 yds shorter than on the sim at the golf store. Reading this thread has educated me on my concerns. I did buy the japanese version of the sc100 so I may take that to the domes from now on, or I should probably just go to the pga tour superstore and practice there with actual balls.

D-Taylormade SIM MAX D Diamana PD 50r

3w- Honma TW-XP1 

17° Adams XTD Ti super hybrid

4h-5h- Tour Edge Exotics ex9

6-AW- Cleveland Launcher XL Nippon Zelos 7

56°- Cleveland CBX Zipcore

60°- Lazrus

P- Odyssey eleven tour lined stroke lab shaft

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I bought a Shot Scope V2 last June. Over the season it has tracked my yardages with each club. I'm not to concerned about distance when I'm practicing at the range(more on that). I work on Pre shot routine, aiming and tempo. Wedges are where more focus goes on the exact distance. Knowing my wedge distance already ,I'll laser targets and hit clubs to that distance. Depending on the range I'm a ,there can be a small distance variation depending on the ball quality. Being winter for me, I've been practicing in an Indoor Range. This is the first year I'v practised in the winter and crappy balls or not, my swing is improving.

Titleist TSR2  10*

TaylorMade Burner Mini 13.5*

Titleist TSR2 16.5*

Ping G425 Hybrid 21*

Wilson Staff Utility 24*

Wilson D9 Forged 6-PW

Titleist SM9 50 F 54* S 58* M

Evnroll ER11v Midlock

Titleist ProV1

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have to remind myself while at the range to focus more on direction and target than distance as one shot to the next can be completely different. It can be frustrating to see irons land so short, I always thought this was from TOO much spin, but you guys are saying these balls spin less? I guess that would make sense... I wanted to get a '16 vs '17 M2 comparison going this morning for a quick session, but this is probably now worthless.... not distance, dispersion only with the same exact shaft.

Ping G430 10k 9*  Ventus Velocore blue 6x

Ping G430 LST 15* HZRDUS smoke yellow 70s

Ping G430 19* Tour Chrome 2.0 85s

PXG 0211  4i KBS C Taper Lite 115x ss1x

Srixon zx7 mkii 5-7, Z forged ii 8-P KBS C Taper Lite 

Ping s159 50/12s, 54/10h, 58/8b  KBS Tour
Scotty Cameron NP2 Studio Stainless  34"

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Our picks

    • 2024 Valspar Championship WITB Photos (Thanks to bvmagic)- Discussion & Links to Photos
      This weeks WITB Pics are from member bvmagic (Brian). Brian's first event for WRX was in 2008 at Bayhill while in college. Thanks so much bv.
       
      Please put your comments or question on this thread. Links to all the threads are below...
       
       
       
       
        • Like
      • 31 replies
    • 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put any questions or comments here
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Monday #1
      2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Monday #2
      2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational - Monday #3
       
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Matt (LFG) Every - WITB - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      Sahith Theegala - WITB - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      New Cameron putters (and new "LD" grip) - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      New Bettinardi MB & CB irons - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      Custom Bettinardi API putter cover - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      Custom Swag API covers - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
      New Golf Pride Reverse Taper grips - 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
        • Like
      • 15 replies
    • 2024 Cognizant Classic - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put any questions or comments here
       
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #1
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #2
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #3
      2024 Cognizant Classic - Monday #4
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Brandt Snedeker - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Max Greyserman - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Eric Cole - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Carl Yuan - WITb - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Russell Henley - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Justin Sun - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Alex Noren - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Shane Lowry - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Taylor Montgomery - WITB - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Jake Knapp (KnappTime_ltd) - WITB - - 2024 Cognizant Classic
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      New Super Stoke Pistol Lock 1.0 & 2.0 grips - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      LA Golf new insert putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      New Garsen Quad Tour 15 grip - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      New Swag covers - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Jacob Bridgeman's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Bud Cauley's custom Cameron putters - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Ryo Hisatsune's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Chris Kirk - new black Callaway Apex CB irons and a few Odyssey putters - 2024 Cognizant Classic
      Alejandro Tosti's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Cognizant Classic
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
        • Like
      • 2 replies
    • 2024 Genesis Invitational - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put any questions or comments here
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Monday #1
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Monday #2
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #1
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #2
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #3
      2024 Genesis Invitational - Tuesday #4
       
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Rory McIlroy - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Sepp Straka - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Patrick Rodgers - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Brendon Todd - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Denny McCarthy - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Corey Conners - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Chase Johnson - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tommy Fleetwood - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Matt Fitzpatrick - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Si Woo Kim - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Viktor Hovland - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Wyndham Clark - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Cam Davis - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Nick Taylor - WITB - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Ben Baller WITB update (New putter, driver, hybrid and shafts) – 2024 Genesis Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      New Vortex Golf rangefinder - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      New Fujikura Ventus shaft - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods & TaylorMade "Sun Day Red" apparel launch event, product photos – 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods Sun Day Red golf shoes - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Aretera shafts - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      New Toulon putters - 2024 Genesis Invitational
      Tiger Woods' new white "Sun Day Red" golf shoe prototypes – 2024 Genesis Invitational
       
       
       
       
       
      • 22 replies
    • 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open - Discussion and Links to Photos
      Please put and questions or comments here
       
       
       
       
      General Albums
       
      2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open - Monday #1
      2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open - Monday #2
       
       
       
       
      WITB Albums
       
      Ben Taylor - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Garrick Higgo - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Billy Horschel - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Justin Lower - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Lanto Griffin - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Bud Cauley - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Corbin Burnes (2021 NL Cy Young) - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Greyson Sigg - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Charley Hoffman - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Nico Echavarria - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Victor Perez - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Sami Valimaki - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Ryo Hisatsune - WITB - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
       
       
       
       
       
       
      Pullout Albums
       
      Jake Knapp's custom Cameron putters - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      New Cameron putters - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Tyler Duncan's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Greyson Sigg's custom Cameron putters - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Sunjae Im's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Ping's Waste Management putter covers - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Vincent Whaley's custom Cameron - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Odyssey Waste Management putter covers - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Super Stroke custom grips - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Cameron putters - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Zac Blair's custom Cameron putter - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
      Bettinardi Waste Management putter covers - 2024 Waste Management Phoenix Open
       
       
       
       
       
       

       
      • 12 replies

×
×
  • Create New...