Range balls. The HARD facts?

[That Bob Guy]

So...you play Pro V's. Your club and the local driving ranges use, for the lack of a better name "RockFlites". With the exception of some stretching and exersize, are there any benefits? Is there any significant wear to the clubface from these rock-hard range balls? What do they do to the grooves on your irons?

 

Just curious. Symptom of cabin fever, I think.

 

[Hot Rod 71]

I work at a course part-time and I hit a few hundred range balls every week during the golf season. We have 2 piece Pinnacle range balls and some 1 piece Srixon range balls. I haven't noticed any additional wear on the my club faces as a result.

Some ranges use limited flight balls that may only go 75-90% of the normal distance.

They may not fly as far and they may not fly exactly like your regular gamer, but they can give you a good idea.

[Bill3508]

Bad range balls will put some serious marks on your wood faces. Not so much on irons but normally if im hitting woods ill bring my own balls. Im sure some ranges have decent balls but around my area they dont.

[richard t]

I do play Ping irons, but I also have some Hogans I play from time to time. Never noticed any real wear and tear that could be attributed to 'range-flites.' I do limit the number of 'hits' to my woods (metal) as there have been some face scars in the past. I bring along a lot of those I've found to use for the woods. Just remember the balls you hit on the range are not a lot different from some of the less expensive distance balls that are sold in stores.

[pizzaman]

don't think that range balls will do anything detrimental to the irons face. As for woods, it wouldn't affect the playability as well. I'm using the 913D2 now and it only put some little marks on the face. Hope I can accumulate more of them on the sweetspot...

[Jc0]

What will put marks on a club face is sand. If you are hitting off a sandy driving range the sand trapped between the face and the ball will mark up the club face.

[scunny]

Its the condition of the balls rather the type. If the range balls are kept clean than wear shoudnt be any more than normal but from sandy ground or balls with dirt/soil still on will create quicker wear

[Stuart_G]

Also, wear can be increased on the range simply because people do not always clean their clubs after each hit like they do on the course.

[CallawayKid86]

Whenever I go to the range I always take a damp towel with me to wipe the balls off before I hit them. Just to keep from getting any sandy marks on the club face. It also makes me take my time and not just rapid fire shots one after another. Also like Stuart said, take a second or 2 to wipe off your club after a shot. Doesn't do any good to clean a ball just to have dirt on the club that causes the same sandy ball marks.