How far do good range balls go?

[playit]

Local driving range has good range balls as far as range balls go. Callaway, Srixon and I don't recall the other brand. All are yellow and black range balls. Do you think these carry less distance than tour quality balls, such as Titleist ProV1? How much less?

 

EDIT: I do not think these are limited-flight range balls. I asked the owner/operator how much less they fly and he said, "Oh, maybe 5%." I was thinking it's a higher number. Here is an article below and it does look like it's about 5% less carry (good quality range ball vs. a premium ball)...

 

https://practical-golf.com/range-golf-ball-versus-premium-ball/

Edited September 12, 2021 by playit

[TheDeanAbides]

They carry less, but you get quite a bit less spin from mats so it more or less evens out. Of course, that depends on how new the balls are. 

[Billfitz]

The range at my course uses regular balls, retrieved from their ponds and painted with a stripe.

[playit]

5 minutes ago, Billfitz said:

The range at my course uses regular balls, retrieved from their ponds and painted with a stripe.

 

Yes, but that is not what I am talking about. This pertains to balls manufactured as range balls.

[nsxguy]

At most ranges I've been to range balls are "rocks", i.e. distance balls. These balls cost money so durability is king.

 

I  don't look at or care anything about distances at a driving range. I'm primarily concerned with solid strikes and good direction. i.e. my swing. 

 

Especially so at a range with all different brands, models, etc.

[Billfitz]

2 hours ago, playit said:

 

Yes, but that is not what I am talking about. This pertains to balls manufactured as range balls.

I'm aware, just saying that you don't have to hit painted rocks. If I wanted to do that I'd play Top Flite. 🙄

[Esox]

The ranges I go to the balls are all balls pulled out of hazards and resold. For the most part they seem to fly pretty much as the ball model would indicate, but as they age and get hit hundreds of times they certainly lose distance. Some may be waterlogged as well, but I thinks it's more a matter of being hit many times.

[dan360]

Peter Finch played 9 holes with a Srixon 1 piece range ball this summer...

 

 

[sg91]

The local ranges near me use 2 piece Srixon's which carry about 10-15 m short off grass (My 7 iron carries 150-155 m on the course and the range ball goes about 135-140) and about the same as normal when accounting for the downhill slope at the range that uses mats. The trajectory with irons and woods is fairly similar to my normal ball (Z Star) but does get pushed around by the wind a fair bit.

 

The biggest difference I find is with wedges. I can't flight down range balls with my 52/56/60, they only go up.

Edited September 13, 2021 by sg91