What Are The Best Practice Golf Balls?
Having practice balls is a very important part of improving your golf skills.
You don’t want to use your regular balls, unless of course, you have a massive piece of land at the back of your property and practice balls have a lot of qualities that make them ideal for smaller spaces.
But since there are many different options on the market, it can be difficult to choose the best practice golf ball but we have got you covered.
We have put together a list of some of the best practice balls out there as well as giving you all the information you need to know about this type of equipment.
Why Should I Use Practice Balls?
If you don’t have a lot of space then practice balls are invaluable.
These balls are far more lightweight than regular golf balls so they won’t travel as far.
Not only does this mean that you won’t lose them as easily but there’s not as much danger of them doing damage to windows or people.
In fact, there are some practice golf balls that are so lightweight and delicate that they can even be used indoors.
One of the major benefits of using practice golf balls is that you will be able to carry on improving your skills even when you aren’t actually able to get onto the course.
Perhaps over winter, for example.
You could, in theory, head to the driving range but this does come with a high price tag, especially when you’re doing it all the time.
Golf is already an expensive hobby without this additional cost.
Practice balls, on the other hand, are far more affordable and still allow you to practice in your own time.
Another idea would be to use used golf balls, which you can find.
If you do find them, it is possible to refurbish them.
The Best Practice Golf Balls
You certainly are not limited by choice when shopping for practice golf balls and there are a lot of high quality products out there.
But there are some that are considered the very best so take a look below to find out more.
The Floppy Indoor Practice Ball
- Feels, rolls, and spins like a real golf ball
- Soft enough to use indoors without damaging windows or walls
- Each ball is handmade, durable, and built to last
- Works best when hit off a plush carpet or hitting mat
- Practice proper swing techniques in your home or office with the feel and feedback of a real golf ball
One of the greatest things about these practice balls is that, while they are made from super soft materials, they have a very similar feel to a real golf ball.
This allows you to practice indoors without losing out on the true golfing experience.
They are made from a unique cotton material which is something that really makes them stand out from the crowd.
Furthermore, when they impact an object like a car or a window, they will not only not break it but they won’t leave a mark behind.
The only real downside is that the small plastic chips inside the balls can sometimes leak out meaning that the durability may not be as good as some other options.
Titleist Pro V1 Practice
- Pro V1 Practice Golf Balls Conform To The Rules Of Golf But May Contain Cosmetic Blemishes
- Pro V1 Practice Golf Balls Do Not Have Any Construction Or Performance Deficiencies
- May Contain Both Pro V1 And Pro V1X Practice Golf Balls.
- Country Of Origin: United States
It would be criminal for us to write a review of the best practice golf balls without including one of the most famous golfing brands in the world.
These balls from Titleist are great for more advanced players looking to lower their handicap.
They are dimpled and so have much more of a feel of a regular golf ball without the weight and potential for damage.
You will also get a significant amount of speed out of these balls thanks to the thin plastic cover.
However, since these balls are harder, they are only suitable for outdoor practice.
AG Almost Golf
- FOAM PRACTICE GOLF BALLS - limited flight golf balls that draws, spins, and fades just like a real golf ball. Each ball has tour quality flight and feedback.
- PRACTICE ANY WHERE GOLF BALL- The Almost Golf practice foam balls flys 1/3 of the distance of a real golf balls.
- NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE - The Foam Golf balls are only 13.5 grams - 1/4 of a traditional golf ball. Soft enough to not causes damage to anything
- REALIST RESPONSE - Pops off the club face with the same feel as a traditional golf balls, These practice golf balls have identical feel and perform the same.
- 12 FOAM ALMOST GOLF BALLS - Allows for practicing all swings. With 12 foam practice golf balls that give you good practice sessions.
Often hailed as one of the very best practice balls on the market, the AG Almost Golf gives you a realistic experience for some of the most incredible practice you will have ever had.
But what’s even more impressive is that these dimpled balls are made from soft foam making them ideal for indoor practice with zero risk of damage to your property.
The flight distance on these balls is much less than some of the outdoor balls and this adds to their suitability for inside the house.
Plus with a bright yellow design, you aren’t going to lose them and have your other half complaining about the number of golf balls they keep finding behind the TV cabinet.
Things To Consider When Choosing Practice Golf Balls
If you’re used to buying regular golf balls then you’ll be familiar with the idea that there are certain things you need to look out for. The same applies to practice golf balls and it’s super important to pay close attention to the features of each potential ball before committing to a purchase.
Golf Ball Material
The first thing you should be thinking about when purchasing practice golf balls is what they are made of.
It really depends on what your personal preference is since some people prefer hard balls while others like the more soft ones.
You’ll also need to think about where and how you plan on using the balls, as this will impact your decision.
For example, if you are going to be limited to practising indoors then you aren’t going to want hard balls that could damage things. In this case, we would recommend going for softer, foam balls which can be used in the house.
On the other hand, you might decide to play in your back garden or even head out to a large green space (be sure you’re permitted to practice here first) in which case, you might be better off using a hard ball.
This will have a good spin and will be more akin to the feel of playing with a normal golf ball.
Age
This isn’t usually something that people pay great attention to when choosing practice golf balls as for the most part, it’ll be adults that are buying these products for themselves.
That said, there are plenty of younger people getting into golf and this requires special equipment that is tailored to their unique physical needs.
Where practice balls are concerned, you will need to look at the age range.
Much of this is to do with the material and the flight distance (which we will look at in more detail later on) and foam balls are typically better for kids.
But if you are going to use a plastic ball for outdoor practice then we would suggest choosing one with a flight distance of less than 50 yards.
Flight Distance
The flight distance of your practice balls is a very important thing to think about especially if you are very limited on space.
It’s also a good idea to keep in mind that practice balls won’t travel anywhere near as far as your regular golf balls so don’t expect this from them.
But some balls still have the ability to travel reasonably far and the last thing you want is to keep hitting them over the fence and bothering your neighbours.
In some cases, the best practice balls can go as far as 30 yards, potentially beyond this but the material of the ball will play a role in how far they can go.
Hard balls will be able to travel further and this is another reason that they are so good for outdoor use.
Where Will You Use The Balls?
We have talked about using the golf balls indoors or outdoors and this is the primary thing that will influence your decision.
You will need to think about where you can realistically practice without being a nuisance to those around you and without causing any damage.
If you have a good range of options and will be able to play indoors and outdoors then you’ll need to choose a ball that fits both of these situations.
There are many lightweight plastic practice balls out there that are perfect for this but you might also go for a higher density foam ball or perhaps even one made from cotton.
Floatability
If you are practising near water then you will want to think about how the balls will react to this should you hit one in.
Since practice balls are much lighter by design, they’ll typically float, which is great news if you want to avoid losing too many of them.
You can buy a golf ball retriever but this is something that should be reserved for regular golf balls and not practice ones.
The best option for floating balls are those that are made from high quality foam.
They will cost you a little more but it’ll save you having to invest in several sets of balls when you keep hitting them into a pond.
Dimples
There are a lot of practice golf balls that do not have dimples but then there are many modern versions that have dimple patterns similar to that of a regular golf ball.
The benefit of these is that they feel much more like a normal ball and a lot of people prefer this about them.
The reason that golf balls have dimples is that they help to control the flight of the ball.
Conclusion
If you want to carry on brushing up on your golf skills out of season or just on those evenings at home where you don’t have anything else to do then you’ll need the right equipment.
One of the things you will need is a set of practice golf balls and the good news is that there are a lot of options on the market.
But before you get carried away and choose a set, there are a few things to think about and spending the time selecting the right balls for you will drastically improve your practice time.
