Driving Range Question

Hi everyone. I'm a new member. Does anyone else out there feel like they don't hit the ball nearly as far at the driving range as they do on the course? My experience is that my irons seem to go about 10 to 20 yds shorter at the range than when I'm hitting to an actual green on the course. I don't know if this is because the range balls that I'm using don't carry as far or if there's some other explanation.

Thanks,
Steve

hi steve
welcome to the site
you are right in your assumptions they are made for the range only
i read somewhere that you can hit them to 70% of your normal distance

There are some range balls that are limited flight (intentionally made that way). There are other range balls that started out as perfectly normal distance balls, but being hit a million times has worn down the cover some and the dimples are shallower and so they fly shorter.

That's why ranges are good for trajectory and direction, but not necessarily distance.

The other possibility is that you hit into a 2 club wind on the range, and don't on your course?

Thanks for the feedback!

If your shooting on a grass range, they'll move the teeing area around for fresh grass and let the old grow back. They usually don't move the markers though. That can be a 10-20 yard change in distance.

Also the balls sit out there and bake in the sun which also degrades the balls.

Actually, from what I know about it, the sun is not the problem...its the moisture. Over time, balls just absorb moisture and get heavier and less elastic. The pros insist on factory fresh ball sent to them directly, so anything sitting in storage, shelves, in your car, on your bag for weeks/months will have these effects.

Range balls...my goodness, are there for what seems like years. So who know what kind of consistancy you get there.

I remember Taylor Made made a ball that they sold in a plastic tube that was supposed to keep the moisture out. Not sure why this didn't take off. Cost? Validity to the claim that fresher is worth it to amatures?

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