Using standard golf balls for practicing indoors or in confined spaces won’t simulate authentic ball flight and course conditions. Using course balls for practice isn’t really a wise decision because you’ll feel differences when you step into the course.
Practice golf balls come into the picture as they’re more durable and well-suited for indoor use. The problem is you can end up getting your hands on subpar practice golf balls and lose money if you can’t identify the quality ones.
Fortunately, our team has independently researched the market, analyzing over 35 practice golf balls before coming up with the best ones in this list.
Our review revolves around the brand authority, cost, weight, aerodynamics, and, most importantly, the durability of these practice golf balls.
Swing with us to learn more about the key differences between regular course balls and practice balls and their predicted lifespan.
Let’s get into it!
Best Practice Golf Balls
Golfible Picks:
Editor’s Choice: Callaway HX Practice Golf Balls (click to see)
Best On A Budget: Pridesports (click to see)
Best For Outdoor Ball Distance: Almostgolf (click to see)
Best For Feel: Birdieball (click to see)
Best For Indoor Short Game: The Floppy (click to see)
Practice Golf Balls Specification Table Comparison
| Golf Ball Name | Callaway HX Practice Golf Balls | Pridesports | Almostgolf | Birdieball | The Floppy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 9.4/10 Editor’s Choice | 8.8/10 Best On A Budget | 8.9/10 Best For Outdoor Ball Distance | 9.0/10 Best For Feel | 8.9/10 Best For Indoor Short Game |
| Pricing | Jump To Pricing Section | Jump To Pricing Section | Jump To Pricing Section | Jump To Pricing Section | Jump To Pricing Section |
| Ball Construction | Soft Foam | Soft Foam | Foam | Super Polymer | N/A |
| Ball Color | Lime/Orange/Pink/Multi-color | White/Yellow | White/Yellow | Multi-color | White |
| Cover Material | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Hand-Woven Fabric |
| Dimples | Hex Pattern Dimples | 300 | 340 | N/A | N/A |
| Compression Rating | Low | Low | Low | N/A | N/A |
| Read Review | Jump To Callaway HX Review | Jump To Pridesports Review | Jump To Almostgolf Review | Jump To Birdieball Review | Jump To The Floppy Review |
Callaway
Editor’s Choice
Rating: 9.4 /10
Pros
- Soft-light foam
- Callaway’s patented Hex dimple pattern
- Affordable
- True response
- Available in three bright colors
Cons
- Not the most accurate for chipping
- A little more expensive than some others
The Callaway HX practice balls are widely considered the best balls for practice due to their design and materials. Callaway has designed them to emulate proper golf ball flight and feel so you can get a true reading on your swing and ball contact.
The Callaway HX practice balls are available in a 9 or an 18 pack with a mesh carry bag and are quite affordable. Designed with Callaway’s patented hexagonal dimple pattern which helps to give them the most accurate reaction possible.
These balls are safe to use indoors and outdoors without damaging glass or walls. They are a little heavier than some other practice balls which offer a more accurate feel. When compared to hollow plastic balls, they seem to hold up better and perform more accurately.
Pridesports
Best On A Budget
Rating: 8.8 /10
Pros
- Good for budget seekers
- Foam construction
- Safe for indoors and outdoors
- True flight path
- Bright yellow in color
Cons
- Not super high quality
- A little inconsistent
If you’re on a little more of a budget, then the Pridesports practice balls may be more what you’re looking for. Pridesports balls are made of soft dimpled foam and bright yellow in color which helps make them super easy to find and can be used for both indoor and outdoor use.
Being made of foam instead of plastic, they fly quite true and offer a pretty accurate response. Compared to the Callaway balls, Pridesports are quite a bit cheaper which is a plus. They are not quite at the level of quality as the HX balls but they are still pretty good and you can’t really complain too much about such an affordable price tag.
If you accidentally get hit by one of these balls from a ricochet, they will do no damage, unlike a real golf balls. Suitable for kids as well as adults.
Almostgolf
Best Foam Practice Balls
Rating: 8.9 /10
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Pros
- Good for practice outdoors
- True flight path
- 100 Yard distance
- Natural feel
Cons
- Not perfectly accurate feedback
- Less versatile than some others
If you’re less interested in keeping the flight distance really short and would rather have a longer outdoor ball flight, then the Almostgolf practice balls may be what you’re looking for. They are designed to go a little further than competing practice golf balls to give you an even better idea of the true flight path of your ball.
The flight distance ranges from 0-100 yards if you’re hitting your driver. Suitable for beginners and amateurs and allow you to practice your full swing without worry about damaging cars, windows, or the siding of your house.
These practice balls are a little harder than some other ones which makes them a bit less suited for indoor use unless you’re taking extra precautions.
Birdieball
Best For Feel
Rating: 9.0 /10
Pros
- Feels very similar to a real ball
- Flies no more than 40 yards
- Durable
- Affordable
- Indoor and outdoor use
Cons
- Not actually a ball shape
- A little hard to get used to
Birdieball has been used around the golfing world at schools and endorsed by professional instructors. This is because it has been designed to mimic true feel of a real golf ball. When you practice, getting the most accurate feel is important for building up enough proper contact references.
This practice ball feels pretty similar to real balls while being fairly inexpensive, and lightweight. It is one of the few practice golf balls which is not spherical. Instead, it is designed in a cylindrical shape. This forces the ball to spin backward when struck correctly causing it to emit a turbine-like sound.
They are designed to go no more than 40 yards with a full swing making them well suited for both indoor and outdoor use. Along with feeling fairly similar to a real golf ball, they also emulate a natural golf ball flight path pretty well. The Birdieballs works well for beginners and amateurs and were voted the best new product at the 2005 PGA Merchandise Show.
The Floppy
Best For Indoor Short Game
Rating: 8.9 /10
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Pros
- Good for short game practice
- Durable
- Affordable
- Comes in a pack of 4
- Safe for indoor use
Cons
- Not good for long-range practice
- Slightly less accurate feel
If your main concern is working on your short game, then The Floppy practice golf balls may be what you are looking for. They are not designed to be teed up and smashed. Instead, The Floppy balls are meant for short-range chipping practice inside the house but can be used outdoors as well.
You can chip with these balls and hit them against a wall without worrying about them causing any damage or bouncing back in a dramatic way. They are designed to feel, roll, and spin just like a real golf ball without the distance or hardness. With a durable build, these practice balls should last a good amount of time.
The Floppy balls are available in a pack of four and are quite affordable. As long as you are using them for their intended purpose – short game practice – then they should last a long time and give you the proper feedback you need to work on the short shots.
Practice Golf Balls – Differences to Real Golf Balls and What to Look Out For
Why Use Practice Golf Balls
Practice golf balls give you the opportunity to work on your game without the long ball flight of real golf balls. The best practice balls will be able to give you accurate flight and feel without making you chase the ball too far.
They can be used indoors as well during the colder months when going to a range isn’t necessarily feasible. Practice balls can help you work on your golf game year-round so when the season kicks off, you’re ready to go.
Intended Use
Your main focus of practice will determine which practice balls are best for you. Some are designed for distance, while others are meant solely for practicing indoors and for short game. If you are using The Floppy practice balls and hoping to get an accurate read on a tee shot, then you may be disappointed as they are designed for short game practice.
Likewise, if you want to focus on chipping, you should stay away from Almostgolf and instead go with something like The Floppy balls. Picking out the right practice balls will ensure that you’re getting the proper feedback from your practice.
Ball Flight
A well-designed practice golf ball will fly similar to a real golf ball. If you do not have a realistic flight path, you’re simply not going to be getting the proper feedback you need in order to make useful adjustments.
While the ball obviously won’t be going quite as far as a real golf ball, you want to be able to see if you are hooking or slicing the ball. This way you can adjust your swing, stance, or grip to make the necessary corrections and experience the benefits when you’re actually on the course.
Since practice golf balls are lighter than real golf balls, they are affected by strong winds more dramatically. You can combat this by buying slightly heavier practice balls, although you will never escape the effects of the wind. Much like when you’re on the course.
Durability
Practice golf balls are a little more fragile and lighter than real balls. But your practice balls should still be built strong enough to handle the consistent impact. Practice balls are manufactured both in light foam and hollow plastic.
Usually, the foam has been more durable and truer because it is denser and less susceptible to denting. Form golf balls cost a little bit more than plastic ones. But it is worth the minor extra investment to get a practice ball that will last a lot longer and give you more accurate practice feedback.
Cost
Practice golf balls are not super expensive. In fact, they are generally cheaper than real golf balls and you also lose them less often since they don’t fly as far. You can certainly find budget-friendly practice balls, but you generally get what you pay for.
It is likely worth the extra couple of bucks to get a set of practice balls that are going to last. The cost of practice golf balls comes down to the materials used. Plastic is much cheaper to manufacture than foam, and as a result, costs less to the consumer. But you notice the difference in the quality when you’re practicing with foam instead of plastic.
When do you use them?
You can use practice golf balls indoors and outdoors. If you’re looking to practice outdoors but don’t have a lot of space, then they are perfect for hitting short distances at full power, receiving accurate feedback, but not actually hitting the ball hundreds of yards.
Practice balls also work well for indoor use as you are much less likely to break glass or damage walls or furniture. It can be fun to set up a mini-course inside your house and practice your chipping accuracy surrounded by the obstacles of your home. You don’t really need to worry about damage because practice balls are extra light and soft.
Conclusion
With our most favorite pick for the best practice golf balls being the Callaway HX Practice Balls, we love some of the others for specific purposes. If you’re looking for the best overall practice golf ball, then we recommend Callaway because it gives the most natural flight path and feel. But with any of these picks, you can’t really go wrong. See you on the course!
FAQ
Are plastic or foam practice golf balls better?
Foam golf balls tend to provide better feedback than plastic balls and are therefore regarded as the better option.Foam balls usually last for 10 to 15 hits while plastic balls can crack at any time depending on the swing speed of the golfer.Wiffle plastic balls come with holes and tend to last longer than solid plastic.
Can you hit real golf balls into practice net?
Yes, you can hit real golf balls into a practice net. Lower-end golf simulators use golf nets rather than screens to catch golf balls. These nets can absorb a golf ball in full flight off a driver’s face and get it to stop within a few feet.
What’s the difference in practice golf balls?
Practice golf balls vary in the materials that they are made of, ball flight they produce, color, and other areas.The material used for a practice golf ball is extremely important to produce the right feel yet stay durable.Most common materials used for practice balls are plastic and foam.
