Best Practice Golf Balls: A Better Way to Practice Golf

There’s nothing better than practicing golf in a driving range, but not all golfers have access to it because different things like distance, weather, and time can get in the way. 

Since practicing at home using a real golf ball has many cons, a practice ball, however, can be a fruitful alternative. 

If you don’t know much about practicing golf balls, dive into this conclusive guide to explore everything on the subject. 

Difference Between Practice Golf Balls and Regular Golf Balls 

Regular golf balls are standard golf balls made for a real golf game, whereas a practice ball is just for practicing and improving the golf game. 

The major difference between the two is the manufacturing material, which is more durable and stiffer in regular golf balls than in practice balls. 

Second is the flight distance, which is several yards for a regular ball, and because practice balls are lighter and aren’t meant for a real game, they have less flight distance.

So when you go far with a practice ball, don’t expect it to behave like a regular golf ball. 

Plastic vs Foam Practice Golf Balls 

The hustle for choosing the right ball to practice golf doesn’t stop with practice golf balls because of the variety in their types, with plastic and foam golf balls as major options.

Plastic Golf Balls

Plastic golf balls are widely used because they give a clear sign of any problem with your swing. They’re ideal for backyard practice because of their lightweight build, which doesn’t allow them to go far.

Also, you don’t have to worry about any damage to your property with plastic balls because they’re less stiff than regular golf balls.

The cons of using plastic balls are that they are sensitive to wind and don’t give a proper feel of a real golf ball. 

Secondly, they are not durable and don’t tend to last longer because of the plastic material.

Watch a plastic golf ball in action in this YouTube video by Golf & Tesla:

Foam Golf Balls

Foam golf balls are the perfect solution to the problems with plastic balls. They are strong enough to last longer and accurately indicate your swing. 

You can also use them for garden or indoor practice as they won’t cause any damage like plastic balls. 

Foam balls give a real golf ball–like feel on impact, which makes them a better option to practice golf.

See foam golf balls in action in this YouTube video by The Backyard Golfer:

Now that you know much about practice golf balls, you must be looking for some buying options.

It’s your lucky day! Here are the top 5 picks to consider.

Best Overall: Orlimar 36 Golf Practice Balls

If you’re looking for the best practice balls for a reasonable price, Orlimar 36 is your best option, as evidenced by their label as Amazon’s Choice in practicing golf balls. 

The package includes 36 balls (24 plastic and 12 foam balls) and a mesh bag that holds them firmly so you can store them or take them anywhere without the fear of losing them.

The plastic balls have a perforated finish, which makes them lightweight and limits their range so that the balls can be easily accessible while practicing. 

Durability is questionable in all plastic balls, but with Orlimar, you’ll have 24 plastic balls to ensure longevity.

On the other hand, the foam balls are both solid and soft, which make them both suitable for backyard and indoor practice. 

Their speed is limited to 30 yards so you can easily observe your swing, and by providing you the real feel of a regular golf ball, foam balls help in improving your game throughout regular sessions. 

As I was going through my research, I’ve also collected some buyer reviews. Check them out:

Love these. I have to say that the foam ones are now my favorite though, both are great. Must have indoor entertainment and practice. We have a chipping net and behind it, there’s a wall with a big mirror and sometimes if we hit too far there’s nothing to worry about. We haven’t broken anything.

Rpendo

A nice collection of practice balls for the price. They will hit differently than real balls, but it is nice to be able to swing in the back yard without worrying about the neighbors windows. The little mesh bag holding these rips very easily, but otherwise a good value.

Goldie

Best Foam Practice Ball: Callaway HX Soft-Flight Practice Golf Balls

I have picked Callaway as the best foam practice balls not only because they’re Amazon’s Choice in the category but also because of their ultimate features that won’t leave you wanting.

The balls come with HEX dimples in three high-visibility colors so you don’t lose them while practicing, and their soft foam material lets you play anywhere without fear of damage to your property.

To enhance your game, the balls are designed to give you a real-like feel, and their weight is reduced to make them perfect for putting and chipping practices.

Portability and storage are ensured by the mesh bag that comes in the package, so you can pack up your balls and take them anywhere for your golf sessions. 

As far as the quality is concerned, you can have a clear idea with these user reviews:

Surprisingly durable. My neighbor loves throwing them back every morning when he collects the paper. Good indoors or if you’re just starting to work on making consistent connection.

Mizunocorgi

These Callaway practice balls are great for backyard practice sessions. Great color and soft but solid feel, you can practice your short game in the backyard or even indoors. They have good weight for short chips, pitches and putts. No danger of putting these thru a window pane. Get some practice during the winter months; but watch out for your dog, he will chew them up.

DJH

Overall, these Callaway balls are a little expensive, but they provide value for money. You can choose from a nine-ball pack and an 18-ball pack.

Best Plastic Practice Balls: SKLZ Limited-Flight Practice Impact Golf Balls

SKLZ plastic balls are your best choice if you’re looking for plastic balls because they’re designed to offer all sorts of benefits to your golf game.

The balls come in a pack of 12 dual-shade (black and yellow) balls with a perforated finish to provide style and utility.

Due to their limited flight distance of 45 yards, you can play these balls in small spaces, which makes them suitable for everyday practice. But when it comes to putting, the balls don’t perform well enough because of their lightweight design. 

Their durable plastic material lets you play session after session without any dent in your balls, and because of their pop-back technology, the balls don’t get distorted even on harder strikes.

Storing the balls has been made easy with the mesh bag that comes with the package. Just put your balls in that bag and take them anywhere you want.

Another fact about SKLZ balls is that they’re Amazon’s Choice in plastic balls, and many buyers seem satisfied with their purchase:

You pay a bit more but worth the money. The soft plastic material is stiff enough to give you good feedback, but not so stiff they don’t stay dented as shown in photos. Have to beat these up and so far have withstood nasty topping with irons and some good shots with the driver.

Tavia B.

These balls don’t fly far and they are soft on impact. I use them with my swing net at home in my yard. They fly straight and allow me to hit my target on my net. If you slice it wrong you won’t break a window or damage anything. They are super tough and easy to hit. I’m going to get some more of these.

Hector R2

Best Budget Practice Balls: PrideSports PAWB5612

For a golfer with limited resources, budget comes as a priority, so PrideSports PAWB5612 is your best option. 

The package includes 12 plastic balls with a perforated design that allows you to practice anywhere you want and an orange finish that increases visibility so you can keep track of the ball while practicing.

Because of their lightweight material, the flight distance is reduced, which makes them suitable for indoor practice. However, these plastic balls are not so durable and may distort with heavier strikes.

In terms of the price point, PrideSports is probably the cheapest practice ball available, but don’t expect too much from it.

Some issues have also been reported by buyers, but overall, they’re a good value for money. Let’s look at some reviews:

I used 4 of the balls. 3 dented so badly they were hardly spheres. This is after about 15 minutes of hitting the and I tried to pop the dents out. This works, but they immediately dent again.

GTray G.

I shoot these with 3/8″ steel balls with a slingshot and they don’t break…if you are using them for intended purpose you should be pleased with durability

amazonjunkie

Notable Mention: BirdieBall Practice Golf Balls 

Unlike traditional practice balls, BirdieBall comes in a different shape but miraculously performs better than most round-shaped balls.

The balls are made of plastic material, but the real-like feel on contact makes you forget that you’re playing with plastic balls. And because of their super polymer construction, these balls last surprisingly longer than many other practice balls.

With their limited flight distance of 40 yards, you can analyze whether you’re slicing, spinning, or playing straight, which also allows you to see draw and fade. 

Because of these features, BirdieBall is used as an effective tool for teaching and training purposes. 

Watch John Breaker, owner of BirdieBall, describes its functionality in the YouTube video below by PGA Championship:

The only downside of these practice balls is that you can’t use them for indoor practice as they are tough and can smash windows or glasses. For outdoor practice, a fairly large area with no objects is required.

Regarding the price point, these balls are expensive, but I won’t say that they’re overpriced because they deliver exactly according to their price. 

Don’t believe me on that? Have a look at some buyer reviews:

The great thing is they perform. My wedge goes about 30 yards and an 8 iron goes about 40. They really fly a lot higher in the air than other practice balls and you can tell if you hit it right or not. These will be part of my daily practice routine from now on. Very impressed with the product!

Kevin

After using the cheap plastic wiffle balls all my life these things are AMAZING. They fly true. If you hit a fade, draw, slice, or hook, you WILL see it. If you hit it thin you will see it. 

Amazon Customer

Frequently Asked Questions

Are plastic balls better than foam balls?

Foam balls are more durable than plastic balls and are a better option for both outdoor and indoor practice. They give a real-like feel, which helps in improving your golf game.

How far do practice golf balls go? 

Usually, practice golf balls have a flight distance of 35–40 yards so that you can retrieve them in both indoor and outdoor sessions.

Which practice balls are good for chipping? 

Perforated balls are preferred for chipping practice as you have to consider the wind conditions and strike speed while playing them. 

Final Thoughts

I have reviewed the best practice golf balls in each category so you don’t have to face any problems in choosing the best practice ball for you. 

If you’re new to practice balls, go for Orlimar 36 because it includes both foam and plastic balls, but for teaching and training purposes, BirdieBall is recommended.

No matter which ball you choose, always know what you want and what to expect from the product.

Now that you have enough knowledge about practice golf balls, I’m sure you already know which ball to choose. But one thing is clear, you have no excuse not to practice.

Happy golfing.