I really enjoy a game of golf, with a few friends or members of my family, but I rarely get the chance to play, due mainly to work commitments, and partly due to the weather, but I do tend to squeeze in a couple of games each year. When it comes to practicing, I also struggle to find any time to head off to the driving range, and so the only little bit of practice I get (aside from playing a round on the course) usually consists of playing around with the odd gadget or gizmo at home that I have accumulated over the years.

My box of white air practice balls are often what I turn to if the weather is decent, and I have a bit of spare time at home in the garden. They are basically round white plastic balls, sized the same as a golf ball, but made from plastic, and they contain lots of large holes in them which are designed to stop the ball from travelling very far when they are struck with a golf club. This is important for these balls, as it enables the user to strike the golf ball in the same way that they would on a golf course, but eliminates distance and so in turn damage to the house and garden!

I purchased a box of 12 of these balls from Amazon a few years ago, and I think I paid about £4 - £5 for them. Currently they are available on Amazon for just £5:99 (including free delivery) for a box of 24 balls.
This is a very cheap price considering the huge price that would be associated with buying a box of 24 real golf balls, which often go missing really quick (in my experience!!).


~~~ My experience with the air practice balls ~~~

Having purchased a box of 12 balls originally, I still have 10 of them left, all of which are still in a good condition. The 2 that I no longer have just simply disappeared over my garden fence, and off into a neighbours back garden never to be returned (probably because the neighbours probably had no idea which garden they had come from).
This possibly gives the impression that these balls cover quite a long distance, but that is not really the case. My garden is very small, and almost every ball that I have hit over the last few years generally only travels perhaps 3 - 4 meters in distance. This is altered occasionally if the wind gets behind a ball, and can give it quite a boost, so it is probably best to use these balls on days that are not too windy.

I mainly use the air practice balls with my pitching wedge, and high irons, to help practice my swing, and my contact with the correct part of the golf ball. However these balls can be used with any club really, including drivers, and can be used on the ground or from a golf tee.

It is difficult to conclude when a practice ball has been struck really well, as they do not travel very far, and they do wobble about in the air even in a light breeze. However, I do feel that my game does benefit from the use of these balls in my back garden, as there is no doubt in my mind that my swing has improved a little, and I am striking the golf ball in a better position, meaning that I don't get as many balls bobbling along the ground any more, like I used to get a lot due me topping the golf ball quite regularly.

Overall for the price they are a useful practice tool for anyone who struggles to find the time (or the money) to regularly head off to the driving range to practice their swing. They are cheap, and will last a while, but are not really worth bothering with on a windy day.


Thanks for reading.


© L500589 2011