Updated June 2, 2022. This article was thoroughly audited by multiple golf experts and coaches for its accuracy. You can read more about our rigorous testing protocol here.
The Rundown:
Best practice golf balls overall: GoSports Foam Practice Balls
“With a well-crafted foam practice ball that’s durable and a realistic dimple design, the GoSports Foam Practice Balls act like a real golf ball off the face at impact, making it the best for practice.”
Best value practice golf balls: Bac-Kitchen Foam Practice Golf Balls
“The Bac-Kitchen Practice Balls offer durability and the quantity for uninterrupted work at a very low price point. It’s safe in either indoor or outdoor practice setups.“
Top brand for practice golf balls: Callaway HX Practice Ball
“Featuring the company’s famous HEX dimple pattern along the outer layer, the Callaway HX Practice Golf Balls can simulate realistic ball flight at a control distance – a great alternative practice balls for all golfers.”
If you want to improve your swing, you can do so without the hassle and expense of going to the range. If you have some space, you can practice, and the right practice golf balls at your disposal will improve your game in no time.
Practice golf balls are designed for small and narrow spaces. Your backyard can be a great space to practice golf if you have the right practice balls.
Check out this guide and pick the ideal practice balls for your level.
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Table of Contents
Why It’s Important to Buy Practice Golf Balls
Practice Makes Perfect
The top way to improve is through practice and repetition. These alternative balls offer a safe way to golf practice without a driving range or the need for room. These types of golf balls are long-lasting and offer plenty of activities to boost your game on the golf course.
Safe, Inexpensive Way to Practice
Using a driving range frequently can be a costly endeavor, so alternative golf balls for working out offer the feel of a real ball without the need for large facilities and hundreds of yards of room.
Can Use Indoors
If you struggle to find the room to practice your golf game, these lightweight golf balls are safe to use indoors. Each type of practice ball is made with safe materials, foam and plastic being the most popular for weekend warriors.
Great for Short Game Practice
For fine-tuning the short game, the alternative golf balls are wonderfully capable of providing a cheap way to increase your repetitions with limited space. Foam golf balls are great for bump and runs and shallow chip shots, while plastic golf balls are ideal for high shots that generate a ton of spin. From inside 40 yards, practice balls shine for amateurs looking to improve.
What to Look for When Buying Practice Golf Balls
Material
The material of great practice balls should replicate the feel of a real golf ball at impact but with limited flight. Practice balls should provide a gateway to hitting a real one without adjusting, whether using plastic or foam.
With the limited flight, the difference between foam and plastic is vast. The foam is denser on the club, while the plastic is lighter and less like hitting a standard ball.
While most golfers like hitting a foam golf ball, the convenience presented by plastic practice balls is hard to deny. Both will improve your game through repetition, whether it be balls made from foam or plastic balls.
Price
Even the best golf balls for practice are very affordable and offer a very low price point for the value they present to the golfer. Great for indoor golf practice, the minimal price of practice golf balls provides an inexpensive and safe way to hone a swing and help keep the skills sharp for the next round.
For less than the price of a dozen elite golf balls, golfers can purchase tens of practice balls to provide plenty of readily accessible balls for their indoor golf workouts.
Whether you choose foam balls with an advanced dimple pattern or the plastic ball that offers diminished flight for easy collection, both are very affordable options for any level of golfer.
Dimpled Surface
Foam golf balls have outer layers that replicate the look and design of a real golf ball. Although they might not have over 300 dimples like a Titleist Pro V1, the best golf foam practice balls offer the ability to impart spin and pierce the wind for a similar trajectory that mimics the ball flight of a regular golf ball.
Plastic practice golf balls have large holes throughout the outer layer for air to flow freely through the interior to reduce speed and diminish flight. The practice balls are great for golf practice, although it does not offer the feel of golf balls due to the material’s lightweight.
Ball Flight Simulation
The ball flight of practice golf balls can be surprisingly realistic compared to a real golf ball. But when considering the differences between a plastic and foam practice ball, you’ll find startling differences to which product can fly like authentic golf balls.
For foam golf balls, the golf ball’s weight is denser than a plastic ball. The weight of a foam model is as close as amateurs will find to a regular golf ball, so for maximum speed swing practice, the foam ball is preferable.
Plastic golf balls are great for short game work because they offer a safe way to try new pitch and flop shots without the worry of making mistakes.
Construction and Compression
Both types of golf practice balls offer minimal compression, and that’s a good thing because it reduces the flight of the balls for easy retrieval and maximum safety. High-quality practice golf balls mimic the authentic trajectory of a real ball. Still, without the dynamic compression, they don’t have the exit velocity causing the speed to diminish quickly after impact.
The construction of the practice balls is rather simple as the foam and plastic are typically made with one material, unlike real balls that have multiple layers and are constructed with different components.
Best Practice Golf Balls
- Best overall: GoSports Foam Practice Golf Balls
- Best value: Bac-Kitchen Foam Practice Golf Balls
- Top name brand: Callaway HX Practice Ball
- Most durable: SKLZ Practice Impact Golf Balls
- Best package: Jef World of Golf Practice Foam Balls
- Best full swing: BirdieBall Practice Golf Balls
- Best luxury: The Floppy Indoor Practice Ball
- Best for short game improvement: Almost Golf Balls
- Best plastic golf ball: PrideSports Practice Golf Balls
GoSports Foam Practice Golf Balls
Best Practice Golf Ball Overall
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PROS
- Available in 16 or 64 packs at an affordable price point
- Well-crafted foam ball with long-lasting durability
- Realistic dimple design on the ball creates a realistic shot trajectory off the club
CONS
- Will need more space with long irons and woods flies over 50 yards
- Lower ball flight makes shots look more line drive
The GoSports Foam Practice Golf Balls are our choice for the best practice golf balls on our list. Made with dense foam, the GoSports balls act like a real ball off the face at impact, but with the same ball flight limiting power golfers expect from foam balls.
These foam balls are dense enough that you can actually see your shot fade or draw after impact like a real ball. The balls fly a few dozen yards on fuller swings before losing steam and falling harmlessly to the ground.
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Great for long swings, the balls also perform well for a golfer’s short game. The balls accurately replicate mid-range pitch shots around 20-30 yards in length.
The foam balls are available in a 16-pack and in a value pack of 64 balls for a very affordable price that will allow you to easily get a high volume of golf balls for practice. They also weigh around 10 grams per ball for a heavier feel at impact close to the real thing.
A wonderfully capable foam practice ball that is great for either outdoor or indoor training, the GoSports practice balls are an absolute delight.
Bac-Kitchen Foam Practice Golf Balls
Best Value Practice Golf Ball
PROS
- Incredibly safe in either indoor or outdoor practice setups
- Made from durable resin for long-lasting performance
- Available in 40-pack with five colors
CONS
- Dampened feel is hard to get used to when practicing
- Better for chipping and pitching than full shots
Our favorite budget practice ball is the Bac-Kitchen Foam Practice Golf Balls. Available in an inexpensive 40-pack, these practice balls offer durability, quantity for uninterrupted work, and a very low price point.
In our setup, we used an indoor hitting area to test products, and we were pleasantly surprised by the response of these foam practice balls. They feel dense and close to the overall expectation when hitting a real ball on the face.
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Outside, the dimples help provide a true shot shape that doesn’t fly far, allowing you to quickly retrieve the practice balls for efficient hitting.
If you are worried about safety with these foam balls, rest assured that the Bac-Kitchen product won’t hurt your furniture or any nearby animals fearing they could catch a wayward shot. Available in four different colors, the soft balls are harmless to practice with near windows.
Great for junior golfers, or even the young child that enjoys swinging their parent’s clubs, the Bac-Kitchen foam ball delivers outstanding performance and quantity, for an incredibly low price.
Callaway HX Practice Ball
Top Name Brand Practice Golf Ball
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PROS
- Simulates realistic ball flight at a controlled distance
- Available in 9-or 18-pack and in orange, green, or pink colors
- Features the company’s famous HEX dimple pattern along the outer layer
CONS
- Flies more than 60 yards, so you’ll need plenty of space
- Strange feel at impact, takes time to find comfort when hitting
The Callaway HX Practice Ball are the top name brand option on our list. Made from foam, these Callaway HX practice golf balls are available in either a 9-or 18 pack and in the colors of green, pink, and orange.
What stands out when hitting the Callaway balls is how the outer layer, utilizing the company’s patented HEX dimple pattern, provides accurate replication of the shot shape of real shots. Whatever you hit, whether it be a fade or draw, you’ll find that the Callaway ball offers instant feedback for each swing.
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The balls are durable enough for complete swings and offer excellent playability when working on your chip and pitch shots. For moderate pitch shots, the HX ball shines, providing distance control and accurate replication that you can take to the golf course.
One of the best practice golf balls on the market, the HX from Callaway is a great alternative ball for golfers of all skill levels.
SKLZ Practice Impact Golf Balls
Most Durable Practice Golf Balls
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PROS
- Excellent alternative to foam and plastic balls with a hard outer shell
- Offers moderate flight distance of approximately 45 yards
- Regulation size mimics the feel and shape of an authentic golf ball
CONS
- Black side makes it harder to find on taller grass
- Won’t accurately provide side spin to detect swing flaws
The SKLZ Practice Impact Golf Balls provide the most durability in an alternative ball with a tough outer shell and a limited flight that stretches up to 45 yards in length. What sets the SKLZ apart from the other alternative balls is that it offers a regulation size ball that limits flight to allow you to work on your swing for the golf course.
The ball’s outer shell is made from an indestructible plastic composite material. Since most plastic balls cave in on fast swings, this advanced alternative golf accessory provides an option for high-speed swings that won’t let you down.
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Not only does the SKLZ ball work for complete swings, but it offers high spin rates for flop and pitch shots, especially when you use these balls off a mat. The ability to work out with high speed swings is invaluable for an alternative ball like the SKLZ model.
A dynamic alternate golf ball that definitely ranks among the best practice golf balls on the market today, the SKLZ Practice Impact Golf Ball can help improve your game.
Jef World of Golf Practice Foam Balls
Best Practice Golf Balls Package
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PROS
- Comes with a durable steel range bucket for quick collection
- Simulates the real flight of a golf ball with either fade or draw shot shape
- Offers a quick way to get a large amount of balls for your workouts at a low price
CONS
- Cheaper construction and feel
- Very firm build boosts distance, so you’ll need more space
The Jef World of Golf offers a ball that’s great for different types of practice. These foam-constructed balls deliver a realistic feel with a moderately limited flight from taking high-speed swings to working on your pitch and chip game.
When judging these balls on complete swings, these foam-centric alternatives provide an authentic replication with a spin that can create fade and draw shot shape.
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For chip and pitch shots, the balls respond admirably with the dense weight of foam powering an honest replication of what it is like on entry shots into the green.
The collection of Jef balls is available in white, green, orange, and yellow for easy identification when practicing with dozens of repetitions before collection. Once you get done with a session, the included metal bucket makes gathering these balls a painless endeavor.
For a package of practice foam alternative golf balls, the Jef pack of 42 balls stands out as a low-cost option that delivers high performance.
BirdieBall Practice Golf Balls
Best Full Swing Golf Balls
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PROS
- Unique form offers a fun way to practice complete swings in a confined space
- Replicates with stunning accuracy the flight and shape of your shots after impact
- Incredibly durable construction that allows for high-speed swings and short game shots
CONS
- Strange look and shape takes time to feel comfort
- Will crack after repeated use and lose function
One of the most popular golfing accessories for practicing is the BirdieBall Practice Golf Balls. This golfing practice tool has long remained a mainstay for golfers who want an alternative way to work on their swings at home.
What’s unique about these BirdieBalls is the cylinder shape of the product. These balls are not shaped like traditional balls, but the rounded shape of the golf accessory does allow for full swings without worrying that you’ll split or shatter these plastic balls.
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The product does offer a strange feel when trying to use them to work on your pitch shots and chips, but the BirdieBall does offer the same solid feel at impact that you’ll experience on complete swings.
The BirdieBall comes in a 12-pack and it costs around the price of a dozen multi-layer top-notch golf balls.
Easily winning our top choice for full swings, the BirdieBall is a one-of-a-kind practice device that golfers of all skill levels enjoy.
The Floppy Indoor Practice Ball
Best Luxury Indoor Practice Golf Balls
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PROS
- Well-made luxury ball that works well indoors off a mat
- Feels like an authentic ball with high spin rates that mimics the look of authentic shots
- Each ball is handmade for high-stress long-lasting durability
CONS
- Little beads inside the ball leak, causing a lumpy appearance
- Lack of durability causes issues at this price point
For those seeking a high-end option in this buying guide, the The Floppy Indoor Practice Ball is a stunner. Handmade, this accessory doesn’t use plastic or foam as its foundation. Instead, the ball feels more like a hacky sack with a woven outer layer and pellet interior.
Heavier than a foam ball, the Floppy ball comes in a four-pack and remarkably will not break anything indoors. Made primarily for nothing more than a half swing, amateurs love hitting these balls to improve their short game as these almost golf balls work extremely well for pitch and chip shots.
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While these balls are at a higher price point, golfers should not consider using them at a maximum swing speed.
The Floppy Indoor Practice Balls is one of the best practice golf balls for amateurs looking for a high-performance alternative ball for their short game.
Almost Golf Balls
Best Practice Golf Balls for Short Game Improvement
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PROS
- Weighing 13.5 grams, it offers a safe, soft option to workout at home
- Made from high-density foam that flies a third of the distance of a real ball
- Dense, high-quality option that replicates the feel and response of an authentic ball
CONS
- Firmer feel than foam balls, so fly farther
- After repeated use, dents show on the exterior surface
From Almost Golf comes a well-crafted practice golf ball built from foam.
The density of these balls is a real asset when working on your game. Although each Almost Golf practice golf ball is about a one-quarter of the weight of a real ball, the density of the material delivers a surprisingly authentic replication.
After impact, the balls do have enough spin to show when you hit a fade or a draw. The ball’s outer layer has enough dimples to pierce the wind on full-speed swings for a more accurate understanding of the trajectory and flight of the ball.
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Available in a 12-pack for an affordable price, the balls from the company are colored yellow for easy identification when it comes time for collection.
This limited flight foam ball can withstand your fastest swing while also being delicate enough to help you increase the accuracy of your pitch shots, a great combination well worth your time and consideration.
PrideSports Practice Golf Balls
Best Plastic Practice Golf Ball
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PROS
- Comes in a 12-pack providing a high volume of alternative balls for a low price
- Very lightweight body offers quick retrieval for increasing repetitions in a workout
- Perforated design limits flight and provides the ability to workout anywhere
CONS
- Cheaper plastic limits feel and responsiveness
- Balls lack a durable exterior, so expect splitting and frequent replacement
From PrideSports comes our choice for the top plastic ball option. These perforated balls offer safe workouts when dealing with a confined space.
Made from a lightweight, but durable plastic, this PrideSports Practice Golf Balls is ideal for short yardage shots that can help you lower your scores. Whether clearing a bunker or hitting a low pitch shot, these alternative plastic balls can offer a close replication of hitting a real ball next to the green.
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Plastic balls are tough to use on full-speed swings because the outer shell isn’t durable enough to withstand that speed, which is true with the PrideSports product. After hitting a few shots with these plastic-constructed balls, you’ll see that their real benefit is with short yardage work.
The PrideSports Plastic Balls offer a top-quality plastic practice golf ball that provides terrific value for golfers that need safety and convenience over performance.
Questions & Answers
What’s the difference between foam and plastic practice golf balls?
Golf foam practice balls offer more density and a similar feel to regular golf balls, while plastic is safe to use and offers limited flight for quick pickup when through with a workout. Plastic is so popular for practice because they are light, durable, cheap, and doesn’t fly nearly as far as a regular golf ball.
Foam golf balls are perfect for hitting longer clubs because they replicate the feel of a real golf ball without worrying that you will break windows or need to walk hundreds of yards to fetch the balls.
Why do golf balls have dimples?
Golf balls have dimples to fly straight and not be obstructed by the wind. The dimple system reduces drag against the golf ball by seamlessly moving the air around the outer layer. Since golf balls are made with a urethane outer layer for an increased spin, the dimples are crucial to reducing the force that wind can place on the golf ball.
Practice golf balls are made with dense foam and perforated plastic to reduce speed and navigate wind to replicate similar flights compared to a real golf ball.
How do practice golf balls work?
Practice golf balls work similarly to regular ones but with a few important caveats. Since standard golf balls fly a few hundred yards when hit with high swing speed, alternative golf balls must put limiters in place to reduce speed and length.
These balls come available in high volume so that golfers can purchase a large quantity of them without spending much money. The best golf balls for practice simulate the feel of a real one without the worry of damaging nearby property, an essential factor when planning at-home or indoor practice.
Do practice golf balls really help?
Most golfers live by the old adage that there’s no such thing as bad practice. So practice golf balls, although they might not be actual golf balls, still provide the ability for a golfer to take a complete swing without the need for an indoor golf facility.
With alternative balls that react like a real version, manufacturers have crafted practice accessories that allow the golfer to get repetitions in each practice session.
Since practice golf balls offer limited flight, golfers can get in more swings in a tighter time frame. This type of high-quality practice is sure to improve your golf over time.
How can I practice golf swing at home?
One of the biggest obstacles to working on your swing at home is having the space to freely swing the club. Whether you choose to construct your practice area outside or in a garage, the room must be there to swing the golf club fully.
Alternative balls help expedite the process of creating an at-home or indoor practice area by offering a safe alternative to hitting real golf balls. With practice balls that react like an authentic golf ball, golfers can hit fuller swing shots and see what the trajectory would be if the ball were real.
What’s the best way of using training golf balls?
First, you must understand what your surroundings can endure and what type of practice is important for your game. A foam training golf ball with a hitting net can offer a similar experience to the practice range for complete swings.
Since most golfers are dealing with limited space, the reduced flight distance of these practice foam balls allows for a full swing from the golfer. However you use the training balls, focused repetitions are ideal for improving your game.
Practice balls are great for hitting wedge shots and understanding how spin works with these clubs.
Final Thoughts
If you are serious about improving your game and lowering your scores, regular practice is the top way to make it happen. For golfers who don’t belong to a club or have a golf course range within a short distance, the best practice golf balls offer a safe and inexpensive way to keep the swing sharp.
An alternative golf ball allows golfers to hit a golf ball with a fuller swing and not have to worry about the consequences. Instead of worrying about breaking a window or damaging property, practice balls made of foam and plastic offer top-notch performance and diminished flight that makes retrieval easy for the amateur.