Can You Use Real Golf Balls With Practice Nets? We take a look at Real vs Practice Balls for Golf Nets

Hitting into a net is a game-changer for practice frequency, but choosing the right ball matters. Using the wrong type can hinder progress, damage your net, or even be unsafe. 

We break the guide down into 7 sub topics as below;

1. Core Construction & Performance Differences
2. Safety Risks & Net Durability Impact
3. Feedback Accuracy: Feel, Sound & Swing Metrics
4. Skill-Specific Suitability
5. Cost & Longevity Comparison of The Balls To Use
6. Recommendations: Matching Ball Type to Your Goals
7. Lake Balls 

Let’s break down the key factors, including the use of lake balls;

1. Core Construction & Performance Differences

• Real Golf Balls (e.g., Titleist Pro V1, Srixon Z-Star, Callaway Chrome Tour): Multi-layered construction (urethane/surlyn covers) designed for specific flight, spin, and feel characteristics. They react realistically off the clubface, providing accurate feedback on strike quality, spin generation (essential for wedges), and intended shot shape – even if you don’t see the full flight.

• Practice Balls (Foam/Air Flow): Typically single-piece construction from lightweight foam or plastic. They fly very short distances (10-40 yards) and have minimal spin. Feel and sound at impact are drastically different (“dead” or “plastic” feel). Examples: The Golfers Club Practice Air Flow, Foam Striped Practice balls.

• Lake Balls: These are real golf balls (like Titleist Pro V1 Lake Balls) retrieved from water hazards. Performance is generally very close to new balls, though the water exposure might slightly affect the cover integrity or internal fluid dynamics over very long periods. They offer significant savings for net use.

2. Safety Risks & Net Durability Impact

• Real Golf Balls: Pose the highest risk. They travel at high speeds (100+ mph) and might result in a serious injury or property damage if they escape a net failure or ricochet. They also cause significantly more wear and tear on netting. Heads up! Only use real balls with nets explicitly rated for their impact and ensure a large safety buffer (ideally 10+ feet) behind the net. Inspect nets frequently.

• Lake Balls: Carry the same safety and wear risks as new real balls. Use identical precautions.

• Practice Balls (Foam/Air Flow): Extremely low risk. Their lightweight and low speed means minimal danger if they escape and cause negligible wear on nets. It is ideal for limited spaces, indoors, or lower-quality nets.

3. Feedback Accuracy: Feel, Sound & Swing Metrics

• Real Golf Balls: Provide the most authentic feedback. You feel the true vibration (or lack thereof) on a pure strike. The sound (“crack” vs “thud”) accurately indicates the strike location. Launch monitor data (like smash factor from a Rapsodo) is reliable. It is essential for grooving real impact feels.

• Lake Balls: Offer feedback nearly identical to new real balls. The cost saving doesn’t compromise the crucial feel and sound for net practice.

• Practice Balls (Foam/Air Flow): Provide poor feedback —the muted, unnatural feel and sound mask strike flaws. Launch monitor data is often inaccurate or unavailable due to low ball speed. Not suitable for refining impact quality.

4. Skill-Specific Suitability

• Irons/Wedges (Strike & Feel Focus): Real Golf Balls or Lake Balls are essential. You need authentic feedback on compression, spin, and strike location (use impact tape or spray). Options: Titleist Pro V1/Pro V1x (New or Lake), Srixon Z-Star, Callaway Chrome Tour, Wilson Staff Model, Titleist Tour Soft.

• Full Swing Mechanics (Path/Tempo): Real Golf Balls, Lake Balls, or even Lower Compression Balls work well. The focus is on swing motion, not max ball flight. Lower compression balls like Srixon Soft Feel, Wilson Staff Duo Soft, Callaway Supersoft, and Srixon Distance are gentler on nets while still providing a decent feel.

• Driver Speed Training: Real Golf Balls or Lake Balls are best for simulating real speed. Lower compression balls can also be used effectively. Avoid foam balls.

• Indoor/Small Space/Net Safety Concerns: Foam or Air Flow Practice Balls are the only safe choice. (e.g., The Golfers Club Practice Air Flow, Foam Striped Practice).

• Chipping (Limited Space): Foam balls can work for very short chip motion practice indoors. For a realistic chipping feel outdoors, use real balls or lake balls.

5. Cost & Longevity Comparison

• New Premium Balls (e.g., Pro V1): Highest cost per ball. Longevity in a net is good, but they can scuff. Value packs like Srixon Z-Star/Soft Feel 4 for 3 Callaway Chrome Tour 4 for 3 offer savings.

• Lake Balls (e.g., Titleist Pro V1 Lake Balls): Significant discount vs. new premium balls. Offer the best value for realistic net feedback. Performance longevity in a net is excellent.

• Mid/Value Balls (e.g., Supersoft, Distance, Duo Soft, Tour Soft): Lower cost per ball than premium. Good durability for net use.

• Practice Balls (Foam/Air Flow): Very low cost per ball. Extremely durable as they aren’t damaged by impact. The Golfers Club options are budget-friendly.

6. Recommendations: Matching Ball Type to Your Goals;

• “I want the most realistic feel for serious swing/contact work (Outdoor/Sturdy Net):” 
  • Titleist Pro V1/Pro V1x (New or Lake Balls), Srixon Z-Star, Callaway Chrome Tour, Wilson Staff Model. Lake Balls provide exceptional value here.

• “I want a good feel for full-swing practice but value-focused (Outdoor/Sturdy Net):” 
  • Srixon Soft Feel (4 for 3), Wilson Staff Duo Soft, Callaway Supersoft, Srixon Distance, Titleist Tour Soft. Lake Balls also a top choice.

• “I’m mainly working on driver speed/tempo (Outdoor/Sturdy Net):”
  • Any Real Ball or Lake Ball listed above. Lower compression (Supersoft, Duo Soft, Soft Feel) are fine.

• “I practice in my garage/basement or have safety/space concerns:”
  • The Golfers Club Practice Air Flow Golf Balls or Foam Striped Practice Balls ONLY. 

• “I need affordable balls that still give decent feedback (Outdoor/Sturdy Net):”
  • Titleist Pro V1 Lake Balls, Srixon Soft Feel (4 for 3), Callaway Supersoft, Wilson Duo Soft. Lake balls are often the best price/performance ratio.

7. Lake Balls: The Smart Net Practice Choice

Lake balls bridge the gap perfectly for net practice. They deliver the crucial realistic feel, sound, and feedback of premium balls (Titleist Pro V1/Pro V1x Lake Balls are excellent examples) at a significantly lower cost than buying new. 

For dedicated net sessions focused on strike quality and swing mechanics, they are often the most practical and effective choice available at onlinegolfshop.com.

Alex Smith is the Head PGA Pro at Online Golf Shop. With over 20 years of experience in the golf industry, Alex has a passion for helping golfers improve their game. He shares trusted and authentic advice through tips, tricks, and thorough product reviews—always based on his own experiences and insights. Alex also helps shape our product selection, making sure it’s tailored to every golfer’s needs, helping you find the right equipment and strategies to play your best golf!