Simulator Durability?

[Brian A]

So I recently moved in to a neighborhood that has a simulator and the Titliest RCT balls, I’ve played maybe 6 rounds with the same ball and it’s worn really badly, is this normal? Anyway to reduce the wear?

[cnosil]

4 hours ago, Brian A said:

So I recently moved in to a neighborhood that has a simulator and the Titliest RCT balls, I’ve played maybe 6 rounds with the same ball and it’s worn really badly, is this normal? Anyway to reduce the wear?

I don't believe thee is a way to reduce wear.   Hitting balls into a net/screen is apparently very hard on golf balls based on what I have read.   Basically the quick deceleration and how it spins against the screen cause wear and breakage.   You should be happy you are getting 6 rounds with the same ball;  do you keep a ball that long when playing  on a course?

[edingc]

Agree with @cnosil,  six rounds is probably a pretty good lifespan if you generate some speed and also use your entire bag. I use RCTs and a net/impact curtain (no screen) and the cover on the ball is only "like new" for probably 100 swings or so. Since I don't have a screen to worry about, I use them until the balls crack, which can take 1,000+ swings. But the covers are usually toast much quicker, especially if using wedges.

FWIW, my instructor just finished up a new Trackman studio for his golf team (university coach) and he says his team of 10 guys are going through a dozen balls a week with just their normal practice into the screen.

[Peejer]

I've had a simulator for 5+ years now, I typically put 24 new balls on it about every 3 months or so.  They're all the same brand/model, but I don't hit the same ball every time.

They do wear out quicker that you might expect - so for a cost effective solution, I use the Kirkland 3-piece urethane balls.  A pretty good cost/performance balance for that.

[GreenMachine]

Snell is the only ball I haven't cracked in my sim so far. 

[Clayton]

I worked at a SIM over the winter and put A LOT of rounds and shots in. What I did is turn the worn ball into a wedge ball and hit all my woods and irons down to 9i or so with a new ball. They really don't wear the ball like a wedge does. When the wedge ball is getting pretty haggard, swap the old "new" ball into wedges service and put a new new ball into play. The ProV1 RCT last a REALLY long time if you do that.

[Brian A]

4 hours ago, Clayton said:

I worked at a SIM over the winter and put A LOT of rounds and shots in. What I did is turn the worn ball into a wedge ball and hit all my woods and irons down to 9i or so with a new ball. They really don't wear the ball like a wedge does. When the wedge ball is getting pretty haggard, swap the old "new" ball into wedges service and put a new new ball into play. The ProV1 RCT last a REALLY long time if you do that.

I’ve been using the RCT balls and they’re wearing pretty good

[pozzit]

I got a box of RCT back in November and opened 1 sleeve have hit them at least 1000 times so say 3-400 a piece. I rarely hit wedges since I can clear my screen with them. The logos on the balls are tatered but the cover themselves look perfectly fine.