Driving Range Question

[AaA]

So I was at the driving range today and I noticed some interesting ball flight when using my driver. This was not the first time, but I finally thought I'd bring it up. On some drives I feel like my swing was nice and smooth and even the sound off the club face was solid but the ball has this really odd path to it. It's almost like hitting a top spin in tennis where it just starts to sink and it didn't even go that far.

Is this a result of a bad swing or a dead range ball? Has anyone else noticed this before?

AAA

[ezra76]

Could be the ball a little. The ones at the range I go to are beat to hell now. All cuts and totally scuffed. Not to mention they've been sitting for days in that huge refrigerator they call a ball machine. I just try to groove my swing and don't get too uptight about distance or precise flight. I know when I hit a good one with a crap ball and vice versa. Considering I $hanked my 1st 3 wedge shots I can't blame it all on the ball. That made me a little nervous, like "oh no, I lost my swing, HELP!!!" All was fine after a few shots, glad I worked so hard on simplifing my setup this year.

[Rockford35]

Driving range ball are the bottom of the barrel balls for the mostpart. I never work on distances much there unless the balls are really new. Other than that, I just work on mechanics or hit wedges.

There's nothing worse than flushing one and having it spin off 150 yards right because you just cracked the cover on the bloody thing.

My wedges just peel the hell out of the balls at the range too. I rarely do that on the course with my 56's.

R35

[HighTopFade]

One course I went to used real golf balls with red stripes around them. A variety of brands and models. Even found a couple Pro V1s, Nike ONEs, and Hogan Apex. I wouldn't steal balls from this place though. It's a family owned and operated course.

[AaA]

Good to hear. Makes me feel better.