Birdie Ball Review: The Next Generation Practice Ball

Golf is the best sport ever, but there are some issues with it from time to time.

First off, it takes up a lot of space, which is why you don’t see a golf course in midtown Manhattan. Second, it takes a lot of time and it’s not always easy to sneak away from life for 4-6 hours to play a round. 

But what if there was a golf training aid that you could practice with at home and groove your swing in 30 minutes or less? Does that sound like something that would help you shoot lower scores and hopefully beat your golf buddies?

If so, then we need to talk more about this new training aid that is taking the golf world by storm. It’s portable, easy to use, lightweight, and extremely cost-efficient, but most importantly, it can get you serious results.

It’s called the Birdie Ball. 

Let’s review this new product and see how it can help you hone your skills at home.

Birdie Balls Practice Golf Balls 

If you’ve been around the game long enough, you know how many training aids are on the market. Most of them make wild claims like, 

• Never miss a putt again.
• Learn how to shallow the club instantly.
• Learn to finally  master your wrist hinge.
• Add 30+ yards to your drives without exercise.
• Learn how to always get your ball out of a bunker.  

And endless other claims to make you a better player. Don’t get me wrong, some of them are great and can absolutely help you groove a more efficient golf swing. Sadly, there are a lot of them that are expensive, ineffective, and overall, a waste of time and money.

So anytime a new product comes out, we’re always cautiously optimistic about it. Meaning, we’ll give it a chance but we go into it with the right mindset and know that there is no “miracle” fix to playing better golf. But I’m always hopeful for something to help me and every other golfer who does want to improve.

When I learned the Birdie Ball had earned the “Best New Product” at the PGA Merchandise Show, I was impressed. The online reviews also were glowing from players around the world.

So we did some research of our own… here is everything you need to know about this new training aid.

What is the BirdieBall?

These golf balls are a practice aid to help you improve your swing. It doesn’t necessarily help with one thing like shallowing, transferring your weight, or keeping your wrist in the right position. 

Instead, it’s like you’re hitting a golf ball but it only travels about 40 yards. If you use the Velocity Tee, you can hit drivers and other woods that travel about 60 yards. That’s right, even if you pounce on a driver, this practice golf ball is a limited flight practice golf ball that goes about half the length of a football field.

You can use it to practice anywhere, anytime, without compromising on feel like you’re using a wiffle ball. It’s like having a driving range right at home or the park without needing 300 yards of space. Heck, even Tiger Woods doesn’t have that much room in his Florida backyard so we don’t blame you. 

What’s great is that they spin like a real ball and has the same flight/feel of one as well. You can easily see if you hit a draw, a cut, or a straight shot thanks to its realistic spin characteristics. 

Not to mention, it has an unbelievable hang time as if it were a real ball. Plus, it releases a specific sound when you hit it well which sounds almost as good as the real thing. 

Despite “Ball” being the title of this gadget, it’s actually not a golf ball though. Instead, it’s a unique shape that looks like a golf ball could actually fit inside of the hollow cavity. 

How do Birdie Balls work?

If you’re like most golfers, you’re probably wondering… “That’s cool but how do they actually work?”

According to BirdieBall, “When you hit a golf ball it spins in reverse on its axis. If that axis is horizontal, the ball goes straight. Tilt the axis right or left, and the ball will slice or hook.”

The shape and weight of the ball always plays a role in limiting how far it will travel. As they said, 

“The BirdieBall is about half the weight of a golf ball, but its non-aerodynamic shape before it’s hit, causes you to feel resistance on the club head-this makes it feel like a golf ball on impact. You’ll know you’ve made good contact by the gratifying sound and feel after a pure strike!”

These limited flight practice golf balls act like a regular golf ball unlike competitors like Almostgolf balls.

What do birdie balls do?

These limited flight practice balls mimic real golf balls as if you’re on the driving range with one big catch. They only travel up to 60 yards, regardless of which club you hit. This way you can practice anywhere, anytime. 

What makes them so unique is that despite how short they travel, they still act like a real golf ball. If you hit a draw, you’ll see it move from right to left in the air. If you hit a banana slice, you’ll see it drift hard from left to right. 

This is what separates it from most other practice balls. Unlike a wiffle ball, you get to see it hang in the air and react as if you were on the course. 

Another way it’s unlike wiffle practice balls is that you won’t break it if you swing hard. If you put a wiffle practice ball down in front of a normal driver swing, it’s going to break sooner rather than later. But thanks to this durable design, these can withstand some serious clubhead speed.

What club can I use?

Another problem with so many training aids is that you can’t use them with every club. But these practice balls let you use wedges to woods (sorry putter) to get the most out of your entire bag.

They also work if you want to work on your chipping and pitching as well. You get to see the reverse spin as the Birdieball spins like normal golf balls. Plus, use with mid-irons to check the flight/shape as well.

Or, with the Velocity Tee, you can tee them up to practice with your longer clubs too. One tee is smaller for fairway woods or hybrids and the other is a longer one for drivers. Please note, Birdieballs flies with a driver can go an additional 20 yards, so you’ll need about 60 yards of space. 

Each golf club can use these practice golf balls thanks to their limited flight distance characteristics. Your ball striking is about to improve like never before!

Where should you use it?

The great thing about this design is that they’re portable and maximize space. You can use them in your backyard if it’s big enough or a school, parking lot, neighborhood, park, or even the beach. Seriously, you basically have a portable driving range with these practice balls.

All you need is a piece of turf, a mat, or their custom StrikePad to start practicing. The StrikePad accessory will help you prevent killing the grass in your backyard or damaging your clubs as well. 

Not to mention, they’re small and come in a box that makes them easy to carry. It’s about as easy as carrying a dozen golf balls. They’re also super lightweight so you won’t even notice them as you’re packing them around. 

Plus, thanks to their unique, hollow middle portion, they float as well. So if you’re by the pool or beach, your investment won’t sink. 

Are there any approved BirdieBall accessories? 

Yes, they offer a variety of different accessories to ensure you’re getting the most out of this golf gadget. While they have a huge selection of accessories, I would recommend at least buying the Velocity Tee (to see the shape and ball flight of drivers/woods) and the StrikePad. 

Here is a breakdown of some of the most popular and effective accessories.

Velocity Tee

Unfortunately, the BirdieBall set does not come with these tees. But if you want to watch a driver fly high and admire the shape of the ball flight, you will need to buy this accessory. When you buy the Velocity Tee, you get two tees; one for your big stick and one for fairway woods.

StrikePad

The StrikePad is great because it’s portable and ensures you won’t damage your clubs if you can’t find great turf. Seriously, with this accessory all you need is an empty parking lot (or other outdoors space) to work on your golf swing. 

Notice I said “empty” parking lot as you don’t want to damage a car window on accident. According to their website, “While the BirdieBall is much safer to use than a golf ball, we cannot guarantee that they will not break windows when hit from a close range! (We haven’t seen it happen, but it certainly could).”

Even if you have a perfect back yard, I would buy this tool. It ensures you don’t ruin the ground, it allows you to get a good strike, and makes the most of outdoor space.

Birdie Target

One of the biggest mistakes that golfers make on the range is not picking a target when practicing. Aimlessly hitting without a target is not very effective and can actually make you develop some bad habits. Whether you’re on the range with real balls or using this tool, always pick a target.

If you want to make the most of your practice, invest in the BirdieTarget. This collapsible,  pop-up device instantly gives you something to aim at. You can use it in a full upright position or “half moon” for chipping. 

Since it’s like a big bucket, you can use it from any angle and even buy multiple to set up a series of holes in a large enough space. Plus, it’s great for your short game as well. Like the balls, this accessory is easy to transport too. 

It’s available in red, royal blue, white, light blue, black, and pink. Not to mention, it comes with a branded flag as well, giving you the feeling like you’re on a local course (even if you’re in a parking lot or the beach). 

If you want to hone your short game skills even more, make sure to buy a pack of Birdie Targets. This three pack also comes with a carrying case as well.

Birdie Hoop

If you want a target as if you’re a golfer at TopGolf, the Birdie hoop is great.

The Birdie Hoop comes in a storage bag and is 18″ in diameter when collapsed. When it’s expanded, it’s six feet in diameter!

It is super fun and gives you a circular target to aim at. In fact, you can pair with the Birdie Target too. Have some friends over and let them watch and compete in some fun competitions.

Target Golf

One thing is for sure, the company is proud of the fact you can use these balls anywhere, anytime. As they said, “Best of all the StrikePad allows you to hit golf balls in places that you never would have thought to hit them before. You can hit BirdieBalls in the parking lot, off of a frozen lake, off of the beach and even off of the deck of a houseboat.”

I have to say, I’ve never thought about hitting a ball off a frozen lake or houseboat, but now I’m intrigued. Needless to say, if you’re a water sports enthusiast, you will love the Target Golf accessory. 

This is a portable tool to set up three different circles and a basket in the center. While you can use it in your backyard to set up your very own TopGolf, you can also use it on a lake! This should provide endless entertainment for your family and friends. 

Not only do you get the three circles, you get 100 balls and two StrikePads as well. Everything you need for endless fun on the lake (or even in your backyard during BBQ season). 

Please note, some of the accessories are only available on the company website.

Inflatable Targets

Who needs a course and grass when you can use them on the lake, right? Seriously, I’ve seen a lot of accessories for golf gadgets, but nothing like these ones. Online, you’ll find unbelievable targets that any golfer will appreciate.

Some of them include:

• Spoked AirTarget
• Giant Nike Golf Inflatable net
• Air Target (Skee-Ball Style): It’s like the fun of an arcade but for golf.
• MiniRex, BirdieRex, and Golfigator: yes, these are two inflatable dinosaurs that have aiming points to fly the ball into.
• Other unique BirdieBall designs include, GolfOpotamus, Airshark, Golfrilla, and Golfaroo.

Or, you can splurge on the road game grid + touch screen scoring app. Great for events and large gatherings. Fun whether you’re a golfer or not and make it fun for the whole family!

FAQs About This Unique Practice Golf Balls

The Birdieball feels too good to be true but I promise it isn’t. If you have more questions about this product and other related training aids, keep reading.

How long do BirdieBalls last?

As you might have guessed, these won’t last forever. Since they’re made of plastic, they’re bound to break eventually. 

According to their website, their longevity depends on a few factors including:

• Temperature. If you hit these often in temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, they won’t last as long.
• High club speed. If you’re going full Bryson on these balls, they’re not going to last as long, but that shouldn’t surprise you. 
• Number of times they’ve been struck. As they get more regular use with repetitive swings, they’ll eventually break down and crack. 

Once they do crack, make sure to discard and not use again for safety precautions. Luckily, they’re so cost-efficient that it’s not a big deal if you need to buy a dozen more. Unfortunately, they don’t give an estimated number of swings before they no longer fly correctly.

How far does a BirdieBall fly? Is it like a real golf ball?

These hollow golf balls fly up to 40 yards when you hit a 6-iron well. Drivers and woods go a little bit further if you choose to buy the Velocity Tee as well. But even if you’re normally hitting balls 280+ yards at the range, these only go about 60 yards. 

This is great if you want to practice at home or at a local park without having to worry about the ball traveling too far. All you need is a little space to get the most out of this awesome tool. No need to drive to the links if you don’t have time – practice anywhere, anytime.

Are BirdieBalls worth it?

Yes, for the price of about a dozen high-quality golf balls, they can absolutely help you practice away from the course. Unlike a dozen golf balls, you won’t be losing these, so your one-time investment should pay off for the foreseeable future. 

Are golf wiffle balls good for practice?

If you want to make the most of practicing at home, I would avoid wiffle balls. They don’t act like a real ball thanks to their design and can’t stand the effects of high speed and a driver for very long. You will likely have to replace them often if you’re an at home range rat.

Instead, I would suggest using Birdie Balls. Or, using real balls and a net designed for golf to withstand high speeds. 

Are these like Almostgolf balls?

No, they’re quite different. Almostgolf has the shape of a ball unlike BirdieBall but isn’t limited flight designed.

While they’re a decent tool to help practice at home, they’re not as effective. Unlike BirdieBall, you can’t see the flight. Plus, they travel about 1/3 the length of a BirdieBall, which makes it less convenient when you’re hitting and having to hunt them down.

Lastly, it doesn’t have the flight of a BirdieBall. You won’t be able to tell if you’re hitting it right or left either.

Which practice golf balls are the best? 

We haven’t found a better alternative than Birdie Balls. They’re very cost-effective, mimic the look and feel of a real ball, and sound good too. Thanks to their design, these limited flight practice balls are the only way for golfers to go.

Does BirdieBall make any other products?

Yes, BirdieBall also makes custom putting greens. It’s like putting a natural grass putting green using their patented technology.

They aren’t your normal putting green either. The BirdieBall ones are just like the course and you get to choose your speed for them.

Then, roll it up for easy storage. When you’re ready to putt, unroll it on the ground. What’s cool is that they’re thick enough that you can include a flag drop in cups (without needing an uphill ramp).

You get to fully customize and control the experience that you want. Heck, you can even have them stamp a logo on it as well. For the price, you can’t beat these custom putting greens.

Use the BirdieBall set to improve your long game and BirdieBall putting greens to learn how to roll the rock even better.

Final Thoughts On The Best Practice Golf Balls

Not all training aids are created equal. Far from it actually, as many of them claim the world and simply don’t deliver on their promise. It’s not always their fault as golf is a wildly complex game, but some are all hype with no results.

However, these practice golf balls are different from the rest. You don’t win “Best New Product” at the PGA Merchandise Show for no reason. This practice ball works like real golf balls and makes it easier to practice at home. 

Thanks to its design, it spins like a regular golf ball, has the flight of a golf ball, produces realistic sound but only goes up to 40 yards. 

If you’re like 99.9% of the population, you don’t have room in your backyard for a full-length 300-yard  range. With this product, all you need is 40-60 yards and can go through a normal practice session to get results. 

Remember, even if you can’t play golf or practice as much as you’d like at the driving range, you can still improve. This tool, paired with an indoor putting mat, and a few chipping buckets and you have everything you need to succeed. 

Click here to learn more about BirdieBall.

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