Range and Putt

How many balls should you hit at the range?

There is no official number. The PGA of America's view is that practice "isn't a race to see how many balls you can hit in an hour", and it puts the purpose of each shot first. In our view, a small bucket of about 35 balls is plenty for a focused hour for most golfers; a large bucket of about 105 balls suits a longer session split into separate tasks.

By the Range and Putt editorial team. Published November 12, 2026, updated November 12, 2026. Figures are recalculated from our listings whenever they change.

What the PGA says

The PGA of America's five keys to practicing with a purpose are to practice the shots you use most, plan the session before you start, pick a specific target, vary your clubs, and practice on the course when you can. It notes that if most of your strokes come from 100 yards and in, most of your practice should too, with much of that time on putting. It does not set a ball count.

GOLF.com's range rules add a time limit rather than a ball limit: instructor Jim Murphy suggests spending no more than about 45 minutes on one task.

What ranges sell

Across the ranges we list that state ball counts, the smallest bucket holds about 35 balls and the largest about 105. Large buckets are cheaper per ball, about 16 cents against 23 cents, so it is tempting to buy big. Only do that if you will use every ball with a purpose.

A sensible session by level

This is our own suggestion, built on the PGA advice above, not a rule:

GolferBucketHow to split it
First visitsSmallestShort iron first, then a middle iron, a few longer clubs at the end
Regular golferSmall or mediumWarm up with wedges, then one task at a time with a target for every ball
Before a roundSmallestA short warm-up through the bag, then putting
Long practice dayLargeSeparate blocks of under 45 minutes, with short game practice in between

When the range is busy

Some ranges set limits. Sugar Creek Golf Course asks golfers to keep to one large bucket or half an hour at peak times when others are waiting. On a mat, the PGA also suggests watching how many balls you hit with long irons, because of the extra force on the body.

Find a range

Compare bucket sizes and prices in Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tampa, Tucson and Washington, or read how much a driving range costs.

Questions people ask

How many balls are in a bucket at the driving range?

It varies. At the ranges we list, the smallest bucket usually holds about 35 balls and the largest about 105.

Is hitting 100 balls too many?

Not if each one has a purpose and you split them into tasks. The PGA of America stresses quality over quantity, and GOLF.com suggests no more than about 45 minutes on one task.

Is there a time limit at driving ranges?

Usually not, but some ranges set one when it is busy. Sugar Creek Golf Course asks golfers to keep to one large bucket or half an hour at peak times.

Sources

  1. 5 Keys to Practicing with a Purpose PGA of America, published August 15, 2021, read November 12, 2026
  2. Driving-range etiquette? Yep, it’s a thing. Follow these 11 rules when you practice (Josh Sens) GOLF.com, published November 2, 2023, read November 12, 2026
  3. The Difference Between Practicing on Mats vs. Grass PGA of America, published April 22, 2021, read November 12, 2026
  4. Range and Putt listings: 318 driving ranges, each checked against the range's own website or operator, most recently November 12, 2026. Each listing links to its own sources.

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