In years past, golf balls designed to fly a short distance during backyard practice were often subpar. A newer generation of practice balls comes closer to the real deal.

We asked seven avid golfers--three women and four men--to warm up with real balls, then hit each of four practice balls with a pitching wedge, 7-iron, and 5-iron. They assessed feel, flight, and overall usefulness. Prices are per ball for the largest available pack. Here’s what users told us:

Qolfball. It felt realistic off the clubface and flew like a real ball, letting advanced panelists shape their shots. It can be forgiving when mishit (bad news for golfers bent on improving; good news for others). Allow plenty of space.

AlmostGolf P3. It felt light (some likened it to hitting air) but responded well. The feel and sound were more muted than with a real ball. Allow plenty of space.

Birdieball. It’s shaped like a napkin ring and can be bought with a mat you use to tee it up almost anywhere. When hit, it tumbles through the air, whirring. Panelists either loved it or didn’t. It requires less space than others do.

Gear for Golf Foam. It’s very light, ­doesn’t feel or fly like a real ball, and provides little feedback, but you might be able to use it indoors.