... not the whiffle balls, but the ones that look like the real thing but do not go as far. what is a good brand? and will l be able to tell movement like a normal ball, such as right to left, etc.?

well l do not know about brands, but l can tell you now if you're looking for the lighter, short distance practice balls that you can use in your back yard or something like that, you wo not be able to compare the movement of the practice balls to the regular ball. dynamics are different.

You can buy foam or plastic ones but they do not give good feedback.
l think the best thing to do is go to the range because practing in your back yard just gives unreliable results.
Good luck with the golf!

They are all rubbish. If you need to practice your swing in the garden then they are ok to use as something to swing at, but they are really only there for something to aim at - the ball flight will tell you nothing at all. Go to the driving range.

The Birdie Balls are amazing, They can fly just like a real ball would but only go 40 yards max. They also have great auditory feedback when you hit it solid.