I play 2-3 times a week during the spring, summer and fall months, and if not for winter, I would play year round. I’ve tried every golf ball, and I mean everyone, from Pro V1, to Top Flite, Chrome Soft, to Taylormade TPX, to Bridgestone, to Wilson Duo, to Pinnacle. I’m always looking to gain those extra yards or that extra spin that so many balls claim to offer. Due to my swing speed being in the mid 80’s, I really can’t compress the ball like I’d like to.
After seeing an advertisement for “premium balls at a less than premium price”, I had to give them a try. The balls were from a company called Vice Golf. They were nice enough to send me a sample pack which included 2 balls from each of the 5 different varieties of balls that they offer. From a 2 piece ball, all the way up to a 4 piece ball.
Over a week’s time I tried all 5 types of balls. This test occurred on the same course that I play regularly so I know my average driver distance and how my ball usually reacts with my wedges and putter. I feel this was a very fair test. I also took all the 5 different types of Vice Golf balls to the putting green and spent 10-15 minutes putting them around the large putting area to first see how they performed.
As we know, every person is different, has a different swing speed, a different swing and is may be looking for something different, based on the course(s) they play. My course of choice has very fast greens and thick rough, and is a tough course in my opinion My friend who visit me from out of town truly agree.
I will give you the specs for each ball, but first I want to provide my review on each ball. .
The first ball I tested was the Vice Pro Soft. It’s a 3 piece low compression ball and similar to what I like to play. The ball also is very unique as it has a matte finish. This was the first time I ever played with a ball that had a matte finish and I found it to look odd. The ball performed very well off the driver and flew straight. The wedge spin was very good and was smooth off the putter. The Vice Pro Soft was by far my favorite ball. It had all the same characteristics of the ball I like to play and performed well in all aspects. It seemed to fly straighter than most balls. The only drawback was matte finish, as it really doesn’t have the shiny new golf ball appearance Regardless, the finish did not affect the ball’s performance as it was superb.
The next ball tested was the Vice Drive golf ball. This is Vice Golf’s 2 piece ball, with a Surlyn cover. This ball had the standard finish of a typical golf ball. Off the driver, the ball was hot and flew long and straight. . When chipping or needing shots to stop or spin, the Vice Drive ball did not perform. . When using a wedge to chip or pitch, the ball would hit and run and I just couldn’t get it to stop close. Putting was also an issue for me with this ball as it was very firm and I had trouble gauging the distance. Usually the ball would be long and go past the hole. All in all, this was my least favorite ball of the five in the test pack. The Vice Drive price was the lowest of the assortment and it just felt like the ball was not very forgiving.
The next test was the Vice Tour golf ball. This is a 3 piece ball with a Surlyn cover. The ball was just average off the driver and overall for all shots. It putted average and was simply not a top performer in any category. The Vice Tour seemed to spin a bit more off the driver, pushing some shots a bit to the left or right when not hit perfectly. It’s a mid level ball, and didn’t overly impress me.
The next test was the Vice Pro. It’s a 3 piece ball with a Urethane Cover. This ball performed very well off the driver and seemed to go a few yards longer than usual. On my wedges, the ball did have some stopping power on the green and seemed to check up on several shots. The ball appeared to be on the firmer side when putting with several shots going past the hole more than normal. Overall, Vice Pro is a decent ball for some added distance, has good spin but is firm on the greens.
The last test was the Vice Pro Plus. This is a 4 piece golf ball with a Urethane cover. I felt this ball was a bit tough to control. I assume that Vice Pro is ideally meant for better players who have higher swing speeds and are lower handicap golfers. My driver distance was bit less than usual and the ball seemed to slice a bit more than my ‘normal’ when I miss it. Because I can’t compress the ball as much as I would like, I believe this is that type of ball, where if you have the higher swing speeds and can compress the ball it will be a very good performer. However for me, the average golfer it just was not the best of the ones they offer in terms of overall performance.
All in all, my favorite Vice Golf ball was the Vice Pro Soft. It really performed well for my swing, swing speed and the way I put. The matte finish will take some getting used to, but overall, I really liked this ball and it is priced very fair, especially when you buy 5 packs or more. I will be adding the Vice Pro Soft ball to my personal golfing arsenal.
This information is from the company regarding each golf ball..
Pro Soft
CONSTRUCTION
• 3 piece cast urethane cover
• Low compression for extra-soft and responsive feel
• Extremely durable 336 dimple design
CHARACTERISTICS
• Matte outer coating thanks to tiny silicate particles in the clear lacquer.
• Optimized for extraordinary distance off the tee.
• Extraordinary feel & feedback, high spin and control on and around the green.
PLAYER PROFILE
• Ambitious players with medium clubhead speed looking for extra-soft feel
Drive
CONSTRUCTION
• 2 piece.
• DuPont™ Surlyn© cover.
• Extremely tough and cut-resistant soft-core.
• 368 symmetrical dimple design.
CHARACTERISTICS
• More length with lower clubhead speed.
• Longer roll and softer feel.
PLAYER PROFILE
• Players with low to medium clubhead speed.
Tour
CONSTRUCTION
• 3 piece.
• DuPont™ Surlyn©.
• Extremely durable.
• 392 aerodynamic dimple design for more stability.
CHARACTERISTICS
• Optimized for constant stable ball flight.
• Great combination of long carry and minimum dispersion.
• Excellent greenside control and amazingly gentle feel.
PLAYER PROFILE
• Players of all levels.
Pro
CONSTRUCTION
• 3 piece cast urethane cover
• 318 large dimple design for stable trajectory.
• High Energy Speed Core (HESC) for increased ball speed.
CHARACTERISTICS
• Optimized for tremendous distance..
• Excellent green-grabbing control thanks to our S2TG technology: great feel & spin rates and highly decelerating Urethane cover.
PLAYER PROFILE
• Advanced players: medium to high clubhead speed.
Pro Plus
CONSTRUCTION
• 4-piece with cast urethane cover.
• Highly durable 336 dimple design.
• Dual casing for extra distance and lower ball flight.
CHARACTERISTICS
• Optimized for extraordinary distance.
• Excellent green-grabbing control thanks to our S2TG technology: great feel & spin rates and highly decelerating Urethane cover.
• Lower launch and lower spin for longer drives.
PLAYER PROFILE
• Advanced players: medium to high clubhead speed
All the balls can be purchased only at the company website which is www.vicegolf.com The company offers quantity discounts when buying more than 2 dozen of each ball. If you are searching for a new golf ball that could help your game, these are definitely worth trying
If you are not sure which is best for you, they do offer a sample pack (pictured below) of two balls each of the five varieties for $17.95.
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