Golf balls are one of the most crucial pieces of equipment when it comes to playing golf. While beginners may settle for rentals, there’s no denying the fact that if you want to play with the big boys, you’ll need to make sure every little detail is up to snuff.
While there are several brands out there that have a long history of reliability, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give some newcomers a chance. Vice is one such newcomer, but are they really worth a shot, or do they miss the mark?
Vice has an incredible aesthetic
Before we get into their states, one thing is definitely worth pointing out – Vice balls have a sense of style about them that few other golf balls have. The marketing and branding division deserves a round of applause, as these balls are simply hard to resist, if only for their visual appeal. The packaging itself just showcases so much care and attention to detail that the moment you set your eyes on it, you can tell that this is a high-end product.
The golf balls – types of Vice balls to choose from
Vice offers a nice selection of packages, each containing a different combination of their balls. The three basic ball types – pro, tour, and diver – can each be purchased by the dozen, with pro also available in soft and plus varieties. There’s also a variety pack available that contains ten balls, 2 of each style (pro plus, pro, pro soft, tour, and drive). The prices for all of these average out at around $30. That’s definitely a reasonable price, especially considering the quality of the product on offer.
Vice Golf Balls Overview
Each of the types of golf ball is slightly different in terms of their structure.
Vice Tour
One of the most basic types, Vice Tour has a 3-piece Surlyn cover, making it suitable for players of all levels.
Vice Drive
This lighter type of ball comes with a 2-piece Surlyn cover, which makes it better for players with low or medium clubhead speed.
Vice Pro
A more high-end golf ball, the Vice Pro comes with a 3-piece urethane cover, which makes it better for advanced players with a clubhead speed from medium to high.
Vice Pro Plus
A thicker variation on Vice Pro, the Vice Pro Plus is much the same, but the urethane cover consists of 4 pieces instead of 3.
Vice Pro Soft
This product is very similar to the Vice Pro, but softer, as the name suggests – this makes them a better fit for medium clubhead speeds, but not for high ones.
In addition to the basic packages, Vice offers a couple of special variants, including:
Vice Golf Tour – Unisex
Designed for stable flight, these golf balls will be suitable of all performance levels and all genders.
Vice Golf Ball Select Variety Pack
This packiage allows you to get a good feel of all of Vice’s golf balls. With 2 balls of each type (tour, drive, pro, pro plus and pro soft), it’s the perfect starting point if you want to see if these balls are for you.
Vice Golf Ball Performance
When it comes to the performance, Vice golf balls certainly deliver. They can reach high speeds on par with ProV1 golf balls, and that goes for all the types. This is particularly impressive considering how much less these balls cost compared to Pro V1.
When tested against the Titleist Pro V1, Vice golf balls reach very similar ball speeds, at 85-86 mph. The total spin is slightly lower, with around 7400 rpm for Vice Pro and 7700 rpm for Vice Pro Plus, compared to the Pro V1’s ~7800 rpm. The launch angle degree is pretty identical to the Pro V1 across the board, averaging at about 30. Same goes for the carry yard distance – around 105 across the board.
Now, when it comes to numbers, it’s worth pointing out that Vice golf balls often come with great deals. In general, the more you buy of a ball in bulk, the less you’ll pay overall. This is quite unique in the industry and if you consider how much you can actually save for what is essentially a luxury product, it seems like Vice balls are most likely worth your time.
As one final note before we move on to the verdict, Vice doesn’t just sell balls – they also offer accessories for golfers, including gloves, carry bags, and more. While this is pretty much just a golf ball review and we won’t be going into detail about those this time, it’s worth pointing out that their accessories have also garnered a lot of praise. If you’re all about having all of your accessories matching, you can relax knowing that your high-quality golf balls come with matching accessories.
Are they worth a shot?
It’s time for the final verdict. If it wasn’t clear by our write-up thus far, we can spell it out for you right now: yes, Vice golf balls are 100% worth every penny. What you’re getting here is essentially a set of Pro V1 golf balls at a far lower price – and it only gets lower the more of them you order at once.
Vice golf balls are available in different types and color variations, making them very easy to customize to your playstyle. And they feel great, regardless of your playstyle. Vice golf balls are a promise of excellent performance for an incredible price, all of it packaged in a way that’s incredibly pleasing to the eye, letting you feel that you’re actually using a premium product. They’re the cheaper alternative to Titleist you’ve been looking for all this time.