hands39

Been loving reading all the reviews. I’m a big New Level fan, currently gaming 902-PDs and loving them. Only wish I have, which is for all DTC brands, is to be close enough to a fitter that has them to be fit for the best shaft combination. I got fit in a New Level recommended comparable club to get my shaft but wonder if it would still be the shaft if I was able to be fit with the New Level head.

Been on summer holiday back to Canada for a month and just got back to Belgium. Played another round with the Vice Pro Plus after a bunch of rounds playing other balls. Observations: - durability is comparable to AVX I had been playing in Canada. I would say the Pro Plus is average durability. - Approach spin I love. Been getting more spin on wedges than the other balls I had been playing (AVX, TruFeel, Kirkland). Highlight of the last round was a low flighted partial 52 from 100 yards that was hit and stop. Made me temporarily forget the brutal round I was having. - Distance is king. I'm probably a half club longer with this ball and getting similar stopping power on approach to other balls I played this summer.

That's huge! Selling a bit more expensive than a single box online but probably a wash with no shipping fees. Great opportunity to try a ball or model from Vice.

Final review is out.

Had a nice short game practice session with the Pro Plus. Some quick observations: - green side spin was great. Granted I have really been working on technique but felt really confident the ball would perform to the improved technique. High floaters or low spinners, the ball was consistent with all of them. I was hitting low spinners to a downhill slope and getting great response. Results were consistent across the four balls I was using. - Putting was consistent. I am really enjoying the feel off my putter (face insert) and have found really nice control of the pace of putts. I have not been using the alignment aid, personal preference. A consistent take away for me is consistency. With a DTC brand that would be one of my concerns, and have not had any issue across any of the sleeves of the Vice Pro Plus. You can see by the bottom photo, the speckles are hardly noticeable from address IMHO

Played our club championship this weekend and used the Vice Pro Plus for round 1. This round was very windy (30kmph/18.6mph sustained winds) and my biggest concern was the consistency of flight in the wind. I didn't need the ball to cut through the wind necessarily, but I wanted the ball to react the same way each time. What I noticed is that the ball did react really consistently with the wind. Was not cutting through the wind, which is okay, I could club up as needed. This was both for with and into wind shots. My guess is this is related to consistency of spin characteristics of the ball. Day 2 I switched to a Wilson Triad and played better. Not sure if this was the ball or not. I am realizing that the Vice Pro Plus might be a bit firm for my preference. The Pro might have been a better option after some time comparing.

I agree, with that statement of playing one ball consistently makes a difference. Ideally you would test and find the perfect ball, but if that's not an option, sticking to one option and knowing the characteristics will go a long way. The one benefit for me with Vice is that the pricing model is consistent. I can find other premium balls at the same price as Vice or less, but can't consistently find them at that price. Bought 2 packs of Bridgestone BX for 35 euro each, while I can get Vice for 34 euro each (with purchasing 5 packs). However, those Bridgestone are back up to 45 euros.

Played my first round with the Pro Plus yesterday. Played horrible but that was a me thing, not a ball thing. What I noticed from the ball, the orange/blue speckle pattern had no impact on visibility compared to the white offering. I played most of the round with a white Pro Plus and durability was good, I'll get a picture of the ball tonight the was used for about 6-7 holes. One negative of the speckle pattern was that it was harder to quickly see mud/dirt on the ball that would need cleaning. It blended in with the pattern, just something to be aware of. Feel putting was great, I have an Odyssey Putter and with its face insert, the ball felt great off the face, deliberate and not clicky. The spin from bunkers was really nice, I was able to hit both a chunk and run style, and a check-up bunker shot. The quick check bunker shot is not usually I can pull off, so I was happy to see that. What was visibility like from a distance? Like you were trying to find a shot from 10-30 yards out?

Great write up. What are your thoughts on the orange colour and playability? Ever loose sight of the ball more/less than a white ball? How did it look in sand or deep rough?

I will role a couple tonight and compare it against a couple other ball brands. After unboxing, I expect it to be a muted feel.

Finally won the battle against FedEx and the balls were delivered today. Unboxing the Vice Pro Plus I like the branded box that the balls show up in. Looks nicer than a boring brown box and also conveys a more premium product. A quick recap, I got the Vice Pro Plus in White and in Purple/Orange Drip. Packaging of the individual boxes look s comparable to any other brand, this is a positive. Nothing about it feels DTC or value in the packaging. The Balls The white looks bright and clean. I like the alignment aid that is bevelled on either side, something different. The exciting part of the review for me is the Drip. When given the option, I knew it was my duty to the Forum to do a mix and compare drip vs traditional. The drip is drippier than I was expecting, more intense paint splatter effect. I think it looks cool, I will happily play them but I do think they aren't for everyone. Tactile Like some of the others have mentioned they have a slight sticky feeling to them. I don't dislike this, more indifferent to it. However, they do feel different in my hand than the Bridgestone BXs that I played last round out. I've got a round this weekend and will get some on-course photos to see if the white vs drip show a difference in find-ability.

Date 06/02/2024 Course Name: Golf de Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium Gross Score 99 Course Handicap 17 Gross Strokes over/under par 27 Net Score to Par +10 Net Score 82 Net Birdies or better 5 Longest Drive 240 yards

Jealous of those who are already getting their balls! I've got a handful of competitions coming up, including club championships (Belgium does them really early in the season), which I would love to test them at.

Hey MGS Forum! I’m thrilled to be selected for this review, especially for the Vice Pro Plus golf balls. I've almost bought Vice balls a few times but always hesitated. Now, I finally get to see if that hesitation was justified. About Me I grew up in Canada, playing hockey in winter and casually golfing in summer. I had a junior membership at a nearby course during middle school and kept up a casual love affair with golf through high school and university, usually playing about 10 rounds each summer with friends and family. My Career and Golf Journey I’m a high school science teacher working in international schools, teaching expat children who can't attend the local system. This career has taken me and my golf bag to Kuwait, China, and now Belgium. In Kuwait, I played once a month in a teacher's league. China introduced me to screen golf due to the high cost and inaccessibility of grass golf. There, I played in a weekly Friday night league with equal focus of fun/beers and golf. Now in Belgium, I’ve returned to traditional golf and joined the IGC league based out of Brussels. This league provides me with a Federation card and more flexibility than joining a single course. I’m also the golf coach at my school, which has me on the course four times a week during the spring and driving the van around Europe for competitions in places like Frankfurt, Paris, and Munich. My Game I’m aiming to play more competitive golf this year and am focused on improving my game through purposeful practice. Using Roundabout Golf to track my stats, I’ve identified approach and short game as areas needing the most improvement. Testing Plan I’ll be testing the Vice Pro Plus balls through a combination of on-course play, short game practice, and a detailed wedge matrix. This is the perfect opportunity for me to update my wedge matrix/chart and gather quality data supported by Trackman. Comparison Currently, I play with either Wilson Triad or Bridgestone BX balls. I’ll be directly comparing the Vice Pro Plus against these. I've been able to get my current balls at the same price point as the Vice Pro Plus, thanks to the 5 dozen discount, so this will be a fair comparison in terms of cost. I've asked for a dozen of the blue and orange speckle pattern balls along with white. I'm curious as to how the design might change visibility on the course and also the durability of the cover. Why I’m Excited I'm really excited to test a product that has consistently done well in various reviews and tests. The price point is also very appealing; I don't want to spend a fortune on golf balls, but I’ve been searching for one that performs well at a reasonable cost. The Vice Pro Plus seems to fit this bill perfectly. Key Performance Factors Durability: I’m curious to see how well these balls hold up over multiple rounds. Consistency: Consistent performance is crucial for my game. This will be about distance, dispersion and spin rate in a simulator. Performance: I’m looking for solid performance in terms of distance and control. A little extra distance would be a great bonus. Expectations For the Vice Pro Plus balls to earn a permanent spot in my bag, they need to offer reasonable durability and match or exceed the performance of my current gamers (Wilson Triad and Bridgestone BX). Preconceived Notions I’ve heard a lot about Vice balls being high quality at a lower price point, which is why I’m so interested in this review. I’ve always been curious if the hype matches reality. Goals My goal is to find a ball that performs exceptionally well without breaking the bank. If the Vice Pro Plus can deliver in terms of durability, consistency, and overall performance, I’ll happily make the switch. UNBOXING tl;dr Looks premium and the Drip option brings some heat. Unboxing Post REVIEW First Impressions: Vice Pro Plus Golf Ball (10 out of 10) When I unboxed the Vice Pro Plus golf balls, the premium packaging immediately caught my eye. The sleek box with a subtle sheen and texture felt top-notch. Opening it had just the right amount of anticipation, and the well-designed sleeves held the balls securely. The branding is bold which to me, matches the Vice brand. The all black design probably doesn’t jump out if on a shelf, but if ordered in the DTC model, they look great unboxing. The solid white balls are brilliantly white, with clean black logos and markings that look professional. The purple and orange paint drip versions are especially cool, each with unique speckling patterns, it will be interesting to see visibility on the course. The balls have a slightly tacky feel, suggesting a high-quality cover that grips well. Vice claims these balls are designed for high ball speeds and ultimate control, with a firm feel perfect for higher swing speeds. The 4 layer design aims to maximize distance while offering great control around the greens. In simple terms, Vice is offering a golf ball that promises long drives and precise short game control. The firm feel is meant to give fast swingers solid feedback for better control. That will be what I am trying to identify compared to my current gamer, however it feels like this is what most golf balls in this category claim. I am giving them a 10 as they match my expectations of what a ProV1x or similar ball would give as a first impression. Aesthetics 8/10 The Vice Pro Plus golf balls come in premium packaging with a sleek design. The solid white balls are brilliantly white with clean black logos, while the vibrant purple and orange paint drip versions have unique patterns. The alignment aid is well-designed with tapered ends and the model name written inside the line, aiding in visualizing smooth strokes. IMG_3415 2.mov Durability: Short term, they showed minimal scuffing after hitting the cart path and trees. Full wedge and iron shots left no noticeable marks. Long term, they resisted wear better than Maxfli or Wilson balls. However, the paint drip style makes it harder to see scuffs and dirt, which can impact performance by not accurately assessing the ball’s condition. You can see in the photo scuffing after a short game practice. The practice consisted of 10-20 yard chips, mix of low spinners and high soft ones. I was using 4 balls and hit each maybe 20 times. Depending on your level of play, this ball might not be usable in competition after about 20 iron/wedge shots. Unique Details: The dimple pattern is traditional, and the alignment aid with tapered ends is a standout feature. The feel is slightly tacky, providing a secure grip. Sound and Feel: Driver: Firm, crisp sound. Wedges/Irons: Firmness helps feel like energy is transferred to the ball. Putter: Slight click sound with a face insert putter, better feel than softer balls, less "mush" off the face. The cover feels firm yet playable. Compared to other balls, it balances firmness and responsiveness well. 2 points are docked due to the lack of durability being easily able to be seen on the paint drip style. The Numbers: Vice Pro Plus Golf Ball (16 out of 20) As mentioned, I headed to an indoor facility equipped with a TrackMan IO to compare the Vice Pro Plus to my usual gamer ball Tour BX. I spent the time working on a wedge matrix and a direct 7 iron comparison. 7-Iron Comparison: On well-struck shots, the Vice Pro Plus flew a bit lower but had comparable spin, height, and smash factor to my gamer ball, despite Vice marketing high spin. The average distance was a couple of yards shorter, but the dispersion was tighter, leading to more consistent shots. Wedge Shots: For 3/4 52-degree shots, the Vice Pro Plus had typical values but showed slightly higher dispersion, a trend seen across all my wedges. This might affect short game precision slightly, which is something to watch. On Course Driving Data: On course, my average driving distance increased by 15 yards over three rounds with the Vice Pro Plus compared to four rounds before. My strokes gained with the driver decreased from -0.39 to -0.5 vs pro, indicating worse performance off the tee due to increased dispersion potentially. Short Game: My short game strokes gained improved by 0.42 strokes with the Vice Pro Plus, although this improvement might also be due to recent technical practice. Conclusion: The Vice Pro Plus performs well, particularly with tighter dispersion on irons and increased driving distance. The wedge dispersion was a bit higher, and the paint drip design makes it harder to assess durability, which could affect performance. Overall, it's a solid ball, living up to most of its claims, but the spin data was not significantly different from my gamer ball. Docking of 4 points for the following reasons: High dispersion in data in a controlled environment with wedges Decrease in distance with 7-iron with a key claim of the ball of increasing distance SG Driving decrease, even with the substantial distance increase On The Course: Vice Pro Plus Golf Ball (17 out of 20) Off the Tee Suddenly, I’ve turned into a beast off the tee. The ball has a ridiculously great flat flight. In two different rounds, I hit multiple drives that picked up strokes gained compared to pros, which is not usually my norm. If I were evaluating this ball based only on tee shot performance, it would definitely be in my bag today. All of my playing partners have been commenting on my increased distance off the tee, and since I haven’t played with the same partners while testing this ball, the consistency of their observations must mean something. Longest drive with Vice was 30 yards longer than my the longest drive in my previous four round prior to testing Vice. Granted there are lots of factors that tie into this but as mentioned in my data section, distance is up on average. Approach Approach play with the top end of my bag was solid, but I struggled to hit greens with 6-PW. I believe this was more about my own performance than the ball, as my misses weren't consistent. On a side note, I’ve had some frustrating range sessions trying to sort this out but feel I’ve made a small breakthrough recently. Short Game Around the green, the Vice Pro Plus performed well. I was impressed with the consistent roll on bump and run shots, which I relied on frequently. Bunker play was particularly satisfying, offering a good mix of chunk-and-run shots and tight spinners. The ball reacted predictably, and I found myself surprising even myself with some of the bunker shots I pulled off. Putting No major complaints here. The sound was fine, and the feel was solid. Distance control took some practice, likely due to playing different courses with varying green speeds. The alignment aid was helpful, and I had no issues once adjusted. Key Points Drives went further but with a bit more fade. Well-hit balls were monsters compared to my current gamer, and poor hits were comparable. Ball flight was consistent in wind, performing predictably even in windy Belgium conditions. Around the green, bump and run shots were reliable, and bunker play was surprisingly consistent with good control. Putting distance control required practice, but overall performance was satisfactory. Conclusion: The Vice Pro Plus offers excellent distance and predictability off the tee and in windy conditions. However, inconsistencies around the green and during approach shots in the wind reduce its overall score. While it may not be perfect for every situation, it's a strong contender for those prioritizing long game performance. The Good, the Bad, the In-between (19/20) I've been thoroughly impressed with the consistency and premium feel of these golf balls. Not only do they perform well, but they also have a sleek, high-quality look that stands out. Other golfers have complimented them, and the unique paint drip makes identifying my ball a breeze. The pricing model is fantastic—you get a premium-performing ball at a non-premium price. While I can find premium balls on sale for cheaper, the uncertainty of always getting that price makes it hard to commit. Knowing Vice Pro Plus will consistently be more cost-effective is a significant advantage. On the downside, I haven't encountered any major issues, though they can feel a bit floaty in the wind—something to note if you play in windy conditions like I do in Belgium. The online fitting tool could use some work, as it seemed to prioritize certain areas over others, which may not suit everyone's needs. Play It or Trade It Given the choice, I would definitely play the Vice Pro Plus in a big tournament or money game, with the caveat of opting for a solid colour or white instead of the paint drip. In fact, I put it in play for one round of my club championships and was impressed with its performance. The price is fantastic, offering premium performance at a great value. While I'm a big fan of the ball and the value it provides, I'd still like to compare it with the Vice Pro to determine which suits my game best. This ball is ideal for golfers looking for consistent performance without breaking the bank, particularly those who appreciate high-quality at a fair price. For me, it's a solid contender, though the final choice might depend on a head-to-head comparison with its sibling. TL;DR In a nutshell, the Vice Pro Plus golf ball has impressed me with its premium feel and consistent performance at a great price point. Unboxing these balls felt special, and their clean, sleek design stood out immediately. On the course, they delivered excellent distance off the tee and predictable performance even in windy conditions, which is crucial for my play in Belgium. The unique paint drip design made my ball easy to identify, although I’d opt for the solid colours for serious games. Despite minor issues like a slightly floaty feel in the wind and an online fitting tool that could be improved, the value this ball offers is undeniable. It’s ideal for golfers seeking a cost-effective, high-quality ball that doesn’t compromise on performance. After putting it to the test in my club championships, I’m eager to see how it stacks up against the Vice Pro, but for now, the Vice Pro Plus is a strong contender in my golf bag. Pros Does have great short game spin as advertised Data supports this is a long ball of the tee, with no real distance change with irons Consistent performance Cons Does not penetrate through wind in my experience Average durability

Date 05/20/2024 Course Name: Golf de Chateau de la Bawette (Brussels, Belgium) [70.4/123] Gross Score 98 Course Handicap 17 Gross Strokes over/under par 26 Net Score to Par 81 Net Score +9