A serious competitor to the Titleist Pro V1x: Vice Pro Plus Golf Balls Review
Published:
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At a glance
- TG Rating
- Owner Rating
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Pros
- A very consistent golf ball
- Solid performance from tee to green
- Brilliant value for a premium product
- A versatile model that works for ranging swing speeds
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Cons
A slightly muted feeling and limited feedback
What we say...
Every DTC golf ball brand manufactures models in the hope of challenging Titleist, how well have Vice done with their Pro Plus?
Vice were the very first Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) golf ball brand to hit the market back in 2012, and since their inception they have consistently manufactured products that rival the best golf balls in the game.
Whether you’re playing with one of the best golf balls for beginners and high-handicappers or one of the best premium golf balls, I promise you want to hear what I have to say about the Vice Pro Plus because they’re an extremely versatile X-model golf ball that works for a wide range of golfers.
Despite the Vice Pro Plus being a 4-piece X-model golf ball it emerged from our 2024 golf ball robot test as one of the best golf balls for slow swing speeds (something that can’t be said for the Titleist Pro V1x).
The Pro Plus performed better than the Seed SD-02 (another DTC 4-piece X-model golf ball) in our 2024 robot test. However, when I’ve played with both of these golf balls on the course my preference is for the SD-02 – read the review to find out why – but you might have a different opinion.
Pros
- A very consistent golf ball
- Solid performance from tee to green
- Brilliant value for a premium product
- A versatile model that works for ranging swing speeds
Cons
- A slightly muted feeling and limited feedback
| Construction | 4-piece |
| Cover | Urethane |
| Dimples | 336 |
| Feel | Firm |
| Flight | Mid-high |
| Long game spin | Mid-low |
| Short game spin | Mid-high |
| Color options | White; Lime |
| Alternative models | Pro Plus Drip; Pro Plus Shade |
- Ultra thin cast urethane cover
- Versatile magnesium ionomer outer mantle
- Surlyn grade inner mantle
- Lightweight speed core
The Vice Pro Plus is an extremely solid golf ball that deserves to be considered by every golfer. I really mean EVERY GOLFER because they are an extremely versatile model that ranks among the best golf balls for slow swing speeds even though they’re designed to challenge Tour-level golf balls.
You might be wondering why they only scored 4 out of 5, but allow me to explain…
Versatility
I’m going to start with versatility because I’ve already alluded to this and it’s what the Pro Plus scored highest on. The fact that the Pro Plus scored so well in our 2024 robot test across all three driver swing speeds (85mph, 100mph, and 115mph), with distance, spin, and consistency is what makes this such a versatile golf ball.
Whether you hit the ball as hard as Bryson DecHambaeu or if you’re the complete polar opposite you’ll be rewarded for playing with the Vice Pro Plus. X-model golf balls performed incredibly well in our 2024 robot test – so much so that it doesn’t make sense why golfers would play any other type of golf ball – and the Pro Plus was no exception to that.
If you haven’t had the pleasure yet of playing with an X-model golf ball, firstly, what are you waiting for? Secondly, the Pro Plus is almost the perfect golf ball to test the waters with for any golfer.
Tee to Green Performance
I decided to rate the Vice Pro Plus 4 out of 5 for tee to green performance, which might sound strange considering how versatile this golf ball is and how well it performed in every criterion in our 2024 robot test, but I have my reasons.
This golf ball loses absolutely zero marks for distance, and as a whole, off the tee, I really couldn’t criticize the Pro Plus (except for one thing which I’ll come onto later). My main gripe is its performance around the greens, I just don’t feel as though it spins enough compared to other X-model golf balls.
It could be down to my chipping action, but I definitely find my joy around the greens with other golf balls when it comes to spin and control. From the fairway, approaching greens I feel very much the same as I do with regards to this golf ball’s performance off the tee.
Feel and Response
By this point, I’m sure you’re all itching to learn what my biggest grievance is with the Pro Plus, so I won’t leave you in suspense any longer. I wouldn’t say that scoring 3.5 out of 5 for feel and response is bad by any stretch. But, it’s the lowest rating the Pro Plus received.
This is mainly why this golf ball scored 4 out of 5 and not higher, considering how well it performed in our 2024 robot test. That’s because a robot can’t inform you how a golf ball feels and what response you’re getting from the strike.
Throughout the bag, I get very little feedback from any strike whether it be good or bad. I distinctly remember hitting a really good tee shot on the 8th hole on the Ailsa Course at Turnberry and saying that it felt “dead”. When you really nail a drive you want to be saying “that felt amazing” but it left me feeling underwhelmed.
On the putting green, I feel as though there are more responsive golf balls than the Pro Plus but you can’t argue with the roll, because it’s solid.
Ultimately, my overarching opinion on the feel and response of the Pro Plus is – as I’ve already mentioned – underwhelming.
Durability
The Vice Pro Plus golf balls I’ve tested have only ever seen links golf courses. Two of the best in the world – the Ailsa Course at Turnberry and Cleveland Golf Club (it’s really hard to split the two).
I have also spent some time at the short game area with the Pro Plus, and I found they held up well. I did play with one ball that scuffed after just a couple of shots but I gave it the benefit of the doubt and no others tarnished that quickly.
Finding the sand did cause the golf balls to wear quicker than if they didn’t find the sand but that can be expected on links golf courses because the bunkers are more susceptible to pebbles and stones.
Here is the robot test data and verdict for the Vice Pro Plus, please take the time to read this before I leave you with my final verdict.
Robot test data and verdict: Vice Pro Plus
| Driver 85mph Swing | Vice Pro Plus |
| Ball speed (MPH) / Launch angle (º) | 124.2 / 13.3 (T3) |
| Backspin (RPM) | 2,670 |
| Carry (YDS) | 192.4 (2) |
| Driver 100mph Swing | |
| Ball speed (MPH) / Launch angle (º) | 144.3 / 13.5 |
| Backspin (RPM) | 2,608 |
| Carry (YDS) | 242.8 |
| Driver 115mph Swing | |
| Ball speed (MPH) / Launch angle (º) | 166.3 / 11.5 |
| Backspin (RPM) | 2,064 |
| Carry (YDS) | 280.3 |
| 7-Iron | |
| Ball speed (MPH) / Launch angle (º) | 108.2 / 21 (T3) |
| Backspin (RPM) | 5,379 |
| Height (YDS) | 31.7 |
| Descent angle (º) | 45.1 |
| Carry (YDS) | 154.9 |
| Wedge | |
| Backspin (RPM) | 7,258 |
| Shot area (SQ YDS) | 5 |
| Carry (YDS) | 105.8 |
| Average Shot Area | |
| Averaged over driver, 7-iron and PW | 19.4 SQ YDS |
VERDICT: Vice Pro Plus
There’s a reason why Titleist have been at the top of the golf ball tree for decades, and that’s because they know a thing or two about making incredibly good golf balls. The company is very protective over its market share within the golf ball category, and it must hurt that a few factories in the Far East churn out urethane golf balls (for multiple companies) that can compete with models they’ve spent decades perfecting.
To be fair to Titleist there isn’t a better 4-piece golf ball out there from any Direct-To-Consumer brand than the Pro V1x, if you’re looking though, for a model to rival it without paying a premium price the Vice Pro Plus has to be it.
When averaged over our fastest two-driver speeds the Vice Pro Plus outguns the Pro V1x by 2.3 yards, which when added to the additional 3.9 yards with a 7-iron means you realistically could expect to hit half a club less into greens using this model. But where spin took a nosedive with the Seed SD-02, the Vice Pro Plus persevered slightly more stopping power with the 7-iron (3.7%) and wedge (1.2%) which will be of real benefit to decent players.
I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t also mention how the Pro Plus compares against the Callaway Chrome Tour X, which essentially our data highlights as the best 4-piece X-model golf ball out there. In return for the lower DTC price (the Pro Plus is £25.01 cheaper per dozen than the Callaway Chrome Tour X) you get 2.6 yds less driver distance (averaged over our two fastest speeds), 4.4 yds more 7-iron distance, but 814 rpm less iron spin and 822 rpm less wedge spin, so the pair would be noticeably different on the golf course.
Final Verdict
Overall, the Vice Pro Plus is a very solid golf ball, and one well worth considering for all golfers. Whether you’re interested in X-model golf balls, play with them regularly, or have never given them a thought, the Pro Plus is 100% a model you should play with at least once.
My biggest issue with the Pro Plus is how it feels, which I know is completely ambiguous. You might play with the Pro Plus and completely disagree. But, there’s only one way to find out and that’s by giving them a go!
At such an affordable price for a premium golf ball, it’s easy to see why Vice Pro Plus golf balls are incredibly popular, but if you’re still not sold on them, I’ll leave you with a couple of alternative options that might be more to your liking.
Alternative options
About the author
James Hogg – Golf Equipment Writer
James has a degree in English Language from Newcastle University and an MA in Journalism from Kingston University.
He spent seven years working for American Golf as part of the sales and fitting team alongside his studies and is a specialist in putters, golf balls, and apparel.
James took up golf as a teenager and, thanks largely to his length and consistency off the tee, he plays off a handicap of 4.7 at Cleveland Golf Club.
You can contact James via email for loads more golf equipment insight.
