Month: January 2023

2021 Vice Tour Golf Ball Review

January 29, 2023 Dan No Comments

After the very solid performance coming from the two-piece Vice Drive golf ball, I believe the Vice Tour won’t disappoint. That being said, I am going into this review open-minded. I am still not too familiar with their golf balls enough to know what to expect. The 2021 Vice Tour golf ball review will show if this is another reliable option from the brand.

This three-piece ball cover is made of ionomer, which is unusual for balls constructed with more than two pieces.

Because of that, I feel the durability will be similar to the Drive ball, which was excellent. We’ll discover that soon.

Inside it contains a new size-optimized Energy Speed Core built for extra distance. The mantle is constructed to minimize driver spin and increase ball flight stability. When it comes to dimples, that has also improved with the new durable 312 dimple design. By everything that you can find on the official Vice website, the ball is promising. Let’s find out how it did on the course.

Who Is This Ball For?

Let’s start with what says on the official Vice website. It simply states that this ball is designed and engineered for all swing speeds. That is a very interesting statement, to say the least. You could technically say that for a lot of golf balls out there. Nevertheless, it is a statement that does not put the ball in any swing speed category.

I have tried to look for a compression rating and got some mixed data. The medium compression rating seemed to be the general consensus. That would put the ball in the mid-swing speed category as the most suitable one. I can see that since I fall into that category and the ball had performed accordingly.

This ball could suit players who are looking for distance ahead of anything else. It is designed for a lower spin for that exact reason. That being said, do not expect a ton of short-game spin either. There is definite value to this ball and you can check why that is below.

PROS

Beginner Friendly
Distance
Durability
Price

CONS

Lower Short Game Spin
Only Available In White Color

2021 Vice Tour Golf Ball Review

Review by golfballsworld.com

Distance Control

Chipping and Pitching

Putting

Durability

Appearance

Price

4.7

On the Green

The thing that I noticed right away is that the sound it was making at impact was a bit louder. That is probably due to the ionomer cover which is harder than urethane ones. Don’t get me wrong, the level of noise was still in the mild category. That did not affect how the ball performed on the green whatsoever.

The only adjustment I had to do was on longer putts. Here I am talking from 10 feet and longer. It was the case more on the downhill putts versus the uphill ones. Shorter putts within the 5-foot range worked well since the beginning. Everything was fine regarding how the ball was holding the line while rolling. Overall, putting with this ball worked well.

Around the Green

As I have mentioned already, the only downside with chipping and pitching is the lack of spin. For me personally, that does not present a serious issue. My preference when close to the green is bump and run shots. When it comes to that, the ball worked very well. It worked well to that level that I managed to chip one in the hole.

I had a feeling it was easy enough to control where the ball is going to land and roll toward the hole. The higher trajectory chips and pitches seemed to lack a bit of spin. When I say lack of spin, I do not mean there is no spin whatsoever. It just has less greenside spin compared to some balls in the same category.

Approach Shots

I always like to mention I review these balls based on a performance on a par 3 course. The main reason is that I agree with a lot of industry experts who say you should test the ball from the green backward. Another important fact is, the majority of your golf shots are within 100 to 125 yards from the green.

Let’s get to the performance itself. One thing that worked like a charm was distance control. It pretty much fell right into my distance wheelhouse which made that easier. Another reason for that was the higher flight trajectory on average. It helped the ball stop fairly soon after it would land.

Hitting the ball felt good for the most with the exception of shots where the impact was lower on the face. Those shots produced a clicky sound which was still manageable. I found no issues whatsoever with manipulating the flight trajectory when needed. This category definitely gets a solid grade.

2021 Vice Tour Alignment — 2021 Vice Tour by golfballsworld.com

Appearance and Price

There is something about Vice golf balls that makes them look nice and appealing. It could be the simple logo and the minimalistic approach to designing the ball’s look. That gives them a modern and sophisticated vibe. This includes the new “keep in line” alignment line which adds to it. It is clean, simple, and does the job.

One of the benefits of the direct-to-consumer approach is the price. Because of no middleman involved in the process, the price is very competitive. In a lot of cases, this ball costs less than a two-piece ball from a lot of big brands. There is also an option to get up to 5 dozen balls which will lower the price even more. The only downside is the lack of color options. Still a great deal!

Durability

I have to say my predictions were not far off. Like with the two-piece Vice Drive model, durability was once again one of its strong suits. There were only a few marks and scuffs visible on the ball after a full round on a par 3 course. If you combine that with the price, you get a great value for your hard-earned money.

Final Verdict

Vice is proving that you do not need golf stars’ endorsements or endless commercials in order to show you have a quality product. Their approach is different and it is working. The Vice Tour ball is another example that they have products to compete with the big boys of the golf industry.

If you are someone who just started golfing or are looking for something reliable and cheaper, this could be your ball. Honestly, for that price, not much can go wrong even if you try it just out of curiosity. Sometimes you might find a product that suits you that you can’t find in your local golf shop. Just saying.

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Categories: Golf Balls Golf Balls Reviews Vice Golf Balls

How to Choose a Wedge – 5 Tips for Beginners

January 22, 2023 Dan No Comments

When a golfer gets to a lower handicap, there is a good chance his short game is solid. Of course, that is due mainly to the time they put into practice and playing. It is also because they most likely have the right wedges for their game. If you ever asked yourself how to choose a wedge, you might find some answers here.

You should not just walk into a golf store and choose the first wedge you like. There is more to consider for that process. Having the wrong wedge for your game can lead to inconsistency and eventually to bad results and/or frustration.

The last thing you want is to see bad shots when you put yourself in a good position in the fairway or around the green. Now, there are several things that have to come into the equation. The ultimate goal is for you to find a wedge that will suit your game so you do not have to adapt to it. The following tips will help you get to the wedge that will work the best for you.

Image by Stockholm Paris Studio on Unsplash

1. Know Your Gapping

One of the first steps when choosing a wedge is knowing your distances. In other words, which gap will the wedge I am buying fill? The rule of thumb is that the loft difference between your clubs should be around 4 degrees. Meaning, if your 9 iron is 41 degrees, your pitching wedge should be 45 degrees.

Now, that is a general rule which does not have to be followed. What should be followed is the distances you hit with your clubs. You should know what distance you would like to be reaching with your wedge. Again, on average the distance between clubs is anywhere between 10 and 15 yards.

Ideally, you have an idea of the gap which will narrow your choices already. From there on you can move on to the next steps in choosing your new wedge.

2. What Is the Wedge’s Main Purpose?

There is actually more to this than it seems. Not every golfer uses the wedges for the same purpose. Are you going to be hitting full shots? Is it going to be used for finesse shots only? Do you plan to chip with it just around the green or from longer distances too? Is your preference for a lower or higher ball flight trajectory?

Once you answer some of those questions, you will get closer to your wedge. Not all wedges are built the same. That goes even with wedges from the same brand with the same lofts. They will have different characteristics that are mostly related to the grind. Some wedges like the Titleist’s Vokey have different grinds for each wedge loft.

3. Your Typical Playing Conditions

This is something I did not think about at first. No matter how trivial it sounds, playing conditions make a difference when it comes to wedges. As I have mentioned above, there are different types of grinds for every kind of wedge. On top of that, there are also different bounce angles for each type of grind.

The major factor in choosing the right bounce angle is the firmness of the ground at the course you play most often. If you are in drier conditions with firmer fairways, your bounce angle should be lower. On the other hand for softer fairways, you should ideally have a higher bounce angle.

The simple explanation is when it is softer then the wedge will dig easily into the ground and a higher bounce angle will help with better contact. Regarding firmer fairways, the lower bounce angle will help the wedge glide helping with better contact.

4. Budget Size

Most of us have a certain budget when it comes to buying golf equipment. Luckily, there are a lot of options on the market when it comes to wedges. Tests done by industry experts do show differences in performance among brands. Nonetheless, that does not mean you have to buy the latest and most expensive wedge.

There are less expensive brands that are almost as good as the more expensive ones. The difference is usually in details that are not going to be crucial at the recreational level. Then there is the option of buying last year’s models which are often sold at a discounted price. The point is you can find a solid wedge for your budget.

5. Fitting Might Be an Option

Even when you have all the necessary info it could be overwhelming to go to a store and shop for a wedge. It is easy to get lost in all the numbers and different club settings. Sometimes you might not be able to identify what type of wedge would suit your swing the best. If you fall into this category, don’t worry, custom club fitting might be the solution.

Yes, custom club fitting comes with a price. Despite it costing money, it could pay off down the road. Fitters have all the data that will help them make suggestions for the best club for you. Technology came a long way and the numbers don’t lie. You don’t have to go by their suggestions, but you will have a better idea of where you’re at.

Scoring Clubs

Wedges are your scoring clubs, have that always on your mind. If you have a strong wedge game, you have a better chance of lowering your score. For that to work, you have to have the right clubs in your bag. Having clubs that suit your game can help you become a more consistent golfer. That is something we all aspire to.

Next time you are considering a new wedge, keep in mind all the suggestions above. Again, you can always ask for expert advice at your local golf store or golf course. When it comes to golf clubs, make sure you do your homework before getting new ones. Your game will be grateful and you will have much more fun while playing.

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How to Manage a Golf Course – 5 Tips for Beginners

January 15, 2023 Dan No Comments

No matter what level of golf you play, course management is something you should think about. When you start golfing all you are focusing on is hitting the ball down the fairway. That is understandable and there is nothing wrong with it. However, it would help if you started learning how to manage a golf course sooner rather than later.

You might be asking yourself what golf course management actually is. That is a fair question.

It is basically knowing how to approach and play a certain golf course. As you already know, each course is different. Because each golf course is different there are different ways to play them.

First of all, there are different types of golf courses. There is a huge difference if you play a links course versus a park golf course. Then there are the weather conditions as a major influence on the gameplay. Without further explanation, check these tips below that could help you with course management.

1. Know Your Club Distances

I honestly do not know many more important things than knowing how far you hit the ball with each golf club. It should be a straightforward thing for every golfer. But there are cases when recreational golfers do not have that info. In that case, it is really hard to golf, since you might be struggling to find the right club.

Ideally, there are two key numbers you know. One is how long each club carries the ball and two is the total distance for each club. Now, not everyone has access to launch monitors to know those distances. Even knowing the ballpark numbers based on the driving range sessions would be helpful already.

In a perfect world, you have a distance chart for each type and strength of your swing with each club. It does require time to get the numbers, but it can improve your game a lot. You can at least get a GPS application for your phone to track your distances when playing. That will give you some numbers which you can rely upon when golfing.

2. Learn Your Misses

We all know not all of our golf shots are going to be good. In fact, there is a greater chance most of them are not good. Even professional golfers often do not land the ball exactly where they want. That happens more than you would think. Nonetheless, there is a big difference between recreational and professional golfers when it comes to that.

Professional golfers know their misses. What that means is they are aware of where the ball could end after a bad shot and they play to that info. They choose an area to target according to their tendencies. For example, if a golfer tends to miss to the left, they will make sure to leave enough room for that ball to miss to the left.

This is really beneficial for approach shots. In the end, it can make a difference in the number of putts you take and give you low score chances. We all have tendencies when hitting the ball. Learn yours and make your rounds less painful.

3. Stay Away From Hero Shots

We have all been there. The temptation is ever present every time our ball ends up in a tricky lie. If we just choose the right club and hit that ball perfectly it is going to end up exactly where we want. The reality is, we are going to make a mess out of the hole. We’ll go for it and the ball is going to end up in the tree, in the water, or just a few yards ahead of us.

When you find yourself in a non-promising situation like in the deep rough, in the woods, or anything that does not look nice, you should just get the ball back into play. If you sacrifice a stroke, you can still come out with a bogey or even a par. That is great compared to what will most likely happen if you go for the hero shot.

4. Know the Hole Layout

If you play the course regularly, you probably have an idea of what each hole looks like. In case you find yourself playing a course for the first time, check each hole layout before you play it. You can do it either on the sign at the tee box (if there are signs), on your GPS device or app, or on the scorecard.

This is important for knowing where to aim at each shot. It will help you stay away from hazards and eventually help your score. Do not just hit the ball anywhere and hope for the best. As long as you know what to avoid when you are playing you are in good shape. The more you play a course, the more familiar you will be with all the holes which will lead to better rounds.

5. Think One Shot Ahead

When it comes to strategy, golf can sometimes be compared to a chess game. Ideally, you are choosing where to land the ball thinking about the next shot already. This goes hand in hand with the previous point of knowing the course layout. If you think about one shot ahead, you can position your ball in the best spot to execute the next one.

It will be especially helpful with approach shots. Make sure you position your ball at the distance you are comfortable hitting from into the green. Not just the distance, but also aim to the side of the fairway from where it is easier to land on the green. Try to avoid going over bunkers or any other types of hazards.

Another important thing related to this. A lot of flag positions can be inviting to aim right at them. Nevertheless, that can often lead to trouble. If the flag is in a nice position with a lot of green to work with and no big hazards, that is fine. Otherwise, it is better to aim for the middle of the green. That way you will most likely have a two-putt instead of a bogey or worse.

Be Prepared for Lower Scores and More Fun

At the end of the day, we are all looking to play our best and have a good time. Golf course management can help you with both. If you want to get better, this is one thing you can work on to help you with that. Like everything related to golf, it will require time and experience. There is no question you will be having more fun combined with lower scores as you go further.

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Categories: Golf Course

How to Get a Consistent Golf Swing – 5 Tips for Beginners

January 8, 2023 Dan No Comments

New golfers have one thing in common. They want to improve as fast as possible. The reasons are simple; play better and lower the score. The most important thing that leads to the promised land is a consistent golf swing. Once you have that nailed down, the doors start opening. Below you can read 5 tips on how to get a consistent golf swing.

Don’t get me wrong, there is no secret formula or anything like that. You will still have to work to improve your swing.

Golf is a game that will punish your inconsistency and reward your consistency. There will always be some hiccups no matter what, but that is a part of the game.

If you were to start gathering all the information about the golf swing, you would spend a long time doing it. Because of its nature, a lot has been written and said about it. That is all fine if you want to do it. However, there are some tips you can focus on that can help you to become more consistent.

1. Solid Setup

This goes without saying, a solid setup is crucial for a good swing execution. Basics play a big role in any sport and golf is no exception. Among the golf swing basics, setup is number one. The reason is, it all starts from there. Imagine building a house and having a bad foundation. It will probably not turn out well.

Your golf swing setup is the foundation you build your swing on. For that reason, you have to make sure the setup is in check for every type of shot you are trying to hit. There are several things you have to pay attention to when setting up your swing. All of them are equally important to make it work.

Ball position – make sure it corresponds to the club you are using for the shot
Feet width – this is important for both clubs and distance
Feet alignment – it will affect which way your ball is going to go
Grip – how you grip your can impact the contact and where the ball is going to go
Relation to the ball – be aware if you are standing too far or too close to the ball

2. Straight Lead Arm

When it comes to solid contact, keeping your arm straight through impact is very important. It can make all the difference between topping or chunking the ball and hitting it solidly. The fact is there are some professional golfers that get away with slightly bending the arm at the top of their backswing. Nonetheless, most experts recommend keeping it straight.

That translates to not overswinging. In other words, you should ideally end your backswing at the point before your lead arm starts bending. It helps with more power in the swing and leads to solid contact. The same goes for the follow-through. You should try to keep your lead arm straight as long as possible when finishing the swing as well.

3. Trail Elbow Tucked In

I would say the trail elbow position in the swing is often overlooked. Yet it plays an essential role in the swing outcome. Any situation when you extend your trail arm during the swing can lead to mis-hits. Not just mis-hits, but also loss of power and distance. It is equally important during the backswing, downswing, and at impact.

During the backswing, it helps keep your lead arm extended and helps get the club in position to store energy for impact and release. When it comes to the downswing and impact it helps the club to lean forward for solid contact. Keep the trail elbow tucked in at takeaway and the second part of the downswing and your striking will improve.

4. Side Bend Through the Swing

One of the biggest reasons for mis-hitting the golf ball is loss of relation to the ball during the swing. That is most often seen in the form of early extension. Every time early extension happens it leads to thin or fat shots. In order to become a consistent hitter, you have to keep the relation to the ball during the swing.

Side bend through the swing, more precisely through the downswing, impact, and follow-through, will improve your hitting. There are two key things that can help you to achieve that. One is the tucked-in trail elbow I mentioned above, and the other is the trail hand extension. If you do both those moves properly you can hit balls better than ever.

5. Swing Tempo

Now, this is a segment that recreational golfers rarely ever think about. It is easy to focus only on hitting the ball and swing parts. When you do only that, you are missing one of the key components of consistent ball striking. I used to fall into that category as well. Then I started noticing almost every time I was rushing my swing, the results were not good.

The point is not to swing as fast as you can, but actually to do it with a flow. When your swing tempo is moderate there is a better chance your strike is going to be better. Next time you are at a driving range, try to slow down your swing, especially the takeaway. Find a nice swing rhythm and you will improve your ball striking.

Practice and Patience

As we all know golf is a lifelong learning process. What we also know is that it usually takes a certain amount of time to get good at golf. I know, good is relative because it can mean different things to each golfer. Not everyone has the ambition to become a scratch golfer, and there is nothing wrong with that.

At the same time, I am certain everyone who golfs wants to become better at it. To do that requires practice. Not any type of practice, but practice with a purpose. To make it work, in every practice session, you should have a plan. Work on certain swing parts at a time, the results will be better. Most importantly, have patience and have fun while doing it.

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2020 Wilson Duo Soft+ Golf Ball Review

January 1, 2023 Dan No Comments

When you go to the company website there is a statement considering this product. It states that it is “the world’s softest and longest premium 2-piece ball”. That is a very bold statement. Now, I will not try to debunk that statement by any means. In the Wilson Duo Soft+ golf ball review, I will let you know how the ball performed for me.

As far as the compression rating goes Wilson’s website states 35, although some independent sources have it a touch higher on average.

It is a 2 piece ball with an ionomer cover and new Velociticor core technology that contributes to the soft feel while delivering long distance.

Wilson Duo Soft+ Box by golfballsworld.com

The only Wilson golf ball I ever played before was the Triad that came out in 2022. To put it in simple words, that ball performed very well. This one is a couple of years older and it is the new edition in the Duo line Wilson started back in 2011. I am expecting a decent performance considering it is not a tour-level ball.

Who Is This Ball For?

This ball feels soft, very soft. It is definitely among a few softest golf balls I have ever tried. In case you are someone who likes a very soft feel, this could be a strong candidate for purchase. Its low compression suggests it suits better golfers with slower swing speeds. Even if you are in the medium swing speeds category, you could still benefit from it.

If the distance is a priority in your game it could be a solid option as well. I can’t say it was the longest ever I hit in the 2 piece category, but it is not far from that. On top of everything, it is a very budget-friendly golf ball. Overall, beginners and senior golfers could benefit the most from it.

PROS

Beginner Friendly
Distance
Price
Soft Feel

CONS

Not for Fast Swing Speeds
Less Short Game Spin

Wilson Duo Soft+

Review by golfballsworld.com

Distance Control

Chipping and Pitching

Putting

Durability

Appearance

Price

4.4

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On the Green

Of all the areas related to performance, this ball did the best on the green. I have to start with the feel. It felt very soft and the sound it was making was among the most mellow ones I tried so far. I really enjoyed putting with this ball, even though it did let me down on a few occasions.

There were no issues with shorter putts. It was easy to control the pace and get the distance. Another thing that was working is keeping the line. This was the case both for short and long putts. Nevertheless, I did struggle a bit with the pace on longer putts. Most of them I was leaving too short. This was really prominent on long uphill putts.

That might have to do with me being used to higher compressed balls. Although I could not crack longer putts, putting with the Duo Soft+ was a positive experience.

Around the Green

The word I would use to describe how this ball did around the green is fine. Meaning, it did not do great but did not do horrible either. Although, the feeling while chipping and pitching was very soft like when putting. The lack of greenside spin made me work harder on judging the pace and finding the right spot for landing it.

Even for bump and run shots, I had a harder time adjusting to the ball. The case was mostly leaving it short of the hole. When it comes to higher-flighted shots, it was not much different. That being said, I am probably making it sound worse than it was. As I mentioned earlier it was still a decent performance around the green.

Approach Shots

The performance on approach shots was right in the middle. It was better than around the green, but not quite good as putting. That still puts this area in the well-done column. Since I try golf balls on a par 3 course, every shot is an approach shot. That underlines the importance of this section.

I will start again from the feel. It felt very soft upon contact and hitting it felt nice. The distance control worked well due to the mostly high flight trajectory. Because of it, the ball would stop fairly close to the landing spot without too much roll. When I wanted to keep the ball lower there were no issues whatsoever.

Even when the ball trajectory was medium, it seemed fine to control the distance. There was no crazy spin or anything like that upon landing, but that is nothing I expected from it anyway. To sum it up, the ball behaved well on approach shots. It was going a long distance when needed and it was fairly controllable.

Wilson Duo Soft+ Alignment — Wilson Duo Soft+ by golfballsworld.com

Appearance and Price

Unlike the Wilson Triad which has a classier black-and-white look, the Duo Soft+ is colorful. The Wilson Staff logo has the regular red color in it, while the ball number is red as well. When it comes to the alignment arrow, I would say it is just ok. It does not look fancy or anything like that, but it does the job.

Price wise this ball is placed among the likes of the Bridgestone e6, Callaway Supersoft, and the Titleist TruFeel. In other words, it is quite a competition. When we take that into consideration, it could be challenging to emerge as a choice. However, the balls are fairly often on promotion which makes them appealing to deal seekers.

Durability

This was a very pleasant surprise to me. I never judge the ball by the cover, until I actually try it. The Duo Soft+ did very well in this category. After a full round on a par 3 course, there were only a few visible marks and maybe a scuff or two. This gives it some additional value for money if you are looking for longer-lasting golf balls.

Final Verdict

This may not be the first choice you want to buy when you walk into a golf store. That does not mean it is not a good golf ball. On the contrary, it is a very decent product for a fair price. Overall, it can compete with the big brand ball in the same category. If you are considering it, give it a chance, you never know.

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Categories: Golf Balls Golf Balls Reviews Wilson Golf Balls