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.

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.

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.

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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I have been doing golf balls reviews for almost two years now. This one will be the first one that involves a direct-to-consumer product. Vice golf has been around for some time and has established itself as a quality golf brand. In the 2020 Vice Drive golf ball review, I will let you know how the most affordable ball from the Vice lineup did on the course.

All that I read made me excited to go out and give it a try. To be fair, it does not say anywhere the ball will make you a better golfer or that it will go the longest distance. I find it very nice when the information about balls is on the realistic side like in this case. Like all my reviews, this one is also based on the ball’s performance on a par 3 course.

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Who Is This Ball For?

When it comes to the targeted audience, I have to agree with the manufacturer. Due to its low compression and emphasis on distance, this ball will suit beginners and occasional golfers. One of the main reasons is new golfers usually swing the clubs slower, and this is where the low compression component comes into play.

The other two points that add to this are the price and durability. No matter if you are a new golfer or an occasional golfer, you will be losing balls (you will even with more experience, just less frequently). It is easier to cope with a loss of a less expensive ball than a premium one. If they are durable as well, it adds to the overall value for money.

However, there is one more category that can benefit from these balls. That category is senior golfers due to their slower swing speed. Vice might be not familiar to you, and that is understandable. Sometimes we have to give a chance to less known products, they may surprise us. Check below to see how the ball actually did through different segments of play.

On the Green

It felt really nice with this ball. I will not exaggerate when I say it was one of the nicest feelings I have experienced since I’ve been reviewing golf balls. That being said, it did take me a bit to get used to how the ball reacts on the green. Because of that, I left it short of the hole a few times.

Nonetheless, once I got used to it all was fine. It became easier to control the pace on both long and short putts. After the adjustment, the putts were finishing mostly in the 3-4 foot proximity to the hole. Some longer ones even went in which was great. Overall, putting was a very positive experience.

Around the Green

When it comes to chip and pitch shots this ball did a decent job. Bump and run chip shots are the ones I go to the most when in proximity to the green. Here the ball performed with mixed results. Most of the chips were all right with a passing grade for distance control. The feel off the club face was very soft on each shot.

One thing that this ball is lacking is a bit more greenside spin. This was noticeable with bump and run chip shots, and even more with higher trajectory chip shots. Less greenside spin does not give the ball enough stopping power so you have to rely more on your feel. Nevertheless, it is still very manageable to play this ball around the green.

Approach Shots

Approach shots are very important, especially on a par 3 course since every shot is an approach one. This is the category where the ball performed the best. First of all, the feel off the clubface vas very soft. It just felt so good to hit it every single time. Secondly, the distance control was all right, with no particular adjustments needed.

Once the ball would land on the green it would stop rolling fairly quickly. The main reason for that was the high flight trajectory. That is good because it compensates for less spin. When you add a good overall distance the ball was reaching, you get a very solid performance.

Appearance and Price

This golf ball looks simply nice. There is absolutely nothing looking bad when you check it out. The Vice logo is written in their signature cursive which looks modern. When it comes to the alignment arrow, it is simple and straightforward. A black line that resembles a line drawn with a sharpie and the ball’s name in white letters on it.

Regarding the price, it is hardly beatable. For a ball of this quality to be that affordable is very rare. Vice explains the price as a perk of the direct-to-consumer approach the company has. They just cut out all the middlemen and give the consumers quality balls for less money. The only shame is the ball is available only in white color. Maybe Vice can consider adding a couple of color options in the future.

Durability

I would definitely not classify this ball as extremely durable like Vice describes its construction. That being said, I would still place it among the more durable balls in its class. After a full round, there were some visible marks on it, and maybe a scuff or two. There was nothing too concerning that would affect the performance whatsoever.

Final Verdict

In conclusion, I was very satisfied with the overall experience this ball offered. There is nothing to point out about it that would suggest a bad product. It is worth noting this is the only two-piece golf ball Vice offers. Perhaps that explains why they have created such a solid recreational ball.

As I have mentioned above it is a great option for beginners, occasional golfers, and senior golfers. There are a lot of things to like about it, but the price is possibly its strongest selling point. In case you are looking for something affordable and reliable, you may not have to look any further. This ball could be it.

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