I have always seen Volvik golf balls as balls that are there, available in the store, but never thought of actually buying them. Now I can say I am glad I did buy them and gave them a try. This is the Volvik Vivid golf ball review of the newest version of the first-ever matte-finish golf ball. The matte finish means the ball does not have the shiny finish all the other golf balls have. It could be compared to matte color cars vs regular color cars.
Volvik is known for colorful golf balls, but they do offer a good old white ball with a matte finish as well. This ionomer cover ball with a compression rating of 75 is intended for players with slow to medium driver swing speeds. The Volvik website specifies the recommended swing speed from 70 to 100 mph.
My Verdict
Volvik has been around for a long time, over 40 years. A lot of people might be surprised by that fact because they always seem to be in the shadow of the big players on the golf balls market. They may not be making great balls by top PGA Tour players’ standards, but they certainly make more than solid recreational golf balls. Overall it was a pleasant surprise to play with this ball.
In a sea of golf ball products, this one is underrated and deserves more chances. Because of the matte finish, it will not be for everyone’s taste, and that is understandable. All in all, it is a very solid golf ball. Whichever ball you end up playing, always remember to have fun while on the course.
Who Is This Ball For?
This ball would be a good choice for players who like to play with colorful balls due to all the colors Volvik offers. Players with slow to medium swing speeds find it a good fit. Its higher flight trajectory helps the ball to stop quicker on the green despite the lower spin.
Maybe do not buy it if you just started golfing, there are cheaper options for that. You could buy it if you want to try a three-piece ball without overspending.
PROS
- A Lot of Color Options
- Distance
- Price
- Soft Feel
CONS
- Available Only in Matte Finish
Volvik Vivid
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On the Green
Putting this ball felt good despite a bit clickier sound compared to shiny finished balls. It may have to do something with the matte finish, which was quite the opposite of the chipping and putting sound.
When it comes to the performance, the ball did not disappoint. Both reactions to long and short putts were really good. It was rolling nicely, rarely going too far off-line.
Around the Green
It was just one of those days when you chip a bit more, and in that situation, the ball did not disappoint whatsoever. The feeling off the clubface was soft on both short and long chips. It was reacting nicely on the green making it possible to get it close to the hole on several occasions. This goes especially for bump-and-run chips when it is easy to control.
The pitching worked fine as well, the ball again felt soft off the clubface. I’m not sure if the soft feel came from the matte finish since the medium compression rating suggests it would feel a touch harder than it did. The sound was very mild and pleasant to the ear. Distance control on pitch shots was good, the ball would stop on the green quickly.
Approach Shots
Testing the ball on a par 3 course means all shots are approach shots. For someone who usually does not use matte finish balls, I had a lot of fun hitting the Volvik Vivid ball. The feeling was simply nice. There was no problem reaching the usual distances or even going a touch further at times.
Stopping on the green was not an issue, and the ball trajectory was on the higher end. Most of the time it would stop quite soon after a few bounces and a roll. The enjoyment was even better on the shots where the club struck the ball around the middle of the clubface.
Appearance and Price
It is not shiny, it looks a bit odd in a non-color matte finish, but it looks nice. On one side there is the recognizable Volvik logo with Vivid written in smaller all caps right below it. Then there is the alignment arrow the company calls Volvik Alignment System. According to their website, it is “Created as a visual key off the tee and on the green”. It looks decent and clear, it certainly does a good job with the alignment. I did not try to align it off the tee, but it helped on the green.
The ball comes in blue, green, orange, pink, purple, red, white, and yellow colors. There is also the assorted dozen balls package with 4 different colors.
For a three-piece golf ball, this one is on the lower end of the cost chart. It is one of its strong suits. The ball also comes in the Marvel superhero editions which are a bit more expensive. The price is good enough for you not to feel too bad even if you send one straight into the water hazard.
Durability
When it comes to durability, the ionomer cover does a very solid job. After a round on a par 3 course, the ball had an average amount of marks with barely any visible scuffs on the outside layer. Playing for the first time with this ball, I was not sure what to expect from a three-piece matte finish product. Let’s say it left a more than a positive impression. Most likely the ball could go through multiple rounds with no significant impact on the performance.
Alternatives
You can check some other balls with similar characteristics:
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