Everybody likes to try and find alternatives for the Pro V1 golf balls.
We can all agree that the Pro V1 has incredible technology, feel, and performance. However, it’s expensive.
With a golf ball like Vice Pro Plus, you may have an option for something a little less expensive that has similar performance.
I tested the Vice Pro Plus on the course to see how it compares to premium balls. We’ll see if it holds up to what Vice says about it, and decide if I would actually put this one into play on my next round of golf.
Why listen to us? Our team has tested dozens and dozens of the top balls on the market (you can read in-depth review of each here). We keep detailed notes and findings about each one to come up with our recommendations for you.
Overall Rating and Thoughts
The only reason I ranked the Vice Pro Plus a little lower than some other Vice balls I tried is that it is only geared toward a specific player. If your swing speed is less than 110 mph, I’d stay away.
However, if you know you can create speed and you want high levels of spin and a great feel, you will be impressed with what the Vice Pro Plus has to offer for the money.
Overall Score: 8.9/10
Vice Pro Plus Features
Although the Vice Pro and the Vice Pro Plus are really considered the top two golf balls from Vice, the Vice Pro Plus is often considered the best ball. Here are some of the features and technology you can expect from the Vice Pro Plus.
4 Piece Golf Ball
Vice Pro Plus is a 4 piece golf ball with a High Energy Speed Core designed to produce higher ball speed. With any 4 piece golf ball, you can expect quite a bit of technology and performance from both the tee and green.
The Vice Pro also features an elastic dual mantel that only further contributes to the high ball speed numbers this ball achieves.
Higher Compression
Vice does not advertise the compression of the Vice Pro Plus, but it is higher compression than any of the other balls in the lineup. Higher-compression golf balls are great for players who generate a lot of clubhead speed.
I would estimate that the compression of the Vice Pro Plus is around 95.
Cast Urethane Cover
Cast urethane provides a softer cover that feels more responsive around the greens. All of the best golf balls on the market feature a cast urethane cover capable of helping you feel in control.
Vice advertises this cover as being extra thin to help improve overall responsiveness.
Stick 2 The Green Technology
The Stick 2 The Green technology is something you see only in the more premium golf balls from Vice. This allows for that little extra pullback and spin on the greens that increase overall control of your shots.
The Stick 2 The Green technology will be beneficial if you like higher greenside spin.
Vice Pro Plus Performance
The Vice Pro Plus is a great all around golf ball. Vice did a really good job of pinpointing exactly what a faster swing speed player needs and incorporating it all into this ball.
But here’s an important takeaway: unless you have around 110 mph of swing speed with your driver, the Vice Pro Plus performance will not help your game.
Feel and Sound
The feel of the Vice Pro Plus is a little harder than the other golf balls in the Vice lineup. I would say that you can certainly feel that this is a 4 piece ball, as compared to another 3 or 2 piece ball on the market.
However, with the cast urethane cover, the feel is still soft enough around the greens.
Again, the higher compression here is also going to give the Vice Pro Plus a deeper sound. It’s not clicky, nor is it rubbery. Overall, feel and sound can compete with any premium golf ball on the market.
Spin
The Vice Pro Plus has a low spin rate from the tee, so you can get plenty of distance. In addition, the 336 dimple pattern will lower the ball flight, making it even easier to get those few extra yards of roll off the tee.
Spin into the greens on approach shots is another positive of this Vice Pro Plus. However, if you miss one a bit or don’t compress it fully, the spin rates are not nearly as good.
This is just another reason to stay away from the Vice Pro Plus if you have slower swing speeds.
Spin around the greens is about as high as you are going to get within the Vice line. I had no trouble stopping the golf ball quickly, but I won’t claim that it spins like a Pro V1x or a Chrome Soft.
However, it’s pretty comparable, considering the price.
Greenside Control
I like the greenside control of the Vice Pro Plus. I had no issues getting the ball to stop and landing it where I wanted to. Even on difficult slopes or out of a difficult lie, the Vice Pro Plus can respond quickly enough with Stick 2 The Green technology.
I was a little worried about the 4 piece construction and whether the ball would feel a little too harsh around the greens. However, the urethane cover quickly made up for this and gave it a much softer and more beneficial feel.
Distance
Distance off the tee from the Vice Pro Plus is great.
However, I personally didn’t feel it was the best for iron approach shots. I think with the 4 piece compression, you aren’t going to maximize distance on your approach with your irons unless you have a ton of speed.
Overall, as long as you have some power and speed, distance won’t be a problem. For slower swing speed players, expect to lose some distance with this ball in play.
Price
Pricing here is great. The Vice Pro Plus is fairly priced – it’s more along the lines of a middle of the road 3 piece ball, but the 4 piece technology here is worth the money. I was a little nervous about the thin cast urethane cover, but it held up fine after around two rounds of golf.
I think golfers with very high swing speeds may cut this one coming out of a bunker or if they have sharp grooves on the wedges, but that’s to be expected.
What I Like About The Vice Pro Plus
The Vice Pro Plus is one of the better balls in the Vice lineup, and I like it. I think the Vice Pro is a bit more geared to my swing speed, but the Vice Pro Plus is a close second.
Playability Around The Greens
Around the greens, the Vice Pro Plus listens to you.
If you want to hit a shorter shot with plenty of spin, the Pro Plus responds quite well. Out of the bunker and even out of the rough, I could get spin. The further back I got from the hole, the easier it was to get spin. It’s a ball that favors a good player.
Overall Feel
Overall feel of the Vice Pro Plus is quite good. The urethane cover allows it to stay soft even though the construction is a little thicker. I’m impressed with the way the ball comes off the clubface and the way it responds, regardless of the situation.
As long as you have higher swing speeds, the Vice Pro Plus has a great feel from 100 yards and in.
Distance from The Tee
From the tee box, the Vice Pro Plus goes a long way. Lower spin allows it to roll, and the dimple pattern with a few extra dimples makes the ball flight more penetrating.
What I Don’t Like About The Vice Pro Plus
The Vice Pro Plus is a great golf ball without too many negatives. The only thing you have to watch here is that it’s not a good fit for everyone.
Not a Good Choice for Slower Swing Speed Players
If you don’t have a fast swing speed, stay away from the Vice Pro Plus. You won’t get enough distance from this golf ball, and the spin benefits won’t be great either.
The Cover Can Cut
Let’s remember that this is a cheaper golf ball than the top options from Callaway, TaylorMade, and Titleist. Therefore, golfers with the highest swing speeds may struggle with the cover cutting from time to time.
Brittany Olizarowicz
Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children. Current Handicap: 1
