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Vice Tour Golf Ball Review: A Budget Friendly Distance Performer

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Jack Backhouse brings you the low down on the Vice Tour golf balls – do they offer golfers a great value-for-money option seeking extra distance?

Vice Tour golf ball | Source: NCG

If you’re in the market for an affordable golf ball that delivers on distance, the Vice Tour may be the golf ball for you. No doubt this ball is excellent value for money, but does performance match the affordability? Let’s take a look at the numbers produced during the Vice Tour golf ball review..

National Club Golfer and National Club Golfer magazine
NCG SUMMARY

The Vice Tour golf ball is a great choice for golfers prioritising distance and durability over short-game control. While it lacks green side spin, it delivers excellent driver and iron performance, making it one of the better budget-friendly options available.

It is an attractive option given its price point offering stable distance gains at the fraction of the cost of some other golf balls.

PROS

  • Excellent driver and iron distance
  • Durable
  • Affordable

CONS

  • Low green side spin
  • Firm and clicky feel on putts

Vice Tour Golf Ball Review: First Impressions

The first thing you notice is the firm feel. Unlike premium urethane-covered tour balls, the Vice Tour has a Surlyn cover, which gives it a noticeably harder touch. Off the putter, it produced a high-pitched, clicky sound which isn’t the most pleasing feedback if you’re used to a softer response. That said, the Tour alignment aid is a handy feature for those who like to line up putts.

NCG Verdict

It’s fair to say that though the overall feel off the putter and wedges is firm, the short game area wasn’t where the Vice Tour golf ball is supposed to excel.

Vice Tour golf ball review

Despite the lack of some technological inclusions for performance gains, this ball will last you a while due to its choice of cover. The Surlyn cover provides added durability, making this a good option for golfers who don’t lose many balls but frequently play from bunkers or hit multiple chips per round.

Unlike urethane-covered balls, I found the Vice Tour’s cover holds up well over repeated shots.

For those who rely on greenside spin, this ball may disappoint. In 50-yard pitch shots during my testing, spin rates hovered around 5,000 RPM, which is relatively low. This high launch and low spin profile meant stopping power on approach shots was limited. Compared to similarly priced alternatives like the Kirkland Signature I have previously used, which offers more spin, the Vice Tour was noticeably less responsive around the greens.

Vice Tour golf ball review

Where the Vice Tour shines is in distance performance. When I had a 7-iron, ball speed reached 117.5 mph, carrying 164 yards with a total of 173 yards. While the spin was slightly lower than ideal operating at 6,000 RPM instead of 7,000 RPM, the high peak height and descent angle made up for it.

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Vice Tour golf ball review

When it comes to driver performance this is where the Vice Tour really delivered for me. Off the driver, the numbers I was able to reach were impressive for a ball at this price point. The carry of 275 yards and a total distance of 294 yards in the table above was very good visible, especially considering the price point. 

Compared to the Kirkland I had previously hit, the Vice Tour was around 10-12 yards longer with the driver. This makes it a solid choice for players prioritising distance.

Final Verdict

While the Vice Tour delivers excellent driver and iron distance, I think its lack of greenside spin and firm feel make it a tough sell for players who rely on finesse shots. Although, if you’re after an affordable distance ball that performs well off the tee, this is a great option.

If you’re a golfer where spin and feel around the greens matter to you, alternatives like the Kirkland or a urethane-covered ball might be a better fit.

Vice Tour Golf Ball Review: The Details

Available: Now

RRP: £27.99 (a dozen) / $27.99

Colour: White / Grey

More information: Vice website / Amazon website

About the author

Callaway Epic Max driver review
Jack Backhouse

A member of the PGA for 13 years, Jack has lived golf for more than half his life. Inspired by Tiger Wood’s winning putt at the 2008 US Open, an obsession began with watching slow motion golf swings on the internet and reading What’s In The Bag articles in magazines.

Not destined for a life behind the desk in a pro shop, Jack has focussed more on coaching, working closely with regional teams in North Yorkshire and helping golfers of all levels on their journey to enjoying playing the game more. Jack has coached many junior golfers into the county teams, and once worked with a player at the 2018 Open Championship at Carnoustie.

After letting his game fall apart prior to COVID, Jack rediscovered his love for playing golf after joining Silloth Golf Club in 2020 and whipping round the windy, firm links course. Playing regularly with a half set of clubs he has a passion for shot making and developing skill, and claims to have the sharpest 30-100 yard game in the North of England (only because he doesn’t know anyone in the South), and now maintains a +1 handicap at a club much closer to home, Sand Moor GC.

Jack has always tinkered with his equipment, once building his own Frankenstein one length set of clubs after watching Bryson DeChambeau burst onto the scene after winning the US Amateur. He firmly believes in getting custom fit and is happy to debate anyone about blade irons being superior to any other iron category.

Jack loves: playing quickly, 2 ball golf, match play, heathland courses, pencil bags, foursomes, Tiger Wood’s swing 2005-2009.

Jack hates: buggies, unnecessary trees, giving shots, the 7 iron loft debate, graphite shaft lovers weird superiority complex.

What’s In Jack’s Bag:

Titleist TSR2 Driver

Titleist TSR2 Fairway wood

TaylorMade P7MB 3-P

Titleist SM10 wedges

TaylorMade TP Reserve Blade putter

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Vice Tour Golf Ball Review: A Budget Friendly Distance Performer | National Club Golfer