The Vice Pro golf ball has a three-piece construction, a cast urethane cover, and a low-compression core; it is thus designed for golfers with swing speeds between 80 and 100 mph. The Vice Pro Plus offers a four-piece ball and a cast urethane cover with a high Energy Speed Core and best suits golfers with swing speeds above 100 mph.
While the Vice Golf Ball has gained popularity in recent years, it hasn’t convinced me to abandon my loyalty to the Titleist Pro V1. Initially, I switched to the Vice Pro and later the Pro Plus primarily due to cost considerations. However, I must admit that these two golf balls have greatly enhanced my overall golfing experience.
I have prepared this article to place the Vice Pro and Pro Plus side by side, distinguishing their specific offerings and how they performed individually in my launch monitor testing compared to other Tour-style balls on various relevant factors such as feel, distance, and spin.
Vice Pro And Pro Plus Golf Ball Compared
Vice Pro
$37
- Vice pro has a soft feel off the clubface
- Has a soft and durable cast urethane cover
- Offers a low compression, high-energy core
Vice Pro Plus
$39
- 4-piece construction with cast urethane cover
- Spots a dual-core technology
- Has a higher spin off the tee and around the green
The first observation of distinction that caught my attention between the Vice Pro and Vice Pro Plus is that the former keeps up with premium brands of the tee. They feel great and do spin, but pitching, and chipping spin is about 10–15% lower than my previous Pro V1x.
On the other hand, the Vice Pro Plus does a better job of offering great tee-to-green distance for high-swing speed players. It is the better option for those who want to reduce spin throughout the game, just like the Pro v1x Left Dash.
Here’s an overview of the comparison between the Vice Pro and Pro Plus golf balls:
Factors | Vice Pro | Vice Pro Plus |
Construction | 3-piece construction with cast urethane cover | 4-piece construction with cast urethane cover |
Core | Low compression, high-energy core | Dual-core technology |
Cover | Soft and durable cast urethane cover | |
Dimples | 318 dimple design | 336 dimple design |
Spin | High spin off the tee and around the green | Higher spin off the tee and around the green |
Distance | Long distance with low driver spin | Extra distance with reduced driver spin |
Feel | Soft feel off the clubface | |
Wind Resistance | Decent | Improved |
Price | $39 per dozen | $32 per dozen |
Construction and Design
The design of the Vice Pro is a 3-piece construction with 318 dimples. This is already a hint of its stable trajectory. Its counterpart, Vice Pro Plus, has a 4-Piece construction with 336 dimples, making it a perfect choice for speed and a lowered trajectory.
But in construction and design, both balls share the same soft and durable cast urethane cover. They are also offered in various colors beyond the standard white and yellow.
Compression and Feel
I did not expect any massive gap between both balls in terms of compression or feel, given that they share similar features that would have set them apart in this category. However, I noticed they had a slightly lower pitch and were quieter upon impact.
The ‘tock’ impact of the Vice Pro Plus is also pleasant, but the Pro does it better. Meanwhile, I felt more firmness and responsiveness while handling the Pro Plus. The feedback on strike quality was better than the Pro.
But both models feel similar to other Tour-style balls, and none are clicky or hard off the clubface.
Spin and Control
The Vice Pro is designed to offer low spin for the driver, providing more distance and a piercing trajectory. However, it still generates enough spin on iron shots to give control and stopping power to the greens.
On the other hand, the Vice Pro Plus generates a slightly higher spin off the driver, which can lead to a lower launch angle and more spin on iron shots. This extra spin is a bonus if you need more stopping power on approach shots.
Another thing I noticed while testing these two balls is that the Vice Pro provides a good balance of distance and control. I’m a player who values a penetrating ball flight with a controlled spin, so this was a good sell for me.
However, the higher spin rates of the Vice Pro Plus will appeal more to players who want precise shot shaping and stopping power on the greens.
As you know, spin is crucial for distance and shot-shaping abilities. With the Vice Pro, the low spin off the driver can significantly reduce unwanted side spin, which translates to a straighter ball flight and potentially more distance.
Distance and Flight
How these balls fly based on your swing speed is the principal factor that sets them apart. The Vice Golf brand recommends that you go with the Vice Pro Plus if you have a swing speed over 110 mph because it means you can compress the ball for a longer drive properly.
But if your swing speed is between 95 and 100 mph, stick with the Vice Pro golf ball. Let me mention here that I did not notice any significant difference in speed or spin between these models in this regard, but it’s worth noting that the Pro Plus tends to fly a little lower on the course.
For some players, it may be a different experience. So it all depends on your playing style. But one thing is sure: both models are solid off the driver for speed and spin, and they will perform pretty well when compared with regular tour balls.
Pricing and Availability
On the Vice Golf website, The Vive Pro sells for $39 per dozen and is available in white, Neon Red, Neon Lime, Pro ice blue, and pro shade red plus orange.
Meanwhile, the Vice Pro Plus sells for $32 per dozen, but it’s only available in white, neon lime, neon red, and shade of yellow or orange.
Final Remarks
After testing the Vice Pro and Vice Pro Plus, these four things stood out:
- You will enjoy the Vice Pro more if you value more feel and control around the greens
- The Vice Pro Plus will appeal more to players who want distance and more penetrating ball flight
- Your swing speed and playing styles will ultimately determine which is best for you
- They are both budget-friendly options compared to most competitors offering similar value.
While you’re here, I recommend you use the Vice brand golf ball fitting tool on their website. It can help you pick the one that fits your game better.