(hdcp 11, driver 220~250, slight draw) I am working on choosing my next golfball, and based on price and performance, I've ended up with Vice brand balls. There are plenty of choices, but based on performance numbers, picked the Pro and the Tour versions for trial. I loved the Pro! Urethane cover, firm but feels elastically soft, comparable to Gamer although Gamer is supposed to be softer at 77 or so compression. I think Vice Pro is 85 or 90. The numbers are great too: low driver spin, high iron and wedge spin. It really feels like it's being "cut" by the wedge when you chip with it. Although the cut is literal if you pitch it for more than 40 yards. But why try the Tour when the Pro works so well? The difference in pricing is substancial at $10 per box, or $9 if you buy 5 boxes at the mfg website. Back to the Tour version, which name is really an oxymoron, the numbers are equally as impressive based on the manufacturer's testing numbers, and it feels like they are true numbers based on my experience. The big drawback is the feel of this ball. When chipping, it fells like I'm hitting on a hard shell, almost like an eggshell except it doesn't crack. But the ball does hold the greens when chipping and I can't tell the difference in spin between the Tour and Pro versions. So... I will stick to Tour for a couple of boxes before deciding on which to use for the next few years. Now if money was no object, I'd definitely use the Pro, but I'm cheap and I play often. And I am not the guy who goes off to the trail to find a wayward drive. After playing a round, Vice Tour performed as well as the Vice Pro, but the firm contact is obvious. If you're ok with that or if you actually like that, then this ball is great. I've always played with a softer ball, but the change didn't affect my score negatively, so the testing continues. After 6 boxes (I play multiple rounds per week), I've gotten used to these so I bought 5 more. They are actually longer than the urethane covered Pros, and offer enough spin even on shorter wedge shots. If you compare the numbers in Vice testing combined with the advertised 95mph swing driver spin, Tour is longer than Pro, but that's usually the case with a lower spinning ball. Someone at the corporate probably noticed this so to promote the Pro - higher priced, there are many more pretty finishes offered. I'm sticking to these for now. More importantly, these putt very different than the Pro, so don't mix the two when playing, you'll be leaving putts short using the Pro or zoom past the hole using the Tour (I'm exaggerating). Update 7/2022: handicap 10, driving 250...I've fully adjusted to VIce Tour. These play really well with every club, long on drivers, hold greens with the long and mid irons, and chip well. The harder feel seems satisfying rather than an annoyance, the single white color is easy to overlook, and the price is right.
