Oncore Elixir vs Vice vs Snell?

I'm really liking the Elixir these days. But in my search for a premium ball at a better price I've yet to try any of the Vice or Snell offerings. Since I really like the Elixir I'm looking for feedback from members who have played both the Elixir and comparable offerings from Vice and Snell. I want to compare apples to apples so to speak so am wondering which Vice and Snell offerings are closest to the Elixir in specs, feel, and performance? I'm wanting to test a specific model of each of the aforementioned balls without having to try all their different models. Thanks in advance for any responses.

I haven't played or seen any testing on the Elixir yet; sorry. But I can tell you that Snell tests out far superior to Vice; the MTB-X is one of the best golf balls on the market at any price.

I played Vice all of last year and Snell all of this year. Similar performance, but much better cover durability with Snell.

I’ve played the Vice pro in winter. Really good ball.

Have played all 3. All are good but IIHMO the Snell is better by a decent amount. Snell is as good as any ball by the top companies. I like the Black over hte X for my game. I would then say Elixer then Vice, but you would have to test for yourself. All are good it is just what you fits your game.

Looks like I'll try the Snell. Do you know which model would be closest to the Elixir in the feel deparrment?

Id go with whatever is the cheapest because they are all the same ball. I still dont buy into the notion that Dean Snell designs his own ball (because its all older technology) and I still think that just like Vice, Snell, OnCore, etc, etc, etc that they all just order balls from Foremost and they are all the same thing.

The thing that most seem to overlook with Snell is that they dont even offer a 4-piece ball. The most that you can get is a 3-piece. Sorry but I just dont buy into the Snell hype.

That’s a bold statement and I disagree. Played the MTB-X for a season and two different Vice balls in the same timespan, as I was comparing the direct-to-customer offerings. They behave noticeably different, enough so that a 19 hcp can see it.

Ok, but there is a LOT of independent testing available that says otherwise. The Snell balls and the Vice balls did NOT perform the same in testing; Snell is clearly superior, and on a par with ProV1 and TPX balls. That's not my opinion; that's independent testing data.

I'm not sure what you want a 4th layer to DO; the MTB-X tests out as either the longest or second longest ball on the market, AND is an extremely high spin ball as well. Not quite as high spin as the ProV1x, but close. There is no Vice ball that tests out nearly as high in either distance or iron spin. I wish I was familiar with Elixir; maybe nest year when the testing has been done.

Honestly, I think the main advantage snell has is knowing which factories to use and access to them... he was in the industry long enough to have built relationships, and enough technical knowledge to know what he’s asking for.

the only recent innovation I’ve seen recently is the Bridgestone covers, and while they are great, they aren’t game changing. Everything else has been incremental improvements...

I hope your accuracy is better on the course then this post. Snell's golf balls are made by Nassau in S. Korea and not by Foremost who is in Taiwan. Also, Dean does in fact design his own products and they make them to his specs. I am also pretty sure he had a working relationship with them during his time with TM. Finally, Snell is the better ball. Period.

I've tried the Snells, Vice Pro's, and currently gave the OnCore Elixr's. I was never a fan of the Vice balls. They distance always felt short to me comparatively (no hard data to back it up for me ... just what I felt when I played it). The Snell balls are amazing ... both the X and Black are terrific golf balls and tough to beat. I wanted to try something different and got the Elixr for $20 a dozen so couldn't pass it up.

I'd say the OnCore Elixr probably most closely compares to the Snell MTB-Black more so than the MTB-X. The iron spin is not quite as spinny as the MTB-X. I'd say the Elixr feels slightly softer than the MTX-X and maybe slightly more firm than the MTB-Black. The MTB-Black and Elixr both feel fantastic, good/great distance off the tee box, above average greenside spin, etc.

I could play the Snell or Elixr all day every day and be perfectly happy. I think you'd be splitting hairs between them but the sample packs with Snell is a perfect way to do a comparison.

I am currently playing the Oncore. For me, never got along with Vice. Played Snell Black but the ball hasn’t been updated for a few years so was looking for something with a little more value. Will try some Snell’s next time they update the balls. Anyway for me the Oncore is a great value. I got mine at $25 a dozen so cheaper then the Snell and Vice. I fell this ball is slightly longer and softer than the Snell Black. Not major, maybe a few yards. Could not notice a major difference in spin but maybe a tad more than the Black and a tad less then MTB X. Nothing for me noticeable.

So Snell has all those ball patents just from buying balls from Foremost? Interesting.

I'd play Snell ifZ Star XVs weren't so cheap.

What kind of quality control does Encore use? This also a question for Vice ?

It's a valid question for ANY ball, especially in light of the information that came out earlier in the year about the Chrome Soft core being off center. If it's a problem for Callaway, then it's in play for everybody. In general, the big companies (Titleist, TM, and Callaway) are going to have the most control over the process from start to finish, including quality control. But I don't know of any way that the consumer can verify what any company is or is not doing, whether one of the big guys or one of the direct sale companies.

There were two independent robot test results released in 2019 (one in April, the other was in September) and both had Vice and Snell in the selection of balls to tested. The April robot results were very favorable for Snell over Vice and the September robot results were still favorable but by a much smaller margin. For example, both Vice balls spun more than either Snell ball on wedge shots (but Snell was superior in length and minimizing dispersion). Interestingly enough, the Srixon AD333 spun more than any Snell or Vice ball even though it does not have a urethane cover.

As a side note, the September robot also did not show Snell as the longest or second longest ball at 85 and 100 mph swing speeds but was the second longest at 115 mph.

I read both tests you reference VERY carefully, which convinced me first to run away from the Chrome Soft like my hair was burning and my a** was catching, and second to give the MTB-X a try. I've found it to be a great ball in every respect. I tried the Vice Pro, Pro Plus, and the Pro Soft and was completely unimpressed with distance and especially with durability.

I liked the Vice Pro Soft but as already mentioned, the durability was less than hoped for. I have played Snell here and there after receiving some as a gift and I really liked those. My go to ball is a ProV1x and I really didn't feel like I was losing out on anything. I've only played two rounds with the Elixer and I thought it was a solid ball as well. If I had to choose though, I would choose the Snell.

Everyone. Snell. Get snell. Take whatever ball you're questioning against Snell...Put them both down on the table...Pick Snell. It's not even a question anymore.

Snell MTB or MTBX. Done. Win.

We're on the same page for sure. The MTB-X tests out among the very elite premium balls; given the cost, it's maybe the easiest golf equipment decision I can think of. Great ball.

After trying all three brands, I can say with certainty that they are all three really good options and honestly it just comes down to branding preference. The differences between the three balls (for me it’s elixr, MTB-X, and Pro+) are slight, but I will say I think the snell has the best spin while the vice has the best feel. Personally, I really like Vice’s style and the alignment aid on the ball, so that’s the brand I’ve stuck with. Also, I shot my personal best round (+1 73) with a vice ball, so that helps too.

Anybody tried the vice pro/pro+ 2020? Read they've updated this season. I gamed the pro+ in 2018, switched to mtbx last year but running out of supply of those..

Pro+. If you liked the last ones you’ll like these, the difference isn’t huge. I’d say the new ones are a little firmer and get a little more spin on the irons.

Played 2 rounds with the pro+. For me longer off the tee than mtbx, slightly less spin and firmer.

Bought the red which are easy to spot in the rough but so so hard to see from 150 y out.