Vice Pro: the pros and cons

[IndyArcher]

23 minutes ago, Augie53 said:

Really?  I wished I wouldn't have read this (while staring at a stack of Vice Pro double dozens purchased at Sam's Club).

 

I wouldn't worry about it at all. I've played Vice since basically they came to market. I've never had any issues with any of them, though I do think the current version of the Pro is the best to date. If you got a good deal on them, play them without worry. They'll serve you well. 

[SwingBlues]

2 hours ago, IndyArcher said:

 

I wouldn't worry about it at all. I've played Vice since basically they came to market. I've never had any issues with any of them, though I do think the current version of the Pro is the best to date. If you got a good deal on them, play them without worry. They'll serve you well. 

 

Did anyone post the difference visually (package? line markers?) between the new or old balls? How would we know?

[IndyArcher]

Just now, SwingBlues said:

 

Did anyone post the difference visually (package? line markers?) between the new or old balls? How would we know?

 

I don't recall what the packaging looked like in 2016, and I've never seen the 2 pack to know if they use specific packaging for that. Personally, I can't imagine that they are still trying to sell through balls that are that old. Can you post a pic? Their packaging has changed over the years. We should at least be able to confirm if it is current packaging or not. Is there a copyright/trademark date on the packaging anywhere?

[SwingBlues]

7 minutes ago, IndyArcher said:

 

I don't recall what the packaging looked like in 2016, and I've never seen the 2 pack to know if they use specific packaging for that. Personally, I can't imagine that they are still trying to sell through balls that are that old. Can you post a pic? Their packaging has changed over the years. We should at least be able to confirm if it is current packaging or not. Is there a copyright/trademark date on the packaging anywhere?

 

It will have to be someone else who can upload a picture, I threw out the box and only got the sleeve cover. Unfortunately.

[me05501]

Here’s what the most recent version of the box looks like. 
 

[hammergolf]

8 hours ago, SwingBlues said:

 

Did anyone post the difference visually (package? line markers?) between the new or old balls? How would we know?

The 2020 ball will have PRO printed in the alignment line. The 2016 version will have VICE PRO printed in the alignment line. In addition, the 2020 version has the alignment line squared off at the end, the 2016 model has rounded off edges at the end of the line. Google “2016 Vice Pro vs 2020 Vice Pro” and there is a link to the other site comparing the two. I would attach a link, but not sure if it will be deleted.

Edited May 4, 2023 by hammergolf

[TonyDAnnunzio]

4 hours ago, hammergolf said:

The 2016 ball will have PRO printed in the alignment line. The 2020 version will have VICE PRO printed in the alignment line. In addition, the 2016 version has the alignment line squared off at the end, the 2020 model has rounded off edges at the end of the line. Google “2016 Vice Pro vs 2020 Vice Pro” and there is a link to the other site comparing the two. I would attach a link, but not sure if it will be deleted.

hammer...  I think you may have this the backwards.  I have several dozen new Vice Pros I have received in the past couple of months that say "PRO" in the alignment line.  I just went out and checked all of them to make sure...  I have a few that I have found on the course over the past couple of years or so that have "VICE PRO" in the alignment line...  

[hammergolf]

2 minutes ago, TonyDAnnunzio said:

hammer...  I think you may have this the backwards.  I have several dozen new Vice Pros I have received in the past couple of months that say "PRO" in the alignment line.  I just went out and checked all of them to make sure...  I have a few that I have found on the course over the past couple of years or so that have "VICE PRO" in the alignment line...  

yep, I have it backwards. Thanks for catching that. I have edited my post.

Edited May 4, 2023 by hammergolf

[Augie53]

On 5/3/2023 at 2:58 PM, hammergolf said:

The 2020 ball will have PRO printed in the alignment line. The 2016 version will have VICE PRO printed in the alignment line. In addition, the 2020 version has the alignment line squared off at the end, the 2016 model has rounded off edges at the end of the line. Google “2016 Vice Pro vs 2020 Vice Pro” and there is a link to the other site comparing the two. I would attach a link, but not sure if it will be deleted.

I can confirm the double dozens I have are the 2016 version based on this info.  As for the packaging, it has a lion theme to it and the box has a sticker for Golf Digest 2019 Hot List Gold.  I never even stopped to look at the sticker when I bought these.

 

Oh well, for $25 per dozen I will not complain.

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, Augie53 said:

I can confirm the double dozens I have are the 2016 version based on this info.  As for the packaging, it has a lion theme to it and the box has a sticker for Golf Digest 2019 Hot List Gold.  I never even stopped to look at the sticker when I bought these.

 

Oh well, for $25 per dozen I will not complain.

Vice is doing a 5+1 free right now, so you can get the new ball better down to $24.99.

[Goober8]

15 hours ago, Augie53 said:

I can confirm the double dozens I have are the 2016 version based on this info.  As for the packaging, it has a lion theme to it and the box has a sticker for Golf Digest 2019 Hot List Gold.  I never even stopped to look at the sticker when I bought these.

 

Oh well, for $25 per dozen I will not complain.

They are still good balls, they just arnt as durable. I wouldn’t worry about it. Just know that if you find they get worn out fast, the new ball is a lot better as far as durability. 

[Augie53]

16 hours ago, hammergolf said:

Vice is doing a 5+1 free right now, so you can get the new ball better down to $24.99.

Yes, because that is what my wife wants to see show up on our doorstep, more golf stuff.

 

Regarding the stack of new balls I currently have on the shelf, I have been asked the question, "Why do you need to buy golf balls?  What about all the balls that you find on the course, why don't you just use those?  So, what are you going to do with them then?"

 

I'll hit up the 5+1 next year.  Mental note, do not bring home stray or lost golf balls anymore...

[wantacigar]

2 hours ago, Augie53 said:

Yes, because that is what my wife wants to see show up on our doorstep, more golf stuff.

 

Regarding the stack of new balls I currently have on the shelf, I have been asked the question, "Why do you need to buy golf balls?  What about all the balls that you find on the course, why don't you just use those?  So, what are you going to do with them then?"

 

I'll hit up the 5+1 next year.  Mental note, do not bring home stray or lost golf balls anymore...

:You're starting to learn........My wife discovered my golf ball stash recently.   "Are all those boxes golf balls?"

 

[IndyArcher]

3 hours ago, Augie53 said:

Yes, because that is what my wife wants to see show up on our doorstep, more golf stuff.

 

Regarding the stack of new balls I currently have on the shelf, I have been asked the question, "Why do you need to buy golf balls?  What about all the balls that you find on the course, why don't you just use those?  So, what are you going to do with them then?"

 

I'll hit up the 5+1 next year.  Mental note, do not bring home stray or lost golf balls anymore...

 

I stopped looking for balls on the course for that very reason! Sometimes I have to chastise myself when I’m waiting for a shot so that I don’t wander into the woods to look for balls while standing around! 

 

This is precisely why I don’t gamble or try drugs. I just tell my wife that I can quit at any time!

[hammergolf]

3 hours ago, Augie53 said:

Yes, because that is what my wife wants to see show up on our doorstep, more golf stuff.

 

Regarding the stack of new balls I currently have on the shelf, I have been asked the question, "Why do you need to buy golf balls?  What about all the balls that you find on the course, why don't you just use those?  So, what are you going to do with them then?"

 

I'll hit up the 5+1 next year.  Mental note, do not bring home stray or lost golf balls anymore...

Just use the “but they were on sale” line.

[Jeff58]

4 hours ago, IndyArcher said:

This is precisely why I don’t gamble or try drugs. I just tell my wife that I can quit at any time!

Same things. Different form.

[reider69]

I have 7 dozen Vice Pro and 4 dozen ProV1X left dash in my garage and I usually find myself playing a random ProV1 or TP5 I find on the course.  Anyone else do that?  Why do we buy balls when we just keep using found balls?  

Edited May 6, 2023 by reider69

[IndyArcher]

2 hours ago, reider69 said:

I have 7 dozen Vice Pro and 4 dozen ProV1X left dash in my garage and I usually find myself playing a random ProV1 or TP5 I find on the course.  Anyone else do that?  Why do we buy balls when we just keep using found balls?  

I did that exact thing for years. I finally gave up on looking for balls. Ones I do find I eventually hit into the woods behind the house only to be brought back with a few teeth marks days to months later by my golden. 
 

Now I play almost exclusively Vice pro/pro+ or Pro V1 or what remains of some previous gen overrun PV1x that I bought from Par Golf a few years back. 
 

Sam only gets played on special occasions…

 

[Tanner25]

5 hours ago, reider69 said:

I have 7 dozen Vice Pro and 4 dozen ProV1X left dash in my garage and I usually find myself playing a random ProV1 or TP5 I find on the course.  Anyone else do that?  Why do we buy balls when we just keep using found balls?  

 

Good question, it's fun to buy new balls and fun to try random balls on the course. But, good point. If you want to save money, there's plenty of balls to picked up on the course. 

[phizzy30]

5 hours ago, reider69 said:

I have 7 dozen Vice Pro and 4 dozen ProV1X left dash in my garage and I usually find myself playing a random ProV1 or TP5 I find on the course.  Anyone else do that?  Why do we buy balls when we just keep using found balls?  

Used to.  Now I give them to my buddy that I golf with every week.  He'll play anything found from top flite balls to proV1x. 

[Augie53]

On 5/6/2023 at 11:05 AM, reider69 said:

I have 7 dozen Vice Pro and 4 dozen ProV1X left dash in my garage and I usually find myself playing a random ProV1 or TP5 I find on the course.  Anyone else do that?  Why do we buy balls when we just keep using found balls?  

Because found balls are free, of course.

 

I walked past a perfectly good Nitro today.  Pretty proud of myself.  Nitros are just bad balls but it was still a free ball. 

[IndyArcher]

17 minutes ago, Augie53 said:

Because found balls are free, of course.

 

I walked past a perfectly good Nitro today.  Pretty proud of myself.  Nitros are just bad balls but it was still a free ball. 

 

What I've found myself doing if I incidentally hit a ball into thicket, as I look for my ball and find others, I simply pull them out and drop them where they can easily be seen by mowers or other golfers. I'm sure someone will get use out of them, but I'm really starting to get finicky. I love the way my Vice Pros feel and respond, and I think I could fill up a container ship with my inventory at this point! 

[reider69]

I reached down to pick up a ball a few weeks ago and got a spot of poison ivy on my arm.  I didn't see it until the next day and spread it all over my stomach while I slept.  It's still a week away from going away completely.   Making me rethink picking up balls in the woods.

[wantacigar]

On 5/6/2023 at 12:05 PM, reider69 said:

I have 7 dozen Vice Pro and 4 dozen ProV1X left dash in my garage and I usually find myself playing a random ProV1 or TP5 I find on the course.  Anyone else do that?  Why do we buy balls when we just keep using found balls?  

I used to until I had 20 dozen new balls and a bunch of found ProV1's on my bag.  Like @IndyArcherI primarily play Vice Pro now.  I just give the balls I stumble upon to anyone who I'm playing with.  If they don't want, I just chuck them back where I found them.  You need to join the 12 step program....

My name is Anthony and I'm a golf ball addict.......

[me05501]

Any of us who grew up middle class or worse are going to have a hard time leaving a found ball on the course. It's just how we're wired. 

 

I'm trying to play mostly my Vice Pros but I found a bunch of good balls this weekend as we played 72 holes on a resort course. Resort courses always cough up a bunch of nice balls. 

I still have three dozen Vice Pros from the last 5+1 purchase. I've been playing the shade orange and lime green ones over the winter but will start working in more of the white and splatter balls now that the courses have greened up. 

 

I had a dozen Bridgestones but a friend needed some so I sold them to him. Then I found a dozen Pro V1X logo balls while cleaning out the garage, so I'm back to a generous surplus. Between my bag, a bucket in my trunk and the pile under my net I probably have 100 more good balls that could be put in play in a pinch. It's insane.

 

Sometimes I'll cull out the lightly used balls and drop off a bag at the local First Tee facility. 

[me05501]

FWIW the shade orange pros seem to be borderline impossible to lose. No matter where they end up you can almost always spot them from a distance. Anyone who needs a high-visibility ball should consider these.  

[IndyArcher]

5 hours ago, me05501 said:

FWIW the shade orange pros seem to be borderline impossible to lose. No matter where they end up you can almost always spot them from a distance. Anyone who needs a high-visibility ball should consider these.  

 

Easy for me to see in flight, too; both with clear and cloudy sky backgrounds.

[reider69]

On 5/8/2023 at 8:45 AM, me05501 said:

Any of us who grew up middle class or worse are going to have a hard time leaving a found ball on the course. It's just how we're wired

My parents were public school teachers and when I was young I would take holes off golfing with my dad to find him balls.  I would keep the cheap ones and give him the good ones.  It was fun and golfing a full 9 when I was very young wasn't easy so I liked the break.  Still hard to pass up a brand newish ProV1 that is sitting near me and I can afford as many new balls as I want.  Old habits die hard.

[trying2scratch]

On 5/8/2023 at 8:47 AM, me05501 said:

FWIW the shade orange pros seem to be borderline impossible to lose. No matter where they end up you can almost always spot them from a distance. Anyone who needs a high-visibility ball should consider these.  

First time I had one out I lost it... In a Sim 🤣 one of foursome wanted to try it and roofed it into the equipment room no one had a key for...  

[dekez]

On 5/8/2023 at 8:47 AM, me05501 said:

FWIW the shade orange pros seem to be borderline impossible to lose. No matter where they end up you can almost always spot them from a distance. Anyone who needs a high-visibility ball should consider these.  

 

I agree. The orange shade are my favorite.  SO easy to spot.  Next easiest are the lime.  I've found that the Red ones are kinda hard to spot in the air.