Snell vs Vice Golf Balls

Lately, we’ve written about golf balls.  Both the premium ones that Tour players get for free (and cost you and I a small fortune), and those that are arguably as good but don’t cost so much.  Specifically, we’re talking about the cheaper ones – Snell and Vice.  You can read about the former here, and the latter here.

This article comes from the premise that you’re sick of paying through the nose for the most premium balls on the market.  You know, those ones that cost more per dozen than a weekend green fee at a decent muni? 

So, without further ado, let’s dive in and have a look at each brand side by side.

9.8
Vice Pro Golf Ball

Vice Pro Golf Ball

The Vice Pro's micromolecular structure of the 3-piece cast urethane cover is extremely soft but also very resistant. ...
$35.38
9.6
Vice Tour Golf Ball

Vice Tour Golf Ball

The outer DuPont Surlyn cover belongs to the group of advanced ethylene copolymers. The result is excellent resistance ...
$15.95
9.8
Vice Drive Golf Ball

Vice Drive Golf Ball

Durable DuPont Surlyn is used for the outer cover. The plastic material blend has been precisely calibrated to ...
$10.95
9.7
Snell MTB Black Golf Balls

Snell MTB Black Golf Balls

For golfers looking for a high-performance golf ball, the MTB BLACK is our award-winning 3 piece design offering ...
9.2
Snell MTB X Golf Ball

Snell MTB X Golf Ball

Superior Distance - new smaller core offers low driver spin & faster speeds. Higher Iron Spin - a thicker, firmer ...
$49.95

Vice Golf Balls

Vice Pro

Like most tour-level golf balls on the market, the cover of the Vice Pro is made from cast urethane.  This makes the ball both durable and responsive around the green.

The High Energy Spin Core (HESC) helps golfers realize their maximum distance off the tee. 

This ball is perfect for golfers in the mid handicap range that don’t swing the club as fast as Bryson the Bulk.  The Vice Pro allows you to realize both distance off the tee, and exquisite feel around the green. 

9.8/10 Read review
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Vice Tour

The Vice Tour is a great ball for golfers of all ability levels.  Keep in mind, Titleist markets the Pro V1 to all golfers when it’s really only meant for elite players.  Not so with the Vice Tour.  Anyone can reap this ball’s benefits. 

It starts with three-piece construction in the Vice Tour ball.  The design creates a low compression core that enhances speed and energy transfer with full swing shots.  Off the driver, this ball doesn’t spin much.

DuPont Surlyn makes up this ball’s mantle.  It’s thin and maximizes spin on short irons and wedges. 

Same goes for the cover.  It’s made of the same stuff as the mantle.  That makes it exceptionally durable.  Coupled with an aerodynamic 392-dimple design, and you’re looking at a golf ball that launches high with minimal spin.  Perfect launch conditions and maximum distance are the end result. 

9.6/10 Read review
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Vice Drive

What if you’re a mid to high handicapper?  Does Vice make a ball tailored to your game?

Yep.  It’s the Vice Drive

This ball utilizes two-piece construction to provide adequate feel and superior distance.  The Soft Energy Core and same DuPont Surlyn cover give you the best of both worlds.  Distance and control. 

Working in tandem with a strategically engineered 312-dimple pattern, you’ve got an unbeatable combination for the average Joe.

vice balls

The Titleist Pro V1 is the gold standard by which all other golf balls are measured. 

In recent years, a few companies have tried everything in the book to compete.  The only ones that have had any notable success are Vice and Snell.  And by notable, we mean they’ve nailed it spot on.  But let’s start with Vice. 

The proof is in the pudding.  While Vice developed a family of golf balls that are suitable for everyone from scratch players to rank beginners, we’re going to focus on the Vice Pro, Vice Tour, and Vice Drive.

Snell Golf Balls

MTB Black

Much like its Vice equivalent, the MTB Black ball has three-piece construction. 

Each layer has low compression characteristics that provide plenty of distance for the average player, without sacrificing the soft feel we all know and love around the green. 

The cast urethane cover is both durable and soft.  Unless you clank one off the cart path or a tree, you’ll have no problem playing the same ball for an entire round.

9.7/10 Read review
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× Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com (Amazon.in, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, etc) at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

MTB-X

The story begins with the mantle in the MTX-B ball.  Its high compression by comparison to the MTX Black.  That results in superior spin and feel on short shots.  You’ll be able to hit a lot more shots inside 100 yards with unsurpassed control. 

While you might think a ball that affords so much responsiveness and control might lack in distance, such isn’t the case with the MTB-X.  It’s cover and aerodynamic dimple design limit spin and maximize launch.  You know by now that’s the ideal recipe for distance.

9.2/10 Read review
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Tour spec golf balls at supreme value | Snell Golf UK

Snell came onto the scene about six years ago.  Though their golf balls didn’t receive quite as much hype as Vice, they’ve made it known they’re here to stay.

Believe it or not, the man behind the brand is Dean Snell.  He’s the cat who was instrumental in designing the aforementioned Pro V1. 

Let’s have a look at the company’s MTB Black and MTB-X balls.

Vice and Snell Side by Side

As you can see, both brands utilize many of the same materials and design features. 

Compared to the Pro V1, both the Snell and Vice families of golf balls outperform for the mid to high handicap player compared to the supposed gold standard.  They spin less off the driver which equates to more distance.  But their feel and performance on short shots is just as good as the Pro V1 too. 

Aside from their superior performance, both golf balls are priced a lot lower than the premium golf balls from more notable manufacturers.  And if you buy them in bulk, you save even more money. 

Conclusion

While we have all the respect in the world for the game’s most notable companies here at Golfer’s Authority, we’re all about the lesser-known brands too.  And we’d be lying if we said we are big fans of both Snell and Vice. 

Regardless of your ability as a golfer, we encourage you to give both these brands a try next time you put a peg in the ground.  They both perform just as well as the premium balls we see all the time, and the best part is they don’t cost nearly as much.

 

Paul Liberatore
Paul Liberatore

As the Founder of Golfers Authority Paul Liberatore Esq. has spent the last 7+ years writing about the best golf equipment or instruction from the top golf instructors in the world. He has been a contributing writer for Sports Illustrated Golf and GolfWRX. After graduating with honors from Purdue University, he realized that he had a passion for the golf business and the law. When he's not practicing law, or creating golf content on YouTube, he can be found on his syndicated Behind the Golf Brand podcast both on Apple and Spotify talking with the most prolific leaders in the golf industry. 

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