Direct-to-Consumer Ball Brands

[SG11118]

I bought 1-2 dozen Snells a couple years ago.  They worked fine.  Not sure they were any better or worse than other balls I use.  Towards the end of the second dozen, they started to feel maybe a little "heavy" and didn't really seem to jump off the clubface as good as other brands.  It probably wasn't anything except not being on my "A" or "B" game at the end of the dozen, but I moved on to other brands after.  Other than hitting Vice and Kirkland a couple times, haven't ever played them.  Have never seen a Cut and haven't even heard of Piper.    

[pganapathy]

I know DTC companies find it difficult to branch out into many markets, but sadly, most of these companies are centred around America, possibly Europe and Australia.  They do miss out on a huge market in Asia and Africa, and so I am rarely able to use these golf balls unless I happen to find one on the course or in a bag of used golf balls I buy.  So they are difficult to comment on

[GolfLug]

I will throw in another vote for MTB-Black. Solid all around. They feel awesome and grab greens really well. Everything else comparable to any other 3/4 layer balls. Have not tried MTB-X yet but plan to. Can't comment about Vice, Kirkland or Piper.   

[boogielicious]

40 minutes ago, GolfLug said:

I will throw in another vote for MTB-Black. Solid all around. They feel awesome and grab greens really well. Everything else comparable to any other 3/4 layer balls. Have not tried MTB-X yet but plan to. Can't comment about Vice, Kirkland or Piper.   

I hit an MTB-X with a 5 iron today from 165 that bounced once and rolled about 15 feet farther. There were a couple more with longer irons that did the same. It is a great ball. The Black is good too.

[GolfLug]

9 minutes ago, boogielicious said:

I hit an MTB-X with a 5 iron today from 165 that bounced once and rolled about 15 feet farther. There were a couple more with longer irons that did the same. It is a great ball. The Black is good too.

Nice! How would the distance and roll compare to MTB-Black if you were to estimate? Feel softer/harder? 

[boogielicious]

1 hour ago, GolfLug said:

Nice! How would the distance and roll compare to MTB-Black if you were to estimate? Feel softer/harder? 

I think the Black is a bit softer feeling and stops as well or better. For me, the X is a bit longer off the tee. @billchao has played both too.

[billchao]

4 hours ago, boogielicious said:

I think the Black is a bit softer feeling and stops as well or better. For me, the X is a bit longer off the tee. @billchao has played both too.

MTB-X is firmer and spins a bit more.

[snow bird]

I have been playing Vice Pro and now Vice Pro-Soft. My driver swing speed is anywhere between 87 - 94 MPH depending how warm it is and how spry this 64 year old body is feeling. The Vice Pro soft seems to give a higher ball flight than the Vice Pro. I have played Pro V1's and found them to be harder to get both distance and flight then either of the Vice models. Both Vice have great spin on the greens. I like there Lime green as it has a sharp optic image. A golf buddy plays the green Pro V1 and it looks like puke green next to the Vice ball. Of course the price is great and I have no problem buying 5 dozen at a time. Sometimes they offer an extra dozen free when you buy 5 dozen making them about $21 per dozen.  The only down side is they do mark up fairly easily when you hit a cart path or you drill one into tree trunk. Hardly enough to change to another ball.

[Denny Bang Bang]

My go to ball is the Snell MTB Black (great ball at a great price).  Characteristics and performance are comparable to the below balls I also play.

I’ll buy the ZStar (buy 2, get 1) and TP5x (buy 3, get 1) when they’re on sale.  I also really like the ProV1, but only play them when I get them as a gift.

[roejye]

I'm a big fan of the cut blue, when I first tried them out a couple years ago they did get chewed up pretty easily, but I'm a mid to high handicapper who can easily lose a ball before it becomes too damaged to play. I found a great deal at a local target one year and got 6 dozen at $6 apiece. I'm still working through those, (mix of ball curiosity, limiting myself to one sleeve per round before going to found balls, and buying more just because/surlyn shortage). I have bought some of the more recent models and they seem to hold up much better.

One thing I've noticed is that if you are near a Walmart or Target you can get a dozen to try out and not have to pay shipping. That way you can at least try them and see if you like them enough to buy the 5 dozen or so direct from the manufacturer.

Walmart even seems to carry almost the entire vice line now so even if you don't play urethane you can try their other offerings out.

Edited April 29, 2022 by roejye