Alex Etches
Custom fitter, gear deep-dives
“pound for pound, it is superb”
His first ever Vice club turned out to be one of the most forgiving low-spin drivers he's hit, with absurdly consistent distance (314.6-yard average, 3.8-yard standard deviation over 11 shots) at a fair DTC price.
+ the facts · 6 pros · 2 cons− the facts
- +Ridiculous distance consistency - 314.6-yard average total with only a 3.8-yard standard deviation across 11 shots
- +True low spin (roughly 2,300-2,600 rpm) that stays consistent, with a spin-rate standard deviation of just 249 rpm
- +One of the most forgiving low-spin drivers he's hit - repeated off-center strikes still carried around 300 yards with big rollout
- −Divisive looks - the camo-style crown and bold branding won't suit traditionalists
- −The low-spin 9-degree head with this shaft combo is demanding - he'd consider more loft on a build like this
For: Faster swingers who want low-spin distance and consistency without paying big-brand prices
Golf Monthly
UK magazine, season-long testing
“Well, this kept up with anything”
The busy-looking Vice won him over at address and then excelled on the launch monitor, earning the driver spot in his ultimate direct-to-consumer bag.
+ the facts · 4 pros · 2 cons− the facts
- +Incredibly consistent low spin, he could not spin it above 2,400 rpm in testing
- +Ball speed kept up with anything from the major manufacturers
- +Sits very square with a neat squat head that frames the ball beautifully
- −Busy crown and Batmobile-style sole ridges mean a lot of visual stimulation at first
- −Not the catchiest name
For: Golfers who want low-spin, OEM-level driver performance at a direct-to-consumer price
James Robinson Golf
Mid-handicap everyman reviews
“the best looking crown I've ever seen”
The fitted Vice VGD01 Plus hangs surprisingly close to the Qi35 LS on the course and in the numbers, at roughly 150 pounds less.
+ the facts · 4 pros · 3 cons− the facts
- +Best-looking carbon-weave crown he says he has ever seen
- +Around 379 pounds versus 529 for the Qi35 LS, with a good fitting experience
- +Carried 270 to 280 yards in testing, close to the TaylorMade
- −Spin rates a little higher than the Qi35 LS
- −Consistent left-miss pattern in his hands
- −One drive launched low and dippy compared with the TaylorMade
For: Golfers who want a fitted low-spin driver without paying flagship money
Michael Newton Golf
On-course, season-long club tests
“If you're worth having a punt at 379, then it's not a bad driver.”
A genuinely good-looking, low-spin, ultra-lightweight driver that matched a Qi35 on distance for well under half the money, held back only by being direct-to-consumer with no way to try it first.
+ the facts · 7 pros · 5 cons− the facts
- +Premium blacked-out carbon crown, sits neutral and square at address
- +Face graphics frame the ball and make the center easy to find
- +Solid sound and strike, produced slightly more ball speed than the Qi35 on the same club head speed
- −Direct to consumer only, so you can't test it, try shafts, or compare it in a fitting
- −Spin can run too low, he had to add a degree of loft
- −Changing loft also changes lie, and the club can look shut once adjusted
For: Value-focused, lower-spin-seeking players who already know their spec and don't need a fitting.
MyGolfSpy
Data-driven independent testing
“I don't know who that's for in this world”
So extremely low spinning that the hosts struggle to identify who it's actually for, and they aren't expecting big things from Vice in drivers.
+ the facts · 1 cons− the facts
- −Spin is so low the hosts can't say who the club serves
