Look, I’ll be the primary to confess that Vice Golf occupies a bizarre house in my mind.
On one hand, they make legitimately good golf balls at costs that don’t require a second mortgage. However, they’ve constructed their whole model identification round being the golf equal of that buddy who exhibits as much as each social gathering sporting one thing that’s equal elements superior and ridiculous.
Working example: the brand new Vice Archive Collection.
Ostensibly created to commemorate the one hundred and twenty fifth US Open (and practically 100 years of elite competitors at Oakmont), the Archive Assortment is Vice doing what Vice does greatest—taking one thing historically stuffy and making it cool with out utterly destroying the reverence.
What you get
The gathering facilities round Vice Professional golf balls in a yellow-to-white gradient that’s… high-quality, I suppose. I’m not sometimes a multi-colored ball man, and whereas the gradient design is much less aggressive than Vice’s typical neon assault in your retinas, it’s nonetheless a coloured golf ball.
The efficiency specs stay unchanged from the usual Vice Professional, which implies you’re getting a official tour-level ball for $42.99 per dozen (with bulk reductions obtainable). Any efficiency variations would come all the way down to the paint course of.
What makes these particular isn’t simply the gradient paint job. Reverse the participant quantity, you’ll discover “1927” overlaid with “2025”. That’s a nod to Oakmont’s championship pedigree spanning practically a century. One aspect stamp options an arrow (as a result of apparently every part wants an arrow lately), whereas the opposite shows “VICE GOLF” in massive hole letters.
The gathering rounds out with an off-white and neon towel ($21.99) and themed tees ($8.99) that, whereas not precisely groundbreaking, full the bundle for individuals who like their golf equipment to match.
The Vice components
This isn’t Vice’s first main championship rodeo both. They pulled a similar for the PGA Championship, and the sample is changing into clear: take a prestigious match, create one thing that acknowledges the historical past with out being treasured about it, value it moderately, and let individuals resolve if they need in.
The portions aren’t specified, however anybody aware of Vice’s restricted version playbook is aware of this stuff are inclined to disappear sooner than your enjoying associate’s provide to purchase the primary spherical. They’ve created a pleasant little aspect enterprise in golf collectibles for individuals who respect good design however don’t wish to pay Scotty Cameron costs.
Why the Archive Assortment works
The Archive Assortment succeeds as a result of it doesn’t utterly fail at putting a steadiness. The gradient design is eye-catching with out being utterly obnoxious. The historic references really feel much less pressured than they might have been. And the pricing stays accessible to golfers who respect the aesthetics however aren’t seeking to make a major monetary dedication to their golf ball alternative.
Extra importantly, these are actual Vice Pro balls. Not some watered-down commemorative model, however the identical three-piece urethane development that’s earned the corporate respect in a class dominated by a lot bigger gamers.
The underside line
The Vice Archive Assortment isn’t revolutionary. It’s a reliable restricted version that celebrates a serious championship with out taking itself too severely, costs itself moderately, and delivers efficiency alongside the aesthetics.
In a golf world that usually feels prefer it’s attempting too exhausting to be both ultra-traditional or desperately hip, Vice continues to carve out house for golfers who simply need good tools that appears cool and doesn’t break the bank.
The gathering is obtainable now, due to course it’s. Vice doesn’t do the entire “coming quickly” tease recreation. They make one thing, they promote it, and when it’s gone, it’s gone.
Whether or not you’re planning to truly play the one hundred and twenty fifth US Open (spoiler: you’re most likely not) or simply need golf balls that look totally different from everybody else’s Professional V1s, the Archive Collection delivers precisely what it guarantees: Vice being Vice, simply with a bit extra historic gravitas than typical.
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