Vision ProSoft Golf Ball - Review
The Good: Affordable, fairly soft feel and very durable. Add to that the modern design, differing from traditional graphics on tour balls, and you've got yourself a classy golf ball. Great distance and overall performance off the clubface. A terrific ball which is built to last without sacrificing too much feel or performance.
The Bad: While it does maintain a degree of soft feel off the clubface, it does not produce as much backspin like most tour balls. The only demographic it may not suit would be those who are consistently shooting below or around par.
The Bottom Line: An overall tremendous option to put in play. Meets and exceeds the needs of the general golf population; the only group of players to whom this golf ball will not be a great fit are a tremendously small fraction of the overall golf population. If you aren’t threatening to break par on a regular basis, then this golf ball is worth serious consideration.
Watching the PGA Tour we've become accustom to hearing Titleist make their claim as the “#1 ball in golf”. There is some truth to that claim as they have developed somewhat of a stronghold on the 'Pro' caliber player market. They focus a significant amount of their RnD on this market, and as such they've developed a great Tour worthy ball with the ProV1 and ProV1x. It’s designed as a high performance golf ball, for players with fast swing speeds offering a soft feel and the ability to shape shots. This is exactly what Tour players are looking for; but how does that translate into the general golf population? Should a player with an 80mph swing speed be using a ball designed for a 120mph swing? While I wouldn’t say there is anything wrong with a mid-to-high handicapper enjoying playing an elite ball like the ProV1, there may be more suitable ball options.
As a +2 handicaper myself, for years I have played the ProV1 and still do. I’m so tied to this golf ball that when asked to write a review on the Vision ProSoft, I must admit I was a little hesitant and skeptical. I enjoy the performance of my Prov1 so much, that I had concerns that playing another golf ball would nudge me outside my comfort zone. After playing several rounds with the ProSoft, I’m here to say that I had nothing to worry about. I actually enjoyed playing the Vision ProSoft.
Vision Golf is a growing, boutique style brand, based out of Australia. The founders of the company, Bill and Wayne Bosley, are no strangers to the golf ball industry. Having worked for years with Acushnet (umbrella company for Titleist, Footjoy and Cobra), Vision is being run by individuals who are very well established in the golf industry and are working to establish another high-end brand in golf. Their expertise and passion is evident when looking at their products, clearly putting a significant amount of RnD into each decision. With 10 years in the Australian market, as they now break into North America, consumers can purchase their product with confidence in the fact that the product they are getting has been developed through extensive research. It's clear that Vision takes extreme pride in producing top notch products and that they are determined to ensure that each and every product is the best possible item for their target market.
Different from Titeliest, I believe that Vision’s target market is slightly outside the 'Tour' player category, targeting mid-to-high handicap golfers. Do not be fooled into believing that this means they are producing lower-quality products. By knowing their target market and focusing their RnD efforts on the general golfer, they've developed products that perform optimally for the swing speed and style of this demographic. Vision is in the business of creating products which will make golfers in this handicap range better. By playing the wrong ball, higher hadicap players are actually doing themselves a dis-service. Enough rambling, lets take a look at the meat and potatoes of how the Vision ProSoft performed out on the course...
Feel
Anytime I am examining a golf ball, this is the first thing I assess. A ball with good feel should feel like it has some “give” when it comes off the clubface, and the Vision ProSoft has fairly good feel. It doesn’t quite have the same feel as other high performance balls that you see touring pros play, but considering the price point, and their target market, I’d say they’ve done well. The ball feels pure coming off the clubface, however it will not produce a lot of spin on approach shots or chips and pitches around the green. For very low handicap players, this could be an issue, but for most golfers who don’t expect to produce backspin on approach shots, this should not have any impact on their game. The ball still lands soft, it just won’t check and spin significantly.
Distance
The Vision ProSoft golf ball flies true and consistent, allowing you to control distances off the tee as well as approaching the green. I certainly didn’t notice any loss in distance compared to my regular ball, the ProV1. If anything I believe the ProSoft may fly a little further than most tour balls.
Durability
A very durable golf ball. Even off cart paths, the ball will not cut or scuff as much as a softer covered ball. You can keep your ball in play for extended periods of time without having to worry about it getting worn and tattered. This cannot be said for a lot of other premium golf balls.
Concluding Thoughts
The Vision ProSoft is a tremendous option for golfers of all abilities, but primarily for mid level handicappers. While maintaining a reasonable price point, they have created a golf ball which can enhance performance and is backed by extensive research to ensure that the product you are using is one you can put in play with a high degree of confidence.
If this golf ball is any indication of future things to come, I look forward to following the Vision brand blossom in the North American market in the coming years.
About the Author This article was written by Jonathan Carr (@jonathanwcarr) as part of our 'product review' section. As a scratch golfer himself, Jonathan has a keen eye for what it takes to be successful on and off the golf course. His passion for golf is surpassed only by his passion for his faith and his family. Read some of Jonathan's other articles here.
Our goal with all product reviews is to provide an unbiasted look at various golf products, what we like, what we didn't like etc. All opinions are those of the author and not necessarily the official opinion of Eat Sleep Golf.
About Vision Golf
Vision brings to the golf industry the practical innovations in golf design from the productive long-term working relationship between the well known Australian father and son pairing of Bill and Wayne Bosley. Their 50 plus years of industry experience both playing at an International level and working for many of todays major brands gives them a unique insight into what might just make a real difference to a players game.
