Recently, the folks at Vice Golf sent us two new putters to try. Both models are in the torque and twist elimination/reduction category made popular by the folks at LAB Golf. While they’re both very different in appearance, the Vice models promised to be excellent performers. The VGP03ZT is a blade style zero twist (the ZT in Vice’s wording…and appropriately so) take on a traditional “blade” design. The VGP04ZT is a mallet offering of the same zero twist theme. You folks know by now the exhaustive testing protocol we follow, and in this case, we stayed true to our roots. The details of the testing are at the end of this review. It always begins with what you’re currently using.
Here we go!
INITIAL OBSERVATIONS
- Stable
- Seems heavier than normal… “weighty”
- Toe strike performance seems exceptional
- Heel strikes are in normal metric
- “Looks top-shelf quality…how much are these?”
- The first look of the 03 is familiar, for the lack of a better word… “looks like a normal Newport or Anser” was the overall comment. For mallet guys, the 04 “sits really well…are you sure this is zero twist or torque?” Another very common observation: “Feels very predictable, controllable.”
PERFORMANCE
- from the 04 mallet:
- “make” rate from 2.5 – 6 feet was 92% (the best we’ve tested in this category is the Odyssey Ai Dual Square 2 #7, at an unworldly 94%)
- The 6 – 12 feet performance was a very good 61% (best is LAB OZ.1i at 64%)
- and the 03 blade
- “make” rate 0 – 6 feet was 89%
- From 6 – 12 feet the cup drop was 60% (NB: We have NOT tested another “blade” version of a zero-torque putter.)
**The 04 was better in our “outside 20 feet” and performed on par with some of the best mallet putters we’ve tested, the best two being the Bettinardi BB 6.0 and Scottie Phantom 9.2
**We test 80% from first two distances and 20% from long range. We focus on where our audience loses strokes. Simple and useful testing of real-world performance.
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Anecdotal comments on colorway(s) were neutral to slightly negative. You’ve heard this before with Vice Golf clubs (and balls). Yet, some really loved it! We heard “really top shelf quality!” and “great value for the money!” a few times. Expectation was that the price will approach the range of ultra-premium competitors.
TEST PROTOCOL
- 6 players (2 @ < 5 handicap); 3 @ 10-15 handicap; 1 @ 21 handicap and a new player)
- ((6 putts with their putter from all three distances for baseline calculations.))
- Then 4 putts from each of first two spots (4 feet and 10.5 feet) and 2 putts from the spot at 21 feet first with 03 and then 2 from each distance with their gamer putter.
- Then repeat with sequence from each distance spot with 04 and then 2 from each distance with their gamer putter.
- We do vary the type of putt. Slight uphill. Slight side hill. No downhill. (We don’t see benefit in downhill performance.) 60 putts, charted and measured with each putter. (NO ONE DOES THIS LIKE US!!! Real data from real golfers on a real putting green!)
CONCLUSION
Vice Golf equipment continues to excel and punch well above their weight. The engineering team is first class.
These are two excellent putters that perform as good as or better than ANY zero-torque or reduced-torque competitors. Yes, it’s important to mention, at a price that is significantly below the large OEM. Give them a try. A cure all for your putting woes? No, Bill Smittle will do that. But this is a good place to get as much help as possible! As always, we recommend getting fit with the proper specs for your unique stroke.
Wes and Tommy