Equipment
REVIEW: OnCore Pushes the Envelope with VERO X1
“Guerilla” golf ball companies have really come onto the scene over the past few years, offering premium performance at an incredibly reasonable price point. However, some of this smaller companies struggle with development and, as a result, become stagnant and can’t really show measurable improvements from one model to the next.
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OnCore Golf isn’t one of these brands.
To the contrary, OnCore Golf has thought outside the box since its first ball, the MA-1.0: the world’s first and only hollow metal core golf ball. Shortly thereafter, OnCore released the AVANT—a low-compression, distance ball—and refined and upgraded the MA-1.0, which became the Caliber.
But that wasn’t enough, and OnCore wanted to release a tour ball. In 2017, the ELIXR came to market. The ball immediately established itself, having not only amazing distance, but also tons of speed, with the highest allowable initial velocity off the tee. Additionally, OnCore developed an industry exclusive innovative high density particles in the mantle and found a way to give the ELIXR exceptionally tight shot dispersion and unparalleled stability in windy conditions.
Perhaps the only place that the ELIXR could’ve improved was more spin and stopping power with wedges and short irons. It goes without saying that it’s a delicate balance to get more spin on approach shots, but not increase spin and lose speed when using a driver.
Fortunately, OnCore found the perfect blend and has developed a new flagship model: the VERO X1.
As explained in greater detail here, the VERO X1 is OnCore’s first four-piece ball and features a thinner cast urethane cover, a nano-thick transition layer between cover and mantle, a high modulus, perimeter-weighted mantle, and an oversized-core to give the VERO X1 more speed, distance, stability and control.
Immediate first-impression is that the VERO X1 feels firmer than other premium golf balls. Not in a bad way where it’s rough, just firmer and similar to going from a softer ball to a premium, tour-ball. That said, the ELIXR, likewise, felt firmer and I anticipate that this likely has something to do with the metal-infused mantle that provides additional flight stability.
But once you adjust to the new feel, there’s no question that the VERO X1 can generate a lot more greenside performance. The ball checks up no problem, while the ELIXR sometimes would hop once or twice before slamming on the brakes.
The VERO X1 also appeared to generate a more penetrating ball flight, and that was confirmed with the help of Club Champion, who provided me with the opportunity to get some Trackman data comparing my current gamer—the Srixon Z Star—and the VERO X1.
To ensure a fair comparison, I conducted testing with the same equipment and hit shots during the same session (all driver shots were hit, then 6 irons, then wedges). The data below is based on the average of the 5 best shots (out of 10) from the Trackman session.
Driver: PXG 0811 (9°) with ACCRA Tour Z RPG 472 shaft
Average Ball Speed | Average SMASH Factor | Carry Distance (Yards) | Total Distance (Yards) | Average Spin Rate | Average Apex Height (Yards) | |
Srixon Z-Star | 155.7 MPH | 1.43 | 256.8 | 279.2 | 2,792 RPMs | 31.2 |
OnCore VERO X1 | 160.7 MPH | 1.47 | 266.2 | 290.2 | 2,639 RPMs | 30.8 |
6 Iron: Srixon Z765 (28°) with KBS C Taper shaft
Average Ball Speed | Average SMASH Factor | Carry Distance (Yards) | Total Distance (Yards) | Average Spin Rate | Average Apex Height (Yards) | |
Srixon Z-Star | 126.8 MPH | 1.37 | 185.2 | 194.9 | 5,105 RPMs | 31.2 |
OnCore VERO X1 | 130.9 MPH | 1.40 | 187.2 | 191.9 | 5,850 RPMs | 39.8 |
Sand Wedge: Titleist Vokey SM6 (56°) with KBS 610 wedge shaft
Average Ball Speed | Average SMASH Factor | Carry Distance (Yards) | Total Distance (Yards) | Average Spin Rate | Average Apex Height (Yards) | |
Srixon Z-Star | 88.8 MPH | 1.09 | 101.8 | 98.5 | 12,288 RPMs | 30.6 |
OnCore VERO X1 | 88.9 MPH | 1.09 | 102.5 | 99.1 | 12,580 RPMs | 30.1 |
As the numbers show, the VERO X1 has LOTS of ball speed under the hood with the longer clubs. However, that doesn’t mean the VERO is a one-trick pony and is just a distance ball. In fact, as the data shows with the wedges, the VERO X1 spins just as much and generates near identical ball speed, carry distances and peak heights as a premium golf ball. But with the help of some engineering magic, when you get into your longer irons and driver, the VERO X1 somehow has another gear that gave me an additional ~5 MPH extra ball speed and 10 yards of carry with a driver. And the VERO X1 did all of this without the spin dropping way down.
With respect to my irons, the VERO X1 provided some additional ball speed without sacrificing spin (i.e., stopping power), which could be converted into a couple extra yards once I get the flight down a little. Wedges, however, showed near identical performance to a major OEM, premium golf ball, with ball speed, height, spin, carry and total distance all very close to each other.
There is no question that OnCore has developed a ball that can compete with the flagship models from the big boys. The VERO X1 has all the speed and performance you could ask from any other ball on the market. And while the only drawback I can find is because OnCore is a smaller market brand that sells direct-to-consumer, it means you’ll need to place your orders in advance and maintain a small inventory in your closet. Fortunately, however, OnCore easily offsets that with its Loyalty Program that rewards golfers with up to 25% off purchases. In other words, you no longer need to hope, pray and wait for that once-a-year buy 2, get 1 free deal.
In sum, many people have been cautious with golf balls from guerilla companies like OnCore. There are, and always will be, rumors about performance and manufacturing quality. But the Trackman data and on-course experience has put any of my doubts to rest. The VERO X1 is a great golf ball and I anticipate that it will become my gamer going forward, especially with a few end of season tournaments and competitions coming up in the next few weeks.
All testing was performed with the help and support of Club Champion’s Long Island facility and fitters. Club Champion is an independent, brand-agnostic premium club fitter with more than 70 locations across the US. With the help of its extensive fitting matrix, Club Champion provides golfers with a Tour-level fitting by comparing their current clubs against more than 35,000 club head and shaft combinations to identify the custom set-up that will help each golfer play their best.
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