Vessel Player IV Series Golf Bags

Vessel Participant IV Collection Golf Luggage – Key Takeaways

Two new fashions: Participant IV and Participant IV Professional
Each accessible with six- or 14-way tops
New jam-resistant backside membership divider
$395 for Participant IV, $435 for Participant IV Professional

The brand new Vessel Participant IV Collection golf luggage look like a little bit of a backward launch. We’ve already seen the Participant IV DXR stand bag in MyGolfSpy’s 2023 Stand Bag Purchaser’s Information (it completed eighth). The brand new Vessel Participant IV and Participant IV Professional, nevertheless, are being launched right now. And, as is typical of Vessel, Participant IV packs loads of options and loads of choices.

Simply don’t anticipate it to be a “finances” golf bag.

“Two phrases function our inspiration: luxurious efficiency,” says Vessel founder and CEO Ronnie Shaw. “Luxurious speaks to the supplies we use. It speaks to the modern design and to the best way we sew the bag collectively. Efficiency speaks to our options and the way every pocket is designed. We need to make insanely wonderful merchandise.”

Are the brand new Vessel Participant IV golf luggage “insanely wonderful”? We’ll must get our fingers on some samples to actually inform. However the early returns do sound promising.

Vessel Participant IV Collection Golf Luggage: Commonplace and Professional

Providing common and “professional” fashions of irons is just about commonplace process for golf OEMs. However we now have to confess, we’ve by no means seen that strategy with golf luggage earlier than.

“That is the primary time we’ve carried out it,” says Shaw. “To this point with pre-orders individuals are shopping for the Professional greater than the usual (by a 60-40 margin).”

The largest variations between the Vessel Participant IV commonplace and Professional are the scale of the opening and the load. The Participant IV commonplace options an 8.5-inch prime whereas the Participant IV Professional has a 9.5-inch prime. Each are being supplied with both six- or 14-way dividers with the Professional fashions working about one pound heavier (6.5 for the six-way, 7.5 for the 14-way).

The Vessel Participant III was MyGolfSpy’s finest stand bag for 2022, and the brand new Participant IV fashions function a number of upgrades. Amongst them are twin water bottle sleeves with magnetic openings together with a cooler-lined pocket. Moreover, the carbon fiber legs function a brand new housing to guard them from scratching.

However maybe the most important improve might be discovered on the very backside of the bag.

Jam-Resistant Backside

One of many largest gripes about any stand bag is membership jamming. Grips tangle on the backside of the bag and pulling them out or jamming them again in could be a main ache. Which, any golfer can inform you, simply plain sucks.

“We hearken to a variety of buyer suggestions,” says Shaw. “What they stated was the 14-way divider is nice however the golf equipment nonetheless tangle and snag.”

The Vessel Participant IV sequence supplies a intelligent resolution the corporate is asking a “jam-resistant backside membership divider.”

In a typical stand bag, anytime you carry the bag in your again or deploy the legs, the grips slide to the low finish of the bag. So what begins out as perhaps 9 inches of whole actual property shrinks right down to perhaps 4 inches, with the grips getting tangled in a giant knot.

“We really made a transparent bag so we may see the place the grips would go,” says Shaw. “After we tried it out, you may see the putter grip sliding all the best way to the underside due to the best way the bag leaned.”

The jam-resistant dividers are primarily three horizontal channels shaped into the bottom. So, whether or not you could have the six-way or 14-way prime, the grips might be separated into three teams on the backside of the bag and, it could appear, not get tangled.

Which doesn’t suck.

Brass In Pocket

Whereas there are a lot of pretenders to the throne, Vessel can lay a professional declare to being the primary bag with magnetic pocket closures. Magnetic pockets are ridiculously handy however, as with every comfort, there’s a draw back.

“We discovered that individuals would simply throw every part in there,” says Shaw. “We designed it to carry the rangefinder however individuals would additionally toss tees, divot instruments and ball markers in, as nicely.”

That’s why you’ll discover a separate sleeve or divider within the magnetic rangefinder pocket. You’ll be able to slide your rangefinder within the sleeve to guard it from every part else.

“The ball pocket has the identical factor,” provides Shaw. “I throw all my junk into the ball pocket. And anytime I need to discover a ball marker, I can’t. I do know I’ve like 17 ball markers in there however I can’t discover any of them.”

The ball pocket has each a divider and a “mess” pocket within the inside wall. The brand new Participant IV sequence even have twin insulated bottle cooler sleeves with magnetic openings.

“We thought one was sufficient however individuals requested for extra,” Shaw says. “So we added the entire hip-side panel with a water-proof cooler pocket.”

Carry That Weight

With weights starting from six to 7.5 kilos, you’d suppose the Vessel Gamers IV sequence stand luggage may show to be a little bit of a load for the devoted service. Shaw says total weight is one factor however how that weight is distributed in your again in one other factor totally.

“Steadiness is extra essential than weight,” he says. “I’ve had individuals inform me that due to the strap and the way balanced the bag is, they’ll carry a full-featured bag and never have their bag damage. That’s though on paper, it’s a heavier bag.”

Vessel’s distinctive Equilibrium 2 Strap contains a four-point swivel disc the place the 4 straps meet. The corporate says the disc self-adjusts to take care of stability whether or not you’re carrying the bag on one or each shoulders. Moreover, the higher straps on the Vessel Gamers IV sequence join on the very prime of the bag, to the body on the opening.

“Most different firms join on the bag itself,” says Shaw. “That one or two inches makes a giant distinction if you’re carrying.”

Moreover, the carbon fiber legs function a brand new housing in order that they gained’t get scratched on a pushcart or golf cart.

Vessel Participant IV Collection Golf Luggage: Colours, Worth and Availability

The Vessel Participant IV commonplace golf bag options an 8.5-inch prime opening together with your selection of a six- or 14-way prime divider. It’s accessible in 5 colorways: matte black, matte white, matte gray, matte navy and what Vessel calls DXR Black.

The Vessel Participant IV Professional has a bigger 9.5-inch prime opening and can also be accessible with both six-way or 14-way dividers. Due to the bigger opening, the Participant IV Professional’s 14-way opening can simply accommodate midsize and jumbo grips. Vessel says the usual Participant IV 14-way opening works finest with standard-size grips solely.

The Participant IV Professional is accessible in pebbled black, pebbled white, pebbled gray, pebbled navy and DXR Black.

Vessel luggage, as talked about, aren’t for the budget-minded. Vessel makes use of the identical materials within the Participant IV sequence because it does in its Tour participant luggage and the corporate doesn’t skimp on the options. The usual Participant IV bag is $395 for both the six- or 14-way prime whereas the Participant IV Professional six- or 14-way will run you $435.

“Premium” is an overused phrase in golf and the place Vessel winds up in your price-value matrix actually is dependent upon what you need from a golf bag. If all you need is one thing to tote your golf equipment round, there are far inexpensive choices. Luxurious, options and better high quality, nevertheless, virtually at all times include greenback indicators connected.