There is a lot of cool gear in the golf equipment world that doesn’t always fit neatly into Most Wanted Tests or Buyer’s Guides. You still want to know how it performs. In our We Tried It series, we put gear to the test and let you know if it works as advertised.
What We Tried:
The Vessel Player IV Pro DXR stand bag; the latest and greatest luxury Vessel golf bag offering.
Who Tried It:
Connor. Director of Soft Goods Testing and resident sneakerhead. I believe golf is better with a pair of cool shoes and comfortable joggers.
I used to be the laughing stock of MyGolfSpy because of my choice of golf bag. I’m here to fix that. It’s about time I conducted a Vessel golf bag review!
Vessel Player IV Pro Golf Bag Review: Bigger, but Better
Vessel is a perennial top player in our golf bag testing. And if their cult-like following is any indication of their performance, I’ll take that as a good sign. The Player IV Pro is the latest in Vessel’s lineup. It aims to not only iterate upon, but drastically improve the few spots where the Vessel Player IV fell short.
Let’s dive right into my review of the Vessel Player IV Pro DXR stand bag.
What the Heck is DXR?
The Vessel Player IV Pro DXR stand bag trades in Vessel’s signature sleek synthetic leather for a lightweight, durable nylon material. DXR (Diamond X-PAC Ripstop) saves weight as compared to the synthetic leather but looks just as good.
It’s more than looks, though. The DXR on the Vessel Player IV Pro is very durable. My rainy round at Payne’s Valley left the Player IV Pro looking just as clean as when I got it. And if there were any questions about its waterproofness, those were quickly quashed. My precious cargo (including my merchandise from the pro shop at Big Cedar) stayed dry.
Dividers of Destiny
My favorite feature of the new Vessel Player IV Pro DXR? I’m glad you asked. The dividers had me feeling some type of way. Now, before you clown me for getting excited about dividers, consider this. The No. 1 thing you’re doing with a golf bag is pulling out clubs and pushing them back in. Every shot on every hole starts and ends with a club entering or exiting your bag.
The six-way top on the Vessel Player IV Pro is expansive and the dividers extend all the way to the bottom of the bag. The result? Smooth club pulls (and slams) and no more jumbled mess of midsize grips.
If you’re going to upsize a golf stand bag, that size needs to be used correctly. I’m glad Vessel used some of the extra room to really nail the club dividers.
Size Matters
Speaking of size, the Vessel Player IV Pro DXR has plenty of storage. The magnetic rangefinder pocket is easily accessible and the large side compartments offer plenty of space for all of your gear. Even with the rain hood tucked inside, I still had room for all of that Payne’s Valley merchandise I mentioned earlier–a win for Vessel but not for my wallet.
Another feature I loved is the side-mounted magnetic pocket. It’s perfectly placed for use when the golf bag is on your shoulders and, man, was it convenient!
Despite the upgrade in size, I still found the Vessel Player IV Pro DXR stand bag to be walkable. As with most Vessel golf bags, the adjustable strap system is nice and easy to dial in your fit.
Get Some Legs
If I had one gripe about the Vessel Player IV Pro DXR, it’s the stand system. The carbon fiber legs just don’t feel very stable, especially on uneven or slippery surfaces. There’s just a little too much play for my liking. The last thing I want is my stand bag doing the splits.
Vessel Player IV Pro DXR Stand Bag Review: Impressive Improvement
When compared to the Vessel Player IV stand bag which we tested this year for our Best Stand Bag of 2023, the Player IV Pro delivered noteworthy improvements. If you’re in the market for a stand bag of this caliber (and price tag), I’d have no qualms recommending the Vessel Player IV Pro.
This Guy
11 months ago
Great review, but this product hasn’t been available for at least a month.