Equipment

TaylorMade makes big claims about new TP5 and TP5x golf balls

Published

7 years ago

Dec 7, 2016

It’s not often you hear a company directly address another company by name — after all, they’re competitors — especially when it’s a titan in the industry. But that’s exactly what TaylorMade did at the launch for its new TP5 and TP5x golf balls.

Titleist is the most played golf ball on the professional tour, and the No. 1 ball in golf. That’s no secret, and TaylorMade readily admits it. TaylorMade says, however, that it has been able to create a longer, lower-spinning tour ball than the leader in the industry due to its proprietary designs.

TaylorMade was willing to demonstrate those claims in front of an audience full of media members at its launch event, using former amateur standout and new TaylorMade staffer Jon Rahm. The test pitted Rahm’s current golf ball, the Titleist Pro V1x, against TaylorMade’s TP5x.

At the range at The Club at Ibis in West Palm Beach on Tuesday, Rahm tested both golf balls in windy conditions (blowing slightly into, and left-to-right), hitting off of the wispy Bermuda grass. After hitting 7-irons and 4-irons, Trackman numbers supported TaylorMade’s claims of higher ball speeds, lower spin and more distance — upward of 10 yards gained on multiple shots. In the wind, as you’d expect, a lower-spinning shot is preferable since it’s less affected by the conditions.

“It’s a higher ball flight, and isn’t spinning as much (as the the Pro V1x),” Rahm said of the TP5x golf balls. “It just goes farther.” Bear in mind, Rahm is a young staffer who’s paid by TaylorMade.

TaylorMade also claimed at the launch event that the balls are high-spinning around the green compared to their previous models, the Tour Preferred and Tour Preferred X, in addition to being longer and higher-launching.

“No (tour golf ball) is better than us inside 100 yards,” said Eric Loper, TaylorMade’s director of golf ball R&D.

So, in terms of technology and design, what’s different about these TP5 and TP5x golf balls that’s allowing these big claims?

While the previous line had a Tour Preferred X golf ball that was made with five layers, the new line now expands that 5-layer design into both the TP5 and TP5x golf balls. There’s also a new, larger “Tri-Fast” core, and a “Dual-Spin” cover that creates more spin with wedges, but less spin with lower-lofted clubs.

TaylorMade TP5x and TP5 (right) are both 5-piece golf balls.

According to TaylorMade’s initial tour player testing, the TP5 and TP5x will be higher launching with irons (1-2 degrees), lower spinning (500-1000 rpm with irons, 0-200 rpm with a driver) and longer (+7-10 yards with irons, +2-4 yards with a driver).

The cores of the golf balls are extremely low-compression (TP5x = 25, TP5 = 16), according to TaylorMade, with a stiffer outer core and an even stiffer mantle layer. The three layers combine to restrict spin and improve energy transfer, and less spin directly leads to higher launch, according to the company.

231691-TM16BAL0035_TP5_TP5x_Charts_v6_DualSpinCover1-691091-large-1481082652

This faster core is coupled with a cover made from two pieces; a cast urethane, 322-dimpled seamless cover and a rigid thermoplastic inner cover. The firmer inner cover is said to force the softer, outer cover into the grooves of the wedges in order to create more friction, and thus more backspin around the greens.

The TP5x (90 compression) is said to launch higher and feel firmer than the softer TP5 golf ball (83 compression), which has a “mid-launch,” according to the company. Both golf balls will sell for $44.99 per dozen and will be in stores March 1, 2017.

Correction: The original article stated that the TP5 and TP5X could provide distance gains of 2-4 yards with irons and 7-10 yards with a driver. The story has been corrected to say that the balls could provide distance gains of 7-10 yards with irons and 2-4 yards with a driver.

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Andrew Tursky

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

39 Comments

JonS

Apr 29, 2017 at 10:58 pm

Every year golf manufacturers make many claims with their golf balls, and rarely are they fair or head to head comparisons to support said claims. The Taylormade Golf TP5x golf ball is legitimate and produces interesting results. Simply grab a 7 iron and see for yourself. I found the ball went higher and further and was excellent in the wind. It felt slightly firmer than the ProV1x golf ball, but that’s something that can be easily sacrificed for the performance.

Reply Report comment
Almdudler

Dec 13, 2016 at 10:49 am

Who really want to have lower spin with the irons? Professionals usually controls their spin great! And amateurs mostly have trouble holding greens.
Almost all irons in the GI and SGI market are stronger lofts/high launch with less spin.

I want my 4-7 iron to one hop and stop.. Not bounce and roll off the green. Why is nobody thinking of this?

Reply Report comment
- Prime21
  
  Dec 18, 2016 at 11:07 am
  
  That is what you WANT ur 4-7 to do, but they don’t. Amateur players face the same issues with their golf ball as they do with their irons, high launch, high spin. If you bring both issues down equally, a problem is created. Through technology, TM has given the average player the ability to offset these issues with clubs/balls that launch high with less spin. Now the player has the ability to stop a ball on a green with a proper land angle NOT an over abundance of spin. Tour players have always been concerned with launch charateristics, especially in the wind (think Tiger at the 2000 US Open). If one cannot arrive with less effective loft than when they started, their ball is going to balloon, period. Technological advancements mean players will get similar results without having to manipulate their shots (ball back, shaft forward, less loft) guving them the ability to make more of a “stock” swing, instead of a “flighted” one.
  Taylor Made has thought of this, but it’s obvious that YOU haven’t put much effort into YOUR thought process. Before you decide to post again, please make some effort to understand the science behind that which you are attempting to speak intelligently about. Otherwise, we will get another ignorant “hate” post that makes ZERO sense & this site has already reached maximum capacity with these types of posts. I hope your skull and roll iron shots improve for the 2017 season!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Ben
    
    Mar 14, 2017 at 5:42 pm
    
    You nailed it. While there is a lot of BS marketing, I’m getting pretty tired of the haters. I’ve recently switched to the TP5 bc it feels great off the putter and performed better in the wind. We’re literally splitting hairs, but I hit 5 balls on multiple holes into the wind (Chrome Soft X, Pro V1/1x, TP5/5x) and the TPs consistently performed slightly better. Combine that with not shearing as easily as the Pro Vs and it’s become a no brainer. Now if only the TPs came in Tour Yellow.
    
    Reply Report comment
Smizzly

Dec 9, 2016 at 2:31 pm

“TaylorMade makes big claims”

Truly shocking.

Srixon and Bstone make much better balls than Callaway, Tmade and Titleist.

Reply Report comment
Dave

Dec 9, 2016 at 7:17 am

blah blah blah blah

Reply Report comment
justin

Dec 8, 2016 at 1:14 pm

Callaway super soft the ones that look like soccer balls, that’s what I play and I honestly have never hit a better ball

Reply Report comment
- Joe Galbreth
  
  Dec 8, 2016 at 7:54 pm
  
  Ditto Justin….I really like the TruVis. Callaway is coming out with a newer Chrome Soft next spring. It also will have the TruVis design.
  
  Reply Report comment
Feel the Bern

Dec 8, 2016 at 10:24 am

heard this ball is 10% longer with the putter. Loft down!

Reply Report comment
Greg

Dec 8, 2016 at 4:46 am

Lots of truly great balls out there. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to ProV1, you should have no trouble doing so.
I’m just numb to anything Taylormade tells me anymore. From drivers,to irons, to balls, they make some good stuff…I m just staging my own mini protest and just won’t buy any of it.

Reply Report comment
- Brad
  
  Dec 8, 2016 at 2:04 pm
  
  I am 99% with you Greg. I despise TM for every product…. except their golf balls. I switched 2 years ago to the TPx, and can honestly say there is not a better ball on the market. Period. I would be shocked if you couldn’t notice at least a slight advantage. It’s rare that I find a person as “brand-centric” as myself, so even suggesting this for a TM product is saying something coming from me. Give em a try.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Aa
    
    Dec 8, 2016 at 7:22 pm
    
    We’re not all idiots like you, Brad, and are just happy, positive, forward-thinking innovative people who love Taylormade, and have done so since the 90s. TM have been miles ahead in tech and everybody else are still laying catch up. Why wouldn’t you play their metals? Because you’re an idiot.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Jalan
      
      Dec 17, 2016 at 4:08 pm
      
      Your Avatar is appropriate. You certainly act like a little child, as well.
      
      Reply Report comment
Jeffrey Purtell

Dec 8, 2016 at 12:57 am

Let me guess, these balls are more forgiving also.

Reply Report comment
- Rj
  
  Dec 8, 2016 at 2:21 am
  
  Balls have been forgiving ever since Precept Lady
  
  Reply Report comment
  - RJ's Man Card
    
    Dec 8, 2016 at 2:08 pm
    
    Personally, I wouldn’t know anything about that. We’ll just have to take your word for it, and trust your experience in using Ladies golf balls.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - bh
      
      Dec 8, 2016 at 3:57 pm
      
      The Precept Lady ball was a great ball. The changed the name to Laddie so the cavemen could be ok with playing them.
      
      Reply Report comment
    - Mort
      
      Dec 8, 2016 at 10:50 pm
      
      The Lady is what came before the ProVs, is what ProV was copied from
      
      Reply Report comment
Wayne J Bosley

Dec 7, 2016 at 10:46 pm

Well they had to come up with something different and “special” seeing they are made by Nassau Korea and the Kirkland is so close to the TP models in structure and performance ,,,,,

Reply Report comment
- Henry
  
  Dec 9, 2016 at 8:28 am
  
  The K-Sig is a 4 piece, these are both 5 piece. Yeah, there are comparable balls out there, but the K-Sig isnt one of them.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Smitty
    
    Dec 12, 2016 at 8:27 am
    
    The K-Sig ball is made at the same factory as the TP balls. It’s the same ball as the current TP 4-piece ball. TM had to respond by adding another layer and some marketing hype.
    
    Reply Report comment
James

Dec 7, 2016 at 9:05 pm

What happens if you are hitting it with the new M1 or the new Proto irons? TM clubs on TM balls. Please tell me that it’s the greatest combination imaginable.

Seriously though, I need to know the durability of the cover. I tear the cover with full wedge shots of the previous TP balls. I am really interested in the seamless cover!

Reply Report comment
TexasSnowman

Dec 7, 2016 at 4:52 pm

7-10 yds with the Driver…..Question: At any swing speed, Launch Angle, etc? TM makes a claim without any supporting information as usual. I would pay more than $45 dozen for extra 10 yards with the driver, but given the history of TM (17 yds!, etc) and USGA parameters for golf balls. I am very skeptical of their advertising, even with the staged event with Rahm.

Reply Report comment
Josh

Dec 7, 2016 at 3:59 pm

Sorry TM. Kirkland signatures 2 doz for $30.

Reply Report comment
John meikle

Dec 7, 2016 at 2:45 pm

Those extra 2 yards will make sure I reach the rough and those pesky fairway bunkers…

Reply Report comment
- Guia
  
  Dec 7, 2016 at 6:46 pm
  
  Why do you think the difference is 2 yards, or were you being funny?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Guia
    
    Dec 7, 2016 at 6:48 pm
    
    Oh, I re-read, and irons are 2 – 4 yards. Your right that is minimum, but 7 – 10 off of the driver is quite a bit.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - rymail00
      
      Dec 7, 2016 at 7:36 pm
      
      Granted it is a gain, but small with the irons but like you said that’s a lot with the driver.
      
      What I find shocking if true is that it can knock off 200rpm on irons and 500-1000 rpm with woods. That’s a HUUUGE claim…..and kinda hard to believe. I wonder if those numbers got put in backwards and should be 500-1000 for irons and 200 for woods?
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Guia
        
        Dec 7, 2016 at 11:02 pm
        
        I think that the stats would mean more if they used Iron Byron.
        
        Reply Report comment
        
        Steve S
        
        Dec 8, 2016 at 2:05 pm
        
        Exactly! Best ball test ever done was by consumer reports 7 or 8 years ago. Used the Iron B. hitting driver and 8 iron. Measured distance and accuracy. Showed that the expensive balls were good but not worth the money. Their best buy was the Titliest DT Solo, about the cheapest ball in the test.
        
        Reply Report comment
Jim

Dec 7, 2016 at 2:28 pm

ProV’s are the most over rated over priced balls of all time. Forget Trackman. Test honestly yourself. Go to the 150 yd dot, and hit 2 of your proV with whatever you hit 150. Then drop a Bridgestone Rx, B330s, Callaway SR or Chrome and see.

When I was a kid, you found TopFlites in the woods / fescue….rarley a Titleist, Maxfli or Slazenger Balata. Walk the edges now and ProV’s are everywhere. People that shouldn’t be playing them to begin with get tired of looking on every hole! By the 5th /6th they just drop another.

not surprised anything performed better, and NO, I’m not a TM guy. I wouldn’t play anything from TM unless the paid
me beaucoup, then I’m sure they’d find something in the Tour-Only box I’d dig

Reply Report comment
- Jonno
  
  Dec 7, 2016 at 6:24 pm
  
  this guy gets it, prov1’s are the most over-rated piece of golf equipment ever made. If you really believe that any of the other golf companies couldn’t dissect a prov1 and analyse exactly what makes it the way it is – then you’re just crazy. What the other golf companies are trying to do is get the same marketing and brand loyalty that the prov1 garners – the product has been overtaken by larger budgeted competitors years ago, but they still sell the most! Titleist also pay more golf professionals than any other brand yet only other brands get called out for “he only plays X because he’s paid by X”.
  Titleist and the prov1 should be a business case study in marketing world wide.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Rj
  
  Dec 7, 2016 at 7:13 pm
  
  Yes. Thank you for letting us know that you’re an idiot
  
  Reply Report comment
- Progolfer
  
  Dec 8, 2016 at 11:58 am
  
  Ever since Callaway sued Titleist for their ProV1 design infringements, the ball hasn’t been anywhere near as good as it used to be. It’s shorter off the tee with more spin, and spins less around the greens. A lot of people don’t know this, but professionals are allowed to use the original ProV1’s with modern stampings on them– it doesn’t violate the lawsuit. There’s a reason so many pro’s play the “current” ProV1. My recommendation is if you find an older one in good shape, keep it!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Brian
    
    Dec 8, 2016 at 3:30 pm
    
    Not sure about Callaway, but I know Titleist pays Bridgestone a royalty for ever ProV1 sold due to patent infringements. Would be suprised if they stole tech from Callaway also.
    
    Reply Report comment
chinchbugs

Dec 7, 2016 at 1:39 pm

I can’t wait to get those +2 yards with the irons!

Reply Report comment
- Double Mocha Man
  
  Dec 8, 2016 at 12:10 pm
  
  … but you need to combine those 2 yards with the new irons that get you 6 extra yards and your new swing that gets you 8 extra yards… and presto chango, you’re 16 yards longer with your 9-iron!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - chinchbugs
    
    Dec 8, 2016 at 2:31 pm
    
    Never thought of it that way…add that to the +17 I’ll be getting with the driver and I am up to +33 yards. That par 4 just went from mid iron in the wedge! Take my money TM!
    (J/K I wouldn’t be so foolish to give TM any of my money)
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Knut
      
      Dec 11, 2016 at 11:32 am
      
      Yes, you’re just a fool. Period.
      
      Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

17 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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