Equipment

2019 TaylorMadeTP5 and TP5x golf balls feature High-Flex Material

Published

5 years ago

Jan 3, 2019

Announced today, TaylorMade is set to update its premium tour balls, the TaylorMade TP5 and TaylorMade TP5x, next month.

At the core behind both golf balls is TaylorMade’s new High-Flex Material (HFM). The new material, which TaylorMade has described as its “fastest material” ever, is a tightly wound spring, which is designed to create more rebound energy when compressed for added ball speed.

The tightly wound spring characteristic of HFM also aims to increase the force on the driver face, to further improve the speed of the golf ball as soon as it leaves the driver head.

2019 TP5 cutaway.

The HFM is integrated into TaylorMade’s new Speed-Layer System, which is comprised of four increasingly stiff layers, creating a Speed-Layer System that enables a soft core to be wrapped by increasingly rigid materials, allowing each outer layer to become progressively faster with the aim of controlling spin rates without affecting speed or distance.

Speaking on the new releases from TaylorMade, and its brand new HFM material, Director of Golf Ball R&D, Eric Loper, stated

“With the new TP5 and TP5x golf balls, we knew there was an opportunity to make them even faster. Our research into the driver and ball interaction at the moment of impact along with the development of a new material (HFM) has given us the ability to more efficiently convert compression into speed, at any swing speed. The new Speed-Layer System (SLS) controls spin rates that is critical for driver, iron and wedge performance.”

The new balls from TaylorMade both feature a Tri-Fast Core consisting of an extra-large, low-compression inner core (16 compression in TP5 & 25 compression in TP5x) and a progressively stiffer outer core and mantle. The combination of these cores is designed to create lower drag and increased carry for all level of swing speeds.

2019 TP5x cutaway.

As well as this, the 2019 TP5 and TP5x golf balls contain a Dual-Spin-Cover which holds an ultra-soft cast urethane cover and a 30% more rigid inner cover, which aims to provide excellent control on greenside shots through the rigid inner cover forcing the soft urethane cover into wedge grooves. The new Soft-Tough cast urethane cover has also been introduced to provide greater overall durability.

According to TaylorMade, the TP5 ball has a softer feel, launches lower on iron shots and is targeted at golfers who desire more spin around the green, while the TP5x contains a firmer feel and is designed for players wishing to generate higher launching iron shots.

The 2019 TP5 and TP5x will both be available at retail on February 15, 2019. The cost of both golf balls is $44.99 per dozen.

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14 Comments

NoDonkeys

Jul 1, 2019 at 10:45 pm

Matt Kuchar sucks donkey.

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Art Williams

Jan 4, 2019 at 8:18 pm

Over the last few weeks it’s obvious 2019 is the year of fast, faster and fastest. The espionage among and between the big golf companies must be fast and furious as they bring out similar products in similar colors with similar marketing schemes. Must be a lot spies employed by them, especially Callaway and Taylor Made. I noticed they both were very fast to exceed the $500 ceiling.

Reply Report comment
WB

Jan 4, 2019 at 2:12 am

I gained 14 yards on the driver when I went from Tour Preferred X to TP5X. If the new TP5X gets only 3 yards more I’m in.

Reply Report comment
David

Jan 3, 2019 at 11:14 am

These must be pretty bad since they didn’t jack the price 30%. TM must know they don’t perform well enough to deserve the same price increases as the rest of their line.

Reply Report comment
- Frank
  
  Jan 3, 2019 at 4:41 pm
  
  Must be David. Keep dropping nearly $60 on that “superior” ProV1
  
  Reply Report comment
  - KM01
    
    Jan 4, 2019 at 7:50 am
    
    At the end of the day Pro V is superior. I still think TM are having their balls made by someone else so the probability is that some of them probably don’t even have 5 layers, when you look at how bad the rest of their quality control is. I tried TP5 last time around and it doesn’t spin enough through the bag.
    It’s obvious what they’re going for in their marketing blurb. Distance off the driver. That’s always the first thing they say in everything they say.
    Thing is, I’m still only going to be hitting max 14 drives in a round. So the majority of my shots I need more control. You don’t get that with something that doesn’t spin.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Daniel Forbes
      
      Jan 5, 2019 at 4:36 am
      
      Realistically if you are hitting max 14 drives per round, then u probably dont hit it well enough for spin to be an issue. I hit 14 drivers almost every time i play. Obviously playing a distance ball will prob hurt me… but Playing a proV isn’t going to improve my score at all. Unfortunately taylormade realised they could charge a lot more and did so. So the range of balls available that all qork the same is huge for amatuers now
      
      Reply Report comment
      - KM01
        
        Jan 5, 2019 at 3:30 pm
        
        This comment makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. How could hitting at most 14 drives in a round mean that you don’t hit it well enough to worry about spin? You do realise that most golf courses would have 4 par 3’s meaning, realistically you would only ever have to hit driver at very most 14 times, and on shorter par 4’s you’d hit irons! I’ve played 2 British amateur championships, and have had quite a good amateur career…
        There’s no such thing as a distance ball and a spin ball anymore. This isn’t the days of persimmon woods and balata balls.
        Spin does not just come in to play on shots green side. It’s on every shot you hit. Every golfer needs a certain amount of spin to keep their ball airborne, depending on their launch characteristics.
        Please have a proper ball fitting. You might just learn something…
        
        Reply Report comment
Thomas A

Jan 3, 2019 at 10:48 am

So they are TP5-ier?

Reply Report comment
bill

Jan 3, 2019 at 10:20 am

having to click read more is really annoying. just show the full article

Reply Report comment
- Gil
  
  Jan 4, 2019 at 7:21 pm
  
  Who do you claim is making their balls? Why do you question TM’s quality control?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - KM01
    
    Jan 6, 2019 at 5:04 am
    
    That’s a fact. Look it up. There is only one company who actually manufacture their own golf balls. Everyone else buys in.
    Have you not seen TM’s product the past few years? The rubber in the speed slots on irons has been falling out, iron faces caving in, and some of the loft and lies) swing weights that I’ve had delivered to my shop have been so far out its unbelievable. A couple of years ago, I had an M2 4 iron arrive which was to be standard loft/lie and it was 17*. Quality control is worse than terrible.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Daniel
  
  Jan 5, 2019 at 4:27 am
  
  That is dumbest thing ive ever ive ever read.. u have to scroll down anyway so i dont think clicking 1 button will kill u..
  
  Reply Report comment
Thunder Bear

Jan 3, 2019 at 10:12 am

Of all things releasing this year, I’m most excited about the golf balls coming out. Seems like every company is on the same release schedule with golf balls so I plan to take them all out and do a battle royale to find the best ball. I’ve played the TP5x for a couple years and really excited to see if their claims are actually true.

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Equipment

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

Published

32 mins 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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