Equipment
2019 TaylorMadeTP5 and TP5x golf balls feature High-Flex Material
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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- Richy Werenski what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Houston Open.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana PD 60 TX
3-wood: Titleist TSR2 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 8 X
Hybrid: Titleist TSR3 (19 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White Hybrid 90 TX
Irons: Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 S
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (46-10F, 50-12F), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (54-M, 58-L @60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 Onyx (46-50), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 Onyx (54-60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash
Grips: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Richy Werenski’s clubs in the forums.
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Equipment
Adam Scott testing green “Masters Use Only” putter + 6 interesting equipment photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Welcome to the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson event at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, which, for your geographical reference, is about 25 minutes from Dallas.
In early-week equipment news, we saw some interesting putter testing from Adam Scott, a Maxfli golf ball signing on the PGA Tour, a 16-year-old’s WITB, a PGA Tour player using another PGA Tour player’s backup putter, and Jordan Spieth weighed in on why he recently switched out just his 7-iron (and then made a hole-in-one with it).
With so much to report and so little time to waste on the intro, let’s get right into this week’s equipment rundown from the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
See all of our photo galleries from the week here
Adam Scott’s new L.A.B. putters
Before we get into a couple of the new prototypes Scott has been testing, above is a photo of the L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max prototype putter that he’s been using, and will likely continue to use this week in Texas.
That being said, following the Masters, Scott was looking to try a couple putters with a slightly lighter weight to help with his feel on fast greens.
One of the new prototypes we spotted on Tuesday was a L.A.B. Golf DF3 “Proto 2.1”, custom-built with Scott’s preferred blue colorway, and an Australia-inspired Kangaroo laser engraving…
We also spotted him with a green-colored “For Masters Use Only” Mezz.1 Max prototype…
While it’s unlikely Scott will make a switch this week, it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward, especially on courses with faster greens.
We also got a peek into Scott’s full WITB this week, which consists of a super-mixed set of Srixon irons, including a ZX Utility 3-iron, a ZX-5 MkII 4-iron, ZX-7 MkII mid-irons (5-7) and Z Forged II short irons (8-9).
See Scott’s full WITB from the CJ Cup here
An update on Daniel Berger’s Odyssey Jailbird
Last week in New Orleans, we highlighted Daniel Berger’s Ai-One Jailbird Mini putter because of its unique sightlines.
Well, we have an update.
According to Callaway Tour Manager Joe Toulon, who spoke with GolfWRX.com this week, Berger’s Jailbird Mini is actually from fellow Tour player Tom Kim’s stash. Kim is a prolific putter tester, and the exact putter Berger is currently using was actually originally made for and tested by Kim. The putter didn’t make it into Kim’s starting lineup, however, so he gave the putter back to Odyssey, and it eventually made it’s way onto Berger’s gamer roster.
Jordan Spieth’s new 7-iron
As the story goes, Jordan Spieth changed out his Titleist T100 7-iron on Wednesday before the 2024 Valero Texas Open, and then on Thursday, he used the 7-iron to make a hole-in-one from 199 yards on the 16th hole.
Good timing on that switch, Jordan.
On Tuesday at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson, GoflWRX.com caught up with Spieth to get the full story on why he switched just the 7-iron.
Our full story is over on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, but here’s a snippet of what Spieth had to say:
“I hit my 7-iron a lot, especially on my own. The spin rates, relative to my 6-iron and my 8-iron, were lower, so it was going too far. I was trying to figure out why, if it was something in the makeup of the iron. I got the lies and the lofts checked, and everything was fine. So finally I was like, ‘Can I just get a new one and see if it fixes it?’
“Maybe there was one other time throughout my career where I changed just one iron, so it’s very unusual. I think it’s just because the grooves were worn down from hitting it too much.”
Ben Griffin signs with Maxfli to play the golf ball
At the beginning of the year, LPGA Tour star Lexi Thompson signed a deal with Maxfli to play the company’s golf ball, and now, Griffin has officially joined team Maxfli, as well, thus expanding the company’s Tour presence.
GolfWRX.com caught up with Griffin on Wednesday in Texas for a video interview about his new golf ball of choice, and how he marks it…
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A 16-year-old is playing on the PGA Tour this week, using a 2-iron!
Amateur golfer Kris Kim, at just 16 years of age, is making his PGA Tour debut this week after receiving a sponsors exemption into the event. In 2023, Kim won both the R&A Boys’ Amateur Championship and the European Boys’ International Championship.
On Tuesday in Texas, we got a look into Kim’s bag, which revealed that he’s currently playing a TaylorMade P-770 2-iron, and a bag full of TaylorMade clubs.
Check out Kim’s full WITB here
A smart golf ball stamping
I’m not going to sit here and pretend to be a big math guy, because I’m not. However, I do recognize David Nyfjall’s purple ball marking as a square root symbol.
While I don’t know the particular significance of the square root symbol for Nyfjall, I do know you have to be fairly intelligent to even consider using a marking like that. Pretty cool stuff from the Northwestern alum, and 2023 Byron Nelson Award winner.
And, with that, we say goodbye to Texas and TPC Craig Ranch. We’ll see you next week at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte for more insider equipment news and storylines.
For now, don’t forget to check out all of our photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
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- Wesley Bryan what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Max (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana GT 50 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana GT 60 X
Hybrid: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus Rescue (19.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus HB Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Takomo 101U (4), Takomo 101T (5), Takomo 301 CB (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 52-08F, 56-14F), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (58-A)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: L.A.B. Golf DF3
Grips: SuperStroke, Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
More photos of Wesley Bryan’s WITB in the forums.
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Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
Richy Werenski WITB 2024 (May)
Richy Werenski what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Houston Open. Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1...
Wesley Bryan WITB 2024 (May)
Wesley Bryan what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple...
Adam Scott WITB 2024 (May)
Adam Scott what’s in the bag accurate as of the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (10.5 degrees)...
Pierceson Coody WITB 2024 (April)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi 10 (9 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi 10 Tour (15 degrees)...
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NoDonkeys
Jul 1, 2019 at 10:45 pm
Matt Kuchar sucks donkey.
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.
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.
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.
Frank
Jan 3, 2019 at 4:41 pm
Must be David. Keep dropping nearly $60 on that “superior” ProV1
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.
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
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…
Thomas A
Jan 3, 2019 at 10:48 am
So they are TP5-ier?
bill
Jan 3, 2019 at 10:20 am
having to click read more is really annoying. just show the full article
Gil
Jan 4, 2019 at 7:21 pm
Who do you claim is making their balls? Why do you question TM’s quality control?
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.
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..
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.