TaylorMade ball withdrawn from Conforming List

Due to a manufacturing error that occurred during the production of a batch of TaylorMade TP Red balls, they have been withdrawn from the Conforming Ball List.

TaylorMade TP Red Ball issue

TaylorMade has withdrawn its TP Red ball with the side stamp TP/RED.LDP from the R&A and USGA’s list of Conforming Golf Balls. During its own testing procedure, TaylorMade discovered a rogue batch of TP Red balls that exceeded limits set by the governing bodies on initial velocity off the clubface.

TaylorMade’s mistake was pairing the TP Red cover with the wrong core and this delivered a velocity in excess of the limits set. As soon as the error was discovered TaylorMade immediately took steps to get the ball removed from the Conforming List.

Despite its removal, the TP Red ball will still be permissible in the vast majority of competitions. As the R&A’s assistant director of equipment standards, Claire Bates explains, its elimination from the list does not make it a non-conforming ball.

“I confirm that The R&A would still regard that specific ball type as being a conforming golf ball, even though TaylorMade has requested that it be withdrawn from the Conforming List due to a manufacturing issue effecting initial velocity.

“Therefore, once it has been removed from the List, it will still be acceptable for use in all competitions – other than those where the Committee has introduced the Conforming Ball Condition as a condition of competition.”

As the mistake occurred in just one rogue batch, amounting to two tenths of 1% of its golf ball output, TaylorMade has now released the same ball with a different marking that has been accepted onto the Conforming List – this will be the version used by TaylorMade’s Tour staff. (The photograph opposite shows how to distinguish between the the balls, the forward slash on the ball denotes the original version.)

This will not affect the vast majority of amateur golfers but for those playing in high level events we would recommend they check with the tournament committee as to whether the Conforming Ball Condition has been introduced. If it has, the TP/RED.LDP version of the ball should not be used.

Neil Tappin
Editor

In July 2023, Neil became just the 9th editor in Golf Monthly's 112-year history. Originally working with the best coaches in the UK to produce instruction content, he has also presented many Golf Monthly videos looking at all areas of the game from Tour player interviews to the rules of golf. 

Throughout his time with the brand he has also covered equipment launches that date back well over a decade. He clearly remembers the launch of the Callaway and Nike square drivers as well as the white TaylorMade driver families, such as the RocketBallz! If you take a look at the Golf Monthly YouTube channel, you'll see his equipment videos dating back over a decade! He has also conducted 'What's In The Bag' interviews with many of the game's best players like Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm. Over the years, Neil has tested a vast array of products in each category and at drastically different price-points. 

Neil is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade Stealth Plus Fairway Wood: Titleist TSR2 Hybrid: Titleist TS3 Irons: PING Blueprint S (4&5), PING Blueprint T (6-PW) Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 50˚, 54˚, 60˚ Putter: Odyssey Triple Track Ten Ball: Titleist Pro V1X