TaylorMade TP5 Ball
How does TaylorMade's latest premium golf ball offering perform?
The biggest gains will be for higher swing-speed players, who may also prefer the firmer feel of the TP5x, but everyone should enjoy the overall package for under £50 a dozen.
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Superb short game control combined with an excellent low-spin, high launching ball flight
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Already low spin players may not see as much benefit from switching as others
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TaylorMade TP5 Ball Review - Technical Editor Joel Tadman puts TaylorMade's new premium TP5 golf ball to the test, how does it perform?
TaylorMade TP5 Ball Review
TaylorMade’s latest premium ball is said to offer the best combination of feel, greenside spin and long-game performance that the company has ever built into a golf ball.
Key technology Both the TP5 and TP5x golf balls feature five-layer constructions, with each of the layers customised to meet specific demands, be it driver and iron distance, control and spin, or greenside feel and performance.
Via a progressive construction and manipulation of the size, compression, and materials in each layer, TaylorMade has been able to decouple driver and iron speed from iron and wedge spin.
How we tested We hit 50-yard pitches, full 7-irons and drives with both balls and their rivals on our GC2 launch monitor before testing them over a number of rounds to assess ball flight, short-game control and overall feel.
We also compared them with the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x, the leaders in the premium ball category.
GM Review
Short game Both the TP5 and TP5x models offer a soft enough feel and nice low launch, plus plenty of grab on chips and pitches. They react exactly how you would want and expect a premium ball to react.
Long game The TP5 performed similarly to the Pro V1 on drives – slightly lower-spinning if anything. But with a 7-iron we saw a higher launch and flight, more ball speed, less spin and two to three yards more carry.
The reduction in long-game spin will help the majority of players who spin the ball too much.
The durability was very good and the higher ball flight on iron shots still seemed to hold its line in the wind.
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Joel has worked in the golf industry for over 12 years covering both instruction and more recently equipment. He now oversees all product content here at Golf Monthly, managing a team of talented and passionate writers and presenters in delivering the most thorough and accurate reviews, buying advice, comparisons and deals to help the reader find exactly what they are looking for. So whether it's the latest driver, irons, putter or laser rangefinder, Joel has his finger on the pulse keeping up to date with the latest releases in golf. He is also responsible for all content on irons and golf tech, including distance measuring devices and launch monitors.
One of his career highlights came when covering the 2012 Masters he got to play the sacred Augusta National course on the Monday after the tournament concluded, shooting a respectable 86 with just one par and four birdies. To date, his best ever round of golf is a 5-under 67 back in 2011. He currently plays his golf at Burghley Park Golf Club in Stamford, Lincs, with a handicap index of 3.2.
Joel's current What's In The Bag?
Driver: Titleist TSR3, 9°
Fairway wood: Titleist TSR3, 15°
Hybrid: Titleist TSi2, 18°
Irons: Ping i230 4-UW
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8, 54°. Titleist Vokey SM9 60° lob wedge, K Grind
Putter: Evnroll ER2V
Ball: 2023 Titleist Pro V1x
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