Now, for 2021, TaylorMade have introduced the Tour Flight Dimple Pattern. The revolutionary new design has a unique dual-radius shape that decouples dimple volume from depth to optimise airflow around the golf ball during flight, ultimately improving the aerodynamics and increasing carry distance. 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. As one of the TaylorMade staff players’ most popular choices of golf ball, I wanted to give the TaylorMade TP5x a true test of 18 holes.

Your results may vary and keep in mind that less spin may mean more distance off the driver but can also mean less ability to stop a long iron on the green. So balance your options and use the ball that matches your game. Feel Apart from one having an X on it, there really isn't much to separate the two in the looks department. However, it is a different story when it comes to feel, with the TP5 remaining noticeably softer than theTP5x. Compression consistency across the TaylorMade TP5x sample was above average (what we classify as Good). The best way I know to test a ball’s distance is to see if there is a difference in the smash factor when using the same driver with each ball. Smash factor can be calculated by ball speed/swing speed. Outer mantle colors ranged from pale green (above) to neon green. It’s rare to see variation in mantle colors but, again, our gauges provide the best insight into whether there’s a resulting inconsistency. CoverWe were seriously impressed by the TP5's feel though and, arguably, it is the golf ball's strongest factor! A number of the best premium golf balls on themarket can boast a solid combination of distance and spin, but the feel of the TP5 would be hard to match.

It won’t take you long to get used to putting with any kind of golf ball…so go with the one that matches your swing. Should I Play TP5 or TP5x?Wedge shots (about 80 yards with a 54-degree wedge) saw about the same difference in spin as the 7 iron. It’s difficult to test the “distance” of a ball as it can be affected by many other factors like spin and launch that make it more important to get the right ball rather than the “fastest” or longest. The Taylormade TP5 ball is a great alternative for those of you that like to play the ProV1. It is certainly a premium golf ball and in the same class as the more popular ProV1. With a lower compression than the TP5x, you can get great performance out of this ball with a driver swing speed around 100-110. The differences show up when you move to iron shots. Here you will see a mid-high ball flight from the TP5 and a high ball flight from the TP5x. This likely has to do with the differences in spin that I’ll talk about below.

My hunch … and it’s only that … is that TaylorMade is likely to release a higher-compression, lower-spinning offering later this year. By softening their mass-market offering, they’ve created space to be aggressive with a new ball. TaylorMade TP5x—Diameter and WeightAs well as both the TP5 and the TP5x are available in yellow colour ways and some fun prints from the pix collection. Who knew you could get bacon and eggs on your golf ball?! TaylorMade TP5x golf ball review: NGC Verdict The compression delta across the sample was nine points. That’s one point better than the current database average. Significant shifts in compression from one generation to the next are rare so it’s noteworthy when it happens. To give you a frame of reference, the compression change from the 2019 TP5x to the new model is roughly the same as the difference between a Pro V1x and the standard Pro V1. While we do run into the occasional odd ball from TaylorMade, generally speaking, the consistency of the TP5 series is as good or better than most. With the new model, diameter and weight consistency fall within the Average range while compression consistency achieves a rating of Good. Except for one ball in box No. 2 that was a bit on the heavy side, the consistency of weight across the sample falls within the average range.

Company number: 1394141; Registered office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing, The key to achieving enhanced speed without negatively affecting spin performance comes from TaylorMade’s proprietary 5-layer ball construction. Including a Tri-Fast Core that delivers maximum carry and low drag and a Dual-Spin Cover that features an ultra-soft, highly durable cast urethane cover, TP5/TP5x offer complete tee-to-green performance without sacrifice. Minor incursions remain prevalent and this does seem to be an ongoing issue with TaylorMade, though, compared to the prior generation, they were neither as numerous nor as severe. Both models deliver world-class distance off the tee, but TP5x is the fastest and longest ball in the current TaylorMade line-up, with a firmer feel and higher launch on iron shots. In addition, it has more greenside spin than the prior generation with a new and softer cast urethane cover. The high-visibility 2021 TP5x Yellow has a new enriched yellow urethane, finished with UV resistant yellow paint to provides added durability while maximising visibility. The 2019 model was white urethane with UV resistant yellow paint. How does the TP5x fit into TaylorMade’s 2021 golf balls line up?

The 2021 TP5x and TP5 offer complete tee-to-green performance thanks to TaylorMade’s proprietary five-layer construction. Vacating the higher end of the compression space where balls like the Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash and now the Callaway Chrome Soft LS live is an interesting decision, especially as golfers are becoming more aware of these options. To some degree, it feels a bit like TaylorMade is walking away from an emerging category where it was already one of the leaders. The manufacturing story remains a bit non-standard. You might even say odd. The cores and inner mantle layers are produced in Taiwan. The nearly finished balls are shipped to TaylorMade’s U.S.A. plant where covers are put on. Simply put, the new ball is appreciably softer. Anecdotally, it’s a bit shorter (though it’s by no measure a short ball). We suspect it spins more around the green and certainly feels a bit softer.