Balls in Box 1 were heavier than Boxes 2 and 3 and included a single ball over the USGA weight limit. The Titleist ProV1 probably has the edge on control thanks to the cover and construction and it’s lower spin profile puts it closer to the firmer TP5x, so therefore it could be a good choice for high spin players who like a softer feel.

On all of the shots, I noticed the TP5X launching higher and carrying further. The TP5X also seemed to be less impacted by shots with noticeable side spin than both the TP5 and ProV1, which is likely to be a factor of the lower overall spin. For a high spin golfer, the TP5X will likely produce more control and more distance. Today, we’re focusing on a tour level golf ball that has been making waves from the amateur ranks to the Sunday CBS broadcasts. While the prototype tour ball has always been the Titleist Pro V1 or Pro V1X, the TaylorMade TP5 and TP5x models have been gaining market share, especially amongst the best players in the world. Any golfer playing the correct ball for them can expect to see increased ball speeds and carry distance, better performance in the wind, and more control around the greens. We also noted some differences in mantle coloring as well. That’s a bit more unusual but, again, we’ll defer to the gauges. 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.Since those humble beginnings, our endeavour has blossomed into a robust and trusted online retailer, representing the leading brands in the golf industry. We take immense pride in being your go-to destination for all things golf! The True Price will always be equal to or greater than the retail price. The greater the difference between the retail price and the True Price, the more you should be concerned about the quality of the ball.

On our gauge, the 2021 TaylorMade TP5 measures 87 compression on average. That’s down about three points from the previous generation. It’s only four points softer than the current TP5x and identical to the Titleist Pro V1 (though the spin profiles are significantly different). While it’s never going to be confused with TaylorMade’s Soft Response or even the Tour Response, by legitimate PGA TOUR ball standards, it’s certainly on the softer side. TaylorMade TP5—Diameter and Weight Company number: 1394141; Registered office: Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Lynch Wood, Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing, Both the TP5 and TP5x has great feel and performed as expected from tee to green. When compared to other tour-level balls, I didn’t feel as though I was left wanting in any specific area.

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. With my driver, the TP5X was longer than the TP5 by an average of about 4 yards and longer than the ProV1 by an average of about 6 yards. This new dimple pattern is designed to increase aero which results in greater carry distances by reducing drag in the assent and producing a steeper and faster descent for greater overall distance.

The choice between the TaylorMade TP5 and Titleist Pro V1 and is going to be player dependent as they are both premium golf balls. From a cosmetic standpoint, there aren’t any noticeable difference between the Taylor TP5/TP5X and most other tour level balls. The dimple patterns, text, and numbering are all pretty standard. However, the box claims that these are “THE MOST COMPLETE TOUR BALL”. The results of our consistency tests (below) are frustrating. On one hand, it’s reasonable to say the majority of the problems we encountered can be traced to a single box. On the other, all of the balls of a given model are supposed to be the same and, in this case, there’s a strong argument to be made that wasn’t the case with the TP5s we bought.

I started with chipping around the green and progressively moved to 50-yard pitches. The first thing that I noticed was that the TP5 felt softer than the TP5X and was more similar to the ProV1, which is likely a result of the difference in compression. This was a small difference and likely not one that many golfers would notice if they put the ball in play. Many people have expressed interest in learning more about these balls to see if they’re worth making the switch. EXPANDED CORE, INCREASED SPEED - A larger and more reactive core is the centerpiece of the new TP5. It is designed to store and release energy more efficiently, delivering a spring-like effect that results in faster ball speeds and increased distance compared to its predecessor.

As with other TaylorMade TP5-series balls, we noted multiple layer incursion issues (the outer layer effectively melting into the inner layer). While prevalent, none was significant enough for us to flag the ball as bad. That said, this continues to be an issue for TaylorMade and is certainly something we hope to see improved (if not resolved) in the future. THE PATH TO DISTANCE - The path to distance has evolved with the all-new TP5. In 2017, a movement began with the optimal spin and launch conditions provided by our 5-layer construction. Then we increased ball speed with the HFM Speed Layer and now we’ve added advanced aerodynamics with the Tour Flight Dimple Pattern. Next, I noticed that I was spinning the TP5 more than I would’ve liked. I was having a harder time controlling the level of spin when intending to hit shots to hop once and stop when compared to the TP5X, even though both balls market themselves as being designed to provide the highest spin. Overall, both the TP5 and TP5X performed well on these shots. There’s a reason TP5 is the Most Complete Tour Ball in Golf, because it’s built like no other. As the only 5-layer Tour ball, it delivers unmatched performance off the tee, from the fairway and around the green. On any shot the golf course throws at you, there’s one ball that’s better for all.Boxes 2 and 3 have smaller average diameters and nearly all of the balls dance perilously close to the minimum allowable diameter, which is exactly what we’ve come to expect from TaylorMade.