This year TaylorMade has released a new version of their affordable three-piece ionomer golf ball. In this 2022 TaylorMade Soft Response golf ball review, we’ll find out how it feels to play it. According to their official website, this ball was “Designed to give amateur golfers enhanced feel while maintaining ball speeds and distance.”
The engineers have lowered the compression to make this the softest ball TaylorMade has to offer. It has a softer core and a re-engineered ionomer cover compared to the previous model. Another change is the “Steeper and shallower dimples to reduce drag and optimize lift for optimized aerodynamics to protect distance in softer golf ball design.”
All these improvements the ball went through are promising something good. Without further details, I’ll move on and let you know what I got out of a round of golf with this ball.
My Verdict
TaylorMade is a giant in the golf world. All the equipment they make is top quality, this includes golf balls. They might not be the first choice when it comes to balls, but they are more than solid. This ball is a very good choice for golfers who want to try three-piece golf balls and stay on budget.
If you are curious to try it out it will not set you back a lot and you could enjoy it. Do not expect miracles from it, but do expect a solid performance. At the end of the day, you might end up with something that is going to stick around in your bag. Even if you don’t, I bet you will still have fun playing.
Who Is This Ball For?
With a low compression rating of 50, this golf ball is targeting golfers with slower to medium swing speeds. One of its biggest selling points is the softer feel for players with that preference. It is a three-piece golf ball, but it is built with an ionomer cover. That means it might last longer, but it will have less spin than a urethane cover firmer ball.
If you are looking for distance above all, this ball could be for you. That is under the condition you do not have a fast swing speed. It has enough greenside spin to offer a solid short game. In addition, if you are looking for a medium to high flight trajectory, it offers that as well. All in all, it would be a good stepping stone for newer golfers who want to try a three-piece golf ball without overspending.
PROS
- Beginner Friendly
- Distance
- Price
- Soft Feel
CONS
- Not Suited for Fast Swing Speeds
TaylorMade Soft Response
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On the Green
Overall putting with this golf ball felt nice. The feel off the putter’s face was soft which goes along with the mellow noise it was making on contact. There was no major concern except a bit of trouble I had on downhill putts. It seemed like I just couldn’t find the right stroke intensity on those putts with slightly firmer greens.
Uphill putts and flat putts were okay once I got used to the ball. Distance control worked well on both short and long putts. The actual accuracy was quite satisfying. There were a few lip-outs that could have made my day even more enjoyable. Nonetheless, I had a good time putting with this ball.
Around the Green
When it comes to the very short game it was decent. Nothing spectacular with a soft feel off the clubface at contact. Chipping was good with just enough greenside spin to help control the distance. Bump and runs are my favorite chips, and the ball performed well enough in this area.
The part I found a bit challenging was short-pitch shots. It just seemed the ball would roll slightly longer before coming to a complete stop after landing on the green. In all fairness, the conditions of the greens might have played a role in that. The game around the green deserves a passing grade.
Approach Shots
Since I test golf balls on a par 3 course, every shot is an approach shot. Overall this ball had a medium to high flight trajectory, which made it nice to watch it airborne. The higher flight shots were especially good with the ball stopping quickly after landing on the green. It seemed to have enough spin to help with that.
When it comes to lower trajectory shots, it had decent stopping power. On average it would not stop as fast as on higher flights, but it would stop fast enough. The shot dispersion was nothing out of regular, which helped to manage the misses well. It felt soft hitting the ball on full, three-quarters, and half swings.
Appearance and Price
The ball feels soft to the touch, and it looks nice and clean like every TaylorMade golf ball. At first glance, it looks the same as the previous model. However, when you have a better look you can notice a slight difference. That difference is tiny and it is the redesigned alignment arrow. To be more precise, the two small arrows on each side of the “Soft Response” writing.
When it comes to the price there are a couple of things to point out here. First, for a three-piece golf ball, it is an affordable option. Even if you take into consideration it is an ionomer cover, not urethane, the price is still good. All considered, at 29.99 USD for dozen balls, it is a good value for money. The ball is available in white and yellow options.
UPDATE: The 2022 TaylorMade Soft Response is out of stock at all major golf stores.
Alternatively, you can read the new 2024 TaylorMade SpeedSoft Review.
Durability
After one round on a par 3 course, this ball looked fine. There were some marks and scuffs, but nothing too concerning. The damage was visible and was mostly concentrated in one area. That being said it did a solid job taking all the hits. You can’t expect great durability from each ball out there, but this one did well.
