In the last few years, TaylorMade has been working hard to catch up with the likes of Titleist and Callaway on the golf ball market. That is no simple task and the TP5 is one of its crown jewels in this race. It was introduced first in 2017 and it is getting better with each new edition. This is the first time I have ever played it and in the 2024 TaylorMade TP5 golf ball review I will let you know my impressions.
Along with the TP5x, it is the only five-piece golf ball among the premium tour balls. On its official website, it is categorized as the softest tour ball.
The “New Speed Wrapped Core”, “5-layer Progressive Speed Construction”, and “Soft Cast Urethane Cover” are singled out as the main features.
Compared to its sister ball, TP5x, it produces a touch slower ball speed, shorter distance, and lower launch, but higher wedge spin and softer feel. That is, again, according to the official TaylorMade website. If you were to compare it with the competition, it would be close to the Titleist Pro V1 and Chrome Tour. Let’s check out how it did.
My Verdict
All right, it is true, this ball feels very soft across the board. No matter what you do with it, it feels soft on every single shot. Don’t get me wrong, I am talking about the soft feel for premium golf balls that are in the mid to high-compression category. It still feels harder that the lower compressed golf balls, but not much harder. I don’t know if that is due to the five-layer construction, but it might as well be. Other than that, it is a very solid performing golf ball.
The only area where I was slightly disappointed was the durability. It seemed not quite as durable as the Pro V1 or the Chrome Tour. The difference is marginal, but it is there. This could be due to the soft cast urethane cover. Durability aside, it will do everything you want a ball to do if you are a skilled golfer. TaylorMade did a very good job with this one, well done.
Who Is This Ball For?
This ball is definitely for players with a decent skill level who can utilize all it has to offer. With all its characteristics you can count on great distance control, shot shaping, good greenside spin, and a soft feel on top of it. So, if you are a low-handicapper or just about to become one, you can benefit from it. On the other hand, if you still struggle with controlling your golf ball, stay away from it for now. It will enhance your hooks and slices which will make your misses worse.
PROS
- Distance Control
- Short Game and Greenside Spin
- Soft Feel
CONS
- Durability
- Price
2024 TaylorMade TP5 Golf Ball Review
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On the Green
The first thing I noticed, as usual, was the ball’s softness/firmness level upon strike. Without any doubt, it is on the soft end of the premium golf balls spectrum. Even though overall the distance control was fine, there were a couple of long putts where it went a bit longer than needed. Also, this has more to do with my day at the course, I have missed a few putts within 5 feet when the ball missed the cup by a close margin. However, with firmer putts, it did not have any issues holding the line. The sound was mellow which made the experience pleasant. Overall putting feel and performance were just fine.
Around the Green
Again, I have to start with the feel. No matter what kind of chip I was hitting, it was coming soft off the clubface. I hit a couple of bump-and-runs and higher trajectory chips, including flop shots, and the feel was soft across the board. Regarding greenside spin, it had enough of it to help distance control. I would say it has a touch less spin than the Callaway Chrome Tour, and a similar amount of spin, if not a bit more, compared to the Titleist Pro V1.
Approach Shots
Again, I tested this golf ball on a par 3 course. This is my practice because I believe you should base your golf ball selection on putting, short game, and irons first. I will start from the feel one more time. It is no surprise I felt it was coming softer off the clubface compared to both Chrome Tour and Pro V1. The same way the greenside spin was between the Chrome Tour and the Pro V1, it is the case with approach shots spin. Nonetheless, I had a feeling the approach shots spin was closer to the Pro V1 than the greenside spin.
On average, my shots were flying on a medium to high flight trajectory. I did not notice any difficulties when I manipulated the shot height. The spin was consistent on any trajectory which helped the ball to stop quicker on the green. One big difference in misses between two-piece and multi-piece golf balls is how prominent they are. For that reason, I had a feeling some of my misses were worse than others. However, they were still consistent with my regular misses. When I connected with the ball properly, the sensation upon contact was nice.
Durability
You should not expect amazing durability from premium urethane-cover golf balls. Urethane is softer than ionomer and that is why cheaper two-piece balls tend to be more durable than their premium counterparts. Make no mistake, the TP5 durability is still decent, even though I had a feeling it lags a bit behind the Pro V1 and the Chrome Tour. It is nothing concerning, just a touch more marks after a full round on a par 3 course.
Appearance and Price
The TP5 looks nice, to put it simply. There is nothing aesthetical about this ball that would throw you off. It has the recognizable TaylorMade logo with a number which is standard. The alignment looks very modern and even though it is not very prominent, it does the job when putting. Personally, I prefer straight forward alignments since I align the ball when putting, but this one is all right.
As far as mainstream golf ball brands go, you will pay a premium price to play this ball. At 54.99 USD per dozen balls, it goes hand in hand with the Pro V1 and Chrome balls. You know how it goes, if you want to play the best balls available, you have to pay the top price. There is no way around it.
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