TaylorMade’s highly successful premium Tour balls, the TP5 and TP5x, have been given a redesign that lifts their performance into the “game-changer” category.
TaylorMade Tour staffer and current world No.6 Jon Rahm was given the opportunity to test the new balls and his results were impressive, to say the least.
The Spaniard played the 2017 TP5 last season and was ranked 16th in driving distance on the PGA Tour, generating ball speeds of between 177-179 mph with the driver.
However, in an ominous sign for the coming season, Rahm returned an average ball speed of 182.5 mph with the new 2019 TP5, with some drives exceeding the 186 mph mark.
And TaylorMade’s testing confirmed ball speed gains aren’t solely in the high-velocity Jon Rahm bracket, with low and mid-speed swings also receiving a consistent boost.
With performance like that on offer, the new TaylorMade TP5 and 2019 TP5x golf balls are ready and waiting to lift your game.
HFM IS HERE TO HELP
A new material called HFM, an acronym for High-Flex Material, became the central element the new five-layer TP5 and TP5x golf balls were designed around.
Multi-layer golf balls like the TP5 and TP5x are able to launch both low-spinning drives and high-spinning wedge shots because of the way the internal layers interact with each other to influence spin rates.
HFM features in the four internal layers of the TP5 and TP5x, creating what TaylorMade call a new Speed-Layer System where each layer gets progressively firmer and faster closer to the ball’s outer cover.
Like a tightly wound spring, HFM rebounds with significant force when compressed and is the driving force behind the new balls' incredible speed gains, but importantly, not at the expense of other important Tour requirements such as spin, feel and launch.
It’s almost like the TP5 and TP5x break all the rules of golf ball design; because HFM is so effective at boosting ball velocities, TaylorMade could use a very soft internal core, to also increase carry distances and reduce aerodynamic drag.
The new TaylorMade TP5 and TP5x golf balls will have just about every golfer, regardless of swing speed, hitting more lofted clubs with their approach shots into the greens.
TAKE COVER
The TaylorMade TP5 and TP5x’s urethane dual spin cover has also come in for some attention after TaylorMade studied the way wedges interact with the ball at impact.
The inner cover of the new balls has been made 30 per cent firmer, with the extra rigidity forcing the softer outer cover further into the wedge grooves for greater spin and control around the greens.
A new finish has improved the TP5 and TP5x's resistance to scuffing and cutting and the outer cover is also more durable.
The new TP5 and TP5x golf balls will last longer and retain the exceptional feel that they are renowned for.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TAYLORMADE TP5 AND TP5x?
Slightly different compression ratios influence the feel and performance of the TP5 and TP5x golf balls.
Each ball is long off the tee but the TP5 has an 85 compression and is softer in feel than the TP5x, which has a greater compression of 97 and a slightly tighter and firmer feel.
The 2019 TP5 golf balls will spin more than the TP5x – 300 more rpm on a 100 yard shot and 200rpm from 30 yards – but will launch iron shots lower than the TP5x.