TaylorMade TP5, TP5x thrive in Trackman Testing

By Drew Mahowald -- 2nd Swing Staff Writer

Rory McIlroy is off to a blazing hot start to his 2019 season. In his six starts since the turn of the calendar, McIlroy has placed no worse than sixth and was victorious in the PGA Tour’s most prestigious event, The PLAYERS Championship.

When McIlroy made the switch to TaylorMade in 2017, he noted that the performance of the TP5x golf ball was a key factor in his decision, adding that he liked the way the ball flew in the wind. Since McIlroy’s switch, TaylorMade has released an updated version of the TP5 and TP5x golf balls for 2019, only improving the performance that drew one of the best golfers on the planet to TaylorMade.

A couple of months ago, Rickie Fowler joined McIlroy in switching to the TP5x for similar reasons. It only took a couple of events before Fowler was victorious at the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Clearly, the TP5x and the technology within it is working for McIlroy and Fowler. My own curiosity took over and I had to find out for myself what the differences really are between the TP5x and my current gamer.

I decided on the TP5x because of my swing speed. The higher-compression golf balls on the market (those generally marked with an ‘x’ in their names) are usually suited for higher swing speeds so that the ball doesn’t overcompress. Additionally, I prefer a firmer feel on full swing shots anyway.

Specifically, the TP5x has a compression number of 97, producing a higher launch and more carry distance on full shots. The TP5, however, has a lower compression number of 85, resulting in a flatter trajectory and a softer feel for slightly more short game spin. Usually, golfers with a higher swing speed that can naturally generate more spin on lofted clubs will benefit more from the TP5x.

To test the performance, I hit five well-struck shots with my current ball and five well-struck shots with the TP5x using my driver. I repeated this with a 7-iron and then a 100-yard shot, which for me is about an 85 percent swing with my 56-degree wedge, before calculating the averages with Trackman technology. It’s also worth noting that my current ball is a firmer-compression Tour ball, just as the TP5x is. 

Before dissecting the numbers, one thing I noticed right away was that the TP5x felt firmer on all three shot types than my current ball. This could just be a result of the five-layered design, especially since the layers themselves gradually become firmer toward the outside of the ball. 

As for the data, well, I can see why McIlroy and Fowler made the switch. Off the tee, the TP5x flew lower with less spin all while improving distance. This validates the claims McIlroy made a couple of years ago about the piercing ball flight of the TP5x.

The TP5x registered a spin rate of 2328 revolutions per minute (RPM) with the driver, over 300 RPM fewer than my current ball (2638). Meanwhile, the launch angle with the TP5x (9.0 degrees) was lower than my current ball (9.9 degrees) while the carry distance stayed roughly the same (274.5 yards to 274.9 yards). Ultimately, the lower flight of the TP5x produced more roll and, therefore, an extra three yards of total distance.

Many of the trends that emerged during the driver comparison were also present with the 7-iron comparison. Both spin (6181 RPM) and launch angle (20.6 degrees) were lower than my current ball (6370 RPM and 20.8 degrees, respectively), producing a lower, more piercing ball flight. This resulted in four extra yards of carry, which could mean that on many shots I am playing a club less simply by using a different ball.

After the driver and 7-iron tests, I figured the same traits would carry over to the wedge test. However, those trends actually flipped when I hit 100-yard wedge shots. The TP5x registered more spin (10674 RPM) than my current ball (9792 RPM) and also launched higher at impact (31.3 degrees) than my current ball (31.2 degrees). This data suggests that the TP5x is built for premium short game control.

When golf ball manufacturers set out to produce a Tour-level golf ball, their goal is to provide low spin on full swings and high spin on short game shots. This allows for more distance when the player wants it and more spin control when the player wants it. This concept has not proven to be an easy one to master, but it appears as if TaylorMade is as close as anyone, if not the closest, with the new TP5 and TP5x. 

For me, the spin was lower on my full swings, creating longer and straighter trajectories. Meanwhile, spin was higher on my wedge shots, promoting more short game control. Essentially, the TP5 and TP5x deliver the best of both worlds. What golfer wouldn’t want that?

Nearly a decade ago when TaylorMade first introduced the concept of a five-layer golf ball, it was generally received with skepticism. But after a few refinements and some impressive endorsements from the top players in the world, the TP5 and TP5x have helped TaylorMade become a force to be reckoned with in the golf ball industry.