The good and the bad
Verdict at a glance
What we rate
- Softer feel off the face
- More spin and stopping power into greens
- Five-layer tour construction
- Same price as the TP5x
What gives us pause
- Slightly less distance at high speed than the TP5x
- Lower flight than the TP5x
The TaylorMade TP5 is the softer of TaylorMade's two flagship tour golf balls and one of the few premium balls built with a five-layer construction. It is aimed at the golfer who wants a soft feel and elite greenside spin from a complete tour golf ball, and it is a genuine rival to the Titleist Pro V1. This review covers how the TaylorMade TP5 is built, how it performs from tee to green, and who should play it.
What the TaylorMade TP5 is built for
The TP5 is aimed at the golfer who prefers a softer golf ball and wants maximum spin and control in the short game. It is a do-everything tour ball, low spinning off the driver and high spinning around the green, with the soft feel that many players want over the firmer TP5x. If your scoring comes from your wedges, the TP5 is the TaylorMade ball to play.
TaylorMade updates the TP5 on a regular cycle, and the current new model keeps the five-layer formula while overhauling the core. It now uses TaylorMade's largest-ever tour core, designed to retain more energy at impact, paired with the brand's most aggressive tour urethane cover to grip the grooves.
Construction: the five-layer golf ball
The TaylorMade TP5 is one of the only tour golf balls with a five-layer construction: a core, three progressively firmer inner layers and a soft cast urethane cover. The idea is that each layer activates at a different swing speed, so the ball can be low spinning off the driver yet high spinning off a wedge, without the compromise a simpler ball has to make.
That soft tour urethane cover is the key to the TP5's greenside performance, gripping the grooves for high spin and a soft feel. It is the same class of cover the best players in the world rely on to stop the golf ball by the flag.
TaylorMade TP5 at a glance
| Spec | TaylorMade TP5 |
|---|---|
| Construction | 5-layer |
| Cover | Cast tour urethane |
| Feel | Soft |
| Compression | Around 85, soft |
| Trajectory / spin | Mid-high flight, high greenside spin |
| Typical price | Around 50 dollars per dozen |
Feel
The TaylorMade TP5 is soft, one of the softer premium tour golf balls, with a gentle, muted response off the putter and wedges. It is the reason many players choose it over the firmer TP5x, since that soft feel gives real confidence on delicate chips and putts. Off the driver it still feels solid rather than mushy, so full shots come off crisply.
Off the tee: flight and distance
Off the driver the TP5 flies on a mid-high trajectory and keeps long-game spin low, so your clubhead speed turns into carry without the ball ballooning. It is a fast, long golf ball for the premium class, and the five-layer design means that distance does not come at the cost of greenside spin. For most swings it launches easily and holds a stable line in the wind.
Into and around the green
The green is where the TaylorMade TP5 makes its case. It produces more short-game spin than the TP5x and is easier to manipulate and control, so approach shots check and chips and pitches bite. Reviewers regularly rate its combination of touch and greenside control at the very top of the tour-ball class, which is exactly what you want from a soft urethane golf ball.
Performance and testing
In independent robot and launch-monitor testing the TaylorMade TP5 posts strong, consistent numbers, with low driver spin, a stable flight and class-leading wedge spin into the green. Reviewers and data agree the new core adds a little ball speed while the aggressive urethane cover keeps short-game control high. As an all-round performer it is one of the best golf balls for a player who wants soft feel and elite spin, and it sits near the top of every tour-ball equipment test.
Durability
The one recurring knock on the TP5 is durability. Its soft, aggressive urethane cover grips the grooves brilliantly, but that same softness means it can scuff faster than some rivals under heavy wedge play. In normal play a ball will still last a round, but expect visible wear sooner than on a firmer golf ball, and retire a scuffed ball rather than play it.
How the TP5 compares
The TaylorMade TP5's main rivals are the Titleist Pro V1, the Callaway Chrome Tour and its own firmer sibling the TP5x. Against the Pro V1 the TP5 offers similar soft feel with arguably even more greenside spin, at a slightly lower price, though some rivals hold up better under heavy wear. All are excellent tour golf balls, so the choice comes down to feel, flight and durability, which is why testing a sleeve of each is worthwhile.
TP5 or TP5x?
Play the TP5 if you want a softer feel and the most short-game spin and control. Step up to the TP5x if you swing faster, want a higher flight and a firmer feel, and can use a touch more speed off the tee. Both are five-layer tour golf balls, so the choice is about feel and trajectory rather than performance tier.
Who should play the TaylorMade TP5
The TP5 suits any golfer who wants a soft-feeling tour golf ball with elite greenside spin, especially players who score with their wedges. At around 50 dollars a dozen it is a premium purchase, so it earns its money most for players who keep the ball in play and use the short-game control, while heavier hitters who wear balls out quickly should weigh the durability.
Verdict
The TaylorMade TP5 is one of the best soft tour golf balls in the game, with a five-layer construction that delivers low driver spin and class-leading greenside control, all in a soft package. If you want Pro V1-level performance with a touch more spin and a slightly softer feel, and you can live with a cover that shows wear, the TP5 is a superb pick.
FAQ
Is the TaylorMade TP5 worth it?
For a player who wants a soft feel and high greenside spin in a tour ball, yes. It is one of the best soft premium balls and a direct rival to the Pro V1. The premium price of around 50 dollars a dozen is the main thing to weigh if you lose a lot of balls.
What compression is the TP5?
The TP5 has a compression of around 85, which makes it one of the softer premium balls. Its sibling, the TP5x, is firmer at around 97.
TP5 or TP5x, which should I play?
Choose the TP5 for a softer feel, a slightly lower flight and the highest greenside spin of the two. Choose the TP5x for a higher flight, a bit more distance and a firmer feel, which suits faster swings.
What swing speed is the TP5 for?
TaylorMade positions the TP5 for swing speeds of roughly 90 to 105 mph. Faster swings that want a higher flight often prefer the TP5x, while the TP5 rewards feel and control in that mid-to-fast range.
What is the TP5 made of?
It is a five-layer ball: a three-layer Tri-Fast Core that goes from a soft centre to a firm outer, and a two-part Dual-Spin cover with a soft cast urethane outer over a firm inner cover for greenside spin.
Does the TP5 spin a lot around the greens?
Yes. The Dual-Spin urethane cover gives it high wedge and greenside spin, so chips and pitches check and approaches stop quickly. Off the tee it does the opposite, keeping long-game spin low for distance.
How much does the TP5 cost?
A dozen typically costs around 50 dollars at recommended retail, placing it at the premium, tour-ball end of the market alongside its main rivals.
Is the TP5 softer than the TP5x?
Yes. At around 85 compression the TP5 is clearly softer than the TP5x at around 97, and it feels gentler off every club, which is one of the main reasons to choose it.
How many layers does the TP5 have?
Five. Three make up the Tri-Fast Core and two make up the Dual-Spin cover. That is more layers than most tour balls, and each layer is tuned to add either speed or spin where it helps most.
TP5 or Pro V1, which is better?
Both are excellent, and the difference is mostly feel and small flight and spin preferences. The TP5 tends to feel a touch softer with very high greenside spin; the Pro V1 is a benchmark all-rounder. The best way to choose is to test both around the greens.
How durable is the TP5?
Good for a urethane tour ball. The soft cover will scuff over time, but a single ball will comfortably last a full round and usually several. You are more likely to lose it than to wear it out.
Is the TP5 a good ball for a mid handicapper?
Yes, if you have a moderate to fast swing and want the feel and greenside control it offers. The main consideration is value: if you lose balls often, a cheaper option may make more sense until your ball stays in play more.