Taylor Made TP5 Review (2020)

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Rating 4/5

Taylor Made TP5

With a lot of new technology under the hood, this 5 layer ball is a little different then most premium balls, but might be perfect for your swing.

As golfers, we’re always looking for the best ball to complement our game. Not just any hard-as-a-rock dollar-store ball will do, after all. We need balls with durability but also with softness, as well as ones with great spin but also great control. If we can find a ball that offers all those things in one, then we might as well have hit the lottery!

Well, now that the TaylorMade TP5 golf ball is on the market, consider yourself a lottery winner. The latest version of one of the most technologically-driven golf balls on the market offers five layers of construction (something no other tour ball can boast), a nice soft feel, and tons of wedge spin.

This ball will help take your game to a whole other level, no matter what skill level you’re at. We liked it enough to include it in the best golf balls breakdown.

Feel and Compression

With a compression rating of 85, the TP5 won’t clunk hard against your driver or nine-iron. Instead, it has a nice, soft feel to it when you strike it, more so than its sibling the TP5x.

The key change in both the TP5 and TP5x models is that the 4th of the 5 layers is now 30% stiffer and more durable.

Taylor Made is calling the material in this layer “High Flex Modulus” (or HFM) and claims that the material is more efficient at converting the impact of the club against the ball into forward velocity. This is either some high end physics stuff or complete nonsense made up by the marketing department. Either way it seems they are at least trying to do push the research and development forward. They could use some work on the naming though.

The core of the ball (the inner layer) is now softer (16 compression according to Taylor Made) which should reduce driver spin even for higher swing speed players.

Driving

So the TP5 feels good, but let’s talk about performance.

This ball’s driver spin is kept under control, offering a ton of control and a respectable distance. In addition, the ball’s trajectory is quite good. One of the things I noticed about the ball is that it never really got too high or too low (unless I miss-hit it, which has been known to happen).

Most players will find the TP5’s trajectory like Baby Bear found porridge: not too high, not too low, but just right. This medium trajectory will offer the player even more control over how high they hit the ball and where it goes on its journey to the green.

Iron Play

Now we know how well the TP5 does with drivers, but what of irons?

The TP5 offers both high spin and control that is on par with other premium models when paired with an iron. This is a great combination for when you’re finding yourself getting closer and closer to the hole and need to make that green without accidentally sending it into the sand.

Higher handicap players may find that the TP5 offers a little too much sidespin. This is just something that you have to live with when it comes to premium golf balls. If you want the backspin control, then sidespin is going to happen. If you are having trouble controlling that, then this ball may not be right for you. Check out this breakdown of the best golf balls for high handicappers that may be better suited to keeping your shots in play.

Short Game

Although short game control is fourth in our list of factors to consider, many golfers would say it is the most important part of evaluating a golf ball.

After all, if the TP5 falters close to the hole, then what’s the point? I can happily say that is not the case here. This ball’s short game control is as good as its long game. Due to the TP5’s high spin and soft cover, as well as its high level of control, it performs extremely well on short shots.

Compared to some of the more popular premium offerings on the market, I would say that the TP5 spins slightly less on chips and pitches, but not enough to have a major impact on your game. For some players, this might actually mean more control on full swing wedge shots.

Putting

Putting feel on a golf ball is a relatively personal preference thing, but it is more important than most realize. To be honest, the TP5 felt similar to most other premium golf balls on the green. It has a soft feel off the putter but not overly soft.

The best way to figure out if a ball is right for you on the greens is to give it a try.

Who Is The TP5 For?

IS the TP5 the right ball for you?

Its myriad of features, along with its great feel and high levels of control and spin, can lower your scores if you have the game to keep the ball under control. That said, the TP5 is best suited for players of a more advanced skill level. This is due in large part to the ball’s compression level and spin numbers. It’s high, but models like the TP5x are even higher. Advanced golfers with low handicaps, high swing speed, and who average at least a couple hundred yards a whack, might do better with a higher-compression ball. 

That’s not to say a pro can’t use the TP5 and get a great game out of it, either. It’s a great ball overall, one of the best on the market. The TP5 deserves some serious consideration.

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Pete | Editor-in-Chief
Pete is an avid golfer since he was 10 years old and currently plays to a 9 handicap. He started Under Par Goals to help other golfers all around the world improve their games and learn more about the game.