50 Words or Less
The 2024 TaylorMade TP5 & TP5x golf balls are superb Tour-style golf balls. Performance differences are fairly slim for players without elite speed or high spin. TP5 is noticeably softer.
Introduction
The shelves are full of Tour-style golf balls, and each one claims to be unique. The TaylorMade TP5 and TP5X can make that claim with more veracity as the only two 5-piece golf balls on the shelf. TaylorMade claims that this allows them to make the most complete ball on Tour. I tested the latest versions to see if it’s true.
Feel
Golf balls often feel the same on very short putts, but the TaylorMade TP5 and TP5X show their personalities even at very short distances. The TP5 sits in that sweet spot between soft and responsive (TaylorMade hasn’t deviated much from the “damn near perfect” TP5 they made in 2018, review HERE). Switching to the TP5X, there’s a small but noticeable uptick in firmness. On longer putts, the TP5X remains more firm and a sound difference appears. The TP5X produces a “tock”; the TP5 stays a slightly quieter, lower pitched “thud.”
Moving to the wedges and irons, the TaylorMade TP5 remains one of my favorites. The sound is deep and robust, and it’s soft in the hands. The TP5X is similar, but it’s a bit louder and the feel is more crisp than soft. Both of these feel excellent, in my opinion, it’s just a question of what you prefer: soft or responsive.
Short Game
According to TaylorMade, both the 2024 TP5 and 2024 TP5X have more short game spin than their 2021 counterparts. They rate the new TP5 to be higher spinning than the TP5X.
In my testing, both balls were above average in short game spin. This held true from pitch shots through full wedges. The TaylorMade TP5 does have a slight spin advantage over the TP5X, but, for me, it was only a few hundred RPM. This is a measurable difference, but I don’t think it would be noticeable on the course.
Interestingly, I found the spin on the TP5X to be slightly more consistent than the TP5. It’s always possible that this can be accounted for by strike quality or sample size, but I found it difficult to hit a shot with the TP5X that didn’t produce very strong spin.
Long Game
The advantage passes from the TaylorMade TP5 to the TP5X as we move from the short game to the long game. Per TaylorMade, the TP5X should have lower driver spin, driver trajectory, and iron spin compared to the TP5. Additionally, both 2024 models are lower in spin than their 2021 versions. TaylorMade also promotes the TP5X as being faster than the TP5.
My iron testing revealed a spin difference similar to what I saw with the wedges. The TP5 produced spin that’s at what I consider average for a Tour-style golf ball. With the TaylorMade TP5X, my spin was down a couple hundred RPM. As always, I’ll note that I’m a low spin player. High spin players may see a bigger difference between models.
Shifting to the driver, the difference in spin was again quite modest. The TP5X was slightly lower spinning than the TP5, but the gap was under 200 RPM on average. Similarly, I found slightly more ball speed in the TP5X, but the difference would be hard to notice on the course. On average, but the TP5X was about 1 MPH faster for me. Here I’ll note that I’m in that liminal space where my speed is above average but far from elite. For Rory, I would suspect there’s a significant speed difference between the two models. For we mortals, a launch monitor is required to find the difference.
TaylorMade TP5 & TP5X Graphic Options
The TaylorMade TP5 and TP5X are being offered with a range of graphics. White is an option, of course, as is Hi-Vis Yellow. The focus, however, is on TaylorMade’s pix graphics. According to TM, these graphics improve visibility, meaning fewer lost balls.
The pix graphics are also a way for golfers to show their personality. TM will be offering pix USA and pix Collegiate golf balls in 2024. There will also be limited edition runs like pix Pickle and pix Poker.
Conclusion
Whether you opt for plain white or something visually bolder, the TaylorMade TP5 and TP5X are high performing golf balls that excel in every facet of the game. For me, the TP5 is at the very top of my list for feel, but players who want something more crisp and responsive will gravitate to the TP5X.
Visit TaylorMade Golf HERE
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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10 Comments
I have been playing the new TP5X and absolutely love the ball from green to tee. I love its feel and responsiveness around the green; I think it has improved my up and downs for sure. Approach shots needed some adjustment as I was about 1/2 a club longer in distance, but flight and window were on par for what I like. And on the tee? This ball definitely goes further than other golf balls I’ve used. I do have a low spin driver but still when compared to other balls the new TP5X comes out ahead.
I’m going to buy as many as I can before the rollback takes effect!
Hi Matt! Great review as always! As a low spin player myself I’ve been looking at TP5 and ProV1x. Do you have any preference between those balls as far as feel and spin for a lower spin player? I also don’t have a ton of speed so a little extra distance helps too! Thanks again for all your great reviews!!
Brian,
I prefer the feel of the TP5 to the ProV1x as I generally prefer the softer ball in any two ball OEM pairing.
Best,
Matt
Hi Matt. Thank you so much for your review. I currently play the pro v1…I love everything about the ball except I would like to see a higher flight on my driver (the pro v1x seems too spinny to me). Do you know if either of the TP5s fly notably higher than the pro v1 off the driver (mid 90 club-head speed) with similar spin, or is that an impossible ask? Thank you!
Mike,
You said it: I can’t answer that for you. I’d suggest buying a sleeve and hitting them on the course.
Best,
Matt
I got both balls to test and around the green the TP5 stops…. the tp5x will roll out. That is across the board I found if you hit the spin button you are getting your carry and not much more with the tp5. If i had a place with super fast greens or played a dry fast Muni I would use the Tp5.
I use the TP5X
Matt,
How would you compare the TP5x to a ProV1x in terms of feel? TaylorMade is promoting the new TP5x as being faster yet softer-feeling than the old TP5x
Mike,
They’re close. My feeling is that there are certainly differences in the premium category but a lot of people make way too much of them.
Best,
Matt
Fair – thanks! Was hoping you might say it was softer than ProV1x, tbh. I use ProV1x even though I hate the feel of hitting a rock. Would much prefer the feel of something softer, but results-wise I’m consistently longer with ProV1x with driver and irons than anything else I try and seem to have plenty of spin from in short, so I’m “stuck” with it, I guess. Will eventually try the TP5x once I need to restock.
Got my first HIO with TP5 2021 version love the slightly softer 2024 version fits my under 90 mph swing speed.