GENERATION
Taylormade’s Cutting-edge Urethane Ball Collection
Featuring the third-generation TP5 and TP5X, plus the innovative Tour Response, Taylormade’s cast urethane-covered ball range for 2021 delivers the pinnacle of technology, performance and choice to suit players of all abilities and requirements. Golf Monthly spoke to Mike Fox, golf ball director at Taylormade, to find out more.
When Taylormade’s first TP5 and TP5X balls were released with great success in 2017, the focus was on launch conditions – producing higher launch and lower spin with drivers and irons while maximising spin with the scoring clubs. These dual attributes were made possible by Taylormade’s patented fivelayer construction. “We pushed the boundary further than anyone had ever pushed it,” says Fox. “Ours is the only five-layer tour ball and it’s unlike anything else out there.”
In 2019, generation two of TP5 and TP5X focused on increasing ball speed via the addition of a High-flex Material (HFM) speed layer, which produced notable results. “We thought, ‘Okay, we’ve improved launch conditions and ball speed. Where now?’” says Fox.
“The answer was dimple pattern.” The big change for the 2021 TP5 and TP5X is a totally new Tour Flight dimple pattern that significantly improves aerodynamic performance.
“We spent eight years working on dimple theory and, for the last four, had a team of physicists and aerodynamicists working on what we have with the 2021 product,” says Fox. “What we’ve done is to reduce the dimple depth to minimise drag but, by maintaining dimple volume using a dual-radius design, we’ve retained optimal lift that keeps the ball in the air.” This means the ball is more aerodynamic and flies further, descending more steeply to maximise stopping power.
The ball looks super-modern and, as Fox says, is a wonder of manufacturing as well as scientific theory. “Not only did we have the years of research and testing, but we also had two years of tooling
development to get to this point,” he says. “We create millions of balls and each has to be identical, each dimple cavity has to be milled, size-tested and flight-tested. Changing a dimple pattern is a major overhaul and it’s one that only a company like Taylormade has the capacity to implement.”
Although Taylormade tour stars have been benefiting from the TP5 and TP5X, with 2020
Major champions Dustin Johnson and Collin Morikawa using the TP5X and TP5 respectively, Fox says players of all abilities can enjoy their playing advantages.
“It only takes a 60mph clubhead speed to activate the very large inner core in the TP5 and TP5X,” he says. “If you can generate 60mph you’ll see all the feel, spin and speed of the product.
Men, women, seniors, juniors will all get the maximum benefits.”
In addition to TP5 and TP5X, Taylormade’s 2021 urethane ball range also includes the excellent
Tour Response.
“We wanted to cater for a different group of players,” says Fox. “Those who maybe feel they don’t want to pay for a tour ball but want the performance benefits. Tour Response utilises technologies developed for TP5 and TP5X, maximising performance but at just 70 compression and at a competitive price of under £40.
“The technology cascades down from TP5, but the key is that the cover is 100 per cent cast urethane,” Fox says. “There isn’t a tour player in the world who doesn’t use a urethane golf ball. It’s just a superior material. So
we’re using this premium cover material, offering exceptional distance and feel but also exceptional value.”
Taylormade has been at the forefront of visuals in recent years and each of the urethanecovered balls comes in a yellow option. Also proving very popular are the TP5 and TP5X Pix balls, designed in collaboration with Rickie Fowler. Featuring Clear Path Alignment technology, strategically placed graphics (12 delta shapes) frame the logo and side stamp to aid alignment and provide instant feedback. “It’s perfect for golfers looking to learn more about their games,” says Fox. “It’s been hugely successful. Our global ball business is now some 36 per cent non-white. About 50 per cent of that is Pix.”
Taylormade has covered all bases with these exceptional cast urethane-covered balls. If you’re looking for a premium ball, then, whatever your ability, either the TP5 or TP5X will suit your game, whether you opt for white, yellow or Pix.
If you’re after the performance you’d expect from a tourlevel ball but would like to pay less than £40 a dozen, trying the Tour Response seems a bit of a no-brainer. Taylormade continues to push the envelope in golf ball design.
“Ours is the only five-layer tour ball out there”