The 2026 TaylorMade TP5 performs consistently no matter the shot or the weather, and it was extremely impressive off the tee and around the green. Easily stacks up against any of the best premium balls on the market.
Pros
- Improved stability in the wind
- Exceptional distance
- Strong short game spin
Cons
- High launch may not suit everyone
The 2026 TP5x pours on the speed, launching lower, spinning less, and going farther than any other TaylorMade ball to date. If you want more distance, a firmer feel, and controlled flights, this is a ball worth trying.
Pros
- Exceptionally fast ball speed
- Firm feel offered ample feedback
- Piercing ball flight
Cons
- May spin a little low for slower swing speeds
TaylorMade TP5 vs TP5x Golf Ball: Read Our Head-To-Head Verdict
TaylorMade is one of the top brands in golf and has been at the forefront of golf equipment manufacturing for a long time. The brand has produced some of the most iconic clubs in previous years, but today, they’re also a serious force to be reckoned with in the golf ball market, with legions of users in the amateur game and a growing tally of Major victories at the apex of the sport.
The best TaylorMade balls include options for every category of player, so whether you’re a high handicapper, a junior player, a serious club golfer, or even an elite player, there’s likely to be an option within the range that you’ll seriously consider.
However, understanding the differences between different golf balls isn’t easy, especially when so many major golf manufacturers have so many options for you to pick from at any one time. Premium golf balls are even more tricky, since they promise (and deliver, in many cases) benefits for tour players and higher handicappers alike.
In this guide, I’m going to take a deeper look at TaylorMade’s flagship range, and put the TP5 head-to-head against the TP5x to help you understand the differences between the two and find out if one might be a good fit for your game.
Technology
The TaylorMade TP5 and TP5x are both five-layer balls, and the 2026 models feature a re-engineered Speed Gradient using stiffer mantle layers and TaylorMade’s largest-ever tour core. The idea behind this is to maximize energy transfer at impact, and the TP5x in particular is an absolute powerhouse off the tee.
The updated Tour Flight dimple pattern minimizes turbulence and creates a penetrating flight on approach play, but the biggest innovation in the TP5 range is a new microcoating process. TaylorMade uses a layer of paint thinner than a human hair to eliminate inconsistencies in paint buildup within the dimples, a problem which they claim affects aerodynamic consistency from shot to shot and ball to ball.
Whether or not you notice the effect of the technology, it says a lot about the attention to detail and investment in R&D behind the design of these balls. Both models attempt to lower spin off the tee while keeping spin up with wedges, but the TP5 is designed to launch higher and really fly, while the TP5x is meant to provide a lower, more penetrating profile with less sideways curve on tee shots.
Long game
When I tested these balls I found that both of them perform exactly as advertised, although the TP5 was a revelation off the tee for me. With it, my launch angle with driver went up to 15 degrees, which when combined with a low spin rate of around 2100 rpm translated to some seriously impressive distance.
Hitting bombs is one thing, but the TP5 also held its line impressively in the wind, which could well be validation of the new microcoating since its goal is for stability of flight. My dispersion was tight, and it was a genuine pleasure to watch the ball sailing off towards the target, always flying forward and never stalling.
As impressed as I was by the TP5, the TP5x is also an extremely strong option off the tee. I was able to generate more ball speed with it, and the lower, more penetrating flight promises a whole lot of rollout in the right conditions. The TP5x is also likely to be the longer ball for many players given the higher speed and piercing flight it creates.
Irons
The low-spin DNA of the TP5x carries right down into the irons too, and I saw a carry of 179 yards and 5660 revs of spin with my 7-iron. While the flight was solid, peaking at 118 ft, the descent angle was a little too shallow for my liking with this ball. Combined with the low spin, I found it a little more difficult to hold greens than normal, and I personally would worry about stopping the ball in firm summer conditions.
That being said, if you’re a golfer who typically sees a ballooning ball flight with your irons, the TP5x could certainly be the antidote since it’ll bring spin and height down nicely for you. For me, the TP5 wins this category, but only just - it generated about 300 rpm more spin, flew just a touch higher, and most importantly, descended nice and steep in a way that I felt would hold the green easily.
Short game
The TP5x is a premium golf ball, but it’s designed to be a lower-spin option, and that played out in my wedge testing as well. I launched it at just over 29 degrees on a 50-yard pitch, and at 6774 rpm there’s control on offer, but you’ll have to expect a little bit of release once the ball lands. It’s a firm-feeling ball, though, and that often makes judging pace and distance easier for many players on putts and finesse shots.
The TP5, on the other hand, feels softer off the face, but it generated a quite astonishing 7598 rpm of spin on that same 50-yard pitch - and that’s using a 54 degree wedge. It also launched two degrees lower than the X, and you can really feel the friction on the face when you hit those low, checky spinners.
Conclusion
Every player is different, and sometimes you just find a ball that works perfectly for your game. For me, that was the TP5. It just gave me what I wanted every step of the way, and you probably won’t be surprised to hear that it’s gone straight into my bag. It’s superlative off the tee and fantastic around the greens, and while there are a handful of balls out there that I find slightly better with the irons, the TP5 just had more to give all-round and it's a ball I'd heartily recommend.
That’s not to take anything away from the TP5x, which is an excellent ball in its own right and is currently used by several of the world’s very best golfers. If you’re in a ball that spins a little too much or you generate a floaty ball flight, the TP5x could help you optimize those numbers, bringing your flights into a more controlled window and maximizing your distance off the tee, especially if you play your golf by the coast or in windy conditions.
Which ball should you choose?
Choose the TaylorMade TP5 if…
- You need to hit higher-launching, lower-spinning drives
- You want to spin the ball more around the greens
- You play on courses that demand carry but also need ball flight stability in the wind
Choose the TaylorMade TP5x if…
- You like a firmer-feeling golf ball that offers ample feedback
- You want to push your ball speeds to the max
- You need a lower, more piercing ball flight
For more golf ball buying advice, check out our guides on the best distance balls, best value golf balls, and best golf balls for high swing speeds.
