Testing Rory McIlroy’s golf ball: TaylorMade TP5x Golf Ball (2024) Review

Faster, longer, more wedge spin… After notching up its first tour win in the hands of Rory McIlroy, will the new TaylorMade TP5x 2024 golf ball challenge the dominant Titleist Pro V1x?

Since entering the tour golf ball category in 2007, TaylorMade golf balls have been played by the game’s modern-day greats. Jon Rahm, Justin Rose, and Sergio Garcia have all played TaylorMade golf balls over the last 15 years, but only since introducing the TaylorMade TP5x franchise in 2017 has the brand kicked on to making some of the best golf balls available. Today Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood, and Rickie Fowler all play TP5 or TP5x golf balls, a decision utterly supported by the findings of my most recent robot golf ball test.  

The TP5 family comprises the softer and lower-flighted TaylorMade TP5, whereas the TP5x is faster, longer, and higher launching. Both models were last updated in 2021 so 2024 is the year TaylorMade feels their new Speed Wrapped Core can seriously improve speed whilst heightening sound and feel.   

Everything you need to know about the TaylorMade TP5x 2024 golf ball

New Speed Wrapped Core

Since their introduction in 2017, each new generation of TP5x ball has come with one special area of advancement over previous generations. The second-generation 2019 TP5x benefitted from a Speed-Layer System that incorporated High Flex Material to unlock new levels of speed. The 2021 TP5x came with a new Tour Flight Dimple Pattern that maximized aerodynamics and reduced wind resistance to add carry distance. Where the 2024 TP5x comes with a new Speed Wrapped Core that thanks to decoupling sound and feel from speed gives the biggest jump in performance since the TP5x was first introduced.

A Speed wrapped Core might not sound like much but TaylorMade say they’ve worked on the idea for a decade. Thanks to a new lower-density core additive it’s possible to bust wide open the ‘firm is fast’ and ‘soft is slow’ thinking that’s existed in the golf ball arena for decades. Essentially the idea means the TP5x generates more speed without a firmer compression. Whereas the TP5 has a better sound and more feel, without lowering the compression and becoming slower, which is genius thinking in my book.

New Progressive 5-layer construction

TaylorMade have used the tagline ‘the most complete tour ball’ for their tour-level TP5 models for a while now and they reckon a new progressive 5-layer construction idea expands on this concept.

Thanks to how the new Speed Wrapped Core optimizes variable stiffnesses between the core and mantle layers they’ve dialled down performance at both ends of the bag. So, less spin helps golfers add distance with the driver and long irons, yet enhanced spin control also comes into play when hitting the most delicate wedge approaches. A real win-win for decent golfers who already produce good levels of club speed.          

Who is the TaylorMade TP5x for?

Even though the new TP5x comes with a slightly lower price tag, the franchise is still a tour-level urethane-covered golf ball that’s aimed at decent players and those who just want to play the best golf balls available. In my mind, you need to be at least a low double-digit handicapper or better to warrant getting the best from a golf ball at this level.    

Should you play the TP5 or TP5x?

The TP5x is TaylorMade’s fastest 5-layer tour ball. This model prioritizes ball speed making it the ideal choice for golfers seeking increased velocity off the clubface. The new TP5x reduces driver and long iron spin (over the previous model) so there’s a focus on distance while maintaining greenside control. This would be the choice ball for golfers seeking less driver spin and wanting to hit shots a fraction higher through the bag.

Where the TP5 offers a noticeable softer feel with enhanced spin around the green. This ball will fit golfers who prioritize touch and feel in their short game and rely on precise and responsive control to score at their optimum.

Both the 2024 TP5 and TP5x produce less driver and long iron spin than previous models while maintaining wedge spin. Spin variance is the biggest differentiator between the two models. Where the TP5 offers more wedge spin, the TP5x produces less driver and long iron spin along with a higher launch but flatter trajectory.

TaylorMade doesn’t just make golf balls for tour players

If you’re a club golfer with a driver swing speed hovering around 88 – 98 mph it’s important to remember TaylorMade also makes the brilliant urethane-covered Tour Response (£39.99 RRP). For price-conscious golfers, there’s also an ionomer-covered Soft Response (£24.99) which will be updated this spring too.

So, while this premium TP5x sits at the top of the price tree there are plenty of other TaylorMade golf ball alternatives out there to better fit your game and budget.    

Meet the family

TaylorMade can do things other golf ball brands can’t and that’s printing 360° around the golf ball’s surface. I’ve been to the TaylorMade golf ball plant in Liberty, South Carolina where the company have invested $100 million in making better golf balls more efficiently but also intending to own the golf ball visual tech arena. 2024 is the year the company’s clever master plan comes together.

TaylorMade have a blueprint in place to switch how golfers buy golf balls based on feel and performance to factoring in emotion in a way no other golf ball brand does. That means the TP5x (and its TP5 sibling) will also be available as Pix models with an updated pattern.  

For 2024 the Pix design has been refreshed and thanks to having thousands of rounds under their belt playing Pix Tommy Fleetwood and Rickie Fowler have had direct input into this newly updated design. Golfers can expect a noticeably better motion diamond pattern, where the previous design was triangular. The colours are also brighter and in greater detail so golfers get better roll feedback on the green and greater help for aligning squarely at their target.  

There will also be further limited edition models (keep your eyes open around the Masters in April) with motifs ranging from beer jugs to pizza, flowers, and US college logos. Golfers in the USA will also be able to customize the TP5 and TP5x much more deeply with their own design through TaylorMade’s MySymbol platform.

From what I’ve seen it’s not beyond the realms of possibility in just a few years a majority of golfers will want to play golf balls customized with their favorite pattern or design.

TaylorMade on the 2024 TP5x

Michael Fox, Senior Director of Product Creation, Golf Balls

“Our learnings from countless player and Tour tests show that golfers, unsurprisingly, favour a softer more muted sound with added distance. Historically, the challenge has been the inability to improve one without negatively impacting the other. With this understanding, we’ve evolved our golf ball design process by uniquely decoupling feel and speed through material advancement, a complete departure from the conventional. The material-level advancement positions our TP5/TP5x family as having the best feel in the industry with faster constructions.”

Details: TaylorMade TP5x

RRP: £44.99 / £47.99 TP5x Pix

Construction: 5-layer

Cover: Urethane

Target golfer: Tour level

READ NEXT: How does TaylorMade make golf balls?

About the author

Simon Daddow – Today’s Golfer Equipment Editor

Simon Daddow is the Equipment Editor for Today’s Golfer. Having tested and played more than 10,000 clubs in his life, what he doesn’t know about golf clubs isn’t worth knowing.

He joined EMAP Active (now Bauer Media) as Equipment Editor in 2006 and has worked for both Today’s Golfer and Golf World. Working alongside our test pro Neil Wain, Simon has made todays-golfer.com the most reliable source for golf club testing.

Despite his youthful looks, Simon has played golf for more than 40 years and plays to a handicap of 10. A lack of club speed means he’s short off the tee, but very handy from 125 yards and in.

Simon’s job means he plays regularly around the world, and rates Kingsbarns as his favorite course. He uses a PXG 0311 GEN6 XF driver, TaylorMade Stealth 2 HL (15º), Ping G400 (20.5º), PXG 0317 X Gen2 hybrid, PXG 0311 GEN6 P irons (6–PW), Cleveland CBX2 wedges (52°, 58°), Ping 21 Fetch putter and a TaylorMade Tour Response golf ball.

You can contact Simon via email and follow him on Twitter for loads more golf equipment insight.

   

TaylorMade TP5x (2024) golf ball

RRP: £44.99 / £47.99 TP5x Pix

Construction: 5-layer

Cover: Urethane

Target golfer: Tour level

Visit the TaylorMade Golf website here