TaylorMade TP5x Review (2026): The Distance Tour Ball

The TaylorMade TP5x is the tour ball you buy for distance. In Today's Golfer's robot test it was the fastest premium ball at the two higher swing speeds and the longest with irons and wedges. The catch is the entry requirement: it is a firm, five-layer ball that only rewards a genuinely quick swing.

TaylorMade TP5x at a glance

Robot data: Today's Golfer premium tour ball test with Loughborough University, run at 85, 100 and 115 mph. The price is pulled live from Amazon and updates through the day.

Off the tee: speed you can actually measure

Tour ball marketing is mostly noise, so it matters that the TP5x's headline claim survived a robot. Today's Golfer's test with Loughborough University swung four premium balls at 85, 100 and 115 mph, and the TP5x produced the fastest ball speeds at the two higher settings. Note which speed it did not win: at 85 mph the advantage disappears, because a firm five-layer ball needs real speed to compress fully. That is the whole story of this ball in one number. If your driver is quick, the speed is free money; if it is not, you are paying tour prices for a ball you cannot switch on.

Irons and wedges: where the carry gap shows

The same test had the TP5x longest of the premium field with both the 7-iron, carrying 3.2 yards past the Titleist Pro V1x, and the pitching wedge. Three yards with a 7-iron is the difference between the middle of the green and the front fringe, and unlike driver distance it shows up on every approach. The trade sits at the bottom of the bag: the TP5x spun less with a wedge than the Pro V1x in the same test, so the golfer who wants maximum check on part shots is looking at the wrong ball. We put the two head to head, shot by shot, in Pro V1x vs TP5x.

Feel, greenside and the price question

This is a firm ball with a slightly lively click off the putter face, closer to the Pro V1x than to anything soft, and the cast urethane cover still delivers proper greenside grip: chips check rather than run, just not quite as hard as the spinniest option in the field. On price, Today's Golfer noted that TaylorMade cut the TP5 family's RRP by £5 a box, which tends to leave the TP5x a little cheaper at the till than its Titleist rival. It is still a top-shelf price, and losing one in the gorse stings accordingly: check the live price above, because the gap between the big two moves week to week.

Buy it if

• Your driver swing is quick, roughly 105 mph or more, and carry distance is the priority.
• You want measured, robot-verified length with irons and wedges, not just a marketing claim.
• You like a firm, lively feel and want tour performance at a slightly friendlier price.

Skip it if

• Your swing is moderate: a firm five-layer ball you cannot compress gives back everything it promises.
• Maximum wedge spin wins you shots, which is the Pro V1x's territory.
• You prefer a softer feel, where the standard TP5 is the better fit in the same family.

Frequently asked questions

What swing speed does the TaylorMade TP5x need?

As a rule of thumb, around 105 mph of driver speed or more. In Today's Golfer's robot test its speed advantage appeared at 100 and 115 mph, not at 85 mph, which is exactly what you would expect from a firm five-layer ball. Slower swings get more from our slow swing speed picks, and our compression guide explains why.

What is the difference between the TP5 and the TP5x?

Same five-layer family, different tuning. The TP5x is the firmer, faster, higher-flying model; the standard TP5 is softer, flies lower and spins more around the green. If you already hit it high or want a gentler feel, the TP5 is the smarter buy.

Is the TP5x better than the Titleist Pro V1x?

It is longer and the V1x spins more: Today's Golfer's robot had the TP5x ahead on carry with the 7-iron and wedge, and the V1x ahead on wedge spin. Which trade wins depends on your game, and our Pro V1x vs TP5x head-to-head calls it by golfer type.

Does the TP5x spin around the green?

Yes. It wears a cast urethane cover, so chips and pitches check properly, unlike any ionomer ball. Within the premium field it gives up some wedge spin to the Pro V1x, but the gap is a matter of degree between two genuinely spinny golf balls.

Is the TP5x worth it for a mid handicapper?

Only with a quick swing. A mid handicapper at moderate speed cannot compress it and would bank more from a value urethane ball at two thirds of the price: our tour ball guide includes that pick alongside the premium field.

The verdict

For the quick-swinging golfer who wants every yard the rules allow, the TP5x is the measured distance leader of the premium field and a standing pick in our best golf balls for fast swing speeds guide. Torn between it and the Titleist? Pro V1x vs TP5x settles it. And if you are not sure your swing clears the bar, answer six questions in our Ball Finder and see what your game actually calls for.