- +Your swing speed is between 85–105 mph
- +You prefer a soft, satisfying feel
- +You play in windy conditions regularly
- +You want the most versatile TaylorMade tour ball
- +You're switching from a soft distance ball
- +Your swing speed is consistently above 100 mph
- +You prefer a firm, feedback-rich feel
- +You want maximum carry height and trajectory
- +You naturally hit it low and want more height
- +You are a scratch or low-handicap player
Tour split: Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa have both played the TP5x on tour, favouring its high launch and firm feel. Many other TaylorMade staffers play the TP5. The split at tour level mirrors what you'd expect: faster swingers who want height go TP5x, players who prefer feel and control go TP5.
Specs at a Glance
| Spec | TP5 | TP5x |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 5-piece | 5-piece |
| Cover | Cast Urethane | Cast Urethane |
| Compression | ~85 | ~97 |
| Feel | Soft | Firm |
| Launch | Mid-High | High |
| Ball Flight | Mid | High |
| Driver Spin | Mid | Mid-High |
| Short Game Spin | Very High | Very High |
| Target Swing Speed | 85–105 mph | 100–115+ mph |
| Price (2026) | ~$54/dozen | ~$54/dozen |
Head to Head
Feel
Edge: TP5 (noticeably softer), TP5x (more feedback)TP5
At compression ~85, the TP5 is one of the softer tour balls on the market. Off the putter it has a muted, satisfying response — not mushy, but distinctly soft. Off irons and wedges the 5-piece construction gives it a layered feel at impact, as though the ball is actively engaging rather than just deflecting. Golfers who prioritise touch and feel consistently favour the TP5, and it is notably softer than any Titleist flagship.
TP5x
The TP5x at compression ~97 is a meaningfully firmer ball. The extra firmness translates to a crisper, more precise feel at impact — particularly noticeable off the putter and on full iron shots. Fast swingers who generate high impact forces often find the TP5x gives better feedback about where they made contact. It is firm by tour ball standards but not unpleasant; think crisp rather than hard.
Distance Off the Driver
Edge: TP5 (under 100 mph), TP5x (100+ mph for carry)TP5
The TP5's High Flex Material inner layer acts as a spring at impact, increasing ball speed across a wide range of swing speeds. In the 85–105 mph window, the TP5 produces a mid-high launch with mid spin that carries efficiently and rolls out well. Independent testing consistently shows the TP5 as one of the longer premium balls for golfers in that swing speed range. If you can't fully compress the TP5x, the TP5 is the longer ball.
TP5x
The TP5x is engineered for swing speeds above 100 mph. Its higher compression and higher launch trajectory produce more carry when the swing speed is there to generate it. For golfers consistently above 105 mph, the TP5x's flight profile maximises carry distance into firm conditions and helps hold greens with long irons. Below 100 mph, that extra compression becomes a liability and distance suffers.
Ball Flight and Trajectory
Edge: TP5 (wind conditions), TP5x (maximum carry height)TP5
The TP5 produces a mid-high ball flight — high enough to carry obstacles and hold greens on approach shots, low enough to be manageable in most conditions. It is the more versatile trajectory for the majority of golfers and course types. In light wind it performs excellently. In strong wind it can balloon slightly, costing carry and direction.
TP5x
The TP5x launches higher than the TP5, which is its primary selling point for fast swingers who want maximum carry. A high, penetrating flight from 105+ mph produces the best stopping power on firm greens. The tradeoff is wind sensitivity — the TP5x's higher flight is more susceptible to crosswinds and headwinds. If you regularly play in exposed conditions, that extra height is a double-edged sword.
Short Game and Greenside Spin
Edge: Tie (effectively identical greenside spin)TP5
The TP5's 5-piece construction separates driver performance from wedge performance — the softer outer layers engage more on partial shots, producing very high wedge spin even on half swings. From inside 80 yards the TP5 bites and stops consistently well. TaylorMade's cast urethane cover (CUC) is one of the grippiest in the game and makes the TP5 exceptional around the green regardless of swing speed.
TP5x
The TP5x matches the TP5 almost identically in greenside spin — both use the same cast urethane cover and 5-piece construction. The extra firmness slightly changes the feel on delicate chip shots but the spin numbers in testing are nearly identical. For all practical purposes, the short game performance of both balls is the same. This is not the category that separates them.
Who Each Ball Is Built For
Edge: TP5 (wider audience), TP5x (high swing speed specialists)TP5
The TP5 is the right choice for most recreational golfers — even those with swing speeds approaching 105 mph. Its softer compression is more forgiving of off-centre contact, its mid-high flight works across a wide range of conditions, and its short-game feel is exceptional. The vast majority of amateur golfers who switch from a distance ball to a premium urethane ball should start here.
TP5x
The TP5x is a specialist ball. It is built for golfers who swing fast enough to need a higher launch, firm enough to generate the compression force required to benefit from the stiffer construction, and technically consistent enough that the extra trajectory height translates to carry rather than ballooning. That describes a narrow slice of the amateur golf population — primarily low handicappers with 105+ mph driver speed.
The Decision Is Simpler Than You Think
TaylorMade designed these two balls to fill different swing speed windows, and the engineering reflects that precisely. The TP5's lower compression means golfers from 85 mph upward can compress it and generate efficient ball speed. The TP5x's higher compression requires 100+ mph to work as designed.
Most recreational golfers — even those who consider themselves fast swingers — fall between 85 and 100 mph. That makes the TP5 the right call for the majority. If you're not sure of your swing speed, the TP5 is the safer default. If you've measured it and you're consistently above 100 mph, the TP5x is worth the switch.
Swing Speed
Compression
Ball Flight
Our Verdict
For most golfers the TP5 is the better ball. Its softer compression is more forgiving across a wider range of swing speeds, the mid-high flight is versatile in most conditions, and the short-game feel is exceptional. Unless you know your swing speed is consistently above 100 mph, the TP5 is the right starting point.
The TP5x earns its place for fast, consistent ball-strikers — low handicappers above 105 mph who want every yard of carry and aren't bothered by the firmer feel. At that level the higher launch genuinely adds distance and stopping power on firm greens.
Where to Buy
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between the TP5 and TP5x?
Compression and trajectory. The TP5 has a compression of ~85 and produces a mid-high ball flight. The TP5x has a compression of ~97 and launches higher. Both are 5-piece urethane balls with the same cast urethane cover and near-identical greenside spin — the difference is feel, launch, and the swing speed each is optimised for.
Is the TP5x better than the TP5?
Not for most golfers. The TP5x is better for golfers with swing speeds consistently above 100 mph who need the extra launch height to maximise carry. For the majority of recreational golfers, the TP5's softer compression and more versatile flight profile makes it the better-performing ball.
Does the TP5x go farther than the TP5?
Only for faster swingers. Above 100 mph, the TP5x's higher launch and compression can add carry distance. Below 100 mph, the TP5 is typically the longer ball because golfers in that range can't fully compress the TP5x and the extra firmness reduces ball speed.
What swing speed is the TP5x designed for?
TaylorMade positions the TP5x for swing speeds above 100 mph. Golfers who are consistently in the 105–115+ mph range will benefit most from its higher compression and launch profile. Slower swingers will generally find the TP5 performs better.
Which TP5 do tour players use?
Both. Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa have been among the prominent TP5x users on tour, favouring the higher launch. Other TaylorMade staffers play the TP5 for its softer feel and more versatile flight. The split reflects the same swing speed and preference divide that applies to recreational golfers.