by Bang Average Golf’s Director of Premium Ball Regret.
The TaylorMade TP5 is the ball of choice for guys like Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Collin Morikawa, and Rickie Fowler—blokes who can flight it, spin it, shape it, and generally make it do things you can only dream of while reloading your third Top Flite of the front nine.
And yet here we are, stuffing a £50-a-dozen ball into a lake on the second hole of a par-3 muni, convinced it’s going to “elevate our game.” Spoiler: it won’t. But we keep trying. Because if it’s good enough for Rory…
THE LOOK: Premium Paint, Tour Swagger
The TP5 is so clean it makes other balls look like range rejects. Sharp logo, crisp numbers, and that satisfying cover sheen that whispers “you probably can’t afford to keep losing these.”
They even come in high-vis yellow or Pix (that multi-triangle alignment thing favoured by Rickie Fowler and visually chaotic practice greens). Put one on a tee and it screams: “I am taking this round seriously.” (You aren’t.)
THE FEEL: Soft Like Butter (But Only If You Earn It)
This thing feels classy. Off the putter face, it’s soft and responsive—none of that clicky nonsense. Off irons, it’s smooth. Off wedges? Oh baby. That spinny grab that makes you feel like you’ve played more than twice this month.
That said, if you don’t have the swing speed of a small tornado, you might not unlock the full magic. In other words, you’ll pay full price to enjoy 70% of the experience.
THE PERFORMANCE: Tour Level Chaos in Amateur Hands
Here’s the truth: the TP5 is a rocket. Long off the driver, spinny round the greens, and consistent through the bag. It flies straight (when you do), and launches high with control (if you have any). It’s basically a Swiss army knife in dimpled form.
But it’s also honest—brutally so. If you strike it poorly, it won’t hide your sins. Rory can hit a low fade into a crosswind and land it on a bin lid. You’ll hit a low toe-draw into a tree and pretend it was the wind.
The TP5 rewards pure ball striking, and gives back what you put in. Which is great for Morikawa. Less great for your average Saturday golfer who’s more familiar with a toe-shank than a tour yardage book.
WHO IS IT FOR?
Golfers who love feedback, even when it hurts.
Mid to low handicappers who know what “spin rate” means.
High handicappers who want to impress their playing partners during warm-ups, then quietly switch to something cheaper after the third lost ball.
People who think owning a TP5 means they’re this close to turning pro. (They aren’t.)
IN A NUTSHELL
Is it a tour ball?
Yes. Unapologetically.
Should you play it?
Only if you’re willing to pay £4 every time you carve one into the bushes—and still pretend you didn’t flinch on your backswing.
BANG AVERAGE VERDICT
4.5 out of 5 “nice strike mate” compliments. It’s a phenomenal ball—assuming you’re a phenomenal player. For everyone else, it’s an expensive lesson in false hope and short-lived swagger.
Disclaimer: Using a TP5 will not give you Rory’s swing, Tommy’s hair, or Morikawa’s wedge control. But it will make you feel fancy for approximately two holes before you reload with a found Srixon.
