Equipment
TaylorMade Tour Preferred and Tour Preferred X golf balls
TaylorMade announced today the release of their most well-rounded golf balls to date, the Tour Preferred and Tour Preferred X.
The Tour Preferred golf balls include a number of TaylorMade’s innovations: a React Core for greater ball speed, the Spin Mantle, a layer that controls the spin rates for consistency, and low drag performance (LDP) aerodynamics, which are achieved through a 322-dimple design that reduces distance loss on shots with low spin, but allows for a penetrating ball flight into the wind.
[quote_box_center]”Golf ball innovation doesn’t just happen overnight,” said Dean Snell, vice president of golf ball R&D for TaylorMade. “Rather, it is a series of ongoing conversation with our Tour players. These conversations have led to the development of breakthrough technologies including low drag aerodynamics for ultimate wind resistance, a five-layer construction for superior control throughout the club set and now our softest most durable cover.”[/quote_box_center]
The new Soft Tech cover, which is being introduced with the Tour Preferred line, has a cast-urethane construction that generates a soft feel around the greens. Soft Tech has a higher resistance to sheering than previously constructed TaylorMade golf balls, making for their most durable ball ever.
The Tour Preferred X maintains a similar spin and trajectory as its predecessor, the TaylorMade Lethal. Like the Lethal, it is a five-layer golf ball, but the Tour Preferred X has better green side control and increased durability because of the Soft Tech cover.
The Tour Preferred golf balls have four layers, and are designed to spin more on a golfer’s long- and mid-iron shots than the Tour Preferred X. According to Snell, the Tour Preferred will feel and perform very similar to the Tour Preferred X on other shots.
The new Tour Preferred franchise has been well received by players on multiple tours. Sergio Garcia recently won the Thailand Golf Championship and the Qatar Masters with the Tour Preferred X golf ball. Jessica Korda also gamed the Tour Preferred X in her season-opening victory at the Pure Silk Classic.
Tour Preferred and Tour Preferred X will be available at retailers for $45.99 a dozen beginning March 1st.
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
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Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
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Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
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Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
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Jacqueline
Jun 27, 2015 at 11:03 pm
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david g
Nov 22, 2014 at 2:23 am
tried the tour preferred and loved it in 5 rounds of golf 3 of the rounds i have made eagles with the ball. i just found the ball bit hard unlike the feel of the pro v. I wonder if taylormade would do a tour preferred at like 75 or 80 compression like the project a
Pingback: Taylormade Tour Preferred X Golf
Ron
Jul 4, 2014 at 1:35 am
Yes with the keep the name.
.I loved the penta…then loved the Lethal…really loved it…now another switch in names and I did not know which ball the x or the other..went with the other now wish I would have bought the x…please quit changing names…lovers of your brand get confused….
Almost my whole bag is TM…
Drop and stop..hit another 300 yard drive and I am 57 years young
Steven
May 20, 2014 at 7:09 pm
To be honest, I absolutely adore the new Taylor made tour preferred x, the only issue I have is the durability of the ball, especially for the price I pay, it can even be after one hole after a solid wedge shot in that scuff marks are already appearing, other that that though, fantastic feel and return on all shots!
randy keen
Jul 6, 2014 at 5:14 pm
I totally agree. The tour preferred x is a good ball but, the durability is very questionable.
pitbull17
Mar 27, 2014 at 10:40 am
I’ve played the Tour Preferred X and I really liked it. I haven’t played the other ball yet. The X reminds of the Penta in terms of green side spin and mid-iron flight. They do seem to last quite a bit longer than the Lethal and Penta did. It is hard to imagine the Tour Preferred spinning more than the X does, I get tons of spin out of the X
Alan Barnes
Mar 24, 2014 at 10:01 pm
Are the taylormade tour prefered balls smaller than normal?
Scott
Feb 2, 2014 at 10:30 am
I have not really liked a TM ball since the TP Red. Lets hope these new TP balls bring back the performance.
jc
Jan 30, 2014 at 6:33 pm
well, that’s it…might as well close up the lab…titleist, callaway, tm, and the others have reached the max in innovation. There can be NO more ideas or materials or dimple patterns that will EVER be better than this. Coupled with the adjustable, slotted, weigted, super duper clubs…there can be NO MORE development. We will no longer have to see the hot list, trade in stuff, buy anything new.
glad that is done.
Mackenzie Tout
Jan 30, 2014 at 5:47 pm
I find it interesting that Taylormade released a product so similar to the Titleist line of Pro V1 and Pro V1x. From using the “X” to differentiate each ball to the 332 dimple pattern (synonamous with the Pro V1x) the TP line is a near copycat of the industry leading Titleist product. Although I believe the name change was needed, it’s obviously apparent who runs the ball market.
J
Jul 18, 2014 at 11:22 pm
They are actually 322 dimple pattern
David Ober
Jan 30, 2014 at 1:44 pm
Dear TaylorMade: That “Lethal” name was a killer (no pun intended). Horrible name for a ball aimed at players. Sounds too much like a distance ball. Keep the “Tour Preferred” name for a long time. It’s a name that people associate with you. It’s a great name for a “players” ball. Most importantly, it will stand the test of time. Leave the tinkering with names and multiple releases to your drivers and fairway woods and keep your balls consistent. Do that, and you’ll slowly eat away at Titleist’s dominance in the ball market.
Gerard
Jan 30, 2014 at 3:13 am
Hopefully they realise the best ball manufacturers in Srixon and Titleist have had success with keeping the ball name the same and just slightly tweaking the design year to year, makes it a lot easier for everyone.
Ben
Jan 29, 2014 at 11:41 pm
I’ve had the pleasure of playing both of these balls already. In my opinion they both spin noticeably more than the lethal and are both very similar to their Titleist counterparts. Solid ball overall and very durable. Big improvement over the Lethal. I would definitely play them.
Chris
Jan 29, 2014 at 10:45 pm
I wondered when Taylormade would be announcing a new ball as the lethal’s pice is dropping like crazy!
Alex
Jan 29, 2014 at 10:28 pm
I hit quite a few of these on the range at the PGA Demo Day. Quite impressed with the feel in comparison to Pro-V!!
Mario Good Times
Jan 29, 2014 at 8:46 pm
I hope they are good, never liked a taylormade ball yet but ill try anything once. Please Taylormade keep the name the same but change the ball a little like Prov1 this game is getting confusing..