Equipment
2019 TaylorMadeTP5 and TP5x golf balls feature High-Flex Material
Announced today, TaylorMade is set to update its premium tour balls, the TaylorMade TP5 and TaylorMade TP5x, next month.
At the core behind both golf balls is TaylorMade’s new High-Flex Material (HFM). The new material, which TaylorMade has described as its “fastest material” ever, is a tightly wound spring, which is designed to create more rebound energy when compressed for added ball speed.
The tightly wound spring characteristic of HFM also aims to increase the force on the driver face, to further improve the speed of the golf ball as soon as it leaves the driver head.
2019 TP5 cutaway.
The HFM is integrated into TaylorMade’s new Speed-Layer System, which is comprised of four increasingly stiff layers, creating a Speed-Layer System that enables a soft core to be wrapped by increasingly rigid materials, allowing each outer layer to become progressively faster with the aim of controlling spin rates without affecting speed or distance.
Speaking on the new releases from TaylorMade, and its brand new HFM material, Director of Golf Ball R&D, Eric Loper, stated
“With the new TP5 and TP5x golf balls, we knew there was an opportunity to make them even faster. Our research into the driver and ball interaction at the moment of impact along with the development of a new material (HFM) has given us the ability to more efficiently convert compression into speed, at any swing speed. The new Speed-Layer System (SLS) controls spin rates that is critical for driver, iron and wedge performance.”
The new balls from TaylorMade both feature a Tri-Fast Core consisting of an extra-large, low-compression inner core (16 compression in TP5 & 25 compression in TP5x) and a progressively stiffer outer core and mantle. The combination of these cores is designed to create lower drag and increased carry for all level of swing speeds.
2019 TP5x cutaway.
As well as this, the 2019 TP5 and TP5x golf balls contain a Dual-Spin-Cover which holds an ultra-soft cast urethane cover and a 30% more rigid inner cover, which aims to provide excellent control on greenside shots through the rigid inner cover forcing the soft urethane cover into wedge grooves. The new Soft-Tough cast urethane cover has also been introduced to provide greater overall durability.
According to TaylorMade, the TP5 ball has a softer feel, launches lower on iron shots and is targeted at golfers who desire more spin around the green, while the TP5x contains a firmer feel and is designed for players wishing to generate higher launching iron shots.
The 2019 TP5 and TP5x will both be available at retail on February 15, 2019. The cost of both golf balls is $44.99 per dozen.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold X100
Wedges: TaylorMade Prototype (50-SB09), TaylorMade MG5 (56-HB12, 60-LV07)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400
Putter: TaylorMade TP Juno
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Christiaan Maas’ clubs here.
TaylorMade Golf’s MySpider program underwent a substantial overhaul over the last month. Firstly, the company launched the option to customize the Spider ZT model, and now the program has returned with the MySpider Tour and MySpider Tour X.
The revamped page now gives golfers complete control over every visual and functional detail of their putter on the popular Tour and Tour X head, with every cosmetic idea thought of. In MySpider Tour, golfers can choose from four head finishes, 16 paint fill colors, nine Surlyn face insert colors, three aluminum insert options, six sightline configurations, and four hosel options — L-neck, small slant, double bend, center shaft. Six sightline options are available in MySpider Tour, including the optically engineered True Path alignment system. MySpider Tour X gives builders the option of four head finishes, four hosel configurations, and five sightline options, also including True Path alignment.
One of the more interesting features of the new MySpider program is the availability of three distinct face insert options. Along with the usual Surlyn Pure Roll insert trusted by Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, which can be customized from nine colors, golfers can now also select firmer options. Two are offered with the black aluminum Pure Roll insert, slightly firmer than the traditional insert, or for the firmest feel, golfers can choose from two colors of milled aluminum inserts.
Another fun addition to the MySpider Tour is the ability to use the “Tommy Sightline.” The custom alignment aid design, which was first drawn onto Tommy Fleetwood’s putter by PGA Tour Rep James Holley, is based on the milled sightline on his Spider ZT head. There are five shorter lines on the left and right of a longer central line serving as the traditional short line alignment aid.
See below for the full specifications sheet for MySpider Tour and Tour X:
MySpider Tour
MySpider Tour X
Equipment
Then and now: Comparing Rory McIlroy’s current setup to his record-breaking 2019 Canadian Open victory
In Rory McIlroy’s first appearance at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, he crushed the record books to earn his 16th PGA Tour title in dominating fashion, winning by seven shots over Shane Lowry and Webb Simpson.
McIlroy’s score of 22-under-par 258 is the lowest 72-hole score to date at the Canadian Open, and his closing 61 is also the best final-round score in the history of one of golf’s oldest tournaments. Finally, with his win in 2019, McIlroy became only the sixth player to win the career Triple Crown, adding to his victories at the U.S. Open in 2011 and The Open Championship in 2014, joining Tommy Armour, Walter Hagen, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods in a coveted list.
So, with that, why not compare his current setup to the clubs he used to break all the records?
Driver
2019: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees @8), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7X (45 5/8 inches)
McIroy led the Tour in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee in 2019; he’s doing the same in 2026. Between now and then, McIlroy has switched from the Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX (a shaft with slightly more feeling in the tip) to the original Fujikura Ventus Black 7X, having just made the change to the heavier version from playing the 60X.
What’s interesting about McIlroy’s 2019 setup is that the weighting on his driver is actually set in the high-draw setting, using the T-Track weighting system, whereas in the Qi4D, he’s currently using a heavily rear-weighted setup. (Two 13-gram weights in the rear and only two 4-gram front weights.)
The TaylorMade M5 driver he played in during his Canadian Open win was the company’s first head that they claimed to design to initially exceed the USGA’s COR limit, and then injected with tuning resin to bring it back in bounds.
Fairway woods
2019: TaylorMade M6 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX; TaylorMade M5 5-wood (19 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 90 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8X; TaylorMade Qi4D 5-wood (18 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9X
The TaylorMade M6 fairway wood that McIlroy was using during the 2019 season is still in the bag of some of the best golfers on Tour in 2026. Just check out Justin Rose’s winning setup from the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year. This year, though, McIlroy has still been searching for his top-end-of-the-bag setup, having played both the new Qi4D and the Qi10, which he won the Masters with.
The same shaft swap can be seen in the fairway woods as the driver, along with slightly less loft on the 5-wood.
Irons
2019: TaylorMade P750 (4) Buy here, TaylorMade P730 (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
2026: TaylorMade P760 (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
The biggest difference between McIlroy’s custom set and the stock P730s is the groove design. While the P730s were constructed with 14 MX-9 grooves on their milled faces, McIlroy’s proto heads instead use the higher-spinning, 16-groove layout of the TW2 grooves. Other big differences between the sets are that McIlroy’s 7- and 8-irons have thinner toplines, are 1 degree stronger in loft, and are 1/4 inch longer than the original P730 builds.
With McIlroy’s 4-iron, the switch from P750 to P760 sees a transition to a two-piece construction with Speed Foam in it, which allows McIlroy to launch the ball slightly higher, with more workability.
Wedges
2019: TaylorMade Milled Grind (48-09SB), TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09SB, 56-09SB, 60-LB09), Shafts: Project X Rifle 6.5
2026: TaylorMade MG5 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB, 60-08LB @61), Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)
Between 2019 and 2026, McIlroy’s focus on his short game has been much more apparent. It was the reason why he switched back to the TP5 golf ball, to help with launch, spin and control with his wedges leading up to his career Grand Slam victory in 2025. The most apparent changes to McIlroy’s wedge setup are his lofts and bounce. He’s slowly delofted his pitching to a sand wedge, but has increased the loft on the lob wedge, bending his current 60-degree to 61. With that, adding more loft to his lob wedge also slightly increases the bounce and leading-edge sit point, so, as a result, he plays a lower-bounce lob wedge compared to 2019. The MG5 wedges are also softer than the first Milled Grind option from 2019. McIlroy also no longer plays the full-face grooves found on the Hi-Toe.
Putter
2019: TaylorMade Spider X
2026: TaylorMade Spider Tour X
Notice anything similar. Yes, the copper finish on Rory McIlroy’s Spider X putter in 2019 is a slightly more reflective finish than the recently released torched PVD finish. McIlroy was using the True Path alignment system, but now uses only a single white sightline.
Ball
2019: 2019 TaylorMade TP5 (#22)
2026: 2025 TaylorMade TP5 (RORS)
As mentioned above, McIlroy had transitioned from the TP5 to TP5x golf ball since his victory in Canada in 2019, but now is black with the same style of golf ball as his victory at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.
Grips
2019: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
2026: Golf Pride MCC
Interesting, McIlroy actually used Golf Pride’s Tour Velvet Cord grips during his victory in 2019 (it was during a 2+ year switch to the corded TV) as opposed to his usual MCC grips, which he has played for most of his career.
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NoDonkeys
Jul 1, 2019 at 10:45 pm
Matt Kuchar sucks donkey.
Art Williams
Jan 4, 2019 at 8:18 pm
Over the last few weeks it’s obvious 2019 is the year of fast, faster and fastest. The espionage among and between the big golf companies must be fast and furious as they bring out similar products in similar colors with similar marketing schemes. Must be a lot spies employed by them, especially Callaway and Taylor Made. I noticed they both were very fast to exceed the $500 ceiling.
WB
Jan 4, 2019 at 2:12 am
I gained 14 yards on the driver when I went from Tour Preferred X to TP5X. If the new TP5X gets only 3 yards more I’m in.
David
Jan 3, 2019 at 11:14 am
These must be pretty bad since they didn’t jack the price 30%. TM must know they don’t perform well enough to deserve the same price increases as the rest of their line.
Frank
Jan 3, 2019 at 4:41 pm
Must be David. Keep dropping nearly $60 on that “superior” ProV1
KM01
Jan 4, 2019 at 7:50 am
At the end of the day Pro V is superior. I still think TM are having their balls made by someone else so the probability is that some of them probably don’t even have 5 layers, when you look at how bad the rest of their quality control is. I tried TP5 last time around and it doesn’t spin enough through the bag.
It’s obvious what they’re going for in their marketing blurb. Distance off the driver. That’s always the first thing they say in everything they say.
Thing is, I’m still only going to be hitting max 14 drives in a round. So the majority of my shots I need more control. You don’t get that with something that doesn’t spin.
Daniel Forbes
Jan 5, 2019 at 4:36 am
Realistically if you are hitting max 14 drives per round, then u probably dont hit it well enough for spin to be an issue. I hit 14 drivers almost every time i play. Obviously playing a distance ball will prob hurt me… but Playing a proV isn’t going to improve my score at all. Unfortunately taylormade realised they could charge a lot more and did so. So the range of balls available that all qork the same is huge for amatuers now
KM01
Jan 5, 2019 at 3:30 pm
This comment makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. How could hitting at most 14 drives in a round mean that you don’t hit it well enough to worry about spin? You do realise that most golf courses would have 4 par 3’s meaning, realistically you would only ever have to hit driver at very most 14 times, and on shorter par 4’s you’d hit irons! I’ve played 2 British amateur championships, and have had quite a good amateur career…
There’s no such thing as a distance ball and a spin ball anymore. This isn’t the days of persimmon woods and balata balls.
Spin does not just come in to play on shots green side. It’s on every shot you hit. Every golfer needs a certain amount of spin to keep their ball airborne, depending on their launch characteristics.
Please have a proper ball fitting. You might just learn something…
Thomas A
Jan 3, 2019 at 10:48 am
So they are TP5-ier?
bill
Jan 3, 2019 at 10:20 am
having to click read more is really annoying. just show the full article
Gil
Jan 4, 2019 at 7:21 pm
Who do you claim is making their balls? Why do you question TM’s quality control?
KM01
Jan 6, 2019 at 5:04 am
That’s a fact. Look it up. There is only one company who actually manufacture their own golf balls. Everyone else buys in.
Have you not seen TM’s product the past few years? The rubber in the speed slots on irons has been falling out, iron faces caving in, and some of the loft and lies) swing weights that I’ve had delivered to my shop have been so far out its unbelievable. A couple of years ago, I had an M2 4 iron arrive which was to be standard loft/lie and it was 17*. Quality control is worse than terrible.
Daniel
Jan 5, 2019 at 4:27 am
That is dumbest thing ive ever ive ever read.. u have to scroll down anyway so i dont think clicking 1 button will kill u..
Thunder Bear
Jan 3, 2019 at 10:12 am
Of all things releasing this year, I’m most excited about the golf balls coming out. Seems like every company is on the same release schedule with golf balls so I plan to take them all out and do a battle royale to find the best ball. I’ve played the TP5x for a couple years and really excited to see if their claims are actually true.