The TaylorMade TP5 and TP5x share the same five-layer build and cast urethane cover, so the TP5 vs TP5x decision really comes down to two things: how fast you swing, and what you want the ball to do once you get near the green. Here is the short answer first, then the detail behind it.
TP5 vs TP5x: the quick answer
Play the TP5 if your driver swing is under about 100 mph, or if you want the softest feel and the most spin on wedges and chips. Play the TP5x if you swing faster, spin your driver too much, or want the most distance TaylorMade puts into a tour ball. If you are on the fence, start with the TP5. Extra stopping power around the green saves more shots for most golfers than a few yards off the tee.
| TP5 | TP5x | |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Softer | Firmer |
| Compression (2024) | About 85 | About 97 |
| Driver spin | Higher | Lower |
| Flight | Slightly lower | Higher |
| Wedge spin | Most | High |
| Best for | Control and feel | Speed and distance |
Both balls sit in our used TaylorMade golf balls range, graded and sold by the dozen or in 50 and 100 packs.
What actually changes between the two balls
Strip the logos off and the two balls look identical on paper: five layers, a soft inner core that gets firmer toward the outside, and a thin cast urethane cover. The difference is how firm TaylorMade makes those inner layers.
The TP5 uses a softer core and mantle. That lets it squash more on short shots, which is where the extra spin and softer feel come from. The TP5x stiffens everything up. At full speed it rebounds faster off the face, and it spins less off the driver and long irons.
The 2026 versions, launched in February, kept that split but changed the details. The TP5 got a larger, faster core to close some of the speed gap, and the TP5x got refined mantle layers around a firmer core. Both also picked up a new microcoating paint process meant to keep the paint even in the dimples, which TaylorMade says makes them its most consistent tour balls yet.
On compression, TaylorMade’s 2024 models sit at about 85 for the TP5 and about 97 for the TP5x. Independent testing on the 2026 TP5x from MyGolfSpy’s Ball Lab measured an average of 98, so the newer ball is just as firm.
Off the tee: speed, spin and distance
This is where the TP5x earns its reputation. In MyGolfSpy’s robot testing, the TP5x was longer off the driver than the TP5 at every swing speed they tested. Lower spin means a flatter, more penetrating flight with more roll once it lands.
There is a catch. The same Ball Lab report points out that a ball this firm is not built to help slower swing speeds get airborne. If you cannot compress it, you lose the speed advantage and keep the firm feel.
Which one helps a slice?
Lower spin off the driver means less sidespin as well, so the TP5x curves a touch less on a mishit than the TP5. It will not fix a slice, but if you already swing fast and fight a big curve, the TP5x is the better of the two. A slower swinger who slices will get more from the TP5 and a swing lesson than from a firmer ball.
Into the green: where the TP5 earns its place
The TP5 pays you back from 150 yards in. Golf Monthly’s 2026 head-to-head found the TP5 spun roughly 300 rpm more than the TP5x with a 7-iron and flew slightly higher. On a 50-yard pitch the gap grew: about 7,600 rpm for the TP5 against about 6,800 rpm for the TP5x. That was one tester, so treat the numbers as a direction rather than gospel, but they match what TaylorMade says about the two balls.
In practice that means approach shots that stop closer to where they land, and chips that check on the second bounce instead of releasing to the back of the green. The TP5x still spins plenty for a tour ball. The TP5 simply gives you a little more of it, with a softer feel off the putter face as well.
For Canadian golfers it is worth remembering that every ball plays firmer on a cold April or October morning. If the TP5x already feels clicky to you in July, it will feel harder in shoulder season, which is one more point in the TP5’s favour for moderate swing speeds.
Which ball matches your swing speed?
Driver swing speed is the simplest way to choose. Independent fitting guides such as BallCaddie place the TP5 in roughly the 90 to 105 mph band, and most put the TP5x above 100 mph. Here is how that plays out:
| Driver swing speed | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Under 90 mph | TP5, or a softer ball | TP5x is hard to compress |
| 90 to 100 mph | TP5 | Speed is close, more spin |
| 100 to 105 mph | Either | Pick by feel and priority |
| Over 105 mph | TP5x | Lower spin, more distance |
If you are under 90 mph and the TP5 still feels firm, the TaylorMade Tour Response gives you a urethane cover with a softer, easier-to-launch build. And if you are a mid handicapper who does not know your number, play the TP5. You give up very little off the tee and gain control where most of your strokes go.
Buying used TP5 and TP5x balls in Canada
Here is the part most comparisons skip. On golfballs.ca, a dozen used Grade A TP5 or TP5x costs the same $24.99, and Grade B dozens are the same price too. Price does not decide this one, so choose on fit alone.
- Grade A: looks close to new with minor marks. Plays like a new ball.
- Grade B: more cosmetic wear, same performance. The best value for practice and casual rounds.
- Mint: as close to new as a used ball gets, when we have them in stock.
You can see exactly how we sort and grade every ball on our how we grade page. Orders over $99.99 ship free anywhere in Canada.
Shop by model: used TaylorMade TP5 golf balls or used TaylorMade TP5x golf balls, both available in white, yellow, Pix and Stripe.
FAQ
Who should play the TP5x?
Golfers with a driver swing speed above about 100 mph who want maximum distance and a lower-spinning, more penetrating flight. It also suits fast swingers whose driver spin is too high with softer balls. If greenside spin and soft feel matter more to you than yards, the TP5 is the better fit even at higher speeds.
What is the compression of a TaylorMade TP5?
The 2024 TP5 is rated at about 85 compression, against about 97 for the TP5x. That makes the TP5 noticeably softer at impact and easier to compress for moderate swing speeds. The 2026 TP5x measured an average of 98 in independent testing, so the gap between the two has held.
What is the point of TP5 Pix?
Pix adds a high-contrast graphic to the cover so you can track spin and alignment on putts and chips. It is the same TP5 or TP5x underneath, so performance does not change. Choose Pix if you like seeing the ball roll end over end, or plain white if you find the graphics distracting.
Does the Stripe version play differently?
No. TP5 Stripe and TP5x Stripe use the same construction as the standard balls. The stripe is an alignment aid that helps you line up putts and see whether the ball is rolling cleanly. Pick it for the look and alignment help, not for any change in spin or distance.
How does the TP5 compare with the Titleist Pro V1?
Both are premium urethane tour balls aimed at the same golfer. For feel, the TP5 sits closer to the Pro V1 and the TP5x closer to the firmer Pro V1x. If Titleist is on your shortlist too, our Pro V1 vs Pro V1x guide runs through that pair the same way.
The bottom line
The TP5 is the softer, spinnier ball and the right call for most amateur swing speeds. The TP5x is the faster, lower-spinning ball for golfers who swing hard and want every yard. Since both cost the same used, match the ball to your swing, grab a dozen of each if you are unsure, and let your scorecard decide. Browse the full TaylorMade golf ball range to get started.
