Two Urethane Golf Balls Designed for Different Golfers
The TaylorMade TP5 and TaylorMade Tour Response are both premium-feeling, urethane-covered golf balls designed to provide strong distance and useful control around the greens.
However, they occupy different positions within TaylorMade’s golf-ball range.
The TaylorMade TP5 is the company’s softest five-layer tour ball. It is designed for golfers seeking:
- Tour-level tee-to-green performance
- High greenside spin
- Excellent wedge control
- Strong ball speed
- Shot-shaping versatility
- A soft but responsive impact feel
- Consistent performance under demanding conditions
The TaylorMade Tour Response is a three-piece urethane ball designed to make premium-style performance more accessible. It focuses on:
- Soft feel
- Low driver spin
- Reliable distance
- Consistent peak height
- Tight full-shot dispersion
- Useful greenside control
- Better value than TaylorMade’s flagship tour balls
The key difference is not simply that TP5 costs more.
TP5 is built for golfers who want maximum control and a more sophisticated response throughout the bag. Tour Response is intended for club golfers who want a soft urethane ball that performs consistently without requiring the price or advanced spin characteristics of a full tour model.
For more individual tests and brand comparisons, visit our golf ball reviews section.
In this detailed comparison, we will examine:
- Construction and technology
- Driver distance and spin
- Launch and trajectory
- Fairway-wood and iron performance
- Wedge and greenside control
- Feel and putting performance
- Wind stability
- Swing-speed suitability
- Handicap recommendations
- Course-condition performance
- Price and value
- Which ball is best for different golfers
TaylorMade TP5 v Tour Response: Quick Comparison
| Performance Category | TaylorMade TP5 | TaylorMade Tour Response |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Five-piece | Three-piece |
| Cover | Cast urethane | Cast urethane |
| Overall feel | Soft and responsive | Very soft |
| Driver launch | Mid | Mid to lower-mid |
| Driver spin | Low | Low |
| Iron spin | Moderate to high | Moderate |
| Greenside spin | Very high | Moderate to high |
| Flight control | Excellent | Stable and straightforward |
| Workability | High | Moderate |
| Forgiveness | Good | Very good |
| Full-shot consistency | Excellent | Excellent |
| Best quality | Tour-level control throughout the bag | Urethane performance and value |
| Best suited to | Skilled and control-focused golfers | Moderate-speed and value-conscious golfers |
TaylorMade describes TP5 as its softest five-layer tour ball and highlights its speed, spin, feel and greenside control. Tour Response is marketed around three-piece construction, soft feel, consistent peak height, reliable distance and tight left-to-right dispersion.
Quick Verdict
Choose the TaylorMade TP5 when you want:
- Maximum short-game control
- More responsive wedge performance
- Greater ability to shape shots
- A sophisticated five-layer construction
- Better control on firm greens
- More trajectory versatility
- Tour-level performance from driver through putter
- A soft ball that still provides clear feedback
Choose the TaylorMade Tour Response when you want:
- A softer and less demanding feel
- Low driver spin
- Reliable distance
- Consistent full-shot flight
- A urethane cover at a lower price
- More forgiveness
- A strong fit for moderate swing speeds
- Premium-style performance without paying flagship prices
For golfers who demand maximum control and regularly use different trajectories around the course, the TP5 is the stronger overall ball.
For golfers who want a soft, consistent urethane model that offers excellent value and straightforward performance, the Tour Response is often the more practical choice.
What Is the TaylorMade TP5?
The TP5 is TaylorMade’s flagship soft tour golf ball.
The current 2026 version has been re-engineered from core to cover and uses five-layer construction to create different performance characteristics with different clubs. TaylorMade describes it as the longest and fastest TP5 it has produced while retaining world-class spin, feel and greenside control.
Its principal performance goals include:
- High ball speed
- Low driver spin
- Controlled full-shot launch
- Strong iron performance
- Very high greenside spin
- Soft feel
- Shot-making versatility
Five-layer construction allows TaylorMade to tune the interaction between the:
- Core
- Inner mantle layers
- Outer mantle
- Urethane cover
This is designed to produce spin separation: efficient performance with the driver while preserving the friction and control required on wedges and short-game shots.
The TP5 is not restricted to professionals or low handicappers, but golfers with consistent contact are more likely to take full advantage of its layered performance.
What Is the TaylorMade Tour Response?
Tour Response is TaylorMade’s more affordable urethane-covered performance ball.
The current model uses:
- Three-piece construction
- A high-spring core
- A cast urethane cover
- TaylorMade’s Tour Flight Dimple Pattern
- Microcoating technology
TaylorMade says the microcoating is intended to promote consistent peak height, dependable distance and tighter left-to-right dispersion on full shots.
Tour Response is designed to bridge the gap between:
- Basic two-piece distance balls
- Premium five-layer tour balls
It should particularly appeal to golfers who want:
- Softer feel
- Urethane-cover spin
- Low driver spin
- Reliable carry
- Stable flight
- A lower purchase price
It provides many of the characteristics club golfers associate with a premium ball without attempting to replicate every advanced shot-making feature of TP5.
Construction: Five Pieces v Three Pieces
The construction difference is fundamental.
TaylorMade TP5 Construction
TP5 uses five layers.
These layers are designed to respond differently depending on:
- Club speed
- Club loft
- Impact force
- Shot type
With the driver, the firmer inner layers can support:
- Ball speed
- Energy transfer
- Low spin
- Strong distance
With wedges and short irons, the softer outer materials and urethane cover help provide:
- Friction
- Spin
- Feel
- Control
TaylorMade describes TP5 as its softest five-layer tour ball and its highest-spinning tour option around the green.
TaylorMade Tour Response Construction
Tour Response uses three pieces:
- Core
- Mantle
- Urethane cover
This simpler structure is still capable of producing meaningful spin separation.
It is designed to provide:
- Low driver spin
- Soft feel
- Consistent flight
- Useful short-game spin
However, it does not offer the same degree of multi-layer tuning as TP5.
Does More Layers Mean Better?
Not automatically.
More layers allow manufacturers to tune performance more precisely, but they do not guarantee that every golfer will score better.
A golfer who wants:
- Straightforward distance
- Soft feel
- Moderate greenside spin
- Lower price
may prefer Tour Response.
A golfer who needs:
- Precise trajectory control
- Maximum wedge spin
- Greater workability
- Tour-level responsiveness
is more likely to benefit from TP5.
Cover Material
Both balls use cast urethane covers.
This is important because urethane generally provides more short-game friction than ionomer or Surlyn.
Benefits can include:
- More wedge spin
- Better stopping power
- Softer feel
- More control from partial shots
- Improved performance on firm greens
The fact that Tour Response uses urethane is one of its greatest strengths. It allows the ball to offer meaningfully better greenside performance than many similarly soft two-piece distance balls.
However, the cover does not act alone.
TP5’s additional mantle layers and complete five-layer structure enable TaylorMade to create a more sophisticated relationship between full-shot speed and short-game spin.
Driver Performance
TaylorMade TP5 With the Driver
The TP5 is designed to produce:
- Strong ball speed
- Low driver spin
- Mid-flight trajectory
- Excellent carry
- Stable aerodynamics
- Soft but powerful feel
The current 2026 model uses TaylorMade’s largest tour core, which the company says reduces contact time with the clubface and helps produce faster full-swing ball speeds.
The TP5 should particularly suit golfers who:
- Generate moderate-to-high swing speed
- Strike the centre consistently
- Want low driver spin without an excessively firm ball
- Need distance but still prioritise control
- Prefer a balanced flight rather than an extreme high or low trajectory
TaylorMade Tour Response With the Driver
Tour Response is designed to provide:
- Low driver spin
- Reliable ball speed
- Consistent peak height
- Tight dispersion
- Soft impact feel
Its profile may be more accessible for golfers who do not generate tour-level impact conditions.
It should suit players who:
- Want a softer driver feel
- Need low spin
- Prefer a stable, predictable flight
- Are more interested in consistency than shot shaping
- Want premium-style distance at a lower price
Which Ball Is Longer With the Driver?
There is no universal answer.
TP5 May Be Longer When:
- Swing speed is moderate to fast
- Centre contact is consistent
- The golfer benefits from the faster five-layer construction
- Launch is already efficient
- The golfer needs strong carry and speed
- Spin is not excessively low
Tour Response May Be Longer When:
- The golfer produces better contact with a softer-feeling ball
- Driver spin needs to be reduced
- Swing speed is moderate
- The Tour Response trajectory creates a better carry window
- The golfer needs consistency more than maximum speed
TP5 may have greater overall speed potential, but a golfer should not choose it from one high ball-speed reading.
Compare:
- Average ball speed
- Launch angle
- Spin rate
- Carry
- Peak height
- Dispersion
- Performance on ordinary mishits
The ball producing the longest individual drive is not necessarily the best-fitting model.
Ball Speed
TP5 Ball Speed
TaylorMade describes the current TP5 as its longest and fastest TP5 to date. Its enlarged tour core is intended to reduce impact contact time and retain more energy during full swings.
This may provide a particular advantage for:
- Faster swingers
- Consistent ball-strikers
- Golfers who want speed without moving to the firmer TP5x
- Players who value soft feel but do not want to sacrifice full-shot performance
Tour Response Ball Speed
Tour Response uses a high-spring core designed to provide efficient compression and energy transfer.
Its purpose is not necessarily to outperform TP5 in maximum speed. Instead, it is intended to deliver:
- Dependable distance
- Stable ball speed
- Consistent flight
- A softer response
For many club golfers, consistent speed across several shots may be more valuable than TP5’s higher maximum potential.
Driver Launch
TP5 Driver Launch
The TP5 generally produces a controlled mid-flight trajectory.
This should suit golfers who want:
- Balanced carry and rollout
- A flight that can be shaped
- Stability in changing weather
- Enough height without excessive ballooning
Tour Response Driver Launch
Tour Response is generally associated with a controlled, slightly lower full-shot flight.
Its current microcoating is designed to help the ball reach a consistent peak height rather than producing large variation from shot to shot.
This may benefit golfers who:
- Hit the ball too high
- Generate excess full-shot spin
- Want a more penetrating flight
- Value consistency
Golfers who already produce very low launch should check that Tour Response provides enough carry.
Driver Spin
Both balls are designed to control driver spin.
TP5 Driver Spin
TP5 provides low driver spin while retaining more spin and control with irons and wedges.
Its five-layer construction is designed to create:
- Efficient driver performance
- Strong carry
- Controlled spin
- Greater response through the shorter clubs
Tour Response Driver Spin
Tour Response also produces low driver spin.
This may help golfers who:
- Balloon drives
- Generate excessive backspin
- Want more rollout
- Fight excessive curvature
- Prefer a stable full-shot trajectory
Tour Response may feel more forgiving because it prioritises straightforward distance and consistency rather than maximum workability.
Driver Forgiveness
TP5 Forgiveness
TP5 can produce excellent performance on normal misses, but it is most likely to reward golfers who make reasonably consistent contact.
Its strengths are:
- Speed
- Flight control
- Spin separation
- Feedback
A golfer who strikes the ball inconsistently may not extract the full value of its five-layer design.
Tour Response Forgiveness
Tour Response is likely to be the more accessible ball for many recreational golfers.
Its softer feel and low-spin profile can support:
- Comfortable contact
- Stable trajectory
- Manageable curvature
- Consistent carry
This does not mean it corrects poor swings. It simply offers a less specialised performance profile.
Accuracy and Dispersion
TaylorMade places particular emphasis on Tour Response’s ability to produce tight left-to-right dispersion and consistent peak height through its microcoating technology.
TP5 Accuracy
TP5 provides accuracy through:
- Ball-speed consistency
- Controlled launch
- Predictable spin
- Workable flight
- Reliable carry distances
It may suit golfers who intentionally shape the ball and want it to respond to their delivery.
Tour Response Accuracy
Tour Response provides accuracy through:
- Low full-shot spin
- Stable trajectory
- Reduced flight variation
- Tight dispersion
- Predictable peak height
It may suit golfers who prefer the ball to fly more neutrally rather than actively shaping shots.
Fairway-Wood Performance
TP5 With Fairway Woods
TP5 should provide:
- Strong ball speed
- Reliable carry
- Sufficient spin
- Good peak height
- Better stopping power
This can make it the stronger choice for golfers who use fairway woods to attack greens.
Tour Response With Fairway Woods
Tour Response should provide:
- Soft feel
- Low spin
- Strong distance
- Stable flight
- Good rollout
It may suit golfers who use fairway woods mainly to advance the ball rather than to stop it quickly on firm greens.
Hybrid Performance
TP5 With Hybrids
The TP5 may produce:
- More controllable flight
- Better stopping power
- Strong carry consistency
- Greater shot-shaping potential
Tour Response With Hybrids
Tour Response may produce:
- Soft impact feel
- Stable trajectory
- Low-to-moderate spin
- Strong total distance
- Predictable performance
Golfers using hybrids as precision approach clubs may prefer TP5.
Golfers using hybrids primarily for forgiveness and distance may find Tour Response easier to manage.
Iron Performance
Iron play is one of the most important areas in this comparison.
TP5 Iron Performance
The TP5 is designed to provide:
- Strong ball speed
- Controlled launch
- Useful iron spin
- Consistent carry
- Good stopping power
- Workability
Its layered construction allows it to produce more iron and wedge response than its low driver spin might suggest.
This should suit golfers who:
- Attack flags
- Play firm greens
- Need consistent carry
- Want to vary trajectory
- Strike their irons reasonably well
Tour Response Iron Performance
Tour Response should provide:
- Soft feel
- Predictable launch
- Moderate spin
- Reliable carry
- Stable peak height
It may suit golfers who prefer a straightforward flight and do not need maximum iron spin.
The main consideration is stopping power.
A golfer who plays firm, fast greens may find the TP5 easier to control.
Iron Distance
TP5 Iron Distance
TP5 should produce strong and consistent carry.
Its principal advantage is not necessarily an extra few yards. It is the balance of:
- Carry
- Spin
- Height
- Descent angle
- Control
Tour Response Iron Distance
Tour Response can produce excellent iron distance because of its low-spin, high-spring construction.
It may fly slightly flatter and release farther for some golfers.
That can be helpful on:
- Soft courses
- Long approach shots
- Windy layouts
It may be less helpful when the golfer needs the ball to stop quickly.
Iron Spin and Stopping Power
TP5
TP5 is generally the stronger option for:
- Iron spin
- Descent control
- Firm-green performance
- Attacking pins
- Stopping longer approaches
Tour Response
Tour Response should still provide more control than most ionomer distance balls because of its urethane cover.
It should offer:
- Moderate iron spin
- Predictable release
- Useful stopping power
- Good performance on receptive greens
However, its full-shot spin will normally be less sophisticated than TP5’s.
Full-Wedge Performance
TP5 With Full Wedges
TP5 is designed to provide:
- High wedge spin
- Controlled launch
- Excellent stopping power
- Strong carry consistency
- Responsive feel
TaylorMade positions TP5 as its highest-spinning tour ball and highlights its enhanced stopping power inside 100 yards.
Tour Response With Full Wedges
Tour Response should provide:
- Soft feel
- Good urethane-cover spin
- Predictable carry
- Useful stopping power
- Easier performance than a hard distance ball
For many mid- and high-handicap golfers, this may provide all the wedge control they need.
Partial-Wedge Performance
Partial shots are where TP5’s five-layer construction and softer cast-urethane cover are likely to produce the clearest advantage.
TP5 Partial Wedges
TP5 should provide:
- More friction
- Lower controlled launch
- Greater checking action
- Better one-hop-and-stop performance
- More versatility from different lies
It is likely to suit golfers who deliberately change:
- Face angle
- Trajectory
- Spin
- Landing point
Tour Response Partial Wedges
Tour Response should provide:
- Soft feedback
- Moderate-to-high spin
- Predictable rollout
- Good control for a mid-priced ball
It may not produce the same aggressive checking response as TP5.
However, many golfers will prefer its simpler, more predictable release.
Greenside Control
TP5 Greenside Performance
TP5 is the clear winner when the golfer wants maximum versatility.
It should excel on:
- Low checking chips
- Open-faced pitches
- Short-sided recoveries
- Firm greens
- Bunker shots
- Tight lies
Tour Response Greenside Performance
Tour Response offers strong performance for its price category.
Its urethane cover should provide:
- Better control than most two-piece balls
- Soft feel
- Useful chip spin
- Predictable pitches
- Good bunker response
Its principal strength is value: it provides genuine urethane-cover performance without TP5 pricing.
Feel
Feel is personal, but both balls are positioned on the softer side.
TP5 Feel
TP5 is TaylorMade’s softest five-layer tour ball.
It should feel:
- Soft
- Solid
- Responsive
- Premium
- Informative
The ball is soft without removing too much feedback.
Tour Response Feel
Tour Response should feel:
- Very soft
- Muted
- Comfortable
- Less demanding
- Smooth from the putter
Golfers who dislike firm tour balls may prefer Tour Response.
Players who want more impact information may prefer TP5.
Putting Performance
TP5 With the Putter
TP5 should provide:
- Soft but responsive feedback
- A clear impact sensation
- Predictable speed
- Good distance-control information
It may suit golfers using:
- Soft inserts
- Milled faces
- Blade or mallet putters
Tour Response With the Putter
Tour Response should provide:
- A quieter sound
- Softer feedback
- Comfortable short-putt feel
- A more muted sensation
Golfers using very soft putter inserts should test whether the combination becomes too quiet.
Tour Response Stripe
Tour Response is also available with TaylorMade’s Stripe visual-alignment technology.
The Stripe version can help golfers with:
- Putting alignment
- Face-angle awareness
- Visual roll feedback
- Tee-shot alignment
- Ball visibility
The underlying performance is intended to match the standard Tour Response ball.
Golfers choosing between TP5 and Tour Response may therefore also consider whether the Stripe alignment system adds practical value.
TP5 is available in its own Stripe and pix visual formats, but Tour Response Stripe is normally the less expensive way to access a bold 360-degree alignment aid.
Flight and Workability
TP5 Flight
TP5 provides:
- Mid flight
- Strong trajectory control
- Good workability
- Stable aerodynamics
- The ability to vary launch
Better players may find it easier to hit:
- Knock-down shots
- High approaches
- Controlled fades
- Controlled draws
Tour Response Flight
Tour Response provides:
- Stable trajectory
- Consistent peak height
- Low full-shot spin
- Straightforward distance
- Reduced flight variation
It is less focused on workability and more focused on repeatability.
Wind Performance
Both balls use aerodynamic designs intended to support stable flight.
TP5 in Wind
TP5 may be better for golfers who:
- Control trajectory
- Need enough spin to maintain carry
- Hit different shot shapes
- Want to vary flight windows
Tour Response in Wind
Tour Response may be better for golfers who:
- Generate excessive spin
- Hit the ball too high
- Want a more penetrating flight
- Prefer straightforward wind performance
A low-spin ball is not automatically superior in wind.
Golfers who already launch low may need TP5’s additional control and carrying ability.
Performance on Firm Greens
The TP5 is generally the better ball for firm, fast greens.
Its higher greenside spin and advanced construction should help golfers:
- Hold iron shots
- Stop partial wedges
- Control chips
- Attack difficult pin positions
Tour Response can still perform well because of its urethane cover, but it is likely to release farther.
Performance on Soft Greens
Tour Response becomes particularly attractive on soft or receptive greens.
When the course already provides stopping power, golfers may benefit more from:
- Low driver spin
- Soft feel
- Reliable distance
- Lower price
TP5 remains the better option when the player wants maximum wedge versatility.
Performance on Links Courses
TP5 May Suit a Links Golfer Who:
- Shapes shots
- Controls wedge trajectory
- Needs spin on firm greens
- Regularly changes flight windows
Tour Response May Suit a Links Golfer Who:
- Produces excessive spin
- Wants a penetrating long-game flight
- Prefers soft feel
- Values predictable full-shot dispersion
Durability
Both balls use urethane covers, so neither is likely to be as resistant to severe damage as a thick ionomer-covered distance ball.
Potential wear can come from:
- Fresh wedge grooves
- Cart paths
- Trees
- Bunker sand
- Sharp stones
TP5’s cover is engineered for premium spin and feel.
Tour Response may offer slightly better value to golfers who damage or lose balls more frequently because of its lower purchase price.
Price and Value
Price is one of the clearest differences.
TaylorMade lists the current TP5 above Tour Response in its range, with TP5 carrying flagship tour-ball pricing and Tour Response occupying the more affordable urethane category.
TP5 Provides Better Value When:
- Maximum wedge control affects scoring
- The golfer rarely loses balls
- Firm-green performance matters
- Shot shaping is important
- The golfer plays competitions regularly
- The player can exploit five-layer performance
Tour Response Provides Better Value When:
- Golf balls are lost more frequently
- Soft feel is a priority
- Moderate greenside spin is sufficient
- The golfer wants urethane without flagship pricing
- Straightforward consistency is more important than workability
For many club golfers, Tour Response may offer the better cost-to-performance ratio.
What Swing Speed Suits the TaylorMade TP5?
TaylorMade does not restrict TP5 to a specific speed.
It should be chosen according to:
- Launch
- Spin
- Flight
- Carry
- Feel
- Short-game requirements
However, swing speed provides a useful starting point.
Driver Swing Speed Under 75 MPH
Suitability: Good when control and height are priorities
A slower swinger can use TP5 successfully.
It may suit a player who:
- Needs more iron and wedge control
- Produces enough launch
- Keeps the ball in play
- Values premium feel
Tour Response may provide better value and easier overall performance.
Driver Swing Speed of 75–85 MPH
Suitability: Very good
TP5 may suit golfers who:
- Strike the ball consistently
- Need more greenside spin
- Want a higher-quality approach-ball response
- Prefer soft but responsive feel
Driver Swing Speed of 85–95 MPH
Suitability: Excellent
This is a strong range for TP5.
Golfers may benefit from:
- Strong ball speed
- Low driver spin
- Good iron control
- High wedge spin
- Balanced trajectory
Driver Swing Speed of 95–105 MPH
Suitability: Excellent
TP5 should work well for players wanting:
- Speed
- Soft feel
- Workability
- Spin separation
- Firm-green control
Driver Swing Speed Above 105 MPH
Suitability: Excellent when the softer, higher-spin profile fits
Fast golfers may appreciate TP5 when they want:
- Softer feel than TP5x
- More greenside spin
- Greater short-game responsiveness
- Controlled full-shot performance
Players who need a firmer, faster and lower-spinning tour ball may prefer TP5x.
What Swing Speed Suits TaylorMade Tour Response?
Tour Response is likely to appeal especially to moderate-speed golfers, but it is not restricted to one swing-speed bracket.
Driver Swing Speed Under 70 MPH
Suitability: Very good, provided launch is sufficient
The softer construction may provide:
- Comfortable feel
- Useful speed
- Low driver spin
- Premium greenside performance
Players with very low launch should ensure the flight remains high enough.
Driver Swing Speed of 70–80 MPH
Suitability: Excellent
This is one of the strongest ranges for Tour Response.
Potential benefits include:
- Soft feel
- Efficient distance
- Stable flight
- Urethane control
- Good value
Driver Swing Speed of 80–90 MPH
Suitability: Excellent
This may be the broadest Tour Response sweet spot.
Golfers can benefit from:
- Low driver spin
- Strong carry
- Soft feel
- Tight dispersion
- Good short-game control
Driver Swing Speed of 90–100 MPH
Suitability: Very good
Tour Response remains highly suitable.
It may particularly benefit golfers who:
- Prefer soft feel
- Produce excessive driver spin
- Do not need maximum wedge spin
- Want value
Driver Swing Speed of 100–105 MPH
Suitability: Good for the right player
A faster golfer can use Tour Response when:
- Driver spin is excessive
- Soft feel is preferred
- The golfer does not need maximum workability
- Value is important
TP5 may provide better iron and wedge control.
Driver Swing Speed Above 105 MPH
Suitability: Specialised
Fast golfers can play Tour Response, but many will benefit more from TP5 or TP5x.
Tour Response may still fit a player who:
- Wants lower full-shot spin
- Prefers a very soft ball
- Produces sufficient iron height
- Does not rely heavily on shot shaping
Swing-Speed Comparison
| Driver Swing Speed | TaylorMade TP5 | TaylorMade Tour Response |
|---|---|---|
| Under 70 MPH | Conditional | Very good |
| 70–80 MPH | Good to very good | Excellent |
| 80–90 MPH | Excellent | Excellent |
| 90–100 MPH | Excellent | Very good |
| 100–105 MPH | Excellent | Good for the right player |
| Above 105 MPH | Excellent | Specialised |
These are practical guidelines rather than firm rules.
Which Handicap Suits the TaylorMade TP5?
Beginners and Handicaps Above 25
Suitability: Good performance, but questionable value
A beginner can use TP5.
However, players losing several balls per round may not receive enough value from its premium construction.
It may suit a beginner who:
- Has strong natural speed
- Keeps the ball in play
- Wants maximum short-game control
- Prefers premium feel
Handicaps of 18–24
Suitability: Good
TP5 may suit improving golfers who:
- Strike wedges cleanly
- Want more spin
- Play firm greens
- Rarely lose balls
Tour Response will often be the more practical purchase.
Handicaps of 10–17
Suitability: Excellent
Mid-handicap golfers are generally consistent enough to benefit from:
- Better iron control
- High wedge spin
- Consistent carry
- Premium feel
- Shot-making versatility
Handicaps of 5–9
Suitability: Excellent
Single-figure golfers should appreciate:
- Flight control
- Greenside spin
- Workability
- Responsive feel
- Performance under pressure
Handicaps of 0–4
Suitability: Excellent
TP5 is designed to meet the advanced tee-to-green requirements of highly skilled golfers.
Which Handicap Suits TaylorMade Tour Response?
Beginners and Handicaps Above 25
Suitability: Very good when premium cost is acceptable
Tour Response may suit beginners who want:
- Soft feel
- Low driver spin
- Stable flight
- Better short-game control than a budget ball
Frequent ball loss remains the main concern.
Handicaps of 18–24
Suitability: Excellent
This is a strong category for Tour Response.
Golfers may benefit from:
- Forgiving full-shot flight
- Soft feel
- Useful distance
- Urethane-cover control
- Lower price than TP5
Handicaps of 10–17
Suitability: Excellent
Tour Response can provide a strong combination of:
- Driver distance
- Iron consistency
- Greenside control
- Soft feel
- Value
Golfers moving towards a single-figure handicap may eventually prefer TP5’s additional control.
Handicaps of 5–9
Suitability: Good for the correct player
Tour Response may suit a low handicapper who:
- Prefers soft feel
- Produces excessive full-shot spin
- Values consistency over workability
- Wants to reduce ball costs
Many players in this category will benefit from TP5.
Handicaps of 0–4
Suitability: Specialised
Elite players may use Tour Response successfully, but TP5 is more likely to provide the control, responsiveness and shot versatility they require.
Handicap Comparison
| Handicap | TaylorMade TP5 | TaylorMade Tour Response |
|---|---|---|
| 25+ | Good but expensive if frequently lost | Very good if cost is acceptable |
| 18–24 | Good | Excellent |
| 10–17 | Excellent | Excellent |
| 5–9 | Excellent | Good for the correct player |
| 0–4 | Excellent | Specialised |
Who Should Play the TaylorMade TP5?
TP5 is particularly well suited to golfers who:
- Want maximum greenside spin
- Prefer soft but responsive feel
- Play firm or fast greens
- Strike irons and wedges consistently
- Want to shape shots
- Need precise distance control
- Play competitive golf
- Have moderate-to-high swing speed
- Want tour-level performance
- Rarely lose balls
- Value control as much as distance
Who Should Play TaylorMade Tour Response?
Tour Response is particularly well suited to golfers who:
- Want urethane-cover performance at a lower price
- Prefer a very soft feel
- Have slow-to-moderate swing speed
- Want low driver spin
- Prioritise consistency
- Prefer a neutral, straightforward flight
- Need better greenside control than a distance ball
- Lose balls more often
- Want alignment help from the Stripe version
- Do not require maximum shot shaping
Who Should Avoid TP5?
Another ball may be more suitable when you:
- Lose several balls per round
- Do not need maximum wedge spin
- Want the lowest possible purchase price
- Prefer an especially muted feel
- Want a straightforward, neutral ball
- Generate too much iron and wedge spin
Who Should Avoid Tour Response?
Another ball may be better when you:
- Need maximum greenside spin
- Play very firm greens
- Want maximum workability
- Prefer stronger feedback
- Have very high swing speed
- Need a higher iron-spin profile
- Compete at a high level
- Want the complete five-layer tour-ball experience
TP5 v Tour Response for Beginners
Tour Response is generally the better starting point.
It offers:
- Soft feel
- Low driver spin
- Stable flight
- Premium urethane control
- Lower price
TP5 may suit an athletic beginner who already strikes the ball well and wants maximum short-game performance.
TP5 v Tour Response for High Handicappers
Tour Response will usually suit more high-handicap golfers.
It provides:
- More accessible performance
- Soft feel
- Stable dispersion
- Good distance
- Enough short-game spin for most recreational players
TP5 becomes worthwhile when the golfer:
- Keeps the ball in play
- Strikes wedges cleanly
- Wants maximum control
- Plays firm greens
TP5 v Tour Response for Mid Handicappers
Both balls can be excellent.
Choose TP5 for:
- Greater spin
- More workability
- Better firm-green performance
- Stronger feedback
Choose Tour Response for:
- Softer feel
- Lower price
- Straightforward consistency
- Low driver spin
- Excellent value
TP5 v Tour Response for Low Handicappers
TP5 will generally suit more low-handicap golfers because it provides:
- Greater flight control
- Maximum greenside spin
- Better partial-wedge performance
- More responsive feel
Tour Response may suit a low handicapper who prefers:
- Lower spin
- Very soft feel
- Simple, stable flight
- Lower cost
TP5 v Tour Response for Seniors
TP5 May Suit a Senior Who:
- Retains good swing speed
- Competes regularly
- Wants maximum greenside control
- Strikes the ball consistently
- Prefers responsive feel
Tour Response May Suit a Senior Who:
- Has moderate swing speed
- Prefers soft feel
- Wants low driver spin
- Needs better value
- Wants premium control without tour-ball firmness
Age should not determine the choice by itself.
TP5 v Tour Response for Women Golfers
Neither golf ball is gender-specific.
TP5 May Suit a Woman Golfer Who:
- Has moderate-to-high speed
- Plays competitively
- Wants more wedge spin
- Values trajectory control
Tour Response May Suit a Woman Golfer Who:
- Has slower or moderate speed
- Prefers soft feel
- Wants stable distance
- Needs a lower-cost urethane ball
Launch, spin and playing style matter more than gender.
TP5 v Tour Response for Junior Golfers
Tour Response may be practical for developing juniors because of its:
- Soft feel
- Stable trajectory
- Urethane cover
- Lower price
TP5 may suit advanced juniors who:
- Compete regularly
- Generate high speed
- Shape shots
- Need maximum wedge control
TP5 v Tour Response for a Slice
Neither ball corrects a slice.
Tour Response’s low-spin, stable-flight profile may reduce some visible curvature for certain golfers.
TP5 is more workable and more likely to respond to intentional or unintentional face-to-path differences.
Swing improvement remains more important than ball selection for correcting a slice.
TP5 v Tour Response for Distance
Choose TP5 when:
- Swing speed is moderate to high
- Strike is consistent
- Maximum ball-speed potential matters
- Launch and spin are already efficient
- You want distance without losing control
Choose Tour Response when:
- Soft feel improves contact confidence
- Driver spin is excessive
- Consistency matters more than maximum speed
- You want strong distance at a lower price
TP5 v Tour Response for Accuracy
Choose TP5 when you want:
- Precise carry control
- Shot shaping
- Trajectory variation
- Responsive feedback
Choose Tour Response when you want:
- Tight full-shot dispersion
- Consistent peak height
- Neutral flight
- Reduced complexity
TP5 v Tour Response for Short-Game Spin
TP5 is the clear winner for maximum short-game spin.
TaylorMade positions TP5 as its highest-spinning tour ball with enhanced stopping power inside 100 yards.
Tour Response still provides strong urethane-cover control and may generate more than enough spin for the average club golfer.
TP5 v Tour Response for Soft Feel
Both balls feel soft.
Tour Response may feel more muted and less demanding.
TP5 feels soft but more responsive and informative.
Choose Tour Response for:
- Maximum comfort
- Quiet feedback
- Soft putting sensation
Choose TP5 for:
- Softness with clearer feedback
- Better wedge responsiveness
- A more tour-like sensation
TP5 v Tour Response Pros and Cons
TaylorMade TP5 Pros
- Five-layer tour construction
- Excellent tee-to-green performance
- Strong ball speed
- Low driver spin
- Very high greenside spin
- Excellent wedge control
- Soft, responsive feel
- Strong iron stopping power
- Highly workable
- Excellent for firm greens
- Suitable for skilled golfers
TaylorMade TP5 Cons
- Premium price
- Expensive for frequent ball-losers
- More performance than some golfers require
- May spin too much for certain players
- Requires testing to justify the extra cost
TaylorMade Tour Response Pros
- Three-piece urethane construction
- Softer feel
- Low driver spin
- Excellent value
- Consistent peak height
- Tight full-shot dispersion
- Good greenside control
- Suitable for moderate swing speeds
- More affordable than TP5
- Stripe alignment option
- Accessible to a broad handicap range
TaylorMade Tour Response Cons
- Less short-game spin than TP5
- Reduced workability
- Less responsive feedback
- May fly too low for some golfers
- Not as suitable for firm greens
- Faster players may prefer TP5 or TP5x
- Still more expensive than basic ionomer balls
How to Test TP5 Against Tour Response
Step 1: Putting
Compare:
- Impact sound
- Softness
- Long-putt distance control
- Start-line confidence
Step 2: Chipping
Test:
- Bump-and-runs
- Standard chips
- High chips
- Shots from rough
Observe:
- Launch
- First bounce
- Check
- Total rollout
Step 3: Partial Wedges
Hit shots from:
- 30 yards
- 50 yards
- 70 yards
TP5 should show its greatest advantage during this stage.
Step 4: Full Wedges
Compare:
- Carry
- Spin
- Peak height
- Stopping power
- Front-to-back dispersion
Step 5: Mid-Irons
Compare:
- Ball speed
- Carry
- Spin
- Descent angle
- Green reaction
Step 6: Driver
Compare:
- Ball speed
- Launch
- Spin
- Carry
- Total distance
- Dispersion
Step 7: On-Course Testing
Use both balls in:
- Wind
- Firm conditions
- Soft conditions
- Long approaches
- Short-game situations
Choose the ball producing the best overall scoring performance rather than the longest individual drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Main Difference Between TP5 and Tour Response?
TP5 is a five-layer flagship tour ball offering greater short-game spin, workability and tee-to-green control.
Tour Response is a three-piece urethane ball designed to provide soft feel, low driver spin, consistent flight and strong value.
Which Ball Feels Softer?
Both feel soft.
Tour Response may feel more muted, while TP5 provides softer tour-level feel with clearer feedback.
TaylorMade officially describes TP5 as its softest five-layer tour ball.
Which Ball Spins More?
TP5 produces more greenside spin and is TaylorMade’s highest-spinning tour ball.
Tour Response produces low driver spin and useful urethane-cover control, but less overall short-game spin.
Which Ball Is Longer?
The result depends on the golfer.
TP5 may provide greater speed potential for consistent, faster swingers.
Tour Response may produce better average distance for golfers who benefit from its softer feel and low-spin trajectory.
Which Ball Is Better for Slow Swing Speeds?
Tour Response is generally the better starting point.
Its softer three-piece construction and accessible flight should suit many slow-to-moderate-speed golfers.
TP5 may still fit when additional height, spin and control improve performance.
Which Ball Is Better for Fast Swing Speeds?
TP5 is likely to suit more fast swingers because of its five-layer performance, speed, workability and wedge control.
Tour Response can still suit a faster player who wants soft feel and lower full-shot spin.
Which Ball Is Better for High Handicappers?
Tour Response is generally the stronger option because it offers:
- Softer feel
- Stable dispersion
- Low driver spin
- Lower price
- Good urethane control
Which Ball Is Better for Low Handicappers?
TP5 is generally better because of its:
- Short-game spin
- Iron control
- Workability
- Responsive feel
- Firm-green performance
Is Tour Response a Tour Ball?
It offers tour-style urethane-cover performance, but it is positioned below TP5 and TP5x.
It is designed to provide many premium performance benefits at a lower price.
Is TP5 Worth the Extra Money?
It can be when the golfer benefits from:
- More greenside spin
- Better partial-wedge control
- Improved iron stopping power
- Greater workability
- Premium responsiveness
Tour Response may be better value when these features do not materially affect scoring.
Does Tour Response Have a Urethane Cover?
Yes.
TaylorMade describes Tour Response as a three-piece performance ball using premium urethane-cover technology.
Does TP5 Have More Driver Spin?
Both are relatively low-spinning with the driver.
The larger difference is likely to appear with irons, wedges and short-game shots, where TP5 produces more spin and control.
Which Ball Is Better in Wind?
TP5 may be better for golfers who actively control trajectory.
Tour Response may suit golfers who want a naturally stable, low-spin flight.
The better choice depends on the golfer’s existing launch and spin.
Which Ball Is Better Around the Green?
TP5 provides more spin, feedback and versatility.
Tour Response still delivers strong control for its price and may suit golfers who prefer predictable release.
Can Beginners Use TP5?
Yes.
There is no handicap restriction, but Tour Response or a less expensive model may provide better value when the golfer loses several balls per round.
Does Tour Response Suit Fast Swing Speeds?
Yes, when its launch, spin and feel fit the golfer.
However, TP5 or TP5x may offer a more complete high-speed performance profile.
Final Verdict
The TaylorMade TP5 and TaylorMade Tour Response are both excellent urethane-covered golf balls, but they are designed for different golfers and different budgets.
The TP5 is the better complete-performance ball.
Its five-layer construction provides:
- Strong full-shot speed
- Low driver spin
- Controlled trajectory
- Excellent iron performance
- Very high greenside spin
- Soft but responsive feel
- Greater workability
It is best suited to:
- Mid- and low-handicap golfers
- Players with moderate-to-fast swing speeds
- Skilled wedge players
- Golfers who play firm greens
- Players who want to shape shots
- Competitive golfers
- Golfers who rarely lose balls
Tour Response is the better value ball for many club golfers.
Its three-piece urethane construction provides:
- Soft feel
- Low driver spin
- Reliable distance
- Consistent peak height
- Tight full-shot dispersion
- Good short-game control
- A lower purchase price
It is best suited to:
- High- and mid-handicap golfers
- Players with slow-to-moderate swing speeds
- Golfers moving from an ionomer distance ball
- Players who want soft feel
- Golfers who prioritise consistency over workability
- Players who want urethane performance without TP5 pricing
- Golfers who prefer the Tour Response Stripe alignment system
Swing speed should guide the shortlist, but it should not make the final decision.
A golfer swinging at 80 MPH may fit TP5 when additional spin and stopping power improve approach performance.
A golfer swinging at 105 MPH may fit Tour Response when lower full-shot spin and soft feel produce better distance and dispersion.
The correct choice depends on:
- Ball speed
- Launch angle
- Spin rate
- Carry
- Peak height
- Descent angle
- Dispersion
- Wedge control
- Putting feel
- Price
Choose TaylorMade TP5 when control, workability and maximum greenside performance justify the premium price.
Choose TaylorMade Tour Response when you want a soft, consistent and affordable urethane ball that offers most of the performance an everyday club golfer needs.
For golfers who remain unsure, begin by testing Tour Response as the value benchmark. Compare TP5 against it from the green back to the tee. Only pay the higher price when TP5’s additional wedge spin, iron control and trajectory versatility produce a clear scoring advantage.
And for even more information the right golf ball for your game then make sure and try out our golf ball selector app which will help you narrow down the best golf ball for you.
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