WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The TaylorMade TP5 and TP5x multilayer urethane-cover balls use a new microcoating technology that changes the way golf balls are painted to ensure consistency.
PRICE & AVAILABILITY: TP5 and TP5x White and Yellow will sell for $84.99 per dozen, while TP5 and TP5x Stripe and pix will sell for $89.99 per dozen. Available immediately for pre-order and at retail across Australia from February 12.
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3 Cool Things
1. Coat of consistency: During the development of the 2026 TP5 and TP5x, TaylorMade’s R&D team found traditional finishing processes would leave excess paint that would pool in the bottom of the dimples, creating an uneven application across the ball’s surface.
To combat that and the inconsistencies that come with it, TaylorMade developed a microcoating process which ensures an ultra-thin, even application of paint across the entire surface of the golf ball. This was accomplished by precisely controlling cure times and temperatures and optimising atomisation to the one-millionth of a gram of how much total paint is used. The result is more predictable flight and dispersion, especially in the wind.
“Until now, applying paint to a golf ball to protect its appearance has carried with it the potential to adversely impact ball flight,” said Mike Fox, senior category director, golf ball for TaylorMade. “Now, with microcoating, we have a process that solves what was once an invisible problem, and allows golfers to experience greater consistency in how their shots perform from tee to green.”
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2. Upping their game: Digital prototyping allowed engineers to analyse more than 100,000 variations of TP5 and TP5x to find the optimal five-layer construction that maximises distance, spin and consistent performance.
For the 2026 TP5, that led to a larger core which decreases contact time with the clubface, resulting in faster ball speeds on full-swing shots.
The company also updated the dimple pattern for the TP5. The new dimples minimise turbulence and create an optimised lift-to-drag ratio for a lower, more penetrating flight that holds its line in the wind with less ballooning.
3. For those who need less spin: The TP5x is TaylorMade’s lowest spinning, fastest, tour-calibre ball. That speed is largely attributed to new mantle layers, which include new materials to foster increased ball speeds in the long clubs. The core also provides the foundation for firmer material composition in the three mantle layers that comprise the speed gradient, further contributing to ball speed. The mantle construction also fine-tunes spin throughout the flight.
Around the green, the ultra-thin cast urethane cover provides ample wedge spin for precise distance control and soft feel.
