By ED TRAVIS
TaylorMade Golf’s premium golf balls have been reworked for 2026 featuring a new method called microcoating that reduces the variation inherent in the usual painting methods and gives more shot flight consistency.
Fast Facts TaylorMade TP5 Golf Ball
Five-layer urethane cover
Microcoated exterior
Larger core
Reengineered Tour Flight Dimple Pattern
White, yellow, Pix, Stripe
$57.99 dozen
TaylorMade TP5x Golf Ball
Five-layer urethane cover
Microcoated exterior
Speed Wrapped Core higher coefficient of restitution (COR)
White, yellow, Pix, Stripe
$57.99 dozen
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TaylorMade announced their premium golf ball offering for the new season with the updated TP5 and TP5x. Their research showed that one of the factors affecting the consistency of golf ball performance is the coating (usually paint) applied to the cover.
Balls are typically painted with two coats of white or whatever color and topped with a clear coat for abrasion resistance. However, the usual method allows the paint to pool in the bottom of the dimples with less on the edges which means potentially inconsistent air flow across the surface and performance variations.
To correct this pooling TaylorMade developed a coating system of very fine, micro-fine, droplets precisely applied so the thickness is the same all over the surface. This means ball flight is more consistent with trajectory and peak height closer to being the same shot to shot.
For elite players this can be a significant gain.
Comparison of the two stablemates is similar to previous models. The TP5 has higher trajectory off the driver and more iron spin with a soft feel while the TP5x has low driver spin and a firmer feel.
As is true with the rest of this product segment, the price is higher than the 2024 models. TaylorMade is charging $3 per dozen more for the 2026 models.
