While deciding which polo you wear on the course makes a difference in your physical appearance during a round, it doesn’t have the same effect as picking up a different driver or switching golf ball models.
Like with pretty much every aspect of golf, finding correct right golf ball — based on your swing speed, skill set, frequency of play, compression preference, and more — can go a long way in setting you up for success from tee to green.
Founded in 1979, TaylorMade is one of the most well-known golf brands, especially for its clubs and balls. With plenty of options available, here are our suggestions for the best TaylorMade golf balls for a variety of golfers — from aspiring pros to novices.
Top 10 TaylorMade golf balls
Staff favorite: TP5
Best budget: Distance+
Best for distance: TP5x
Best Tour-validated visuals: TP5x Pix
Best alignment aid: Tour Response Stripe
Best for women: Kalea
Best every day: Tour Response
Best for softness: Soft Response
Best for novices: Noodle Long & Soft
Best deal: RBZ Soft
How we chose the best TaylorMade golf balls
To create a shortlist of the top TaylorMade golf balls, we researched manufacturer specifications, including construction, cover material, compression rate, price, and more. Then, we combed through detailed product descriptions, ratings, and reviews to find the best TaylorMade golf balls for each category.
Staff favorite: TP5
All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team.
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Benefits
— Tour Flight Dimple Pattern
— Trusted by pro golfers
— Great for novices and scratch golfers alike
Drawbacks
— Expensive
Arguably TaylorMade’s best golf ball on the market today, the TP5 features the new Tour Flight Dimple Pattern engineered to improve aerodynamics and promote maximum carry distances and a steeper angle of descent for extra stopping power, especially on long irons.
This five-layer construction with a soft cast urethane cover is the brand’s “softest and highest spinning Tour ball” — and certainly softer than its TP5x counterpart — delivering control and precision around the greens. Trusted by a number of professionals, you can’t go wrong with the TP5.
Construction: 5 layers | Cover material: Urethane | Compression: Mid (83) | Colors: 2
Best budget: Distance+
Benefits
— Affordable price
— New Plus Alignment Aid helps with aim
— Increased distance
Drawbacks
— Feel and control aren’t top priority
If you want to add some length to your drives and iron shots without worrying too much about losing lots of money if a ball hooks or slices into the woods, the Distance+ is a cost-effective choice.
Featuring the new Plus Alignment Aid to assist your aim, this ball offers high-velocity performance for distance on all shots by combining a soft REACT core and high-speed, low-drag aerodynamics. But as with any distance ball, feel, and control are not its primary attributes.
Construction: 2 layers | Cover material: Ionomer | Compression: Mid (77) | Colors: 2
Best for distance: TP5x
Benefits
— Tour Flight Dimple Pattern
— Trusted by pros
— Suited for faster swings
Drawbacks
— Expensive
— Firmer than TP5, so less spin around greens
Trusted by professionals, including Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, and Brooke Henderson, the TaylorMade TP5x is the firmer version of the TP5, offering fast-swing golfers further speed and distance. Like its counterpart, the TP5x features the new Tour Flight Dimple Pattern to promote maximum carry distance, a steep angle of descent for stopping power, and a five-piece construction with a urethane cover.
Since this ball is suited for faster swings, it certainly isn’t for everybody. But between the TP5x and TP5, TaylorMade has options whether you want to increase your distance off the tee with long irons or add more spin and control around the greens.
Construction: 5 layers | Cover material: Urethane | Compression: High (90) | Colors: 2
Best Tour-validated visuals: TP5x Pix
Benefits
— ClearPath Alignment
— Tour Flight Dimple Pattern
— Developed with Rickie Fowler
Drawbacks
— Expensive
— Visuals may not be for everyone
Taking the TP5x one step further, TaylorMade partnered with five-time PGA Tour winner Rickie Fowler to create the TP5x Pix. Featuring a ClearPath Alignment that not only enhances visibility but also offers Tour-proven functionality as an alignment aid on the greens.
Like the other two TP5 models, the TP5x Pix features the brand’s new Tour Flight Dimple Pattern to bolster carry distances and a steep angle of descent for stopping power. It also has a five-layer construction and an added softer cast urethane cover for more spin.
Construction: 5 layers | Cover material: Urethane | Compression: Mid (85) | Colors: 1
Best alignment aid: Tour Response Stripe
Benefits
— Visible alignment aid
— Multiple color options
— 100% urethane cover promotes spin and feel
Drawbacks
— Stripe design and colors may be distracting
Let’s be honest: Whether you’re picking up a golf club for the first time or are a die-hard golfer playing multiple times per week, we can all benefit from any advantages we can get on a course. The TaylorMade Tour Response Stripe features a 360-degree ClearPath Alignment that wraps around the center of the ball to help you aim putts better, faster, and more consistently.
The Tour Flight Dimple Pattern found in the brand’s TP5 and TP5x models has been added to the Tour Response for the first time to activate superior aerodynamics while supporting maximum carry distance. Last but not least, the ball’s three-piece construction is designed to increase ball speeds and harness energy transfer.
Construction: 3 layers | Cover material: Urethane | Compression: Mid (70) | Colors: 5
Best for women: Kalea
Benefits
— Affordable
— Some color variety
— Engineered for women
Drawbacks
— Not for players with faster swings
— Some reviews note the purple ball as hard to locate
The Kalea golf ball was engineered with women in mind and built for distance while maintaining a soft feel. TaylorMade’s high-energy REACT core, designed to retain energy, works with the two-layer construction to provide optimal driver launch for moderate swing speeds.
Featuring a 342-dimple pattern that helps maintain lift to promote added distance, this ball’s ionomer cover with an extra-large core generates a soft 60 compression. Meanwhile, the UV-resistant matte paint of the peach and purple models provides a unique aesthetic.
Construction: 2 layers | Cover material: Ionomer | Compression: Low (60) | Colors: 3
Best everyday: Tour Response
Benefits
— Greenside spin control
— Tour Flight Dimple Pattern
— Less expensive than TP5, TP5x models
Drawbacks
— Not ideal for faster swing speeds
A step below TaylorMade’s TP5 and TP5x models, the Tour Response is a Tour-quality ball with a 100% cast urethane cover, Tour Flight Dimple Pattern, and a three-piece construction. It also features a new Speedmantle with HFM surrounding the low-compression core to help the ball launch off the club face.
A lower 70 compression rate and a urethane cover allow wedge grooves to grip the ball better when spinning and shaping shots around the greens.
Construction: 3 layers | Cover material: Urethane | Compression: Mid (70) | Colors: 2
Best for softness: Soft Response
Benefits
— Great for moderate swing speeds
— Spin control near greens
— Affordable
Drawbacks
— Not ideal for faster swing speeds
Heralded as TaylorMade’s “softest ball from cover to core,” the Soft Response is designed for golfers with moderate swing speeds. With an overall compression of 50 — compared to the previous generation’s 60 compression rate — the ball offers a new softer core coupled with an ionomer cover for an added greenside spin.
Featuring a unique Extended Flight Dimple Pattern that reduces drag and optimizes lift, the Soft Response is engineered to stay in the air longer at lower spin rates while elevating performance for slow-to-average swing speeds. Faster swingers may see a drop in distance at the top end of their bag.
Construction: 3 layers | Cover material: Ionomer | Compression: Low (50) | Colors: 2
Best for novices: Noodle Long & Soft
Benefits
— Very affordable (24-pack)
— Good for novices or casual golfers
Drawbacks
— Not ideal for higher-skilled players
If you’re looking for a quality golf ball that doesn’t hurt your pockets (or your ego if you lose it on a course), the Noodle Long & Soft is a great choice for novices and casual golfers. These balls, made with an iothane cover, feature 342 aerodynamic dimples to help cut air resistance for a longer carry, while an ultra-soft 34 compression core provides golfers with the feel they need around the greens.
The low compression core and overall, 50 compression rate are great for golfers with slower swing speeds without sacrificing forgiveness.
Construction: 2 layers | Cover material: Iothane | Compression: Low (50) | Colors: 1
Best deal: RBZ Soft
Benefits
— Affordable
— Increased distance for slower swing speeds
— Great for novices and casual players
Drawbacks
— Launch might be too much for those who hit high already
While the TP5 is our pick for TaylorMade’s best golf ball, the RBZ Soft offers distance and control as an all-around performer at a more attractive price, which is great for novices or casual players wary of breaking the bank on wayward tee shots.
Featuring a REACT core with a soft feel for big distances and an ionomer cover for a responsive short game, this ball is ideal for golfers with slower swing speeds still looking to get distance off the tee and with their irons. Like the aforementioned Noodle, you can’t go wrong with the RBZ Soft if you’re getting more into the game.
Construction: 2 layers | Cover material: Ionomer | Compression: Low (60) | Colors: 2
Soft or firm?
Finding the right golf ball is as important as getting fitted for the right clubs. If you’re a golfer with a moderate to slow swing speed and wondering if your TaylorMade TP5x is worth the money, you probably want to consider a softer ball that’s better for your swing. Scratch golfers with faster swing speeds and more short-game command around the greens are more likely to use a firmer ball. Ultimately, it all comes down to feel, confidence, and personal preference.
How to pick the right TaylorMade golf ball for you
Like finding the right clubs and shoes for your style and golf game, selecting the right golf ball is just as crucial to succeeding during a round. With so many options to pick from, not only from TaylorMade but among the plethora of other golf brands out there, it’s important to consider several factors, including but not limited to price, swing speed, cover material, and compression rate.
Price
Golf is an expensive sport, especially if you’re typically sending your tee shots into the woods or out of bounds, so be cognizant of how much a box of balls costs. Prices can dramatically vary depending on the ball’s features and cover material, so make sure that only your ego hurts when you lose a few during the next round and not your bank account.
Swing speed
As you’ll read about the differences in cover material below, your swing speed can play a major role in what golf ball you buy and succeed with. Urethane golf balls are engineered for golfers with higher swing speeds, while ionomer balls are traditionally for golfers with moderate-to-low swing speeds.
Cover material
A primary factor in buying golf balls is the type of cover material that encompasses the rest of the ball’s layers. Urethane covers are typically softer, leading to further distance and better control and spin around the greens — and thus, a more expensive ball — while ionomer covers are typically cheaper and will spin less, so they’re great for novices and casual golfers.
Compression rate
Golf is a numbers game. Not only are you trying to tally the lowest score possible by measuring distance, wind, and other factors, but there are a number of metrics to consider when purchasing the right golf ball, especially compression rate. Balls with higher compression rates are firmer and harder to deform upon impact, being more suited for golfers with faster swing speeds. Lower compression balls feel softer and can provide more spin and control, especially around greens.
FAQ
Which TaylorMade golf ball goes the farthest?
Short answer: the one that suits your skills and needs the most. If you have a moderate to slow swing speed, trying to smack the cover off a TP5x probably isn’t going to give you as much distance as finding a lower compression and softer ball that fits your swing speed the best.
What are the best TaylorMade golf balls for beginners?
The best TaylorMade golf balls for beginners are any of the ones in this list with mid- to low-compression rates geared toward moderate to low swing speeds, such as the RBZ Soft, Noodle Long & Soft, and Soft Response. Utilizing alignment tools on the Distance+ and Tour Response Stripe can also be beneficial as less experienced players work on their alignment.
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