Equipment
TaylorMade Tour Preferred and Tour Preferred X golf balls
TaylorMade announced today the release of their most well-rounded golf balls to date, the Tour Preferred and Tour Preferred X.
The Tour Preferred golf balls include a number of TaylorMade’s innovations: a React Core for greater ball speed, the Spin Mantle, a layer that controls the spin rates for consistency, and low drag performance (LDP) aerodynamics, which are achieved through a 322-dimple design that reduces distance loss on shots with low spin, but allows for a penetrating ball flight into the wind.
[quote_box_center]”Golf ball innovation doesn’t just happen overnight,” said Dean Snell, vice president of golf ball R&D for TaylorMade. “Rather, it is a series of ongoing conversation with our Tour players. These conversations have led to the development of breakthrough technologies including low drag aerodynamics for ultimate wind resistance, a five-layer construction for superior control throughout the club set and now our softest most durable cover.”[/quote_box_center]
The new Soft Tech cover, which is being introduced with the Tour Preferred line, has a cast-urethane construction that generates a soft feel around the greens. Soft Tech has a higher resistance to sheering than previously constructed TaylorMade golf balls, making for their most durable ball ever.
The Tour Preferred X maintains a similar spin and trajectory as its predecessor, the TaylorMade Lethal. Like the Lethal, it is a five-layer golf ball, but the Tour Preferred X has better green side control and increased durability because of the Soft Tech cover.
The Tour Preferred golf balls have four layers, and are designed to spin more on a golfer’s long- and mid-iron shots than the Tour Preferred X. According to Snell, the Tour Preferred will feel and perform very similar to the Tour Preferred X on other shots.
The new Tour Preferred franchise has been well received by players on multiple tours. Sergio Garcia recently won the Thailand Golf Championship and the Qatar Masters with the Tour Preferred X golf ball. Jessica Korda also gamed the Tour Preferred X in her season-opening victory at the Pure Silk Classic.
Tour Preferred and Tour Preferred X will be available at retailers for $45.99 a dozen beginning March 1st.
Equipment
Putters that never made it: Check out some of the best tour builds that didn’t make the cut
Arguably, the best perk of being a professional golfer on the PGA Tour is the ability to request or even just be handed pretty much any club you could think of. It happens more often than you think, usually with putters around the practice green from one event to the next. Come Wednesday, the Tour bags lining the edge of the putting surface become resting places for fallen flatsticks that never made the cut.
So let’s take a look at some of the best we’ve seen out on Tour this year that never made it to the competition. (You may notice none of Hideki Matsuyama’s custom Scotty Cameron putters made this list. There are too many.)
Let’s start with this custom Damascus Milled Odyssey Rossie made for Ryo Hisatsune. Featuring a single line and the short-slant hossel, we’ve seen plenty of Number 7 and jailbird heads featuring the Damascus Milled insert, but this is the first and only one we’ve spotted in a Rossie. Hisatsune primarily putts with an Odyssey Black Series iX #9, but we have seen him recently with a TaylorMade TP Collection SOTO, so there could be potential that the Damascus Milled Rossie could end up in the bag.
Everyone wants to be Cameron Young right now. We’ve had Justin Thomas and Tom Hoge both game the Scotty Cameron 9.5R prototype. Well, for the PGA Championship, Brooks Koepka nearly joined that list after requesting the same style of putter, with the full-length alignment line. But the Scotty Cameron reps took the request a step further and made one specially for Koepka with a Teryllium insert, similar to one in his previous Newport 2 gamers. The reason why this one didn’t go into play, though? Because it was too heavy.
Harry Hall was the third-best putter on Tour last year, so when Bettinardi made him a custom proto, you know it was going to be good. The custom BB28 blade features VDF face milling, a custom-welded single-bend shaft, and the owner’s initials – HH – on the sole of the putter. Hall, who usually games an Odyssey O-Works #7 W, has dabbled with a TaylorMade Spider Tour X already this year. Maybe there’s a chance this Bettinardi might make his bag.
Honestly, this one doesn’t need a description. It’s Kieth Mitchell’s custom Scotty Cameron Napa. One Scotty Cameron face stamp, two Scotty Dogs, two Scotty Cameron 7-Point Crowns and one Circle T. That is all. Oh, except for the Cashmere Cameron headcover.
Finally, and just for fun, how about we pour one out for this TaylorMade Spider Tour X made for Scottie Scheffler in its new torched finish. It’s unlikely we’ll see a putter change anytime soon from the best golfer in the world. In fact, he hit just two putts with it on the Harbour Town practice before going back to his trusty gamer.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (9 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 130 M.S.I. 70 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X
7-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Irons: Grindworks PR-202 (4), Grindworks PR-101A (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 Tour Rack (52-10 Mid), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-08M), SM11 (60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Tour Rat 1.5 Tour Prototype
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
In our forums, our members have been discussing their favorite major winning irons used by Tiger Woods. WRXer ‘golferdude54’ kicks off the thread saying:
“Mizuno MP 14/29. Titleist 681T. Nike Forged Blades. TaylorMade P7TW.
Among these irons that helped Tiger win 15 majors, which is your favorite in terms of looks?”
And our members have been naming their favorites and why in response.
Here are a couple of posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- SwingBlade: “I prefer the early blades he played and the more recent TM TW’s especially because after Tiger had his major behavioral setbacks, part of Nikes support payback was making Tiger play a Nike putter and cease using his beloved uniquely customized Scotty putter.”
- ProjectX: “This (Nike Forged Blades) and there’s not even a close second.”
Entire Thread: “Which of Tiger’s major winning irons are your favorite? – GolfWRXers discuss”
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Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
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Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship
Patrick Reed WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Titleist GT3 (9 degrees) Buy here. Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 130 M.S.I. 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (15 degrees)...
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Driver: TaylorMade M6 (9 degrees) Shaft: Aldilda Synergy Blue 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Michael Block WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black VeloCore+ 5 X 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees @14.25) Shaft: Mitsubishi...
Bryson DeChambeau WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Krank Formula Fire Pro (6 degrees) Shaft: Project X Prototype 3-wood: Krank Formula Fire (10 degrees) Shaft: LA Golf BAD...
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Jun 27, 2015 at 11:03 pm
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david g
Nov 22, 2014 at 2:23 am
tried the tour preferred and loved it in 5 rounds of golf 3 of the rounds i have made eagles with the ball. i just found the ball bit hard unlike the feel of the pro v. I wonder if taylormade would do a tour preferred at like 75 or 80 compression like the project a
Pingback: Taylormade Tour Preferred X Golf
Ron
Jul 4, 2014 at 1:35 am
Yes with the keep the name.
.I loved the penta…then loved the Lethal…really loved it…now another switch in names and I did not know which ball the x or the other..went with the other now wish I would have bought the x…please quit changing names…lovers of your brand get confused….
Almost my whole bag is TM…
Drop and stop..hit another 300 yard drive and I am 57 years young
Steven
May 20, 2014 at 7:09 pm
To be honest, I absolutely adore the new Taylor made tour preferred x, the only issue I have is the durability of the ball, especially for the price I pay, it can even be after one hole after a solid wedge shot in that scuff marks are already appearing, other that that though, fantastic feel and return on all shots!
randy keen
Jul 6, 2014 at 5:14 pm
I totally agree. The tour preferred x is a good ball but, the durability is very questionable.
pitbull17
Mar 27, 2014 at 10:40 am
I’ve played the Tour Preferred X and I really liked it. I haven’t played the other ball yet. The X reminds of the Penta in terms of green side spin and mid-iron flight. They do seem to last quite a bit longer than the Lethal and Penta did. It is hard to imagine the Tour Preferred spinning more than the X does, I get tons of spin out of the X
Alan Barnes
Mar 24, 2014 at 10:01 pm
Are the taylormade tour prefered balls smaller than normal?
Scott
Feb 2, 2014 at 10:30 am
I have not really liked a TM ball since the TP Red. Lets hope these new TP balls bring back the performance.
jc
Jan 30, 2014 at 6:33 pm
well, that’s it…might as well close up the lab…titleist, callaway, tm, and the others have reached the max in innovation. There can be NO more ideas or materials or dimple patterns that will EVER be better than this. Coupled with the adjustable, slotted, weigted, super duper clubs…there can be NO MORE development. We will no longer have to see the hot list, trade in stuff, buy anything new.
glad that is done.
Mackenzie Tout
Jan 30, 2014 at 5:47 pm
I find it interesting that Taylormade released a product so similar to the Titleist line of Pro V1 and Pro V1x. From using the “X” to differentiate each ball to the 332 dimple pattern (synonamous with the Pro V1x) the TP line is a near copycat of the industry leading Titleist product. Although I believe the name change was needed, it’s obviously apparent who runs the ball market.
J
Jul 18, 2014 at 11:22 pm
They are actually 322 dimple pattern
David Ober
Jan 30, 2014 at 1:44 pm
Dear TaylorMade: That “Lethal” name was a killer (no pun intended). Horrible name for a ball aimed at players. Sounds too much like a distance ball. Keep the “Tour Preferred” name for a long time. It’s a name that people associate with you. It’s a great name for a “players” ball. Most importantly, it will stand the test of time. Leave the tinkering with names and multiple releases to your drivers and fairway woods and keep your balls consistent. Do that, and you’ll slowly eat away at Titleist’s dominance in the ball market.
Gerard
Jan 30, 2014 at 3:13 am
Hopefully they realise the best ball manufacturers in Srixon and Titleist have had success with keeping the ball name the same and just slightly tweaking the design year to year, makes it a lot easier for everyone.
Ben
Jan 29, 2014 at 11:41 pm
I’ve had the pleasure of playing both of these balls already. In my opinion they both spin noticeably more than the lethal and are both very similar to their Titleist counterparts. Solid ball overall and very durable. Big improvement over the Lethal. I would definitely play them.
Chris
Jan 29, 2014 at 10:45 pm
I wondered when Taylormade would be announcing a new ball as the lethal’s pice is dropping like crazy!
Alex
Jan 29, 2014 at 10:28 pm
I hit quite a few of these on the range at the PGA Demo Day. Quite impressed with the feel in comparison to Pro-V!!
Mario Good Times
Jan 29, 2014 at 8:46 pm
I hope they are good, never liked a taylormade ball yet but ill try anything once. Please Taylormade keep the name the same but change the ball a little like Prov1 this game is getting confusing..