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.
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
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Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
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Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
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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..