After TaylorMade published Tape version of the Tournament Answerthe talk about a TP5 version wasn’t so much about when it was coming, but why it didn’t already exist.
Seriously.
That was roughly two and a half years ago.
And so, a few months after the release of the TP5 2024, and much later than I had anticipated, TaylorMade is finally offering a Stripe version of it TP5 and TP5x golf balls.
To quote Rick Flair, “WOOOOOO!”
What took so long?
It’s not like TaylorMade questioned the demand for a TP5 Stripe, but before it could deliver TP5 Tape market, she needed to make sure she had the infrastructure to keep up with her growing ball business.
For the past several years, TaylorMade has been busy improving the infrastructure of its ball business—buying factories and equipping them with the machines needed to print patterns in high volume.
This brings us to today. We are finally launching Stripe TP5 AND TP5x.
Who’s excited?
Why Stripe?
You’ve probably figured this out yourself, but not every bit of ink that finds its way onto a golf ball is intentional. Some models (and I’m using pattern loosely) exist for no other reason than to look cool.
That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with that. Vice goes well with Drip. TaylorMade’s Soft paint with speed maybe there are some fans. Models can be fun for fun’s sake.
But this is not Stripe. The tape is intentional.
If this is all new to you, the Stripe pattern is designed to improve alignment in the green setting. Some claim benefits from the tee as well. If that’s true for some, it’s an added bonus, I guess. The bigger issue is that the alignment of the stripes was not a random choice. As we discussed when the Tour Response Stripe was launchedTaylorMade did a fair amount of research before settling on the Stripe pattern data.
All of this helps answer why TaylorMade didn’t see a reason to overhaul or otherwise rethink the Stripe design for the TP5.
Same thing, but different
With that said, you might find it strange that the TP5 version of Stripe doesn’t look exactly the same as the Tour Response version. Of course, the basic geometry — the width and spread of the shaft — is unchanged, but the thinking inside TaylorMade is that the best player, or at least the TP5 player, isn’t necessarily looking for color.
With that, the idea behind the Clear Stripe design is to provide the benefits of stretch with the absence of color.
What you get is a black and white version of the bar with a clear (white) center section that replaces the bold colors found on the tournament response bar.
It’s a more conservative approach to Stripe and I’d be interested to know how many of you would have preferred something bolder on the TP5.
The tour’s answer to TP5 Stripe
To some extent, the TP5 Stripe’s success at retail may depend on how well it’s received on the pro tour.
While you never know until you know, TaylorMade is optimistic that the TP5 tape will find some play on the PGA Tour. LIV’s Dustin Johnson has been looking for a striped version of the TP5 for a few years, and Tommy Fleetwood uses the Tour Response Stripe to practice with.
My opinion is that TP5 Tape it will never be as popular as white with elite players, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see continued growth in usage.
I have come to believe that stretch technology has real benefits and wider is better than narrow.
Price and availability
Retail price for TP5 and TP5x Tape it’s $57.99 per dozen. That’s three dollars more than the white and yellow versions, but TaylorMade has always charged extra for visual technology. The argument is that visual technology is real. You’re getting more for your money and, yes, it costs more to make, too.
Whether Stripe (and pix for that matter) is worth the extra cost is entirely up to you.
Taylor Made TP5 AND TP5x Tape golf balls are available now.
For more information, visit TaylorMadeGolf.com.
Post First Look: TaylorMade TP5/TP5x Stripe Golf Balls appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
