The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the practice green. I watched a student, a solid mid-handicapper, fight his usual battle with chip shots. Flubbed it. Chunked it. He blamed the wind, the lie, everything but himself. Then, he pulled out a fresh TaylorMade TP5.

The difference, even from that distance, was noticeable. That controlled, predictable check he’d been chasing? There it was. The TP5, with its five-layer construction and softer feel, seemed to embrace the clubface differently, almost clinging to it. The low compression, a core tenet of the design, is key here, folks. It allows for that exceptional greenside spin, the kind that makes a short-game guru weep with joy.

I’ve been through a lot of golf balls in my time. Back in the day, you basically had two choices: hard-as-a-rock distance balls or something that might stop on the green. This TP5, though, marries both. This is where the new generation comes in, which is important. It’s all about that balance. The feel off the driver is still fantastic, and the distance is definitely there. Even against a competitor like the Titleist Pro V1, the TP5 gives up little in terms of raw yardage.

The slight drawback? Durability. That soft urethane cover, responsible for all that glorious spin, can show wear and tear a bit faster than a rock-hard distance ball. But honestly, it’s a trade-off I’m willing to make. Just rotate them out of play after a few rounds, maybe treat them to a good ball washer if you’re feeling generous.

So, who’s this ball for? The serious player, the one who lives and breathes short game, the one who understands that a few extra feet of roll on a wedge shot can change the entire complexion of a round. It’s the guy or gal who’s tired of the one-hop-and-run strategy, and is ready to attack pins with confidence. If that sounds like you, go grab a dozen. You won’t regret it.