TaylorMade-adidas Golf has announced its 2016 golf ball lineup, highlighted by the new Tour Preferred X, Tour Preferred and Project (a).
TMaG says the new Tour Preferred ball (four-layer construction, 80 compression) features its next-generation SpeedMantle inner layer, comprised of a material that is more than 65 percent softer and more flexible than the previous generation’s mantle.
TaylorMade’s new Tour Preferred golf ball
The development of the new mantle, according to TMaG, has allowed its engineers to create a softer feeling ball, while still maintaining the performance characteristics of the original Tour Preferred golf ball. The company says the new Tour Preferred golf ball provides higher launch and more spin for long irons while maintaining the same distance off the tee and greenside spin as the Tour Preferred X, but with a softer feel. The new Tour Preferred still features TaylorMade’s proven Soft Tech cast urethane cover – the company’s softest and most durable cover to date – and Low-Drag Performance Aerodynamics – a 322 dimple pattern.
The new Tour Preferred, according to TMaG, is designed for players of all swing speeds looking for a softer tour performance golf ball.
TMaG says new Tour Preferred X ball (five-layer construction, 87 compression) features a new thicker re-engineered Soft Tech cast urethane cover for more greenside control and the same LDP 322 dimple pattern found in the Tour Preferred. Similar to its predecessor, TMaG says the Tour Preferred X delivers low spin off the tee, low iron ball flight but with more greenside spin, as preferred by the best players in the world. TaylorMade Tour Professionals who play the Tour Preferred X include Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose and 2015 PGA Champion Jason Day.
“We developed 43 Tour Preferred X prototypes throughout our exhaustive pursuit to engineer a better golf ball and put them in the hands of our Tour players,” said Eric Loper, TaylorMade’s director of golf ball development. “They were unanimously drawn to the ball that produced more control around the greens, and that was the new Tour Preferred X. We’re excited by their initial reactions to its performance and look forward to their transition into the new models for the ’15-’16 PGA TOUR season.”
With Tour Preferred and Tour Preferred X, Loper said TaylorMade offers two distinctly different performance golf balls with tour-caliber performance. What separates Tour Preferred and the Tour Preferred X from a performance standpoint, according to Loper, is feel and spin. Tour Preferred, TaylorMade’s softest-ever Tour ball, is the lowest compression tour ball the company has ever offered and is designed for players who prefer softer feel in a tour-caliber golf ball and more spin in the mid-to-long iron shots. This spin, Loper said, will also promote a higher trajectory on approach shots than the Tour Preferred X.
The Tour Preferred X is designed for players looking for a more penetrating flight with their irons and more feedback (firmer) on shots into and around the green.
The Tour Preferred and Tour Preferred X will be available Nov. 6 at MSRP of $47.99 per dozen.
TaylorMade’s 2016 lineup also features the bolstered Project (a), designed specifically for what the company calls “the competitive amateur player’’ to promote more spin and improved performance where needed most: 30 yards and in.
The new Project (a) has an overall compression of 70 (versus 88 in the original model), which TMaG says was achieved by dropping the core compression 33 percent. The core compression, according to TMaG, has been reduced from 60 to 40 by way of a REACT Core with a new speed optimized formulation. As amateur players generate nearly 50 percent less spin than players on tour, TMaG says Project (a) is specifically designed to deliver more spin on mid irons, short irons and shots around the green, resulting in enhanced control and increased scoring opportunities.
Project (a) also will be available Nov. 6 at a MSRP of $34.99 per dozen.
