TaylorMade Golf has released it’s latest advance in golf equipment – the Penta TP, the first tour ball designed with five solid-layers. Like it’s predecessors, the TP Red and TP Black,
the Penta TP also features TaylorMade’s LDP technology, which uses ball aerodynamics to keep the ball in the air longer, which increases distance on most common mis-hits (usually the top half of the face). Testing showed that LDP dramatically improves distance on mis-hits and that golf balls with LDP are clearly longer on mis-hits compared to those without. The Penta TP dimple design provides the same stability in windy conditions as the TP Red and TP Black.
But the real news with this golf equipment is the five solid-layers. Each layer is engineered to optimize performance in five areas – driver, long, middle and short irons and wedge shots. Over three years of research and development went into this ball including testing by tour players. The five layers of Penta TP are the core, inner mantle, middle mantle, outer mantle and cover. Depending on the speed with which the ball is hit (ie. how much the ball is compressed), affects the amount of spin delivered to the ball.
Some of you may be wondering how this would appeal to players with lower swing speeds. Generally, the more layers that are added to a ball, the harder it is to compress, resulting in the ball leaving the clubface slower with more spin. What, I hear you say – slower with more spin? Yes, correct! These golf balls are designed so that at maximum compression (ie. tour swing speeds) they produce minimal spin (ie for driver shots), whilst at minimal compression like a wedge shot, they produce maximum spin. Not much good if your full driver swing speed is the equivalent of a pro’s 9-iron! So whilst this may be great for the Pro’s, how does that help your average golfer? Overall if your club head speed is over about 95 MPH (average male) then you should be ok.
So having tried a sleeve, I like them. The Penta TP launched off the driver in a soft ball kind of way. Distance was very close to my current ball the TP Red. Knowing that you don’t have to swing as hard to compress the Penta TP encouraged a smoother swing, enabling you to focus on the target only. It is definitely an upgrade TP Red & Black in that they are softer, whilst retaining the same distance characteristics. Around the green, it’s soft, but huge spin potential out of bunkers and on wedge shots.
But the only way to be sure is to buy a box and give them a go. If nothing else, you’ll know what it is like to play a round with a real tour ball!