TaylorMade TP5 vs. Titleist Pro V1: Same Price, Different Performance

We tested the TaylorMade TP5 and Titleist Pro V1 using our standardized golf ball testing protocol on the SkyTrak ST Max launch monitor.

Because we use human swings, not robots, our data reflects the performance differences you can actually expect to see on the course, not microscopic variances under perfect conditions. We use strict benchmarks for swing speed, shot quality, and delivery dynamics to keep results as consistent as possible.

Individual results will vary, but the patterns we see across dozens of shots are meaningful.

Learn more about how we test golf balls and see the complete list of every golf ball we've tested. You can also check out our complete TaylorMade TP5 review here and our Titleist Pro V1 test data here.

Wedge control is the closest category in this matchup. TP5 actually generated slightly more spin from 50 yards, 6,955 RPM compared to Pro V1's 6,798 RPM, but Pro V1's higher-launching wedge shots rolled out a yard less.

Both balls control extremely well inside 50 yards. The gap in our score (8.8 for Pro V1 versus 8.5 for TP5) is small enough that most players won't notice much of a difference in their own short game.

For some players shopping in this category of ball, accuracy is a good thing. Straighter shots can mean more fairways, which can mean more greens.

For others, who would rather shape the ball than see it fly straight, accuracy is hogwash. 

Off the tee, TP5 was noticeably straighter with almost 100 less RPM of sidespin than Pro V1. Pro V1, however, resisted sidespin better in our 7-iron test by about the same margin.

It’s not to say that you can’t shape either ball, or hit either ball straight, but the lower-spin nature of TP5 off the tee helps it fly straighter.

Same price, different performance. 

TP5's advantages in distance and driver accuracy lead it to a better overall performance score, but Pro V1's stopping power and workability advantages are exactly what some players are looking for.

In this comparison, it’s all about finding the better ball for your needs, not the one that put up better scores in a test.

Choose TP5 If:

You want more distance without sacrificing much anywhere else. TP5 was nearly 10 yards longer than Pro V1 in our test and was also the straighter of the two balls off the tee.

If you're chasing extra distance and don't want to give up a competitive short game to get it, TP5 is the better all-around choice.

Choose Pro V1 If:

Stopping the ball on firm greens is non-negotiable. Pro V1 posted the best stopping power score of any ball in our entire 43-ball test, and that kind of control from 150-175 yards is hard to find anywhere else, at any price.

If you're a better player who shapes shots, fires at pins and needs the ball to hold, Pro V1 is worth the tradeoff in distance.