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Dustin Johnson has 24 PGA Tour wins since turning professional in 2007. The 36-year-old won the 2016 U.S. Open and in 2020 won both the Masters and the FedEx Cup.
He was named PGA Tour Player of the Year in 2016 and 2020, and won the Vardon Trophy in 2016 and 2018.
Currently, the number one ranked player in the world, Johnson first attained that position on February 19, 2017 and has held that spot for a total of 133 weeks.
In addition to having extraordinary talent, Dustin Johnson uses some of the finest equipment available including the TaylorMade TP5 and TP5x golf ball. We’ll go into detail about the construction of the ball, pros and cons, feedback, and who the ball is designed for.
TaylorMade TP5 and TP5x Golf Ball
The TP5 and TP5x appear similar in terms of appearance at first glance, but the exterior of the balls is what separates them.
Surely, both balls have become extremely popular since their release.
Celebrities and top professionals have come to use these balls.
The biggest difference is that the TP5 has a relatively soft exterior, whereas the TaylorMade TP5x has a more rigid, stiff cast urethane cover.
Maximum carry and distances are attained through the Tour Flight Dimple Pattern, along with extra stopping power that is difficult to obtain with long irons.
The TP5 is the softest and highest spinning Tour ball made with a urethane cover.
The increased spin aids in precision control around the greens.
The TP5 has a large core that is designed to release energy in a more effective manner, which increases ball speeds and distance compared to prior models.
The TP5x is the fastest and longest Tour ball that is designed with five layers that have four layers of increasing stiffness surrounding the core.
The ball speed has been increased due to the HFM Speed Layer and advanced aerodynamics.
The urethane cover is softer than in past models which provides added interaction with grooves on the clubface, which not only adds spin but feel, which is of utmost importance on delicate shots around the green.
Pros
TP5
- Five-layer construction for optimal tee to green performance
- Easy to compress for maximum distance even with averaged swing speeds
- High spin rates around the green
- Mid-trajectory launch to allow shot shaping
- Durable cover
TP5x
- Top in distance among Tour balls
- Optimized spin rates for high swing speeds
- Durable cover
- High launch angle off the tee
Cons
- Expensive, this is a premium golf ball
- TS5x not good for lower swing speeds
- TS5x not for high handicap players
- TS5 not great for higher swing speeds
What Type of Golfer Would Benefit From Playing With These Balls?
Those who do not have fast swing speeds generally don’t use the TP5x.
It is recommended for average players to use the TaylorMade TP5 ball.
It really all depends on how much spin you wish to play, swing speed, the kind of feel you like on your chips and putts.
The TP5x is preferred for players with the highest swing speeds.
Players with slower swing speeds won’t be able to generate distance and better players are surely going to play better with a higher compression ball.
FAQs on the Ball that Dustin Jonson Plays with
What is the number sequence of the four sleeves?
Boxes can be ordered with lower numbers of 1 through 4 or higher numbers of 5 through 8.
Do these balls appear to track in the air off the tee?
They track quite well in the air with the combination of color and design.
The official description states “multi-color high contrast graphics designed for greater visibility and strategically placed to enhance alignment.”
What compression are the balls?
The compression is 85. Those with slower swing speeds resulting in a carry of less than 140 yards with a nine-iron means you won’t compress the ball, resulting in too much spin.
A player should be able to carry the ball with a driver at least 250 yards to play a Tour ball with a compression of 85.
Golfers Feedback on these Golf Balls
A player who generally player the Titleist ProV 1 noted that the TP5x is comparable.
They generated a similar distance off a well-struck drive with a solid feel and crisp sound at impact.
The TP5x responded better on shots around the green and felt softer off the putter on the greens.
One player noted better control of the ball in the short game than other models, therefore was able to play more aggressively, knowing the ball would check quicker.
There was an increase of a few yards for each iron and between 5 and 10 yards further with the driver.
The user didn’t find the ball flew straighter than previous models but recommends the ball to good players who want more distance and control.
Another use gushed at the great feel of the TP5 around the greens and was able to generate a lot of back spin on approach shots, particularly with the wedge.
The same user indicated that the spin-off the tee was lower and although there was a little loss of distance from the tee compared to the ProV 1, it’s a great ball that will give you confidence hitting approach shots into hard greens
Viable Alternative Balls
Titleist Pro V1x Golf Balls
The new Titleist Pro V1x is a ball that offers complete performance with high trajectory, low spin on long irons and woods, longer distance, softer feel, and increased Drop-and-Stop greenside control.
The core of the ball is a reformulated 2.0 ZG Process dual which provides added distance.
The faster high-flex casing layer lowers spin with irons and woods while increasing speed.
Its design which enables the ball to spring back into shape after compression was first developed for the Pro V1x Left Dash.
The cover of the ball is a new, softer urethane, which is the softest ever used for the ProV1x.
It’s the softer cover that allows for increased spin and control on shots around the green.
With 348, spherically-tiled tetrahedral dimples, the ProV1x attains maximum distance, combined with consistent flight path and trajectory.
Bridgestone Golf Tour B XS Model
The ball has a proprietary Reactiv urethane cover which is a technology that improves performance and reacts based on the force of impact. This adds increased distance, control, and spin on greenside shots.
Dual Dimple technology aids in trajectory and less drag due to enhanced aerodynamics.
Bridgestone Golf Tour B XS ball is designed for golfers with higher swing speeds of 105 mph or more.
The ball is best suited for low handicap players who want added distance with more spin and better control for pitch shots that stop on a dime.
Tiger Woods played this ball and aided in its development and Golf Digest rated this ball five stars.
Conclusion – Does the Dustin Johnson Ball Fit Your Game?
Dustin Johnson is the top-ranked golfer in the world, so it’s not surprising that he uses the best equipment available, and that doesn’t just mean golf clubs.
Among the top Tour golf balls available is the TaylorMade TP5x, which you will find in Johnson’s bag.
The ball is perfect for low handicap and professional players that have high swing speeds.
The ball is constructed of a durable cover with increasing layers of thickness.
This high compression ball is made If you’re looking to get added distance with great launch angle, feel, and control around the greens with a spin rate that is ideal to players with high swing speeds.
For players with slow swing speeds, the TS5 is the better option.
It has a softer exterior, making it easier to compress. The ball has a mid-trajectory launch which is ideal for shot shaping.
Other great balls for low handicap players are the Titleist Pro V1x and the Bridgestone Golf Tour B XS. The Pro V1x offers complete performance with high trajectory, low spin on long irons and woods, longer distance, softer feel.
The Bridgestone is used by professionals such as Tiger Woods and is best suited for players who want more spin and better control.
For the better player, you really can’t go wrong with any of the aforementioned balls.