TaylorMade Tour Response Ball

The TaylorMade Tour Response ball is one of the products featured in our Editor's Choice product list.

The TaylorMade Tour Response ball is one of the products featured in our Editor's Choice 2020 product list.

TaylorMade Tour Response

There’s been a growing trend for brands to seriously up the performance of their mid-to-upper price balls with urethane-covered models that mirror the performance of premium models more closely than ever before. TaylorMade’s new Tour Response ball is undoubtedly one of the best in this sector.

Editor's Choice 2020

The key to the three-piece Tour Response’s performance is a 40-compression core made from elastic materials with high-spring properties that are designed to maximise energy transfer at impact for more distance, further aided by a firmer second layer wrapped around the soft inner core that also helps to keep spin down off the tee. A cast urethane cover then allows the grooves of wedges to grip the ball better for increased greenside spin and feel.

Related: TaylorMade Tour Response Ball Review

The ball performed extremely well when we tested it alongside its sister Soft Response model earlier this year. It gave us plenty of distance off the tee with a strong ball flight that was consistent even in quite windy conditions.

Superb greenside control

It is around the greens where the Tour Response really comes into its own, though, with its softness paving the way to excellent greenside spin control. Indeed, on 30-yard pitches into quite a firm putting surface, we were able to get that second-bounce check that we love, allowing us to then be more aggressive and committed to shots, which in turn breeds confidence.

The performance of the Tour Response ball falls not that far shy of the TP5 and TP5x models, and the control it offers around the green is hugely eye-catching. Of course, that would be to no avail if you were giving up too much yardage off the tee, but that wasn’t the case in our testing, suggesting that this will be the perfect option for many golfers seeking a good all-round ball but who aren’t willing or able to pay premium ball prices.

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