Taylormade Golf has brought the Tour Preferred name back to life with the new SLDR 430 driver (though we think the Japanese version looks way better!) and the CB, MC and MB Tour Prefererd irons. They are expected to make another announcement in a couple of weeks and we are guessing that the Tour Preferred and Tour Preferred X golf balls will be the main attraction, or part of the announcement. We recently discovered these two golf balls on the Taylormade Japan website.
From the Taylormade Japan website (our Japanese is a little rusty!) it looks like the Tour Preferred golf ball has a 4-piece design meant to balance spin and launch. The “reactor core” increases ball velocity with driver shots, yet still maintains a soft feel at impact. Spin on approach shots are almost maximized with “Spin Mantle Technology”, an inner layer of the golf ball. Taylormade also utilizes a “Soft Tech Urethane Cover” for increased spin and control around the greens. Finally, the “Taylormade Original 322 Seamless Dimple Pattern” helps the Tour Preferred golf ball cut through the wind and keep maximum distance on shots.
The Tour Preferred X is a 5-piece golf ball and also features the same technology as the Tour Preferred golf ball. The Reactor Core, Spin Mantle Technology, Soft Tech Urethane Cover (plus a “thin skin”) and Taylormade Original 322 Seamless Dimple Pattern. As you can see below, the ball flights are different among the two golf balls. We’re going to assume that the feel will be a little harder on the Tour Preferred X compared to the Tour Preferred golf ball as well, similar to the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1X golf balls.
Source: Taylormade Japan
