Dustin Johnson's TP5x variant

It looks like DJ is playing a variant of the TP5x. According to the USGA's conforming ball list, there are five TP5x and five TP5 models listed. Normally these extra models are either slight tweaks to the ball, or they're previous generation balls that have been rebranded.

Does anyone know specifically what DJ's variant is? I bring it up mostly out of curiosity for his ball, not as some sort of "the pros are playing something different than OEMs sell us" discussion.

EDIT: The ball does NOT have hex dimples. It's an artifact of the way the light reflects off the ridges between the dimples.

5 of each ball on the list ? Dang that seems like a lot.

Interesting. I'm excited to try these golf balls when they come out!!

Is it just me or does that ball look like it has hex dimples?

Is it just me or does that ball look like it has hex dimples?

It doesn't have hex dimples. Just the way the light reflects.

Is it just me or does that ball look like it has hex dimples?

I see the same thing looks like hex dimples to me.

I am seeing it as well.

Golf balls are the industry's biggest lie. They market and price it like consumers are getting what tour pro's use, but they have five different variants.

Golf balls are the industry's biggest lie. They market and price it like consumers are getting what tour pro's use, but they have five different variants.

The likely reason for the variants on the USGA site is that the OEM comes out with a ball and sends them out to their staff players. They aren't going to play it unless it is on the Approved List. They come back and say what they like and don't like. OEM makes changes and the process repeats. By the time they get the right design you might have 4 or 5 or more variants.

Most likely the previous iterations are never reproduced for anyone and 99% of the Tour players use the final design. Now if you are a DJ or Day or Tiger, you can have them make a variant for your special needs but the rest of the pros usually just use the final consumer product. You might get a few that like a previous years model and within reason the OEM grants their requests, but eventually they just say no. Titleist did that with the ProV and told all those who liked an older model (i.e. the 2008 ProV) that they wouldn't do it anymore. Too much of a PITA.

All in all, nearly every Tour Pro could walk into the local proshop and get a dozen balls that are exactly like the ones they play.

As far as I know, he played the '14 TPX through last year. Maybe this is a TP5X with similar characteristics? Maybe he's hesitant to switch after the year he had last year.

Interesting. I'm excited to try these golf balls when they come out!!

Why do you want to play the ball he does? His swing speed is 122mph+. The ball won't likely perform for you like it does for him.

Interesting. I'm excited to try these golf balls when they come out!!

 

Why do you want to play the ball he does? His swing speed is 122mph+. The ball won't likely perform for you like it does for him.

Interesting. I'm excited to try these golf balls when they come out!!

 

Why do you want to play the ball he does? His swing speed is 122mph+. The ball won't likely perform for you like it does for him.

Can't stand this reasoning. It's fun to try new things — who cares if something isn't perfectly optimized.

That picture is nothing more than a repainted K-Sig.

Interesting. I'm excited to try these golf balls when they come out!!

 

Why do you want to play the ball he does? His swing speed is 122mph+. The ball won't likely perform for you like it does for him.

My god.

Is it just me or does that ball look like it has hex dimples?

 

I see the same thing looks like hex dimples to me.

It sure looks like Hex dimples to me. If that is the case, Callaway would like to have a few words with TM.

It doesn't. I have some. They're round.

Perk of being a pro. They can customize and tweak the ball to be just right. They obviously can't do that for everyone under the sun.

hilarious...some here STILL say that pga guys play exacly the same ball we can buy...... some do for sure.. but plenty arent even close

It doesn't. I have some. They're round.