TaylorMade Tour Preferred & Proto 33 Balls

Got a chance to test out the new Tour Preferred X and Proto 33 ball today (didn't get any of the Tour Preferred).

I hit some 7 irons, some 54 degree wedges and some drivers with the my ball (Lethal), the Tour Preferred X, the Proto 33 and a Pro V1.

The Tour Preferred X ball felt great. Better than the Lethal (felt faster off the face while maintaining a "soft" feel), far better than the Pro V1.

Proto 33 felt soft, but much less soft than I expected. I couldn't hit it for crap with the driver. I thought I was just getting tired, but then switched to the Pro V1 and was hitting them just fine.

Anyways, here's the numbers for comparison:

Wedge (54 degree Vokey TVD w/ DG X100)

7-Iron (TM RocketBladez Tour w/ KBS Tour X)

Driver (SLDR 9.5 set to 10.5 and halfway to "fade" setting w/ Matrix 6Q3 Red Tie)

Looks like the Proto 33 was the shortest in total distance of the balls tested.

Great numbers with the Tour Preferred X!

Great post! Some really good numbers there. Crazy low driver spin rates showing, and stout wedge spin rates.

Looks like the TP is seamless... If so that will be my ball next year.

33's for the winter/spring

Did the Proto 33 ball have a urethane cover?

Great info... Thanks for sharing!

Nice review. I might need to get my hands on the TP x balls. I have played the Lethal every since I tested the project 5 balls and loved them. Maybe I can make some gains also.

[quote name='Re*Ax' timestamp='1384635199' post='8158922']
Great post! Some really good numbers there. Crazy low driver spin rates showing, and stout wedge spin rates.
[/quote]

I get super low spin with the driver regardless of the ball, but I agree on liking the numbers.

[quote name='phelps22' timestamp='1384640873' post='8159268']
Did the Proto 33 ball have a urethane cover?
[/quote]

I'm not positive on the materials.

Nice review. The TP looks to be showing some good stats.

Tour Preferred X looks exciting. Looking forward to giving it a try. Any word on release date? Thanks for the review.

I've had some of these balls and not had a chance to test. Great post and thanks for this data.

awesome post op and ty for sharing the numbers

Currently switched to the lethal but with those numbers I gotta try the Tour Preferred X. Great Post!

Great post and thanks for the stats. Question on the Proto 33: Is it a 33 (or other low number) compression ball? You have a relatively high swing speed with the driver and I would expect you to crack a higher comression ball farther. I average 90-95 mph and wonder how the Proto 33 would work with my swing speed.

[quote name='NJpatbee' timestamp='1384792415' post='8166820']
Great post and thanks for the stats. Question on the Proto 33: Is it a 33 (or other low number) compression ball? You have a relatively high swing speed with the driver and I would expect you to crack a higher comression ball farther. I average 90-95 mph and wonder how the Proto 33 would work with my swing speed.
[/quote]That's what I was thinking too. Proto 33 would be better for us 'slower swingers'. Had a ball fitting couple of yrs. ago with TM. He suggested the TP3 because of it's low compression to the TP5. So I think this would be the same scenario?

[quote name='Golf64' timestamp='1384867559' post='8171550']
[quote name='NJpatbee' timestamp='1384792415' post='8166820']
Great post and thanks for the stats. Question on the Proto 33: Is it a 33 (or other low number) compression ball? You have a relatively high swing speed with the driver and I would expect you to crack a higher comression ball farther. I average 90-95 mph and wonder how the Proto 33 would work with my swing speed.
[/quote]That's what I was thinking too. Proto 33 would be better for us 'slower swingers'. Had a ball fitting couple of yrs. ago with TM. He suggested the TP3 because of it's low compression to the TP5. So I think this would be the same scenario?
[/quote]

In my experience compression has very little impact on performace and is really more of a feel preference. I've seen low and high compression balls perform the same for very different swing speeds. In general slower swing speeds have trouble generating enough spin on non-driver shots to create ideal launch conditions. So when slow swingers feel like they are "compressing the ball", they are really just hitting it flush and generating enough spin to maximize distance. Too little spin and the ball will fall out of the sky and too much spin and the ball will balloon and come up short. In my opinion it's really about finding the right iron spin that fits your game.

But I think you are correct about the proto 33 ball being better for slow swingers or low spin players. I've been told that the Proto33 ball will be named Project (a) and will be a tour caliber urethane golf ball geared toward amateur golfers who need more spin on they' re iron shots, especially into the green. Take a look at his wedge spin vs. the ProV1. 400 rpm's is a lot and the proV1 is regarded as a great greenside ball.

bump for people talking about the new taylormade tour preferred x balls. great job here OP

Numbers wise, the Lethal and TP seem pretty identical, unless I missed something?

Great post. I have a couple dozen Lethals and see no reason to switch to the TPX.

great infos - seems like the TM TP X is really long from the tee thanks to a good launch angle and such a little amount of spin.

in the feel department: what was the difference between those balls?

I got a TPX to try from my local pro who is a TM staffer and have to say I was impressed. Feels a little softer then the Lethal and looked to be lower in spin as well based on my approach shots. Off the tee I didn't have a LM to get data but it was a high flat flight. Job well done TM I want to put this ball up against the SR2 and 3 when I get a chance.

[quote name='J13' timestamp='1389619438' post='8451269']
I got a TPX to try from my local pro who is a TM staffer and have to say I was impressed. Feels a little softer then the Lethal and looked to be lower in spin as well based on my approach shots. Off the tee I didn't have a LM to get data but it was a high flat flight. Job well done TM I want to put this ball up against the SR2 and 3 when I get a chance.
[/quote]

wow...! and the lethal wasn't a firm ball. like the sounds of this ball for sure.