5 Piece Golf Balls – What Amateur Golfers Should Know
Average golfers seeking to improve their game may wonder about the benefits of using five-piece golf balls.
Should they be using a 5-piece golf ball like the TaylorMade TP5 or TaylorMade TP5x?
Why aren’t there any Titleist balls with five layers?
Will the extra layer help to lower your scores?
This article will explore the benefits of using 5-piece golf balls, as well as highlight the best options on the market.
Key Takeaways
- Five-piece balls consist of a urethane cover, three mantle layers, and a synthetic rubber core.
- More layers in golf balls alter the spin, touch, feel, and responsiveness of the ball.
- The main difference between four and five-layer golf balls is the additional layer for increased ball speeds and higher spin rates with longer irons.
- Typical amateur golfers are likely better off with two or three-piece balls for forgiveness, control, and increased distance.
The Benefits of 5-Piece Balls
Balls with 5 layers offer enhanced spin, touch, feel, and response, making them an excellent choice for golfers seeking increased control and performance. These balls have an outer layer made of urethane, three mantle layers, and a synthetic rubber core.
The additional layers contribute to the ball’s performance by adding spin and control in different scenarios. The core provides distance, while the layers between the core and cover provide control for short irons. Golfers who want to maximize their performance with longer irons can benefit from the increased ball speeds and higher spin rates offered by these balls along with a steep angle of descent to improve stopping power.
The materials in the mantle and core react differently when hit at different speeds (usually longer golf clubs will generate more speed).
Ultimately, the choice between a three, four or five-layer ball depends on the golfer’s handicap, launch conditions and personal preferences.
Comparing 4 Piece and 5 Piece Golf Balls
The main distinction between a four-layer and five-layer golf ball lies in the additional layer, which enhances ball speeds and generates higher spin rates with longer irons. This extra layer provides more control, feel, and feedback for golfers.
Amateur golfers, especially those with higher handicaps, are generally better off using two or three-piece balls, which offer more forgiveness and a little less spin and will help reduce hook or slice spin somewhat.
The choice between a three-piece, four-piece or five-piece ball ultimately depends on a golfer’s launch conditions. It’s important to remember that more layers do not automatically lead to lower scores for most golfers.
Many amateurs spin the ball too much in terms of hook or slice so a higher spinning urethane ball may not necessarily be the best type of golf ball for your game.
As with their 4-piece cousins, these balls tend to be toward the higher end of the golf ball compression charts. If you value really soft feel over all else then the TaylorMade TP5 or TP5x will probably feel a bit too firm for you but then so would the Pro V1 and Pro V1x. They do offer great short game control though in the right hands.
If you want to go for the softest feeling balls then in the tour-quality category the Chrome Soft is a great option.
How Average Players Should Choose The Right Ball For Them
Selecting the appropriate ball largely depends on your handicap and preferences but it really should come down to the way you, the player, strike the ball. Golf balls are designed to suit particular launch conditions so playing the wrong ball could be hurting your scores. For those with a handicap of 5 or better, a five-layer ball might be beneficial. However, for amateur golfers, especially those with double-figure handicaps, two or three-piece balls are a better choice. These balls offer forgiveness, touch, control, and increased distance at their usually slower club head speeds.
Of the major manufacturers, only TaylorMade offers an option in this category. The TP5 and TP5x, are known for reducing driver spin and maximizing wedge spin around the greens.
Ultimately, the choice between a three, four or five-piece ball comes down to individual preference and playing style. You should look at the ball fitting tools available on the manufacturer’s websites if you want help finding the ball best suited to you.
The Best 5 Layer Golf Balls on the Market
TaylorMade is a leading innovator in golf equipment and is one of only a handful of companies that offer a 5 layer ball. They are designed to provide maximum performance and playability for golfers who looking to maximize the performance of their equipment.
TaylorMade’s TP5/TP5x is highly regarded, delivering exceptional distance and spin. These balls are used by professional players like Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson, further emphasizing their quality and performance.
With its advanced technology and superior construction, TaylorMade has established itself as a leader in the golf industry, providing both elite and average golfers with the best options for their game.
Some players who have swapped to the TP5 or TP5x have suggested it offers a slightly more penetrating ball flight on windy days.
Do Professionals Use Balls With 5 Layers?
The overwhelming choice of ball Professional Golf on the biggest tours are the Titleist Pro V1 and Pro V1x which are 3-piece and 4-piece respectively. Other popular choices are the 3 piece Srixon Z-Star range and the 4-piece Callaway Chrome Soft X and X LS. The only manufacturer with a tour presence that makes a 5 piece ball is TaylorMade. They started the ball rolling in 2010 with the Penta TP which was the first tour ball using a 5 layer construction. It was designed by Dean Snell the founder of Snell Golf.
Callaway made a 5 layer ball – the Hex Tour Black although it never really gained a footing with the big boys.
Average golfers need to know that just because professionals use them though doesn’t make them the right ball for their swing.
Is There A Six-Piece Golf Ball?
Surprisingly I found there have actually been three instances of a six-layer golf ball!
Maxfli released the U/6 in 2013 and launched models covering a range of 3 different swing speeds. The U/6x, U/6lc and the U/6 were aimed at fast, slow and medium swings respectively. Unfortunately, the lack of tour validation for Maxfli in recent history meant the balls were going nowhere.
2019 saw Honma release the Future XX 6-layer golf ball. The premium brand is better known for its clubs rather than balls but they decided to go the whole hog with the launch of the Future XX with 6 layers. To be honest I’d not heard of this ball before or indeed any other ball with this type of construction. I couldn’t find anywhere that still had stock.
An Australian company called Forte Golf released the Apex 6 but they no longer appear to even be trading.
How Many Layers Do Titleist Balls Have?
Premium urethane balls from Titleist have either 3 (Pro V1) or 4 (Pro V1x). They have never released a ball with more than 4. You can draw your own conclusions from that but certainly, the more layers you have the more complicated and expensive the manufacturing process is likely to be.
Should You Use A Five-Layer Ball?
First and foremost your choice of ball should be dictated by your launch conditions. My own club head speed is probably not high enough to get the best out of the TP5/TP5x. However, lower handicappers with faster swing speeds might find the ball offers performance benefits.
In my testing on a launch monitor, I couldn’t really determine that big a difference between any of the major tour-quality balls for me so it may come down to your choice of preferred manufacturer.
One advantage that TaylorMade offers though is a choice of designs on the ball which help the ball “pop out” at address. The markings are designed to make the ball appear more prominent and therefore should give you some extra confidence.
4 Piece vs 5 Piece Golf Balls
In my opinion, you would probably need a launch monitor to see the difference between many 4 and 5 piece balls unless you were a very good player. If you had played a specific ball model for a long time it might make it easier for you to detect differences in feel perhaps but I know from testing many different urethane models that for my swing there is not that much difference from ball to ball in the premium category. My swing is much more likely to affect the outcome of the shot than the model of golf ball.
Maximizing Performance With 5 Piece Balls
Players can optimize their performance on the golf course by using five-piece balls that offer advanced technology and superior construction. These balls are designed to provide maximum distance, control, and spin.
With their innovative design, the five-piece balls allow players to have more control over their shots, giving them the confidence to hit the ball exactly where they want it to go.
The advanced technology in these balls also helps to reduce spin off the driver, resulting in longer and straighter shots.
The superior construction of the five-piece balls ensures they are even more dialed-in to your game, making them an excellent investment for more proficient golfers.
