Tag Archives: Eric Loper

Golf Balls, TaylorMade Golf

TaylorMade Golf – New Tour Response and Soft Response golf balls for players at every level at an affordable price

February 3, 2020 – TaylorMade Golf gathered insights from thousands of assorted golfers about the performance features they need from a golf ball. The clear No. 1 answer to the company’s question: “I want a golf ball that’s designed for me.”

Golfers asked for it, and the company responded introducing the new Tour Response and Soft Response golf balls from TaylorMade.

Highlighted by a 100% cast urethane cover, Tour Response delivers effortless compression and Tour-quality performance at an affordable price.

Engineered for effortless compression and dominant distance, Soft Response utilises a breakthrough Extended Flight Dimple Pattern along with an ultra-soft ZnO Flex Core designed to increase speed.

“Urethane is simply the best performing cover material you can use on a golf ball. That’s why it’s found on 100% of the balls used on the PGA Tour. It’s that good. We’re bringing that same innovation to our Tour Response line – essentially making a softer version of our TP5/TP5x that utilises multiple Tour technologies. Soft Response is a multi-layer golf ball designed for even softer feel, and with our new Extended Flight Dimple Pattern the player can obtain explosive distance,” says Eric Loper, TaylorMade Director of R&D, Golf Ball.

TAYLORMADE TOUR RESPONSE GOLF BALL:
EFFORTLESS COMPRESSION WITH TOUR TECHNOLOGY

For as long as there have been urethane golf balls, Tour players have used them. It’s the industry standard for premium performance in golf balls, and Tour Response brings that same standard to all golfers at an affordable price while maintaining the same technology found in TP5/TP5x.

A softer 100% cast urethane cover allows grooves to better grip the ball for increased wedge spin – potentially creating thousands more RPMs of spin for the average golfer compared to ionomer products. A crosslinking chemical reaction forms the urethane material and creates an irreversible link for improved shear resistance and greater durability.

The use of cast urethane puts Tour Response a step above other balls in this category and at this price point, as it’s the only non-Tour ball to offer this premium cover from a major manufacturer. It’s a blend of Tour-quality materials with performance specifically engineered to benefit all golfers.

Utilising the same technology that powers the hottest Tour ball in golf (TP5/TP5x), Tour Response relies on Speedmantle with HFMq to produce fast ball speeds. The firmer second layer surrounds the soft inner core and delivers an explosive transfer of energy.

“In this class where performance meets value, why would anyone play an ionomer ball when cast urethane is available? Every manufacturer agrees that it makes a better ball,” says Michael Fox, TaylorMade Category Director – Golf Ball & Accessories.

TAYLORMADE SOFT RESPONSE GOLF BALL
EFFORTLESS COMPRESSION & DOMINANT DISTANCE

TaylorMade utilises a specialised Extended Flight Dimple Pattern to protect distance in a softer golf ball. The shallow u-shaped dimples promote decreased drag and increased lift, ultimately allowing the ball to stay in the air longer at lower spin rates. This design is meant to appeal to players with average swing speeds, who often struggle to keep the ball airborne.

For this reason, many clubfitters match slower swing speed players with drivers that increase spin rates and allow the ball to stay in the air longer. However, with this revolutionary dimple design TaylorMade aims to improve distance for these players through intelligent golf ball design.

A soft ionomer cover adds to the feel of Soft Response, but also achieves improved scuff resistance, shear resistance and overall durability. With an ultra-low compression ZnO Flex Core (a compression of 35), Soft Response is engineered to meet the needs of golfers seeking an extremely soft feel without diminishing distance.

KEY FEATURES

  • Construction: The 3-piece construction further allows for soft feel while maintaining impressive distance.
  • Features: Both Tour Response and Soft Response are engineered to efficiently transfer energy and rebound at impact.
  • Compression: The Tour Response core has an ultra-low compression of 40, while Soft Response is even lower at 35.
  • Colours: Tour Response will be offered in white and yellow, while Soft Response will be available in white, yellow and matte red.
  • Availability: From today 3rd of February 2020.
  • RRP: Tour Response, 45€; Soft Response, 30€.
Golf Balls, TaylorMade Golf

TaylorMade Golf – New 2018 Project (a) and Project (s) to complete the golf ball lineup

February 9, 2018 – TaylorMade Golf, makers of the hottest Tour ball with the TP5 & TP5x models, has announced the expansion of its globally successful golf ball line up with the addition of the 2018 Project (a) and the introduction of the all-new Project (s) golf balls.

PROJECT (a): Tour Technology. Soft Feel.

Since its inception in 2014, the Project (a) golf ball has been designed to deliver golfers Tour-level performance in a three-piece construction at an attractive price point. The original Project (a) gained notoriety by being designed with a cast urethane cover to provide Tour-level spin for the average golfer, a performance attribute unmatched by anything in the category. In 2016, the ball was made softer with lower compression while maintaining the greenside spin demanded by consumers. In 2018, Project (a) takes the next step in its evolution with new technologies that make it significantly longer than ever before.

“100% of worldwide Tours use a golf ball with a Urethane cover, while 0% use suryln. If every Tour player and Tour ball manufacturer in the world is telling you urethane is the best material, why wouldn’t you buy the only product outside the Tour ball category using this technology that’s now longer than ever before?”, says Michael Fox, Category Director, Golf Balls & Accessories of TaylorMade Golf company.

The new Project (a) is a three-layer design that incorporates a new Dual-Distance core and a new 322LDP seamless dimple pattern which combined increase driver and long iron distance while maintaining excellent greenside control and feel.

New 322 Dimple Seamless Cover

The Project (a) now uses the same 322 dimple pattern as the hottest Tour ball in golf, the TP5 & TP5x golf balls; resulting in superior distance through a more aerodynamic dimple pattern. Less drag = more speed = more distance.

Dual-Distance Core

The new Project (a)’s dual core design is comprised of a larger, softer-inner core, which scrubs off unwanted spin while providing great feel. The stiffer outer core allows for increased rebound and velocity. In addition to reducing driver and long iron spin, the stiffer outer core also aides in pinching the soft cast urethane cover between the clubface, creating more greenside spin.

PROJECT (s): Soft is Slow without Speed

Complementing the Project (a), TaylorMade is also introducing the all-new Project (s) golf ball. The all-new Project (s) offers an even softer feel while continuing the company’s focus on low driver spin and significant driver distance; a golf ball unlike any in the competitive class to date. To break through in a crowded and diluted space, TaylorMade has designed one golf ball that delivers on the two performance attributes amateur players in this category want most: soft feel AND distance. No longer does the golfer have to choose between one or the other with a single ball. That ball is Project (s).

Dual-Distance Core

Similar to the Project (a) the Dual-Distance Core in the Project (s) decreases the overall compression of the ball for soft feel while maintaining rebound and speed. The Project (s)’s compression is 60, 10 less than the Project (a). The dual distance core is a two-layer system that has a large, low compression inner core that reduces unwanted driver spin and creates great feel. The outer core consists of a softer-resilient polymer that also improves feel and maintains high ball velocities.

Aerodynamic Ionomer Cover

Due to the high COR of the Dual-Distance Core, engineers were able to use a soft ionomer cover that improves feel and control around the green. Compared to the competitive set, the Project (s) has the softest cover which provides more greenside spin and soft feel.

The Project (s) uses TaylorMade’s high lift 342LDP dimple pattern, which, in combination with the lower backspin construction, reduces drag throughout the golf ball’s flight for more distance. In general, lower compression golf balls travel the shortest distance, but with Project (s), TaylorMade’s engineers have solved for soft while maintaining impressive distance. The result is a golf ball that delivers on both distance and feel, allowing for golfers to no longer having to choose between one over the other. In addition to gloss white, the new Project (s) is also available in a matte yellow & matte orange finish that offers a unique look that stands out while being UV resistant.

“The new multilayer design incorporates a softer yet resilient dual distance core that maximises distance and enables us to utilise a softer ionomer cover for soft feel and great control. We are eliminating the need for a golfer to choose between distance and feel in this category. The new Project (s) provides both softer feel AND distance,” says Eric Loper, Director R&D Golf Balls.

The 2018 Project (a) golf balls will be offered in gloss white or yellow, available at retail on February 16, 2018 at an RRP of €45. The Project (s) golf balls in matt white will be available at retail on April 01, 2018 and in matt orange and matt yellow on May 01, 2018 at an RRP of €30.