This is the second review of three TaylorMade golf ball models I’m in the process of reviewing. The first was the Project (a) ball, a ball designed more for amateurs with slower swing speeds. This review features the TaylorMade Tour Preferred golf ball. The “TP” is a “tour” level ball, meaning their highest performance and most expensive. This is one which many TaylorMade PGA Tour players use, and for good reason. Let’s take a look.
TaylorMade Tour Preferred Golf Ball
Construction
The Tour Preferred ball is a four layer ball. Each layer features materials and engineering which give the ball specific performance characteristics. For instance, the core may provide the primary distance of the ball while the outer layer or cover provides much of the ball’s feel and spin. Most tour balls, the Tour Preferred included, have a urethane cover which provides the softest and best spin in the sort game.
Together these layers and their engineering produce the following performance characteristics in the TaylorMade TP ball:
Low driver spin
Medium-high mid- to long-iron spin
High short iron and wedge spin
High spin inside of 100 yards
These characteristics are slightly different than the Tour Preferred X ball, which I will be reviewing soon. The difference between the two is that numbers two and three above are swapped. The X ball has medium mid- to long-iron spin and medium-high short iron and wedge spin.
Low driver spin means more accuracy off the tee and longer distance. High spin inside 100 yards means short game control.
On The Course
I don’t do TrackMan or FlightScope testing on my golf balls and clubs, just real world golf on real golf courses. If you need to know the exact spin rate off a 9-iron at X miles-per-hour swing speed with x-launch angle, there are other sites full of that information. Google it.
Off the tee the TP feels very solid and I can hit it as far as just about any other ball I’ve tested. I can feel the ball compress and I’m able to work the ball as needed, though my swing lately seems to only want to go straight or draw. Don’t ask me to hit a fade right now. I’ve hit a few massive drives (for me), and even some massive 3-woods with this ball.
Iron feel of the TP is excellent. The ball is soft enough for me to feel it on the face and tell if I’m clipping it just right, compressing it. Those pure shots produce pure results and birdie opportunities.
Inside 100 yards (admittedly my weakest link) I have plenty of spin. Sometimes I can actually clip the ball to crisply when pitching or chipping and it will check too much. That’s not the ball’s fault. It the fault of my skill level, short game distance control.
Lastly, the fee of the putter is great. The cover feels soft and I have total distance control with the flat stick.
Not Just For Tour Players
Over many years one of the main reasons amateurs were not well off hitting “tour” balls is because of the compression of the ball and maxiumum distance. High swing speeds were needed to get full compression out of them. That does not seem to be the case with the TP ball. I have a driver swing speed of about 100MPH, and 105 if I’m really killing it. With the right driver head, shaft, and this ball, I can hit them quite far. I don’t feel like I’m losing distance with the TP due to not having a high enough swing speed.
The other component to “tour” balls is the high spin. The engineering of this ball gives the player, amateur or pro, the high spin where it is needed in the shorter irons and short game. So once again, an amateur could benefit from playing this ball.
Conclusion
Whether you are an amateur or a pro, the TaylorMade Tour Preferred golf ball is a high performance option.
I’ve had the new FootJoy Hyperflex golf shoes in play now for about six months and probably a good 60-70 rounds of golf. That’s plenty of golf to determine a shoe’s performance not only out of the box, but after it has had a solid wear-in period. No flyby, surface-skimming reviews will be found here. No review will be written before its time…
FootJoy Hyperflex Golf Shoe – click to see more
Design & Technology
The HyperFlex features “FlexGrid” materials on the outside of the shoe. That’s the mesh you see. It gives the shoe strength but allows it to be flexible and also keep its shape over time.
The sole of the shoe is very cushy yet stable via FJ’s “FTF 2.0” technology. FTF is short for Fine-Tuned Foam.
The outsole features all sorts of traction enhancing components via FootJoy’s N.E.O. system. N.E.O. is short for Next Evolutionary Outsole. Yeah I know… who thinks these phrases up anyway?
The heel is stabilized by the OPS, “Optimized Performance Stabilizer.” Okay here’s where I’ll try my hand at FJ marketing: The Optimal Performance Stabilizer is very special. So we will call it “Special OPS.” Ha! I think I’ve found my next calling in life, golf marketing.
The toe is rounded and the heel narrow to provide a good fit across different sizes and foot styles and the “Fit-Bed” with “Next Gen HeelLoc” helps provide comfort but stability at the same time.
Looks & Style
FootJoy has been branching out on their designs and styles over the last few years. Two years ago it was the M:Project (still one of my favorites) and last year the D.N.A. golf shoe.
FootJoy Hyperflex Golf Shoes – click to see more
These certainly aren’t the old-style classic dress shoes with golf spikes on them.
Sizes/Colors
There are four color bases to the standard HyperFlex: black, white/gray/blue, gray/orange, navy/green (pictured here),
Standard sizes come in everywhere from 7-15 in men’s. A wide model is available in 7.5-13 and an extra-wide is available in 8-12.
There are three HyperFlex colors available with FJ’s “BOA” system, a reel which allows the wearer to custom tighten the shoe closure for a precise fit. Those are gray/blue/white, black/red, gray/orange.
On The Course
My requirements for golf shoes in order are:
Performance
Comfort
Style
The performance of the HyperFlex on the golf course is fantastic. I have a super solid base with which I can generate some great power in the golf swing. Aside from a time or two when the ground has been extremely wet or muddy, I’ve never slipped. I find that I draw the ball, especially my driver, more with these shoes. I believe it is because the left shoe is staying planted, and not slipping outward. This is helping me rotate around my spine angle, rather than moving laterally through it. If I change to different shoes, I don’t draw the ball as much.
Comfort, right out of the box. The HyperFlex is super comfortable. The cushioning and support all around the shoe really helps, especially when walking the course.
Style-wise I’ll admit they don’t quite match up with a few of my apparel scripts from a color standpoint. The photos here in this article show more of a green tint, but they seem to show some blue as well depending on the light source. The mesh is cool looking and I really dig the black trim.
Footjoy Hyperflex Golf Shoe – click to see more
Conclusion
I’ve been gaming the HyperFlex golf shoes for half a year and counting. After roughly 70 rounds of golf, they’re still comfortable and still provide superior stability and traction.
Related Links
For more shots of these cool looking golf shoes, check out the Hooked On Golf Blog FootJoy Hyperflex photo gallery.
The gear I bring to golf courses lately doesn’t seem to include golf clubs or a ball. I’ve been bringing one or more of my multi-rotor copters from my golf aerial photography/video fleet. Below is a shot I captured last weekend at Soldier Hollow, home of two great courses.
Aerial Photo: Soldier Hollow Golf Courses – click for more
In the photo above the closer holes are the “Silver” course, and the farther away holes on the side of the mountain are the “Gold” Course.
Below is a shot looking back the opposite direction, including the fantastic clubhouse on the right.
Soldier Hollow Golf Course and Clubhouse – Click for more
Unit folds into a very compact and easy to store size: 12.8″x26.4″x16.5″ folded
Weighs 16.8 lbs
4-wheel stability
Easy to push with large 10.75″ wheels
Accessory holder (car keys, phone, camera, etc)
Scorecard holder
Golf ball/tee holders
Umbrella holder (great for not only rain, but keeping you in the shade in the hot summer months)
On The Course
Before I get on course, let’s talk trunk to course. The unit is folded into a conveniently compact size at only about 13x17x26 inches. The trunk of my car is not big, but the cart fits fine along with my clubs.
After pulling the cart out of the trunk the unfolding and setup could not be easier. All that is required is to push ONE button. That’s it. That’s all folks. The unit unfolds like some kind of science fiction movie transforming robotic character. After a few seconds the unfolding is complete and you can slap your golf bag on it and be off to the first tee. I almost have more fun folding and unfolding this thing than I do playing golf. Check it out:
During the course of the round the EasyPal performs well. I have several 4-wheel push carts and it is just as easy to push as any other in my fleet (yes I have a fleet). I’ve played many rounds with this unit and still have yet to charge the battery. Obviously by the way, the battery needs to be charged before you can use it.
I’ve used the umbrella mount in rain and it does a great job. I like to use it in the hot summer with a large umbrella to keep the sun off me.
The accessory container is nice and big to hold the million things I seem to need to carry like my large cell phone, camera, golf pocket GPS, car keys, nutrition bars and so on.
When done with the round the one-button process is all that is needed to fold the unit up. One push and it folds by itself and then easily stores in the trunk of the car.
Pros
Obviously the auto folding and unfolding is a pro. The 4-wheel stability is a pro. The ease in which the unit glides over the fairways and even through some rough terrain is great. The accessory holder and scorecard holder are excellent.
Cons
This is not a motorized push cart. Just the folding is automated.
I find it funny that all these electronics, battery, charger, and extra weight are dedicated entirely to the folding and unfolding. So that the user can push this easy button, he/she then pushes around the extra weight of the battery and all the motors for 18 holes? My deal lately because of my thoughts on this has been to take the unit out, unfold it, take the battery out and leave it in the trunk while playing my round. That way I’m not hauling a battery around for miles for no reason…
The handle position is a little high on the unit and can’t be repositioned due to the folding gig. I’d like the handle to be a little lower. I’m not that tall.
Due to how narrow they are, the front wheels rub against the lower pockets in my golf bag. I have to remove the stuff from those pockets and push them down somehow to prevent the wheels from rubbing the bag.
It is important to remember to put the BRAKE on when folding or unfolding. On a hill once I started the unfolding and the cart started rolling away. I’m sure I expended more energy chasing the cart than I would have if I had to manually unfold it!
Conclusion
While unfolding this cart a gentleman in the parking lot at one of my local courses came over and inquired about it. He offered to buy it from me on the spot! There apparently is a demand for this type of thing! If you find your push cart to be inconvenient or too hard to fold or unfold, the GolferPal EasyPal just might be the answer for you. The awesome motorized features aside, it is a solid 4-wheel cart.
Naturally the press has gone into a complete Spiethgasm. Let’s face it, we haven’t see a player this good since Tiger Woods and the numbers prove it. By his 22nd birthday yesterday, Spieth had racked up five PGA Tour wins including two majors, the 2015 Masters and the 2015 U.S. Open. He’s already a lock for PGA Tour Player of the Year. When Tiger Woods was 22, he had six victories to his name, but only one major championship, the 1997 Masters.
For 15 years we’ve countlessly read and heard the nauseatingly repetitive debate in the press and on social media as to whether or not Tiger Woods would break Jack Nicklaus’s major championship record of 18. Woods has been sitting on 14 since 2008 and there is no part of his current game which would lead us to believe he will win even one more, let alone five more.
So the discussion has moved to Speith. At this early age he is already one major ahead of Tiger and unfortunately, that same discussion has begun: “Will Jordan Spieth break Jack Nicklaus’s major championship record?” Puhlease. Let’s not put the golf cart in front of the golfer. Even if he won two majors every year it would take him eight more years to tie Jack. So many things could happen between now and 18 majors for Spieth.
In my sick and twisted mind I thought it would be great to produce a top ten list of ways Spieth could guarantee failing to break Jack’s record. Someone had to do it. But 10 wasn’t enough.
Drumroll please… Top 15 ways Jordan Spieth can guarantee failing to break Jack Nicklaus’s major championship record:
#15: Retire early
#14: Baseline shifts
#13: Switch to an inferior golf club sponsor
#12: Unhealthy love affairs… with launch monitors
#11: Drop F-Bombs in front of small children
#10: Trash his body
#9: Treat the press and fans like crap
#8: Become a PR and brand puppet
#7: Become “Ranger Rick,” hitting flawless and perfect golf shots on the range but not being able to take them to the course
#6: Focus too much on “release patterns” and not enough on knocking a golf ball in the hole
#5: Focus too much on “traj” and not enough on knocking a golf ball in the hole
#4: Focus too much on “spin rates” and not enough on knocking a golf ball in the hole
#3: Fire swing coach and hire new one. Break swing down completely and rebuild it from scratch to “get better”
#2: Fire new swing coach and hire a newer one. Break swing down completely and rebuild it from scratch to get better… again.
I thought I’d seen it all in golf gadgets and accessories, but until the 
Naturally the press has gone into a complete Spiethgasm. Let’s face it, we haven’t see a player this good since Tiger Woods and the numbers prove it. By his 22nd birthday yesterday, Spieth had racked up five PGA Tour wins including two majors, the 2015 Masters and the 2015 U.S. Open. He’s already a lock for PGA Tour Player of the Year. When Tiger Woods was 22, he had six victories to his name, but only one major championship, the 1997 Masters.
HOGWire – Golf Industry News
