TaylorMade has expanded its golf ball line-up, led by the TP5 and TP5x models, with the release of an updated 2018 Project (a) model and the introduction of the new Project (s).
TaylorMade Project (a) 2018 Golf Ball
First introduced in 2014 the TaylorMade Project (a) is designed to give golfers Tour-level performance in a three piece construction at an attractive price.
The Project (a) was updated in 2016, following the trend for softer, lower compression balls whilst maintaining the greenside spin provided by a cast urethane cover.
The 2018 version sees the next step in the evolution of Project (a) with the introduction of ball technologies that make it significantly longer than ever before.
Michael Fox, Category Director, Golf Ball & Accessories, highlights the USP of the Project (a):
100% of worldwide Tours use a golf ball with a Urethane cover, while 0% use Surlyn. 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?
At the heart of the latest Project (a) is a dual core whose elements combine to give the ball its playing characteristics. A larger, softer inner core takes off unwanted spin while helping to maintain a high level of feel. Next to this is a stiffer outer core that allows for increased rebound and velocity. As well as reducing driver and long iron spin, the outer core helps to compress the soft cast urethane cover between the clubface at impact, creating more greenside spin.
The cover of the Project (a) now uses the same 322 dimple pattern as found on the TP5 and TP5x tour golf ball models, resulting in greater distance thanks to a more aerodynamic dimple pattern that creates less drag.
TaylorMade Project (s) Golf Ball
The new Project (s) is designed to give players an even softer feel while still delivering low spin and distance from the driver, making it a ball TaylorMade says is unlike any in its sector, giving amateurs both soft feel and distance in one ball.
Eric Loper, TaylorMade's golf ball R&D Director explains:
The new multilayer design incorporates a softer yet resilient dual distance core that maintains 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.
Using a similar Dual-Distance Core to that found in the Project (a) means that the Project (s) has a decreased overall compression (60, 10 less than Project (a)) whilst maintaining rebound and feel. The core is a two-layer system with a large, low compression inner core that reduces unwanted driver spin and gives the ball a soft feel. Next to this is an outer core made from a softer-resilient polymer that also improves feel and maintains high ball velocities.
Thanks to the high COR of the Dual-Distance Core, TaylorMade engineers are able to use a soft ionomer cover on the Project (s) to improve feel and control around the green. Compared to competitor balls in this space, TaylorMade says the ball has the softest cover providing more greenside spin and feel.
That cover features a high-lift 342LDP dimple pattern, which in combination with the lower backspin construction, reduces drag throughout the golf ball's flight for more distance.
As well as white, the Project (s) continues a market trend seen recently in the Callaway Superhot Bold and the Titleist Velocity, with UV resistant matte yellow and a matte orange finishes also available.