Introduction
The Tour Response is TaylorMade’s softest premium golf ball. It’s popular amongst players looking for tour-level performance with a softer feel. TaylorMade released a new version of TP5 and TP5x at the start of the year with some big changes that have followed down to the Tour Response. With that said, we’re putting the new version head-to-head with the 2025 model to see what’s changed and how it performs. Check out our full TaylorMade Tour Response golf ball review below…
Keywords
taylormade, tour response, soft, premium golf ball
NCG Summary & rating
NCG SUMMARY
Tour Response is designed as TaylorMade’s softest premium golf ball, sitting just below the TP5 range while still using tour-level materials.
It features a low-compression core for a very soft feel, combined with a 100% urethane cover for better spin and control around the greens. New for 2026 is microcoating technology, which helps improve consistency in ball flight, peak height, and dispersion.
Overall, it’s built to give golfers a soft feel, good distance, and tour-style short game performance, but in a more forgiving and accessible package than full tour balls.
PROS
- Soft feeling
- Great wedge spin
- Good driver distance
CONS
- Spin from the driver produced slightly more spin than desired
Key Facts
| Driver Spin | Low |
| Driver Flight | Low |
| Iron spin | Mid-Low |
| Wedge spin | Mid |
| Feel | Soft |
| Cover | 100% Cast Urethane |
| Construction | 3 piece |
| Compression | 70 |
Key benefits and downsides
| Key benefits | Downsides |
|---|---|
| Wedge performance – improved wedge performance courtesy of more spin and better launch angle. | Spin – driver spin was a bit high |
| Driver distance – improved driver distance | |
| Soft feel – nice soft feel off the club face |
First Impressions
I’ve been a big fan of the TaylorMade Tour Response in recent years, with it being my go to ball in winter as it’s a little softer than what I usually play. So, with that said I was excited to see what a new Tour Response had to offer.
The packaging very much still lets you know that it’s a Tour Response, sticking with the green colourway. I tested out the stripe version but other than looks does the exact same thing as the standard ball.
Construction
The 2026 Tour Response is built with tour-inspired technology in a softer, more accessible package. At the centre is a Speed Wrapped Core, which uses a soft inner core and firmer outer layer to create faster ball speeds while maintaining a soft feel. A SpeedMantle™ layer sits between the core and cover to increase energy transfer to help generate more speed at impact.
The 100% cast urethane cover now features TaylorMade’s new microcoating technology. This means that there is ultra-thin and more consistent surface coating to improve aerodynamics, helping produce more reliable peak height, tighter dispersion, and more consistent ball flight. This is combined with a Tour Flight Dimple Pattern.
How I undertook the review
I took the new Tour Responses out on the course at Hickleton where I play most of my golf to use for a couple of rounds. I also used Trackman to gather data as well as using a previous generation Tour Response to compare the differences.
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What I found
Data
In this review I tested both the new 2026 Tour Response and the previous model. I wanted to compare and see what the new ball had to offer. I did this outdoors using a Trackman to gather data and worked from 58°, 7 iron and then driver to show how it performed throughout the bag.
Starting with the pitch shots, the table below shows the 2026 data at the top and the previous model Tour Response below. Straight away one of the biggest differences I saw was the improved spin rates. Last year’s model had an average spin rate of 5400 RPM compared to the 2026 that averaged 6609 RPM. I also saw that launch angle dropped down from an average of 33 degrees compared to the new rate of 29.7 degrees which is in a much better launch window for this length of shot.
Moving onto 7 iron, again the data table below shows the 2026 model at the top and last years below. There wasn’t as much variation between these two which is a credit to TaylorMade as both are fantastic golf balls. There was some differences in spin rates due to different strike patterns as shown with the launch angles. Both balls gave a nice amount of highest and respectable carry numbers.
Off the face there wasn’t a great deal of difference between the two, they both offer a soft feel at impact that is backed up with a soft sound. There was been no change in compression both at 70.
With driver I saw a mixture of results. The carry distance went from 211.3 yards with last years model to 218.3 yards with the 2026 Tour Response – a real win!
Ball speed didn’t differ too much between models but the launch angle of the 2026 model was up. This crept up the average height, land angle and spin rates. This ball is designed for lower driver spin, 2401 RPM isn’t overly high but it is higher than the previous model.
Around the greens the Tour Response had a nice feel. Chipping with it you got that quiet noise off the face with the soft feel. It didn’t run out too much and still could get it to check up.
How it compares to the previous Tour Response model
TaylorMade has made significant gains upping the wedge spin on the 2025 model. It also produces extra yards of the tee combined with a slightly improved softer feel. It is definitely an improvement on the previous model.
NCG Final Say
Overall, I really like the TaylorMade Tour Response. If you’re looking for a premium quality golf ball that’s just going to be a little softer this is a great option.
Price information
RRP: £37.99 / $42.99
More info: TaylorMade website
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