MyGolfSpy Ball Lab is where we quantify the quality and consistency of the golf balls on the market to help you find the best ball for your money. Today, we’re taking a look at the 2022 TaylorMade Tour Response. To learn more about our test process, how we define “bad” balls, check out our About MyGolfSpy Ball Lab page.
About the TaylorMade Tour Response
The Tour Response is TaylorMade’s offering in what can either be looked at as the “value urethane” category or urethane-designed for moderate swing speed golfers. It’s a three-piece offering with a cast urethane cover that’s notable for its soft feel – though it won’t be as soft as TaylorMade’s ionomer-covered Soft Response golf ball.
It’s also worth mentioning that the 2020 model was among the lowest-spinning balls we tested and, given that the most significant model-to-model upgrade is the addition of the Tour Flight dimple pattern found on the TP5, we don’t expect that will prove different with the new model.
Like many soft golf balls, Tour Response seeks to offset the ball speed penalty that comes with low compression by higher launch and lower spin. Also worth noting, the design elements that make a ball soft typically mean greenside spin rates aren’t as high as they are with firmer balls.
The Tour Response is manufactured by Foremost in Taiwan, though it should be pointed out that TaylorMade has made a significant investment in Foremost and has access to dedicated production lines which, in theory, offer them greater control over the manufacturing process.
TaylorMade Tour Response Golf Balls – Compression
On our gauge, the 2022 TaylorMade Tour Response has an average compression of 73. That’s one point firmer than the 2020 model. Suffice it to say that the compression is functionally identical. By way of comparison, that puts it within a couple of points of the prior-gen Bridgestone TOUR B RX and the Vice Pro Soft.
Taylormade Tour Response Golf Balls – Diameter and Weight
TaylorMade has habitually flirted with the USGA minimum diameter and occasionally has fallen on the wrong side of it. That seems to have changed with the 2022 Tour Response as not only did all of the sample conform to the USGA size rule but the average diameter of the sample places the Tour Response squarely in the average range for size. We can no longer say it’s a small ball.
None of the balls in our sample measured over the USGA weight limit. The overall weight of the balls falls in the range we define as light. While not as light as the Wilson Triad, it does suggest there could be just a little bit being left on the table here.
Inspection
Centeredness and Concentricity
With the 2022 TaylorMade Tour Response, we didn’t find a single concentricity defect significant enough to cause concern.
Core Consistency
We found no notable issues with core consistency including color. In the past, we’ve noted color variation and often miscellaneous bits of non-uniform material in TaylorMade cores. We observed none of that this time around, suggesting things may be tightening up at the factory.
Cover
No cover defects were noted.
TaylorMade Tour Response – Consistency
In this section, we detail the consistency of the 2022 TaylorMade Tour Response. Our consistency metrics provide a measure of how similar the balls in our sample were to one another relative to all of the models we’ve tested to date.
Weight Consistency
- Weight consistency for the 2022 TaylorMade Tour Response falls within the Good range.
- With an average weight of 1.6013 ounces, the sample is on the light side relative to the market as a whole.
Diameter Consistency
- Diameter consistency for the 2022 TaylorMade Tour Response falls within our Good range.
- As the chart shows, there’s very little variation between boxes.
Compression Consistency
- Compression consistency also qualifies as Good (above average).
- One could nitpick and say that Box 3 was slightly less consistent.
- Across the entire sample, the compression delta was only five points, which is among the very best we’ve tested.
True Price
True Price is how we quantify the quality of a golf ball. It's a projection of what you'd have to spend to ensure you get 12 good balls.
The True Price will always be equal to or greater than the retail price. The greater the difference between the retail price and the True Price, the more you should be concerned about the quality of the ball.
TaylorMade Tour Response – Summary
To learn more about our test process, how we define “bad” balls and our True Price metric, check out our About MyGolfSpy Ball Lab page.
This is far and away the best Ball Lab result for a TaylorMade golf ball and makes a strong argument that the current Tour Response is best in class among urethane-covered golf balls designed for moderate (i.e., slower) swing speed golfers.
The Good
- Above-average consistency across all the metrics we test
- No bad balls in the sample
The Bad
- Nothing to speak of.
At the time of review, the TaylorMade 2022 Tour Response gets an overall grade of 93.
Bruce Oglevie
2 years ago
I am 62 and have had several back surgeries including a fusion. Needless to say my turn has been reduced as my swing speed of low 80’s. Bought a dozen TM Tour Response and really like them. Hadn’t played a urethane ball in many years. The ball seems to be good for my speed as my distance, albeit crap compared to most of your guys, seem to be good. I really liked the spin around the green. Much better than the 2 piece E-6 I had been using.