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 cast-urethane offering notable for soft feel. 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.
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.
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.
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 2022 TaylorMade Tour Response gets an overall grade of 93.
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Bruce Oglevie
1 week agoI 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.
Shawn Williams
3 months agoAre you sure about the Tour Response compression rating of 73?? The box says ultra low 40??
Thank you.
Simon H
2 months agoThe TM website lists them as 70 compression.
John M.
4 months agoTried a sleeve of the 2022 Tour Response balls this morning. These seemed very similar to the 2022 Bridgestone Tour B RX in terms of performance, sound, and feel. The feel is firm and the sound is a bit sharp and high-pitched to my ear. Thanks for providing all the great ball reviews and info.
FirGirBir
5 months agoI started playing the 2020 model mainly because the MGS ball test at time had it as one of the lowest spinning balls off the driver for my swing speed. I do get a lot of roll out with it and since then I’ve switched to the 2022 model. The carry seems to be slightly longer, maybe this is due to the new dimple pattern, but I haven’t noticed a huge difference. However, the iron and wedge spin seems to be higher with the 2022 model. I’m interested to see the data and how this ball fairs in the next MGS Best Golf Ball Test.
Tim
5 months agoUpon further review 10 yards shorter off the tee vs Snell MTB-X and Maxfli Tour- X
Rick P
5 months agoDid Dean Snell design this ball for them?
Are they part of the Snell ball ‘run’ in the factory (same ball different logo?) I know they are made in the same factory…
I wonder how they look cut in half – side by side?
Ps: I’m a long term Snell user.
cleve00
5 months agoCan you work on Srixon Z Star? Z Star won my favor over PV1 this year. Just not feeling the love with PV1 this cycle.
Mike
5 months agoSwitched from Bridgestone Tour RX to TM Tour Response. I have that the feel of the ball is better than BS. and performs better. Not mention the price.
Jim
5 months agoI’m a Snell MTB-X fan, and sometime MTB user as well. Have tried other balls but haven’t found any that exceed the performance of the Snell balls. And when you factor in price I can’t see buying something costing a lot more. And I like the idea that Snell designs the balls unlike Vice that simply buy a standard ball and just label it. The TM balls have been pretty good in the past and I played the previous version of this ball but can’t see using it if it costs more. Can’t see paying $40 or more for a dozen balls when there are alternatives equal or better in quality.
Momo
5 months agofrom your 2021 ball test I bought a dozen to see if I could get bit more distance as the MGS distance ratings were in the top 5 for off the tee and from the fairway (driver and 8 iron). I did like the ball, straight and long (for me) as well as fairly durable (cart paths and the odd tree that jumped in front of the ball). What I didn’t like as much was putting. for some reason it just seemed to not go when struck compared to my previous balls (Bridgestone B RX and Wilson Zip) and another I was testing (Titleist Velocity). For the difference of $15 a dozen and a better feel off the putter than the tour Response if moving to the Velocity.
Note: The people at Titleist (chat function) suggested I use the Velocity for best distance. I concur as it as long if not longer than others I’ve tried and it DOES stop on the green for me with hybrids, irons and wedges coming in. It works for me. I found it a tiny bit odd and also comforting that they would recommend a cheaper ball in person after their on-line fitting suggested one of their $50/dozen balls.
consistent 12 handicap
Dennis Beach
5 months agoTried a dozen of these last season. Lost all of them in about 4 rounds off the tee. Could not keep it in the fairway. That spin that is helping around the green is killing me off the tee. Sticking to 2-piece balls for now. Playing the TopFlite Hammer Control. In the fairway often and it’s not bad around the green. A little run out, but controllable. And if I lose one, not a big deal…
Andrew the Great!
5 months agoI have trouble keeping with, and deciphering, a ball’s evolution over time and its comparison to its successors.
I very much like the TaylorMade project (a) ball. But then I find out, I need to know, is it the 2018 version? Or the 2020 version? It’s no longer being made, so what is its closest cousin? I’ve played the TP5 and I like it…but which model year? Does it matter? And how can I tell WHICH model year I’m buying, since a golf shop may have inventory from last year, or the year before, etc.?
And of course the Tour Response has been around a bit now, but which ONE is on the shelf?
This is the thing that pisses me off most about golf balls: the ever-changing and/or disappearing models, and the inability (or just MY inability) to know what the hell I’m actually buying. And how to find a ball I can stick with over an extended period of time. Do I have to buy 5 dozen upfront, lest they discontinue it? I just get more and more fed up with the ever-changing lineup of models, and that’s just within ONE brand!
Luis
5 months agoTour Response is basically the Project (A) since 2020. Usually you can distinguish new from old balls by the box design.
Andrew the Great!
4 months agoYeah, but then you gotta know box designs, and the years they relate to!
Andrew the Great!
4 months agoThanks, Luis (and Tony, below). Good to know I can go with the Tour Response and be confident that it’s a ball I already know and like.
Tony Covey
5 months agoMost balls from the big OEMs are on 2-year cycles. There can be exceptions, for example, Callaway did 1 year between Chrome Soft releases with the prior-gen (and with CSX LS this time around) and some of the low-cost stuff will tend to kick around a little longer. The DTC guys typically have longer cycles and the reality is more than a few only release a new ball when their factory develops it.
That said, focusing on the two-year cycle products – when the product launches the packaging will almost invariably have the word “New” on it. As the product starts year two of the cycle, the packaging is updated with “New” removed, so that when the next gen ball launches, they can again put New back on the box and hopefully avoid confusion. It’s also true that the packaging itself updates from one release to the next. And yes, sometimes a ball evolves and gets a new name, like when Project (a) became Tour Response.
Tim
5 months agoSnell MTBX player. Tried a sleeve of TM Tour Response and Titleist Tour Speed. Intrigued by the higher ball flight and green side spin I am seeing with the Tour Response. Not impressed with the Tour Speed as a comparison. Still a Snell fan but will consider switching if I determine the Tour Response is as long as the Snell.
DaveyD
5 months agoMoved over to the Tour Response once Snell became no longer available in Canada via their Canadian website or their .com website, where Canada was not available as a shipping option. TR is an excellent ball, does what it is supposed to at a good price.
Whitey
5 months agoAlways factual information in these ball lab reports, but I’d like to know how it performs. Quality control is important, but that alone isn’t going to induce me to try a new ball. Many years ago when I was a two hcp, I played the Top flight Z-Balata, couldn’t discern a significant difference between that and the Prov 1 which was out of my price range. Some performance data launch, carry, spin etc at different swing speeds would make the ball lab useful , to me at least. Thanks.
Lou
5 months agoI’m with you. Performance is 90% of the deal. The Ball Lab means nothing if the performance is lousy. I don’t care how perfectly built an engine is. I want to know how a car drives. The same holds true with a golf ball. How it performs means eons more to me than whether it is perfect out of the box. I found the new Tour Response to look good, feel good, putt well and come up several yards short of a Tour Speed off the driver and fairway woods.
erock9174
5 months agoYou normally give if the ball is low/mid/high spin and low/mid/high launching at the beginning of the article. I didn’t see any of those metrics for the Tour Response. Can you comment on that?
Eric
5 months agoBeen using this ball for a few years, The only thing bad about it has been the price increase. I bought this 2 years ago a 28 for a dozen , now I can find them under 40
Golfinnut
5 months agoCurious on performance though?
Brent
5 months agoSaw this in my email and had to come leave a comment. I have loved this ball since I randomly started playing it at the beginning of the year. I have a 105+ mph driver swing speed and I still love this ball! Coming from a Snell Black it does most of what that ball does and is better feeling around the greens. Love the idea of the alingment stripe but makes it too hard to find in the rough so I stick with the all white. Love this ball!
Alex
5 months agoSame here, love the alignment stripe but it makes the ball harder to find in the rough, they need to meet the stripe the same bright yellow, not a light green… Haha
Dave
5 months agoAre these the same as the Tour Response with the big yellow stripe, or are those different?
Edsel
4 months agoDave, my ?? also.
Just received a gift doz. of the stripe model. On the box says copy rite 22, and compression 70.
MGS says tour response is 93?
John
5 months agoTony–
How will carry performance be impacted by the recent increase in diameter as compared to the previous generation of Tour Response?
Jay
5 months agoThere will be no difference. The change in size is hardly noticeable. My body plays this ball and smacks it 300 plus same as 2020 model
Lou
5 months agoGreat feel, putts well but the ball is short. Consistently 10 yards short of the Titleist TOUR Speed.
Dr Tee
5 months agoditto. prefer the Tour Speed which feels softer off the putter as well.