What compression is the TaylorMade Tour Response?

BallCaddie lists the Tour Response at 74 compression, close to the 70 in Golf Monthly's 2025 review. An independent Ball Lab gauge read 71 on the 2021 ball and 73 on the 2022 model. The soft-sounding name oversells it. At 74 it sits firmer than the Srixon Soft Feel (~58) and the Callaway Supersoft (~49), and in the 2026 robot test it beat both for driver ball speed at all three swing speeds.

What swing speed is the TaylorMade Tour Response designed for?

The BallCaddie catalog targets the Tour Response at moderate swing speeds, roughly 90-105 mph. In the 2026 robot test it posted the 8th-lowest driver spin of 48 balls at about 102 mph, which takes curve off a moderate swing's miss. Golf Monthly's reviewer, who swings the driver around 120 mph, saw his ball speed drop against a TP5x and listed faster swings as the one reason to look elsewhere. Slightly slower swingers who still want a urethane cover can play it too — it's one of the softer urethane balls on the rack.

TaylorMade Tour Response or SpeedSoft - which should I play?

Play the Tour Response (~74) if you want a cast-urethane cover and the short-game spin that comes with it, for $42.99. Play the TaylorMade SpeedSoft (~50) — the 2-piece ionomer ball that took over the Soft Response's spot in TaylorMade's lineup — if you swing under about 95 mph, want the softest possible feel, and don't score on wedge spin. On a 35-yard wedge in the 2026 robot test the Tour Response spun about 5,430 rpm against the SpeedSoft's 4,070, and you pay $18 more a dozen for that urethane cover.

Does the TaylorMade Tour Response spin around the green?

Yes on short shots, and less on full ones. On a 35-yard wedge in the 2026 robot test the Tour Response spun about 5,430 rpm, 22nd of 48 balls, level with the Titleist Pro V1 (5,440) and well above ionomer value balls like the Srixon Soft Feel (4,590) and Callaway Supersoft (4,000). On a full wedge it ranked 30th of 48, and it had the lowest 7-iron spin of all 48 balls at fast and mid speeds. On a wet full wedge it dropped to about 7,860 rpm where the Srixon Q-Star Tour held 9,650. Expect check on chips and pitches, and more release on full approach shots than a premium tour ball gives you.

TaylorMade Tour Response or Srixon Q-Star Tour?

They're the two softest urethane balls in the value-tour tier, and the split is narrow. The Tour Response (~74) spun less off the driver in the 2026 robot test, about 2,490 rpm at 102 mph against 2,620; the Srixon Q-Star Tour (~70) is the softer of the two, spins more on a 35-yard wedge and, unlike the Tour Response, is flagged cold-weather suitable. Price favors Srixon at $39.99 against the Tour Response's $42.99. Pick the Tour Response for the lowest driver spin; pick the Q-Star Tour for a softer feel, a few dollars less, and cold-round versatility.

Is the TaylorMade Tour Response good in cold weather?

It's better in warm weather. The BallCaddie catalog flags the Tour Response as not cold-weather suitable, and its 74-compression core feels firm on a cold strike. Carry drops for every ball in the cold — about 1 to 2 yards per 10°F from the air alone, and more when the ball itself is cold — so store sleeves indoors and rotate two through a warm pocket. If you want a softer feel for shoulder-season rounds in the same urethane value-tour tier, the Srixon Q-Star Tour (~70) is the pick.

TaylorMade Tour Response Review (2026): The 74-Compression Urethane Ball at a Value Price

Quick answer

The TaylorMade Tour Response is a 3-piece ball with a cast urethane cover, about 74 compression, and a $42.99 MSRP. It fits moderate swing speeds (90-105 mph) that want low driver spin, soft feel and a urethane cover’s grip on short shots without paying premium-tour money. In the 2026 robot test it was the 3rd-longest of 48 balls off the driver at 116 mph, had the lowest 7-iron spin of the field at fast and mid speeds, and ranked 22nd for spin on a 35-yard pitch and 30th on a full wedge. On chips and pitches it checks where ionomer value balls release; on full irons it flies long and spins less than a premium tour ball. The best fit is a mid-handicap golfer who wants distance and soft feel under a urethane cover.

Where the Tour Response sits among value-tour urethane balls

Ball	Compression	Cover	Layers	35-yard pitch spin	MSRP
TaylorMade Tour Response	~74	Urethane	3	22nd of 48	$42.99
Srixon Q-Star Tour	~70	Urethane	3	10th of 48	$39.99
Maxfli Tour	~94	Urethane	3	12th of 48	$39.99

Compression and MSRP values come from the BallCaddie catalog, and the pitch-spin ranks come from the 2026 robot test of 48 balls. The table places the Tour Response in the middle of the value-tour urethane tier on firmness — and, at $42.99, the priciest of the sub-$45 group. Its argument is soft feel and low driver spin under a real urethane cover.

That last point is what separates this tier from the soft value balls one rung down. The Callaway Supersoft (~49) and Srixon Soft Feel (~58) are ionomer balls that release around the green. The Tour Response is cast urethane, so on chips and pitches it spins more than they do. The full trade-off is laid out in urethane vs. ionomer covers.

The name undersells the firmness. TaylorMade sold the original 2020 Tour Response on an “ultra-low 40 compression core,” and the finished ball measures mid-compression. Golf Monthly’s 2025 review lists 70, and MyGolfSpy’s Ball Lab gauge read 71 on the 2021 ball and 73 on the 2022 model. The golf ball compression chart plots every model on one calibrated gauge if you want the full market map.

What the Tour Response is

The Tour Response is where TaylorMade’s ball line crosses from ionomer distance balls into urethane covers. Below it sit the 2-piece ionomer Noodle Long and Soft (~69) and Distance+ (~77) — durable, low-spin, little greenside bite — plus the newer SpeedSoft (~50), TaylorMade’s softest ionomer ball. Above it sit the premium 5-layer TP5 (~93) and TP5x at $57.99.

The construction is a three-piece ball with a 100% cast urethane cover. TaylorMade’s 2025 update brought the Speed Wrapped Core and a High Flex Material (HFM) layer from the TP5 line into the Tour Response, according to Golf Monthly’s 2025 review. The 2026 model, released April 16, 2026, keeps that core and cover and adds microcoating, a thinner and more even paint layer TaylorMade also uses on the 2026 TP5 and TP5x.

At $42.99 per dozen it lands at the top of the value-tour price band, still $15 under the TP5, and the current model appears on the USGA conforming ball list for tournament play. Verify the exact colorway before a competition, since the list updates regularly.

Performance

The 2026 robot test of 48 balls changed the read on the Tour Response. It was one of the longest balls in the field off the driver and the 7-iron, it spun less than almost everything on full swings, and on a 35-yard wedge it spun level with a Pro V1, 22nd of 48.

Driver

Off the tee the Tour Response spins low. In MyGolfSpy’s 2026 robot test it had the 8th-lowest driver spin of 48 balls at about 102 mph (roughly 2,490 rpm, against 2,800 for a Titleist Pro V1), and less spin means less curve on a moderate swing’s miss. It was long, too: 3rd of 48 in total driver distance at about 116 mph and 12th at 102 mph, ahead of the TP5 at both speeds. At about 86 mph it fell to 32nd, around 5 yards behind the Pro V1 that led that test, so slower swings get the soft feel and the straight flight but no distance bonus.

Irons and approach

With the irons the Tour Response plays like a distance ball. It had the lowest 7-iron spin of all 48 balls at the fast and mid test speeds (about 5,680 and 5,520 rpm) and the 3rd-lowest at the slow speed, and it was the longest 7-iron ball in the field at the fast and slow speeds. You’ll likely gain yards on approach shots and see more release once the ball lands; at the fast speed a Pro V1 spun about 850 rpm more. Feel is balanced — soft enough for touch, firm enough that crisp contact doesn’t go mushy the way it can on a 49-compression ball.

Greenside spin

Short-shot spin is where the urethane cover pays for itself. On the 35-yard wedge in the 2026 robot test the Tour Response spun about 5,430 rpm, within 15 rpm of the Pro V1 and roughly 830 rpm more than the Srixon Soft Feel (~58) and 1,430 more than the Callaway Supersoft (~49). Full wedges are less convincing. It spun about 10,180 rpm dry, 30th of 48 and a few hundred under the Pro V1 and TP5, and fell to about 7,860 rpm with a wet face, where the Q-Star Tour held 9,650. TaylorMade’s own comparison chart rates its wedge spin “Mid” against “Highest” for the TP5.

Putter feel

Off the putter the Tour Response is soft but not dead, the predictable result of a 74-compression core under a thin urethane cover. It avoids both the spongy feel of an ultra-soft ionomer ball and the click of a firm tour ball. If a Pro V1x feels too firm to you and a Supersoft too mushy, this ball sits between them.

Tour Response vs the soft ionomer line

The Tour Response has a soft-ionomer sibling, and the two play nothing alike. TaylorMade’s softest 2-piece ionomer ball is now the SpeedSoft (~50), which took over the Soft Response’s spot in the lineup — a low-compression, high-launch ball for swings under about 95 mph that want maximum softness and straight distance at $24.99. The Tour Response is the urethane step up, with more spin on short wedges, a firmer feel and a $42.99 price.

The split is cover material and price. You pay $18 more a dozen for the Tour Response’s cast urethane cover, and the 2026 robot test shows what it buys on a 35-yard wedge: about 5,430 rpm against the SpeedSoft’s 4,070. A slow swinger chasing pure feel has cheaper ionomer places to look.

Tour Response vs the value-tour urethane field

Inside the urethane value-tour tier, two rivals matter. The Srixon Q-Star Tour (~70) is the closest match — nearly the same compression, more spin off the driver, 7-iron and 35-yard wedge in the 2026 robot test, $3 cheaper, and flagged cold-weather suitable where the Tour Response isn’t. The full Srixon Q-Star Tour review covers it in depth, and for most shoppers cross-shopping these two, cold-weather play and price break the tie.

The Maxfli Tour (~94) is a firm, high-compression urethane ball built for 105-plus mph swings, covered alongside the rest of the family in the Maxfli golf ball review. The Tour Response is the pick when low spin and distance matter most. If you want more iron and wet-wedge spin or play in the cold, the Q-Star Tour is the better buy.

Tour Response vs a premium TP5

Most buyers are deciding whether to save $15 over a TP5 (~93). For a 90-105 mph mid-handicapper, the Tour Response matched or beat the TP5 for driver distance in the 2026 robot test and came within about 160 rpm of it on the 35-yard wedge, so the best value golf ball math usually favors keeping the $15. The TP5 buys spin on full shots: about 1,000 rpm more on a fast 7-iron and about 2,350 rpm more on a wet full wedge. That pays off for faster, more consistent ball-strikers who need approach shots to stop — the case laid out in Pro V1 vs TP5. If you swing over 105 mph or play off a single-digit handicap, the premium ball earns its price.

Tour Response Stripe

TaylorMade also sells the Tour Response Stripe, the same ball with a 360-degree alignment stripe for lining up putts and tee shots, listed at $45.99. TaylorMade and Golf Monthly both describe it as the standard Tour Response with the stripe added, and the 2026 version comes in new Clear and Mint colors. If you use a line to aim, it’s worth the $3; if you don’t, buy the standard ball.

Swing-speed fit

The Tour Response’s window is moderate, roughly 90-105 mph driver speed, and the mechanics are covered in the swing-speed pillar at how to choose the right golf ball for your swing speed: a mid-compression ball feels soft for a moderate swing while staying firm enough to hold ball speed. TrackMan’s amateur data puts the average male golfer’s driver swing at 94 mph, inside the Tour Response’s range.

Above 105 mph a firmer 5-layer ball gives you more iron and wedge spin to hold greens. Slower swingers who still want a urethane cover can play the Tour Response — it’s one of the softer urethane balls available — but those chasing pure soft feel and distance under 90 mph get more from an ionomer value ball. The best golf ball for a mid handicapper guide is the better entry point if you’re shopping by skill level rather than swing speed.

Who should play it

Your driver swing speed is in the 90-105 mph range and you want a urethane cover without premium-tour pricing.
You want chips and pitches that check more than an ionomer ball’s do.
You’re a mid-handicapper stepping up from an ionomer distance ball and want the short-game upgrade.
You want soft feel and low driver spin in the same ball.

Who should skip it

You swing over 105 mph or play off a low single-digit handicap — the 5-layer TaylorMade TP5 adds iron and wedge spin at your speed.
You play a lot of cold-weather golf. The Tour Response feels firm on a cold strike; the Srixon Q-Star Tour is the model the catalog flags as cold-weather suitable in the same tier.
You swing under 90 mph and don’t score on greenside spin. A softer ionomer ball like the TaylorMade SpeedSoft (~50) costs $18 less a dozen.

The next step

The Tour Response earns a sleeve trial for any moderate-speed golfer who wants a urethane cover and low driver spin without paying $58 a dozen. BallCaddie is brand-neutral and doesn’t sell balls.

Take the 90-second BallCaddie fitting quiz and we’ll score the full catalog against your swing speed, miss pattern, greenside priority, and budget. Your fitting report is free; your #1 ball is paid. The report tells you when the value-tour tier is the right answer and when a premium ball or a cheaper ionomer ball fits you better.

Related guides:

How to choose the right golf ball for your swing speed - the swing-speed pillar mapping speed bands to compression and spin tiers, with the 90-105 mph case the Tour Response is built for.
Golf ball compression chart - the compression pillar plotting every ball on one calibrated gauge, including where the Tour Response’s ~74 lands among the urethane field.
Urethane vs. ionomer golf balls - why the Tour Response’s cast urethane cover spins where ionomer value balls release, and when the upgrade pays for itself.
Srixon Q-Star Tour review (2026) - the closest value-tour urethane rival at ~70 compression, and the cold-weather and price split that decides between them.
Maxfli golf ball review - the four-model Maxfli family, including the firmer Maxfli Tour that competes for the same value-tour dollar.
Best value golf ball in 2026 - value-tier picks at every swing speed, from ionomer two-piece balls to discount urethane like the Tour Response.
Pro V1 vs TP5 - the premium step-up inside the comparison, for players deciding whether the 5-layer construction is worth the extra $15.

Key takeaways

The Tour Response is a 3-piece cast-urethane value-tour ball: ~74 compression (71 and 73 on the 2021 and 2022 Ball Lab gauge runs), listed at $42.99 in the BallCaddie catalog.
It fits moderate swings, 90-105 mph. Low driver spin straightens misses, and it ranked 12th of 48 for driver distance at about 102 mph in the 2026 robot test.
Short-wedge spin is the reason to pay for urethane. At 35 yards it matched a Pro V1 (22nd of 48 for spin) and checks where the Srixon Soft Feel and Callaway Supersoft release. On a full wedge it ranked 30th.
It’s the priciest of the value-tour urethane tier — the softer Srixon Q-Star Tour undercuts it on price and adds cold-weather suitability.
Above 105 mph, step up to the TP5. The 5-layer build spun about 1,000 rpm more on a fast 7-iron and held its spin on a wet wedge.
The Tour Response Stripe is the same ball with a 360-degree alignment stripe at $45.99.

Sources

Golf Monthly, TaylorMade 2025 Tour Response golf ball review
MyGolfSpy, 2026 golf ball test