What Golf Ball Does Garrett Clark Use?

Garrett Clark, the force behind GM Golf, uses the TaylorMade TP5 and TP5x golf balls. His choice is a direct reflection of his high-speed, powerful game, but what works for him might not be the right fit for you. This article will break down aeverything about his ball of choice, explain why it suits his aggressive style, and most importantly, guide you through a simple process to find the perfect ball for your own unique game.

Garrett Clark's On-Course Ammunition: The TaylorMade TP5 & TP5x

If you've watched any of Garrett's YouTube videos, you've seen the TaylorMade logo on his hat, bag, and clubs. As a sponsored TaylorMade athlete, it’s no surprise that he trusts their premium golf ball offerings. He primarily games either the TaylorMade TP5 or its slightly firmer counterpart, the TaylorMade TP5x.

This isn't just a blind sponsorship decision, choosing between these two balls allows him to fine-tune his performance. Think of it like a pro driver having different tire compounds for different tracks. On some days, or for certain types of shots (like those beautiful flighted stingers), the feel and spin profile of one ball might be preferable over the other. The core takeaway is that he uses a premium, tour-level golf ball designed for maximum performance across every facet of the game, from the driver to the putter.

Why the TP5? A Look Under the Hood

You see "tour ball" thrown around a lot, but what does that actually mean? Why would a player with Garrett's abilities - and a player aspiring to get better - choose a ball like the TP5 over a simpler, two-piece distance ball? It all comes down to its multi-layer construction.

Tour balls like the TP5 and TP5x are not just simple spheres, they are sophisticated pieces of engineering with multiple distinct layers, each serving a specific purpose. They feature a 5-piece construction, which is what separates them from most other balls on the market.

The 5-Layer System Explained

• The Core: At the very center is a large, low-compression core. The job of the core is to act like a slingshot, especially at the high swing speeds generated by a driver. When you compress the ball at impact, this soft core springs back into shape, launching the ball with high speed and low spin for maximum distance off the tee.
• The Mantle Layers: Surrounding the core are multiple "mantle" layers of increasing stiffness. TaylorMade calls this their Speed-Layer System. Imagine it as a series of walls that get progressively firmer as you move outward. When you hit a driver, the force of the strike travels all the way to the core. On shorter shots with irons and wedges, however, the force might only engage the outer layers. This layered stiffness is the secret sauce: it allows the ball to be low-spinning and fast off the driver but high-spinning and soft on approach shots.
• The Urethane Cover: The outermost layer is a soft, cast urethane cover. This is your "spin" layer. When you hit a wedge, the grooves on the clubface grab this soft cover, generating a massive amount of backspin. This is what allows Garrett to hit those impressive drop-and-stop shots on the green. A harder ionomer cover, found on most distance balls, simply won't spin as much around the greens.

TP5 vs. TP5x: What's the Difference?

So, why would Garrett switch between the two? While they share the 5-layer design, there are subtle but important differences:

• TaylorMade TP5: This is the softer of the two. It provides the highest level of spin on wedge and iron shots, offering ultimate control around the greens. It has a slightly lower flight than the TP5x on iron shots. A player chooses the TP5 when they want the absolute maximum in greenside feel and stopping power.
• TaylorMade TP5x: This ball feels firmer and is the faster of the two. It launches higher with the driver and has slightly less spin on iron shots, resulting in a more piercing ball flight that can be advantageous in windy conditions. It's built for raw speed and distance without sacrificing too much control.

Garrett's choice on any given day likely comes down to course conditions, how he's feeling, and the specific shots he wants to pull off. It's a level of optimization that comes with being a highly skilled player.

How Garrett's Ball Choice Complements His Playing Style

Choosing a golf ball isn't random, it's about matching equipment to strengths. Garrett Clark’s game is built on two pillars: explosive power and creative shot-making. The TP5/TP5x is perfectly engineered to support both.

Power and Speed

Garrett has an athletic, high-speed swing. To translate that speed into maximum ball velocity and distance, he needs a ball that can handle it without creating excessive driver spin. Too much spin off the tee causes the ball to "balloon" upwards, robbing it of forward momentum and distance. The multi-layer construction of the TP5/TP5x keeps driver spin low, turning his high clubhead speed into a penetrating, powerful ball flight.

Finesse and Control

If Garrett's channel was just about hitting long drives, it wouldn't be as compelling. What makes GM Golf so watchable is the creativity - the low stingers, the high, soft flop shots, the laser-guided wedge approaches. This is where the urethane cover really earns its keep. It gives him the high spin and soft feel necessary to command the golf ball on approach shots. He has the confidence to fire at flags because he knows his ball has the stopping power to hold the green. This soft cover is what allows for the manipulation of spin and trajectory that defines his all-around game. Without it, those signature shots would be far more difficult to execute repeatably.

Should You Play Garrett Clark's Ball? A Coach's Perspective

Now for the big question: Just because the TP5 is the right choice for Garrett, does that mean it’s the right choice for you? It's tempting to think that using a "better" ball will automatically make you a better player, but the answer is more nuanced.

Playing a tour-level ball like the TP5 when it doesn’t fit your game can actually be detrimental. Here’s why:

• Swing Speed: To fully activate the core and multiple mantle layers of a tour ball, you need a certain amount of swing speed. For players with slower swing speeds (say, under 90 mph with the driver), a two-piece or three-piece ball with a lower overall compression might actually provide more distance because it's easier to compress.
• Unwanted Spin: The same high-spin urethane cover that gives Garrett incredible control can amplify mistakes for a mid-to-high handicapper. If you struggle with a slice or a hook, the extra sidespin generated by a urethane cover can make that miss even more pronounced. A lower-spinning ball with a firmer cover might help you keep the ball in play more often.
• Price: Let's be practical. A dozen premium tour balls costs a significant amount of money. If you’re worried about losing a $5 ball on every other hole, you’re not going to swing freely and confidently. Playing a more affordable ball that you aren't afraid to lose is often better for your score and your mindset.

Playing the TP5 isn't about buying Garrett's score, it's about choosing a ball that will optimize your performance based on your swing and priorities.

A Simple Process for Finding Your Own "TP5"

Ball fitting doesn't have to be a complicated, data-driven process. You can learn a ton about what works for you with a little focused testing on the course. Here’s a simple, step-by-step approach I recommend to my students.

Step 1: Start Around the Greens

Forget the driver for a moment. Go to the chipping and putting green. Hit putts, chips, and short pitch shots with a few different ball models. Pay close attention to two things:

• Feel: Do you prefer a "clicky," firm feel off the putter face, or a soft, "marshmallow" feel? There's no right answer, it's pure preference.
• Spin: Hit a few 20-30 yard pitch shots. Does the ball check up after one hop and stop, or does it release and run out several feet? Which result do you prefer to have in your short game arsenal? Your first impression of a ball should come from chipping and putting, where feel is most apparent.

Step 2: Move to Your Irons

Next, take the two or three balls you liked best around the green and hit some mid-iron shots (like a 7-iron). Observe the ball flight. Are you looking for a higher flight to help you stop the ball on the green? Or do you need a lower, more penetrating flight to combat the wind? A mid-range Surlyn ball might fly lower, while a tour model like the TP5 will generally offer a higher trajectory and more spin, which is great if you have the swing speed to support it.

Step 3: Finish on the Tee Box

Finally, hit some drives. This is less about finding the absolute longest ball and more about finding the one that gives you the best combination of distance and dispersion. If you hit a tour ball and a two-piece distance ball roughly the same distance but the distance ball consistently lands in the fairway, that’s a huge win. Taming your big miss off the tee leads to lower scores much faster than an extra five yards of carry.

Test a sleeve of 2-3 different models head-to-head on the course over a full round. Don't' just hit them on the range. Seeing how they react in real playing situations is the only way to find your perfect match.

Final Thoughts

Garrett Clark chooses the TaylorMade TP5 and TP5x because they are finely tuned instruments that match his powerful, skillful approach to the game. Seeing a player's equipment choices gives us a wonderful window into what makes them successful, but the ultimate goal is not to copy them - it's to understand the 'why' behind their choices and apply that same logic to our own game.

Understanding cause-and-effect in your own game - like knowing which ball suits you or what shot to play from a tough lie - is the foundation of confident golf. I wanted to make that expert-level thinking accessible to every golfer, which is why we built our app. Using Caddie AI acts as a personal golf mind in your pocket, it can analyze a difficult predicament from a photo and give you a smart strategy, or answer course management questions in seconds. It’s about taking the guesswork out of the equation so you can play smarter and with more confidence on every shot.