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Review: Taylormade M2 Driver

Sometimes Less is More

Most often we want products with all the bells and whistles; the more the better. We’ve gotten accustomed to hearing that we need adjustable drivers to really maximize our potential off the tee. If you have a slice, you can cure it with an adjustment to the hosel and a sliding weight. If you want higher or lower ball flight, you can change the CG forward or backward. But sometimes all those options cause us to be more confused. Take the Taylormade M1 driver, it is the most adjustable driver you can find. but if you take away all those adjustments you get the M2. Surprisingly it was longer than the M1 for me.

I played the M1 430 for the end of the 2015 season and the beginning of the 2016 season with great success. I was fit for it at the launch event Taylormade hosted back in Oct. I was also at the launch event for the M2 at the PGA show in Orlando this Jan. I didn’t actually get the M2 in hand until late March, just in time for my trip to Bandon Dunes. I ordered my M2 with one of the 28 no upcharge shafts, the Matrix Black Tie. I knew I wanted a lower launching, low spinning shaft to combo with this head. What surprised me was head to head on my Flightscope X2 launch monitor, the M2 ended up being longer than the M1.

If you look at the crown of the Taylormade M1 and M2 they look exactly the same. I can only tell mine apart because I have the M1 430 but the 460 models are identical at address. It is the insides and sole that are different. The M2 has a huge speed pocket and a fixed weight low and back. The M1 has the T-track system of sliding weights. So cosmetically they are very similar drivers, but internally much different.

Your decision is going to come down to a matter of fitting. Can you get the numbers and results you need with the M2 or do you need more adjustability of the M1. Going through the fitting process should help you figure those things out. I will say that the M1 can do more with regards to fitting adjustments and swing tweaks. The M2 is really just about bombing with decent forgiveness.

My first swing with the Taylormade M2 was impressive to say the least. 285 yards pretty much right down the middle is a good thing. I was consistently the longest driver in the 4-some. It hits the ball fairly high for a 9.5 degree head, but with the Matrix Black Tie shaft it keeps it flat and strong with good roll out. I put this driver in the bag for an epic trip to Bandon Dunes. I was really happy with the results. I had a couple swings that you’d wonder if I ever played golf before that no driver could help, but when I made anything resembling a golf swing, the results were great. It was fun watching the low spinning shots bounce down the hard fairways. Even into the wind, I was able to keep the flight under control.

The Taylormade M2 is fairly forgiving with the low and back CG of this club. I wouldn’t say it is the most forgiving driver I’ve hit, but certainly in the upper echelon for forgiveness. You can miss the center of the face and still find the fairway with good length. I think that the huge Speed Pocket is the real deal for helping maintain distance and direction, especially on hits low on the face. The face has really good pop, like you would expect from a Taylormade driver. The new sound of the “unmetal” heads is fine tuned nicely. It isn’t quite the old Taylormade metallic, but a nicely muted crack at impact.

Flightscope X2 Launch Monitor

TaylorMade M1 430 Driver
- Spin: 1865 rpms
- Launch Angle: 14.7*
- Dispersion: 7.3 yds
- Club Head Speed: 103.1 mph
- Ball Speed: 152.1 mph
- Total Distance: 281.9 yds
- Carry Distance: 265.9 yds

Flightscope X2 Launch Monitor

TaylorMade M2 Driver
- Spin: 1821 rpms
- Launch Angle: 15.1*
- Dispersion: 7.0 yds
- Club Head Speed: 103.2 mph
- Ball Speed: 152.6 mph
- Total Distance: 286.7 yds
- Carry Distance: 267.9 yds

As you can see from the numbers above, there are some differences, but it isn’t drastic. I’m guessing that I might be able to change the M1 numbers slightly too by making some more adjustments to the sliding weights. The M2 however gets pretty good numbers right “off the rack.” I also think that taking advantage of the no-charge upgrade shafts is worth it too. Taylormade has some really great options to fit your swing needs.

If pure distance is your main goal with a driver, the Taylormade M2 is going to be hard to beat. If you want something that can be adjusted to your swing or really want to do more with your ball flight, then the M1 is probably a better fit for you. Also if you prefer the smaller footprint of the 430 head, then the M1 is your only option. But based on my head to head testing on the course, I think I might stick with the pure distance of the M2; because sometimes less is more.

Check the price online here

For more information: www.taylormadegolf.com

Quick Hits:
+Same look as M1
+Great sound
+Huge Speed Pocket
+Long
+Fairly forgiving

–No adjustments

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