November 30, 2015 – TaylorMade Golf has got us into the “bad” habit of pushing beyond our limit every time it launches a new driver. And there’s no question that with the new M1… it’s done it again. The buzz created by the spectacular global launch in early September has been reflected throughout the professional tours, and for MyGolfWay.com the time has come to take that enthusiasm onto the course. So we’ve gone out to CG Sant Cugat (Barcelona, Spain).

The M1 driver is different and innovative, but not absolutely new, as the construction materials have previously been used and proven by the golf industry. However, the combination and proportion of these materials, together with the technology of TaylorMade Golf, is what makes it unique and makes this driver stand out.

For example, how the crown is made, lighter with carbon composite, which helps shift the weight and therefore the centre of gravity (CG) lower in the sole, in order to improve launch conditions. The criss-cross carbon composite is now produced in a more refined way than the drivers of half a decade ago, which also gives it a great racing look right up to the end of the club head.

TaylorMade Golf decided not to apply the carbon composite that other brands had used earlier on, until it could get a performance which could beat that of a head made only of titanium – hence the slogan M1 THE UNMETALWOOD.

The technology and the cost of production push up its final price, but now it’s here, you’ll have seen it in golf shops and you’ve got the chance to try it out.

Given its guaranteed high performance, it is clear to us that it’ll be around for some time. And it’ll certainly brighten the life of anyone who puts it in their golf bag, like Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose or Sergio Garcia.

The front section of the crown is white and made of titanium, so the M1 breaks away from the white / black controversy, with a mixed option that can seduce fans of either. We can clearly see that the contrast of the white between the dark face and the black carbon crown helps you in the alignment and in squaring the head with the golf ball at impact.

The weight saved in the crown is shifted to the T-Track System of the sole, which now has a mobile black weigh of 15g on the front track, sliding from right to left, while another red weight of 10g slides along a back track. The front weight lets you create a Draw, Fade or Neutral shot, and the second affects the launch angle, with a higher launch the further back the weight is. With the two separate tracks you can also move the CG a little to the right or to the left.

In the front track you have up to 18 positions to set the weight, while the back track has 15, offering you a total of 270 possible combinations. If you then add the 12 hosel configurations, and four lofts of 8.5º to 12º, you end up with 12,960 options. It seems a lot, but the personalization system lets you adjust the club with extreme accuracy, based on your characteristics and preferences, and in a much easier and faster way than with previous adjustable drivers.

We put our demo M1 driver – 10.5º and Fujikura Pro 60 flex Regular shaft, starting with Neutral configuration and Medium trajectory – in the hands of Enricco Rissi, a promising young player of CG Sant Cugat, who hit a series of golf balls in front of the FlightScope. “I find the head fairly light and workable, compared to my current AeroBurner. The face gives you very good contact, the sound and feel are excellent, and the ball comes out very long,” are his first impressions. “Although for me it’d be better with an X shaft, I really like this club.”

You choose the right loft of the head by turning the hosel and then to move the weights of the sole. These are the first steps to finding the best launch angle according to your swing speed and spin rate.

We tested the feel of the M1 by changing first the loft and then moving the weights of the club head: “You have many options for changing the trajectory, and you really notice the difference of hitting when you change the loft or the weights. I felt most comfortable and hit better with the Neutral ball flight configuration and the Medium trajectory,” says Enrico Rissi. Changing settings sometimes produces worse performance and other times similar but not feeling as good, until you find the best performance according to the feelings of the player, and this is confirmed by the launch monitor data.

His trainer Carlos Vivas, golf coach of the Junior Golf Academy reads the FlightScope data and comments: “The most significant thing is that just with the standard configuration he has already produced a better Smash Factor. He’s gone from 1.45 with the AeroBurner to 1.49 with the M1. The golf ball comes out faster and reaches more distance with less launch spin. Spin has reduced from 3000 to 2500 rpm, and flight distance has reached an average of 250m, 5m more of carry and with a shaft that isn’t his… If you count the bounce and roll of the golf ball, he could easily make 15m more. This is a very good driver, and the best thing is that you can make multiple combinations to find what works best for you.”

“Looking at the driver optimizing section of the FlightScope, taking Enrico’s best numbers, he’d get a carry of 290m.”

To give it the final touch, you can choose the M1 from three stock shaft options: Fujikura Pro 60 gives you a high launch, the Mitsubishi KuroKage TiNi Silver 60 is mid, and the Aldila Rogue Black 70 is low. TaylorMade also offers 19 additional shafts without charge, with different models of Fujikura (Fuji Pro, Pro 70, Speeder), Matrix Ozik (White, Red and Black Tie), Aldila (Rogue and Tour) and Mitsubishi; and another 9 with charge, UST (Elements CHROME), Mitsubishi (Diamana and Fubuki), Project X Graphite Design 65 (Tour AD). So you can choose from 22 high quality shafts at the same price.  And if you prefer a more pro head, you can choose the M1 430 cc driver.

As a result of the multiple options we can say that the M1 is a driver for everyone who is looking to maximize their performance off the tee, and wants or can afford to invest in improving the performance of their golf bag.

TAYLORMADE M1 DRIVER

• Reviewed club: M1 Driver (10.5º, Fujikura Pro 60 shaft, flex Regular).
• Tester: Enrico Rissi (+0.3 hcp), CG Sant Cugat promising young golfer.

DESIGN
DISTANCE
ACCURACY
FORGIVENESS
FEELING
OPTIONS
VALUE
FOR…	Mid Handicaps and professionals
AVERAGE

 Due to its premium production, technological reliability and capacity for personalization, the M1 TaylorMade driver raises the threshold of performance in the category of drivers. Choosing the ball flight effect, and especially the spin, as we have experienced, guarantees the excitement of going further, under greater control.

 Given its high level of technology and performance, little can detract from the M1. Its high price means it won’t be affordable for everyone. And to buy it directly off the shelf is not the best option. It is recommendable to go through a fitting with a launch monitor to find the configuration and spin that will get you the most distance.

M1 DRIVER TECHNICAL FEATURES

• TaylorMade Longest: Built with extremely low CG that allows for an efficient power transfer for more ball speed.
• Personal Fit System: A Tour-Level fitting without the truck.
• Loft Sleeve: A 4º (+/-2º), 12-position, sleeve for the golfers preference of face angle, loft and lie.
• T-Track System: Front Track, one 15-gram weight to provide multiple draw, neutral and fade settings; Back Track, one 10-gram weight adjusts for multiple high, medium and low launch and spin settings.
• Head: Multi-material, 460cc or 430cc. Lofts: 460cc (8.5º, 9.5º, 10.5º, 12º); 430cc (8.5º, 9.5º, 10.5º). Lie: 58º-62º. Lenght: 45,5”. Swingweight: D4. Stock shaft options (flex): Fujikura Pro 60 (X, S, R, M); Mitsubushi KuroKage TiNi Silver 60 (X, S, R); Aldila Rogue Silver 70 (X, S). Grip: TaylorMade Lamkin Performance 360 (52g). Left handed: 460cc (9.5º, 10.5º); 430cc (9.5º, 10.5º).
• RPP: 599 €.