TaylorMade M1 440 Driver Review
Published:
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At a glance
- TG Rating
- Owner Rating
What we say...
Tech:
This years M1 has 43% more carbon fiber, and 64% more front to back CG adjustability. Weight savings come from reducing crown thickness, a new finishing process and a new streamlined skeletal titanium body. A pushed in toe section means extra volumes freed up so forgiveness is the same as last years impressive M2.
Our verdict:
We been asked a million and one times before why we use three Top Gear testers and why we’ve picked the players we have. Well the M1’s test performance explains our decision perfectly. For our test pro M1 was his longest driver of 2017. His consistent repeatable swing delivered an average 171mph of ball speed and a 300 yard average carry distance, which was 5mph quicker and 14 yards longer than his test average. Yet the two amateur testers thanks to the extra forgiveness and ball speed protection both saw improvements using TaylorMade’s M2 over the M1. Our test pro felt the M1’s head size wasn’t quite as wide as the M2 and better suited his eye. Whereas our amateur testers like lots of club golfers will feel the M2’s extra size breeds extra confidence and ultimate forgiveness.
Bottom line:
By using three very different testers we get three different outlooks, which gives a sound overall opinion. Remember 2017’s M1 has the same level of forgiveness as last years M2, which was a seriously hot and forgiving driver. Only you can decide whether your game benefits more from the M1’s sliding weight tech or M2’s extra forgiveness. If you struggle to decide, don’t worry. The tour pros have the same conundrum and are flicking between M1 and M2 depending on which courses they play, which has to say both are seriously good.
