MEMBER TESTING: 2017 TaylorMade M1 Driver Reviews

OspreyCI · March 26, 2017

Has anyone cutdown their '17 M1? Are heavier weights availed yet? I am trying not to send it off for Hotmelt, but want to plant it around 44.75".

Anyone add lead tape? If so, where at? Thanks.

brushie · March 26, 2017

Has anyone cutdown their '17 M1? Are heavier weights availed yet? I am trying not to send it off for Hotmelt, but want to plant it around 44.75".

Anyone add lead tape? If so, where at? Thanks.

I am playing mine at that length. The head without adaptor already weighed 200 grams, so with an ad tp 7, it swingweights to about D2. I added a few grams of lead tape along the front back track on the fade side.

Smitty120 · March 26, 2017

I am 6'3" and play my drivers at 44.25-44.5. I am testing a 17' M1 against my Tour Issue 16' M2.

The 17' M1 head weighed 199 without adapter. With my shaft playing length and a large grip SW was only C9 for my setup. I had J13 hotmelt my head to bring SW to D3 for me with my Tensei Pro White 70TX. Played yesterday in decent temperature to test the head.

This 17' M1 460 10.5 Head is a retail version so specs are not known at this time. Initial swings with the weight(front/back), in the back position and adapter in the same position gave me a higher launching and peak height than my 16' M2. I played 18 with the M1 in that position and results were good. Back flight and spin were up just a bit over the 16' M2 but seemed to have a bit more ball speed and carry farther. The head mated with the shaft is Just as much a fairway finder As the 16'.

Back on the range after the round I moved he sliding(height) weight to the center position. The sound of the driver became a touch louder but not annoying. The launch and spin came down just a touch which pleased

my eye for sure. I must add that for 17' the M1 is improved for sure imho. I like the sound, feel and look! The 16' M1 with the weight in he rear was not forgiving at all unless centered strike for me. The 17' is noticeable more forgiving for me. I wil be getting this 17' M1 head and my 16' M2 head on trackman out doors in the next few weeks to confirm on course conclusions.

OspreyCI · March 26, 2017

Has anyone cutdown their '17 M1? Are heavier weights availed yet? I am trying not to send it off for Hotmelt, but want to plant it around 44.75".

Anyone add lead tape? If so, where at? Thanks.

I am playing mine at that length. The head without adaptor already weighed 200 grams, so with an ad tp 7, it swingweights to about D2. I added a few grams of lead tape along the front back track on the fade side.

Thanks for the info. It looks like I will just go ahead and get the lead tape out.

pitchinwedge · March 29, 2017

Putting the Tensei Orange V2 in play for the first time tomorrow. I've only had a chance to hit it at the range a couple of times so we will see how it goes. I will say that it looks amazing with the black and orange MCC Plus 4 grip in the 2017 M1 head.

Saw your V2 on BST...guess it didn't work out?

JStang · March 29, 2017

Putting the Tensei Orange V2 in play for the first time tomorrow. I've only had a chance to hit it at the range a couple of times so we will see how it goes. I will say that it looks amazing with the black and orange MCC Plus 4 grip in the 2017 M1 head.

Saw your V2 on BST...guess it didn't work out?

It was good but the Kuro Kage TX is just better for me. It was strange, shots that I thought I centered with a nice high flight were around 280-285 and a few that were out on the toe that I thought would be short ended up at 290-295. I think it just flies a little high for me which might be the counter balanced feeling playing with my delivery. I was murdering the KK TX on the range today and should be able to get out for a few hours tomorrow night.

I have still hit quite a few more 300+ yard drives with my 917 D3 than I have with the M1. I thought that after a few months the M1 would catch it but it hasn't been the case. I sold the 917 D3 because I wanted to focus on the M1 but I may be going back to the 917 D3 if the KK doesn't prove to be a longer combo. The M1 is plenty forgiving though!

Homerun2Birdie · March 29, 2017

I am continued to be blown away by my 440. Played a round with a very comparable player to myself and every time he smoked a drive mine would be 5-10 yards further. He finally got to the point where he asked what the heck was going on. The ATMOS Blue and this 440 head is a heavenly pairing.

wilbur.kay · April 5, 2017

I have a 460 10.5* on its way with a HZRDS Yellow X shaft and I am excited. It just edged out the Speeder 757 shaft due to the tighter dispersion, although I feel if I was playing heaps of golf, the heavier shaft would be the one to go with.

Anyone had these shafts to compare?

dmeeksDC · April 5, 2017

Have been sidelined witb a cold but finally got out and tested my M1 440 today and it was a lot of fun. I hit some rockets that got up and out in a hurry. Rotated swings with my old driver (Nike Vapor Flex 440) and the M1 appeared to be a good 20 yards longer. I bought the M1 440 head only (Tour issue, 10 degrees loft, 0.8 open, 245 CT) and just set it at standard for now. I have a slight negative A of A and was worried about too low a launch so paired it with a mid launch Diamana B Series 60 X shaft and it is a nice match indeed. Looks good too. Even shots low on the face went a long way, but I was middling it pretty well for being the first time hitting balls in a while. Clearly cuts the spin even if I hit down. I really don't think I'd want a larger head. Shape on the 440 suits me. And it goes. And goes.

chickenpotpie · April 6, 2017

Folks I apologize that I've been very delinquent in my reviewing, other than my early review on launch monitors. Work, weather and a swing change in progress has kept me from it. But now I'm ready...I'm going to put this up against my Epic SZ to see how it does on the course. Looking forward to it!

JStang · April 7, 2017

I have gone back to the 917 D3. It has been longer and more consistent for me than the M1. I'm not saying the M1 is a bad club at all but it just hasn't been as good for me as the 917 D3.

afrank136 · April 7, 2017

Does anyone know if the HZRDUS 1100, Tensei White, or Rogue 125 are options from TM? Can definitely see that they arent from the website, but didnt know if anyone has called customer service to inquire about these exotic shafts.

Kylekoz17 · April 8, 2017

Does anyone know if the HZRDUS 1100, Tensei White, or Rogue 125 are options from TM? Can definitely see that they arent from the website, but didnt know if anyone has called customer service to inquire about these exotic shafts.

Tensei white is available as custom option on the taylormade website

wilbur.kay · April 8, 2017

I had my first round with the 2017 M1 yesterday coming out of the '16 model with a KK TiNi with a 9.5 460 head and into a hzrdus Yellow x flex with a 10.5 460 head. I was very cynical about the difference between the two heads, but that has changed after one round.

With last years model the centre hits were fantastic but for me it was a driver that dived left if I missed it by a little. Yesterday with the '17 version was my first round in six months without a hook into trouble, and it was amazing to see any off centre hits stay so straight. One in particular which came out deep in the heel, but when I looked up it was right edge of the fairway and still over 300yds. I'm now excited again to hit driver and not scared of the big left miss. Overall this combo was a bomber for me and got it out at least 15yds longer than last years with a huge improvement in dispersion.

chickenpotpie · April 8, 2017

Well, I took mine to the driving range today to compare against my Epic SZ. For reference, both are the same length (I had to cut it down from the build that TMAG sent me because it was 46"!), and both have the AD-BB 6S shaft in it. I believe the M1 is tipped 1/2" by TMAG, but can't confirm. Today, the wind was directly in my face, so I thought this would be a good test of these two drivers.

Now I've had a couple rounds under my belt with the Epic SZ, and I know that it delivers a nice mid launch draw, definitely lower than the M2 I played last year (I wish I could have the launch of last years M2 with the ball speed and spin on the SZ). My initial thought on the M1 after hitting it a few times was that it was similar to my old M2. It went higher, but definitely was lower spinning. It was producing knuckleballs in spite of that wind. But, I had a tendency to miss this right more often than the Epic, which at my home course is generally bad.

In general, I'm not sure I like this as much as I did my 2016 M2 (or the Epic). First, the sound is worse. Second, I don't like the curvature of the alignment cues on top. I liked last years model better. And lastly (maybe related to my last point), I had a tendency to miss right with this. This could be purely related to alignment of the face, something I don't fight with the Epic SZ.

Will try to get some on course results soon to check distances and such.

pitchinwedge · May 4, 2017

My experiment with the Epic and Epic SZ ended with a dull thud. Good drivers, but I had trouble with dispersion and inconsistent ball flight. Result = BBGBB (Bye bye Great Big Bertha).

So, I'm back to tweaking the M1. The latest set-up has it playing at 45" with a Speeder 665 Evo II. Hosel adjusted to 8.75* loft, 59.25* lie, and 2* open. Two sliding weights totaling 21.4g (14.2g and 7.2g) at the full draw setting on the front track and a third 11.7g sliding weight all the way to the rear on the back track. Total head weight with screw is now 207g and the whole shebang measures out to D5.5 swingweight. Whew.

The main issue I have with the M1 is a hideous high-right miss. Like two fairways over, or double out of bounds, lol. Anyways, this latest set-up may have finally tamed it. Only a few shots went high-right on the driving range today but all were borderline playable. The only downside so far is my best strikes with the M1 couldn't reach the same locations as the SZ. The plan for now is to get the M1 on a launch monitor when I can, but the M1 is finally ready for some on-course testing.