In the market for a new driver...difference between 16 and 17 M2 vs M4, M6....others?

[mile2424]

Currently playing a 2011 R11, with a Graffaloy pink bimatrix S shaft. I am actually going in for a Driver fitting this weekend, but just wanted to see people's thoughts. I love the look of the M1/M2 with the white and black contrasting on the crown. People seem to love the M2, but what's the difference between 2016 and 2017 besides the colors? I do like the looks of the head shape on the M4 and M6, but just not sold on the aesthetics as much. Of course I need to hit them during the fitting and see how the data compares. Also, curious to see what I may gain from my older R11. Little distance? More forgiveness?

[North Butte]

I thought the M2 and M4 drivers looked visibly quite different the way they lined up behind the ball at address. The M4 looked easier to aim and more confidence inspiring (I know that's vague and personal) while the M2 looked closed-face or something not quite square.

 

So for me, I chose to get an M4 rather than saving 100 bucks and going with the M2. And the M4 turned out to be pretty much the best driver I've owned to date. Also the first Taylormade that's worked for me since the R9 (if I recall correctly) a decade earlier.

 

But for someone else, it might be the opposite and M2 is better. The visual difference was quite striking for two consecutive models from the same OEM.

[mile2424]

other thing I wanted to mention, I know I likely won't be able to test an M1/M2 in my fitting this weekend, so trying to decide if it would be better or that much different to find the shaft they recommend during the fitting and then try to put into an older M1/M2 and save some money or just bite the bullet and go for the newer tech.

[North Butte]

Just get your hands on an M1/M2 somewhere and at least hit a few balls with it, even the shaft isn't a perfect match. I think they are fairly different heads from the M3/M4.

 

P.S. I am totally NOT a believer in the idea that if you find a shaft you like, the head doesn't matter much. Clubhead and shaft are (at least) equally important.

[doctorjedi]

If you go for a fitting your options may be lower in the m3 m4 range. Are you looking to put in a stock shaft?

[mile2424]

I'd like to see what shaft they recommend based on the fitting, so not assuming a stock shaft.

 

So I know depending on choice, even if I find an older model on sale and then have to spend couple hundred on a shaft, might be close to the same as customizing a new model with the right shaft

[speeder757]

Sorry to thread jack but I will lol ..... Has anyone noticed any or much improvement from the M3 to the M5?

[AC168]

M5 or ‘16 M2 to save some money

[Nixhex524]

I have played the '16 M1 and M2 and now the '17 M2, plus a multitude of other drivers in between. The '17 M2 is kind of everything I was looking for put into one driver for now... I was hesitant to try it because I wasn't really a fan of the '16 M2 like everyone else is, it just didn't seem that forgiving when I had it out on the course. I like the M1 better... The '17 M2 feels a little more solid and stable to me and it has a little less white/more carbon on top which I like to look at more. It feels to be more forgiving to me than the previous generation... face may be a touch less hot, but I will take that for a gain in forgivness. Buddy of mine has the M5 and says it feels the best out of all, but performance gains are not really there... just as good as the rest of the family over the years. You'd really have to try whatever you can, tough to make the decision for you especially as any people like certain heads while others do not have the same experiences.

[SEP1006]

I had both the 2016 / 2017 M2 ( still have the 2017 ) and FOR ME the 2017 was better in both forgiveness and feel. The distance was pretty much the same, and the 2017 sounds much better as well. Hitting a hot-melted M6 now and really happy with it. Too be honest I also think it's even more forgiving than the 2017 M2 I have.

[North Butte]

I'm not clear on the distinction between 2016 and 2017. Were there two different models named "M2" before the "M4" and now "M6" replaced them?

[lordemsworth]

Yup. The 2016 M2 was signified with a light orange in the lettering, and the 2017 M2 had an awful volt/neon green. I also felt the 2017 M2 was better than the much loved 2016 M2.

[Tasals]

> @"North Butte" said:

> I'm not clear on the distinction between 2016 and 2017. Were there two different models named "M2" before the "M4" and now "M6" replaced them?

There were two versions of the M1 and M2 2016 version and the 2017 version. Nothing really changed except for the weight track in the M1 version and some acoustic changes. I think they also sat slightly differently, but which camp you are in depends on what you like to look at. Some people swear by the 2016 M2, others think the 2017 was the best thing money could buy. I think the 2017 M1 was better than the 2016 version, they perform the same for me but the sound of the 2017 I like better.

[Whit1969]

Here are some photos for you to look at and compare. The 2017 version has more weight taken out and moved farther back for a little more MOI, and shallower speed pocket and it a little more toe up lie angle. The 2016 M2 seems to be a tad bit shorter front to back as well. The 2016 also has a larger white border on the top line and more of a grey composite crown whereas the 2017 has a dark grey or almost black composite crown with a narrower white border on the top line. Soles are completely different as you can see. The 2017 is the one with the neon green color. For my money the 2016 is the GOAT TM driver, better feel, sound, and looks. Oh and it's LOOOONG!!

 

2016 on the left, 2017 on the right

 

 

[tanker44]

> @AC168 said:

> M5 or ‘16 M2 to save some money

 

I did a fitting with trackman for like two hours 2016 M2 vs M4/M5/M6 and the M2 was the clear winner. The M5 was too low spinning and falling out of the sky. He had to drop loft to around 8* and have me swinging a near 80 gram shaft to spin it enough to carry with the M5. Meanwhile, I was swinging 10.5 w/ a 60 gram shaft in M2. I have played every driver made in the last 18 months. TS2 was alright, F8+ was by far best besides M2, I dumped the Epic Flash SZ because it felt terrible at all times except for the one swing you flush it. I can hit the M2 ALL OVER the entire face and it still feels solid and still finds the fairway. In Harvey Penicks' Green book he was talking about it being more difficult to find the sweet spot in an oversize driver (in the 1960s) which results in more misses, etc. He said its easier to find the sweet spot in a smaller head. Anyways, maybe today his theories are still correct in regards to driver head adjustability and complexity. Oversize went to new adjustable weighting all over the head, face designs with twist faces, face designs with AI splash ripples, variable face thickness, etc. It may be more difficult to find the sweet spot consistantly in something that has 125 configurations and has to be calibrated precisely to your swing. Meanwhile, an M2 is easier to hit solid, is 460, sits neutral, deep face and has maxed out USGA specs.

 

[A.Princey]

2016 M2, get it.

[mile2424]

Even like someone said, just because a driver performs so well for one person or many people on here, do you think the same head should perform equally as well for someone else assuming they get fit for the best shaft to work with that head. Obviously you would assume the feel, forgiveness, sound etc should be the same regardless, but the overall performance and results may vary slightly person to person (not so much in distance and data, but saying the M2 for example would out perform other newer drivers like the M3/M4/M5/M6 etc.)

[Valtiel]

From a tech standpoint, each year the models became slightly more forgiving than their predecessors and the CG moved up. The 2016 M1 430 has the lowest CG but was the least forgiving. The M4 in contrast was by far the most forgiving and highest CG of the bunch with the M6 assumedely improving upon both (more forgiveness and lower CG based upon the design).

 

Aside from that you have each piece of marketing tech. 2017 highlighted the forgiveness increase, 2018 highlighted Twist Face for better off center hit dispersion, and 2019 has the Speed Injected faces. Each year the cosmetics changed noticeably as well.

 

The 2016 M2 was held in such high regard due to being an effective blend of low CG and good forgiveness, plus the Tiger effect since he chose that model over the 2017 offerings.

[Z1ggy16]

2016 M2 is starting to maybe have a cult following, prices are still relatively high on eBay as ppl start to realize it's possible a GOAT driver. Maybe not as forgiving as say G410 or whatever, but it's just perfectly balanced, absolutely maxed out COR and with a little hot melt or lead tape, sounds and feels great.

 

It's so good in fact I'm highly considering buying one again if I can't get this Epic SZ to flight a little better. I had the M2 paired with a Speeder Evo II 661 and it was an absolute beast. I don't even know why I got rid of it.. Probably my Ho ways.

 

Issue is, you're getting a fitting and they won't be handing you a 2016 M2. The new M5/M6 are very different than M2 is. They spin much less and I'm going to guess also weigh a little more, too (in order to up MOI because...That's all the rage). If you get fit into an M5 at 10.5* I'd be willing to bet a 10.5* M2 will spin too much and you may not fit into that same shaft either.

 

If you're even considering going used, just cancel the fitting because it's really not a guarantee that a different head will work with whatever shaft they fit you with. I need to use a CB'ed shaft usually, but with lighter heads like M2, that would make the SW too light and I'd probably struggle.

[A.Princey]

The other nice fact about the '16 is the sole is completely metal, so no ridiculous cracking or carbon chipping to deal with from the "tees"/ground. I have a spare head that is my next driver when this first one craps the bed...

[North Butte]

> @Whit1969 said:

> Here are some photos for you to look at and compare. The 2017 version has more weight taken out and moved farther back for a little more MOI, and shallower speed pocket and it a little more toe up lie angle. The 2016 M2 seems to be a tad bit shorter front to back as well. The 2016 also has a larger white border on the top line and more of a grey composite crown whereas the 2017 has a dark grey or almost black composite crown with a narrower white border on the top line. Soles are completely different as you can see. The 2017 is the one with the neon green color. For my money the 2016 is the GOAT TM driver, better feel, sound, and looks. Oh and it's LOOOONG!!

>

> 2016 on the left, 2017 on the right

>

>

>

>

 

Thanks for the photos. The 2017 M2 is the one I always thought of as "the M2 driver". I don't really recognize the appearance of the 2016 one.

 

I'd ignored Tayormade drivers ever since the low-and-forward CG thing started with the SLDR. Then it seemed like overnight everybody at my club bought an M2 (2017 version). All the way from hacks like me to pretty good players, young guys, old guys, whatever. And a lot of them seem to have genuinely gained distance over whatever Ping or Nike or older TM driver they'd been using.

 

By time time I got around to buying I ended up with the then-new M4 and sure enough I gained distance too (compared to a Ping G). Who knows, if I'd have bought a 2016 M2 instead I might be driving the green on Par 4's...OK, maybe just reaching some Par 5's in two... ;-)

[Whit1969]

> @"North Butte" said:

> > @Whit1969 said:

> > Here are some photos for you to look at and compare. The 2017 version has more weight taken out and moved farther back for a little more MOI, and shallower speed pocket and it a little more toe up lie angle. The 2016 M2 seems to be a tad bit shorter front to back as well. The 2016 also has a larger white border on the top line and more of a grey composite crown whereas the 2017 has a dark grey or almost black composite crown with a narrower white border on the top line. Soles are completely different as you can see. The 2017 is the one with the neon green color. For my money the 2016 is the GOAT TM driver, better feel, sound, and looks. Oh and it's LOOOONG!!

> >

> > 2016 on the left, 2017 on the right

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

> Thanks for the photos. The 2017 M2 is the one I always thought of as "the M2 driver". I don't really recognize the appearance of the 2016 one.

>

> I'd ignored Tayormade drivers ever since the low-and-forward CG thing started with the SLDR. Then it seemed like overnight everybody at my club bought an M2 (2017 version). All the way from hacks like me to pretty good players, young guys, old guys, whatever. And a lot of them seem to have genuinely gained distance over whatever Ping or Nike or older TM driver they'd been using.

>

> By time time I got around to buying I ended up with the then-new M4 and sure enough I gained distance too (compared to a Ping G). Who knows, if I'd have bought a 2016 M2 instead I might be driving the green on Par 4's...OK, maybe just reaching some Par 5's in two... ;-)

 

I have had both and currently still game the 2016 M2 and have not found anything better. The 2017 is a great driver as well, but the issue I had with it was that it wanted to go left too easily on me. I think that the lie angle was a little more upright as well as the toe set up higher at address. I do not have this problem with the 2016 M2. I tried the M4 but I did not care for the feel of the driver at all. Like one poster has mentioned, I have a back up head of the 2016 M2 that will be my next new driver should something happen to my current one. My advice is if you have a fitting scheduled see if you can pick up a 2016-17 M2 head on the cheap just to test it out with different shafts during your fitting. If you like either one and it performs for you, then you can always go in pick one up a really good condition. With all the available shafts so easily to interchange, either one of these can perform with any of the new drivers out there now. I just perfer the look, feel, and sound of the 2016 M2, not to mention the performance.

 

**GOAT!!!!!!!!!!!!**

 

 

[gioguy21]

2016 M2, or a tour issue m3 460 with good specs (CT over 240)

[lhahn]

I have both 2016 M2 and M4, 8.1 and 8.2 degrees respectively (see my sig). After giving both a good trial period the M2 is back in the bag for the rest of this season. The 2017 M2 didn't have as much pop as the 2016 and I don't like the M6 at all. Feels fine but sound is WAY off.

[blakesmittkamp]

If anyone has an excellent condition 17 m2 9.5 or 10.5 k serial head LMK. Has the best driving year of my life and then ditched it like an idiot.

[ihatecats18]

Im gaming an M3 and can vouch for its forgiveness

[cardia10]

Went from 2016 M1, 2017 M1 and now the M5. Forgiveness and distance is superb. Unless you take divots with a driver, I wouldn't worry about carbon cracking. Played over 25 rounds and not so much as a scratch.

[t4t3r]

Have had multiple heads of 16 M2, 17 M2, and M5. 17 M2 lags behind both, and M5 is better than 16 M2 - feel, forgiveness, and appearance. One benefit to the M5 is warranty. The other is the price delta - 16 M2s that don't look like they were dragged along the cart path command a pretty decent premium, and a nice used M5 can be had for not a ton more.

[FredCouplesFan]

> @blakesmittkamp said:

> If anyone has an excellent condition 17 m2 9.5 or 10.5 k serial head LMK. Has the best driving year of my life and then ditched it like an idiot.

 

Lol, I bought a 17 M2 k serial off you a while back. I have tried like hell to kick it out of the bag but nothing tops it.

[blakesmittkamp]

> @FredCouplesFan said:

> > @blakesmittkamp said:

> > If anyone has an excellent condition 17 m2 9.5 or 10.5 k serial head LMK. Has the best driving year of my life and then ditched it like an idiot.

>

> Lol, I bought a 17 M2 k serial off you a while back. I have tried like **** to kick it out of the bag but nothing tops it.

 

YOU'RE THE GUY!!!