I haven't hit the M1 but have the AB. IMHO, it is hot and long as just about any out there. Let me know how you do after a couple of three rounds.

Oh, I totally agree about the Aeroburner. It is so long, and the feel is almost perfect; it's a little too muted and soft off the face, but it's close enough to where it doesn't bother me. One thing that does bother me is that the club looks like total shit. I really don't like the design at all. If I could find it anywhere, I'd just get the R1 again, because that was the only driver I've ever had that was the total package. 

Also: on the launch monitor, it said my path was like 8 degrees left, which is nuts. I don't know if I buy that, to tell you the truth, but I do think my path is left, but I'm still drawing it. I can't seem to get the path and the face matched up to where I want it to be. I'd like to hit a straight fade, in a perfect world. 

Hit the GBB 9 -- once it is dialed in, it is very consistent. Light, great feel and sound. Reports are great retention of ballspeed even on off-center hits. My miss  is toe hits - I put the perimeter weighting to fade -- putting the weight on the toe side - and problem solved. Straight to a slight draw, mid-high to high on the range on 10 straight swings - that has never happened with another driver. Give it a shot (from a former TM guy).

I'm definitely going to look at other drivers outside of TaylorMade. I'm big on aesthetics, so I like to keep the same brand in my bag, but hitting those PING clubs at the factor in Arizona changed my perspective on that. 

I'm very happy with my cut down 44.5" G30 after only having it for a few weeks and using it for one round.  Did you get to hit the driver when we were there?  What did you think?

I thought it was really, really nice, but I still like my R1 better. I really loved their fairway woods more than anything. 

The frontrunners for me are the G30 (having already tested and found it really good), and the SLDR (had good numbers the few times I've hit it), and the Aeroburner. I'm also looking at some Calloway's and Titleists. 

I went beyond that to 2-3 makers in the bag. I think drivers are another animal, and the maker does not matter, it's what works. I've seen pros hiding their non sponsor drivers w head overs of their  sponsors  brand

I hear ebay has a nice selection of older model Titleists for cheap.

I might do that next time I'm in the market for irons and the like. 

What I'm really looking for is a 15 year old 7.5 loft Titleist; have you seen one around anywhere? 

She's chilling in the basement right now. After getting a new shaft for my 2013 X Hot and cutting it down to 44.25" (the length the fitter at PING recommended to me for the G30) I've been giving it a trial run. Hit some bombs today but still not sure if it'll permanently supplant ol' reliable.

Look at you, upgrading to modern technology! Are you hitting it any further than ol' reliable? 

Hard to say. Need a launch monitor to really know but i imagine the average is a bit higher with the X Hot simply because of forgiveness.

It's so, so bad. Performance is good, so it's not a bad club, but they really messed up with sound design. I know sound is tied into feel, but I've never hit a driver that was that sharp of a sound and that hard of a face. 

I've probably owned 40+ drivers in the past ~ 4-5 years.  If you care about looks and sound, here have been my personal favorites:

-> Looks:

- Cobra does a great job with the paint:  My favorite was the Amp Offset with the racing stripes.  I also like the looks of the Amp Cell, Biocell, FlyZ, etc.. 

- Tour Edge XCG6: If Darth Vader played golf, this would be his driver.  

- Ping Anser: I like the looks more than I've liked the G25 and G30 and way more than the older G20, 15 series, 10 series, etc..  I also really like the top down view of the I25.

-> Sound: I prefer the more solid "thump" sound.

- Callaway Diablo Octane and FT lines

- Cobra Fly Z+ (and other Cobra composite drivers)

-> Feel: Most people say that this is just sound or the ball, and it's probably some combo.  Every once in a while though you just hit a stick that feels like you crushed it.

- Callaway XHot (v1): could almost feel the face compress

- Tour Edge XCG4: exact opposite.  Felt like the golf ball was going to be crushed into a million pieces.

how much do you thing the thing will bargain in 6 month or a year ? 150 USD max not ?

I agree about the Cobra drivers, especially. They are beautiful clubs. Like I said above, I like a click-y sound, just not paired with a face as hard as a damn rock. 

Depends on whether TM releases a new driver line or not. It's a good performing club, really; they're selling really well around where I live. When I went to test one out, they had sold out completely, and only had one demo in the back for me to test with. 

TM wants to go back to a 2 year cycle as does Callaway. Will the shareholders/owners allow it?

I think the two year cycle works for Titleist, Mizuno and Ping because the sales across all their clubs is fairly consistent. 

TM drivers and woods sell better than their irons, wedges and putters so it may be difficult for them to sustain revenue numbers in years they aren't releasing a new driver. 

Agree -- they (TM and Callaway) must extend and invigorate the "excitement" level.

After hitting the Ping G30 in Phoenix I was sold instantly. Now i just need to have a few months of bad drives with my Titleist to make the switch  

I'm hoping anyone that has heard the M1 being hit can help me figure out the sound some.  I am currently gaming the R11s and love it!  It's getting a little long in the tooth though, so I help the M1 which I really really like!  I will say that I am the opposite of most of you and like a heavier club.  The R11s was heavier and in my mind felt more "quality" than the SDLR and R1 and R15 which all felt too light and "cheap" feeling.

The M1 has that nice "quality" feel that I like but I haven't heard it hit.  When you guys say that you don't like the sound would you say it sounds high pitch and loud like the R11s?  If so, I actually like that too.  Hopefully you guys have hit the R11s and can compare the sounds....