TaylorMade M3/M4 Discussion

[JxQx]

I'm curious how bad the misses are going to be with open faced high toe shots and closed low heel shots.

[nevets88]

Here, the reviewer talks around 05:20 about hitting towards toe w/face open.

 

[Lihu]

On 1/2/2018 at 7:19 AM, klineka said:

Taylormade has now released the M3/M4 drivers on their website, with some pretty interesting information about the technology that is inside:

"TWIST FACE

A radical departure from traditional driver-face design, Twist Face is engineered to take you farther and straighter… right down the center of the fairway.

Twist Face presents a revolutionary new face curvature with a corrective face angle on off-center hits, engineered to reduce side spin and deliver straighter shots. By providing more loft in the high-toe and less loft in the low-heel, this groundbreaking technology produces more consistent side spin in the areas where golfers commonly mis-hit.

HAMMERHEAD SLOT

TaylorMade’s new Hammerhead slot creates a massive sweet spot that pushes the limit of ballspeed to produce distance and forgiveness across the entire face.

The reinforced outer portions of the slot allow for a lighter, more flexible face, while the center portion of the slot increases ballspeed on low-face strikes and drops spin for more distance. The result is a powerful and forgiving driver that delivers exceptional sound and feel."

It looks like both the M3 and M4 come in lofts of 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, and 12 for RH, with 9.5 and 10.5 in LH as well. They also have the D-Type for the M4, a Ladies M4, Ladies M4 D-Type, and a 440cc M3. The M3 price on Taylormade is $499.99 and the M4 is $429.99

Here is a link to the page about the new technology http://www.taylormadegolf.com/m3-m4-drivers.html?CID=us%3Atm%3Aemail%3A2018-embargo-metalwoods

Here is a link directly to the product page for the drivers http://www.taylormadegolf.com/taylormade-drivers-M3-M4/

It doesnt even look like they are available for preorder yet, but I imagine that will be coming soon.

Personally I'm not quite sure if I like the looks of the 2017 M1/M2 or the M3/M4 better. Curious to hear others thoughts on the new technology and the design as well!

Considering I use the entire face today, I think I might personally benefit from this design.

I really like the concept, and most of my strikes are anywhere but the center these days. Toe high is where a lot of my strikes end up.

However, my wife banned me from spending any money on golf equipment for the next couple years when both kid's tuition is tax deductible.

[b101]

5 minutes ago, Lihu said:

However, my wife banned me from spending any money on golf equipment for the next couple years when both kid's tuition is tax deductible.

Don't worry, there'll be another 5 TM drivers to choose from by then!

[Lihu]

7 minutes ago, b101 said:

Don't worry, there'll be another 5 TM drivers to choose from by then!

If it works, it'll definitely be a trend for future clubs. 

[Veteran Golf Fan]

20 minutes ago, Lihu said:

Considering I use the entire face today, I think I might personally benefit from this design.

I really like the concept, and most of my strikes are anywhere but the center these days. Toe high is where a lot of my strikes end up.

However, my wife banned me from spending any money on golf equipment for the next couple years when both kid's tuition is tax deductible.

I have a friend who just got a complete set of brand new M-2's from Driver through the irons.   He doesn't realize yet that the set is now old news.  Oh well, he likes them anyway. 

[Lihu]

3 minutes ago, Veteran Golf Fan said:

I have a friend who just got a complete set of brand new M-2's from Driver through the irons.   He doesn't realize yet that the set is now old news.  Oh well, he likes them anyway. 

That's nice! At least he didn't pay $499 for the M3 driver. I'd likely go M4 because with my skill level there's no way I'm going to be able to fine tune those weights on the bottom even if I had a personal Trackman. 

[b101]

Just now, Lihu said:

That's nice! At least he didn't pay $499 for the M3 driver. I'd likely go M4 because with my skill level there's no way I'm going to be able to fine tune those weights on the bottom even if I had a personal Trackman. 

Pretty sure DJ's going to play M4, so I'd re-consider the skill level as the reason!

 

[Veteran Golf Fan]

33 minutes ago, Lihu said:

Considering I use the entire face today, I think I might personally benefit from this design.

I really like the concept, and most of my strikes are anywhere but the center these days. Toe high is where a lot of my strikes end up.

However, my wife banned me from spending any money on golf equipment for the next couple years when both kid's tuition is tax deductible.

Didn't know Taylor Made employees were posting on this thread pushing their product.

[b101]

1 minute ago, Veteran Golf Fan said:

Didn't know Taylor Made employees were posting on this thread pushing their product.

Bit harsh, IMO. Just because we don't all buy it hook, line and sinker doesn't mean it's not worth trying out. I think this could be a club that works for some, just not all. 

[Lihu]

2 minutes ago, b101 said:

Pretty sure DJ's going to play M4, so I'd re-consider the skill level as the reason!

 

They'll probably redistribute the weight by custom machining the titanium inside the club for his swing, though. 

 

1 minute ago, Veteran Golf Fan said:

Didn't know Taylor Made employees were posting on this thread pushing their product.

I wish. The money wouldn't be an issue if I could take a prototype home to "field test".  

[Veteran Golf Fan]

13 minutes ago, Lihu said:

They'll probably redistribute the weight by custom machining the titanium inside the club for his swing, though. 

 

I wish. The money wouldn't be an issue if I could take a prototype home to "field test".  

When I was on the Taylor Made site, it showed this driver head from all angles.  Looking straight down at it like a player does, there is a pronounced bulge in the toe area.  That is disconcerting to me.  Staying with the adjustable M-1 which looks normal looking down at it.

25 minutes ago, Lihu said:

That's nice! At least he didn't pay $499 for the M3 driver. I'd likely go M4 because with my skill level there's no way I'm going to be able to fine tune those weights on the bottom even if I had a personal Trackman. 

Lihu, if you are a 16, you may be right on not being able to fine tune the club.  Leave that to the low handicappers who know how to use a wrench, test and hit a lot of balls.  Personally, it took me about 15 minutes to fine tune my M-1 to proper launch angle and to work out fade or draw bias.

[nevets88]

This is a photo not from TM, I zoomed in on it and could't make out any pronounced shift. That said, if I actually got my hands on it, guessing it would be obvious. The thing is let's say 2/3 of your toe hits are face closed, 1/3 open. 1/3 of your shots are going to be worse. They need to invent a face that reads your swing and morphs into the optimal shape to correct your faulty pass. Wait, that sounds a lot like not legal. 

If Cobra implemented some version of this, why didn't reviewers talk about it more? I don't see much written about it, but I don't follow equipment news at all. Same with Adams? I guess that TM has more eyeballs and makes a big marketing hubbub about it, that gets attention.

 

 

 

 

[b101]

18 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

The thing is let's say 2/3 of your toe hits are face closed, 1/3 open. 1/3 of your shots are going to be worse.

This is my issue with the marketing. It may work for some, but I can't see it working for all.

[Veteran Golf Fan]

27 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

This is a photo not from TM, I zoomed in on it and could't make out any pronounced shift. That said, if I actually got my hands on it, guessing it would be obvious. The thing is let's say 2/3 of your toe hits are face closed, 1/3 open. 1/3 of your shots are going to be worse. They need to invent a face that reads your swing and morphs into the optimal shape to correct your faulty pass. Wait, that sounds a lot like not legal. 

If Cobra implemented some version of this, why didn't reviewers talk about it more? I don't see much written about it, but I don't follow equipment news at all. Same with Adams? I guess that TM has more eyeballs and makes a big marketing hubbub about it, that gets attention.

 

 

 

 

Must be an optical illusion depending on the angle you are looking down.  The Taylor Made site shows a pronounced bulge in the toe looking straight down on it.

[nevets88]

1 minute ago, Veteran Golf Fan said:

Must be an optical illusion depending on the angle you are looking down.  The Taylor Made site shows a pronounced bulge in the toe looking straight down on it.

When does it hit the stores? I go to the PGA Superstore to practice. I could video the face for this thread.

[iacas]

12 minutes ago, Veteran Golf Fan said:

Must be an optical illusion depending on the angle you are looking down.  The Taylor Made site shows a pronounced bulge in the toe looking straight down on it.

Eh. I wouldn't call this "pronounced."

Nor this:

[Veteran Golf Fan]

15 minutes ago, iacas said:

Eh. I wouldn't call this "pronounced."

Nor this:

Go see an Opthamologist if you can't see the leading edge from heel to toe.  The gear effect 2018 style.