TaylorMade has recently launched the M2 driver which is designed to give golfers more forgiveness. It doesn’t have as much adjustability as the M1 but it is aimed at players with higher handicaps. Matthew Allanson, School of Golf Coach and TaylorMade Certified Master Fitter at Al Badia Golf Club by Intercontinental, met up with Nathan Fisher from TaylorMade adidas Golf to test out the M Family Drivers. This was an interesting test because it was incidentally the first time Fisher had tried out the M2 so he was intrigued to see how the stats compared with the help of the new FlightScope Xi Tour.
To make the test fair, the same shaft was used for both drivers, which had been previously custom-fitted for Nathan.
Matthew Allanson: How did the M2 feel to hit Nathan?
Nathan Fisher: It felt fantastic. I noticed a significant difference in the feel between the M1 and the M2 because of the way I set up the M1 with the weight forward whereas the weight is fixed back on the M2. Both the clubs look identical at address position with a super smart carbon crown.
Matthew Allanson: Did you notice any difference between the ball flight between the two?
Nathan Fisher: Not really. Both drivers had a nice launch angle that looked good from the tee. I naturally hit a slight fade so you saw that on both drivers but that was about it.
Matthew Allanson: You could tell this from the data we captured on the FlightScope. The numbers were very similar between the two clubs, and it was important for me to know the desired flight when adjusting the clubs to suit you. Interestingly the spin was a factor caused possibly by the subtle launch changes, but in terms of ball flight they were almost identical in shape.
Nathan Fisher: How much further was the M1 going?
Matthew Allanson: Surprisingly, it was only travelling five yards further, although every yard counts! Players will often look to see how fast they are swinging and not how fast the ball is coming off the face. It is in fact the ball speed which effects the distance the ball travels, with every gain in 1 mph ball speed equating to around 2.5 yards in distance. I would like to think with more time toying with the clubs we could find greater gains in performance.
Matthew Allanson: If you were trying to describe the difference between the M1 and M2, what would you say Nathan?
Nathan Fisher: The M1 was the first driver from the M family to come out. The M2 has just been released to compliment the M family. The M1 gives the golfer so many options when it comes to adjustability. There is the T-Track System that allows you to relocate the COG of the golf club resulting in changes to spin and consequent ball flights. Combine this with loft adjustments of +2* to -2* on the club, and you can significantly effect the performance of this golf club.
The centre of gravity has been moved a lot further back in the M2. What this does is increase the Moment of Inertia. From moving this weight back, the driver has now created a sweet spot that is actually 80% higher than its predecessor – the AeroBurner.
The M1 is aimed for mid to low handicapper, whereas the M2 is aimed at a mid to higher handicapper, that said both should not be discounted from a trial. In fact, a number of TaylorMade Staff Players put the M2 into play for the recent Omega Dubai Desert Classic. What’s nice now with the M2 is the addition of loft adjustability, offering a whole new realm of personalisation to the golfer, something previously lacking in the AeroBurner.
Both the drivers are amazing and will be sure to deliver when fitted correctly, optimal driving performance. The adjustability is what these clubs are designed for so it’s important that you get custom-fitted so you get the most out of your driver.
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