TaylorMade have once again created a paradigm shift in metalwood technology with its new M3 and M4 drivers, highlighted by the company’s breakthrough Twist Face technology.
Brian Bazzel, TaylorMade’s vice president, product creation, noted that the company’s legacy of breaking from tradition to reach new thresholds of performance continues into the M3 and M4. “In 2018, we have once again uncovered a new frontier of driving potential with Twist Face Technology – a radical departure from traditional driver-face design, engineered to correct for inherent human swing tendencies in real-time, giving golfers a tangible competitive advantage,” he said.
Twist Face Technology
Twist Face technology counteracts golfers’ most common misses by delivering a corrective face angle when hit off-centre.
Based on TaylorMade’s research, the most common misses result from high-toe and low-heel impacts. To counteract the high-toe miss (a hook), the face has been ‘twisted’ open to increase loft and open the face in that area. To counteract the low-heel miss
(a slice), the face has been ‘twisted’ closed to de-loft and close the face in that area.
M3 Driver
Hailed as the most advanced driver in TaylorMade history, the M3 features a new matte silver front section and a raised, aerodynamic five-layer carbon composite crown.
Y-Track
Both the 460cc and 440cc models come with a new Y-Track adjustability system that allows golfers to obtain their optimal ball flight parameters.
Unlike the T-Track on the M1 driver, the heel-to-toe and front-to-back tracks on the M3 are connected to allow both 11g weights to be utilised for the benefit of heel-to-toe control as well as front-to-back CG adjustment – resulting in more than 1,000 unique CG configurations. The flat curvature of the front/back track provides the lowest CG possible regardless of the setting.
The Y-Track combines with the 12-position, four-degree aluminium Loft Sleeve to provide an unparalleled level of personalisation.
Hammerhead Slot
The new Hammerhead slot works with Twist Face and Inverted Cone technologies to deliver increased ball speed across a larger area.
The slot has three elements: central Speed Pocket, face geometry and stiffening ribs. By dividing the Speed Pocket into zones, the overall length is increased by 22% – from 82mm to 100mm. This creates a larger flexible centre zone which increases ball speed on low face impacts and reduces backspin.
The new ribs allowed engineers to decrease the thickness and weight of the face, creating higher ball speeds across a larger area.
Specifications
Asian specs: 9.5° and 10.5° lofts with a Mitsubishi KuroKage TM5 shaft (S, SR, R flexes). Golfers also have the option of four premium aftermarket shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD IZ, MCC RF60, Fujikura Speeder Evolution IV and UST Attas Cool 60 (S flex only).
Global specs: Additional lofts of 8.5° and 12° along with LH options, while the 440 (RH only) offers 9° and 10° loft options. Both the 460 and 440cc models are fitted with Mitsubishi’s Tensei CK Red (high launch), Blue (mid launch) or White (low launch) shafts (X, S, & R flexes). More than two dozen additional premium custom shaft options are available at no upcharge.
SRP: RM2,790
M4 Driver
Complementing the M3 driver is the M4 driver, which differentiates its design by putting an emphasis on unparalleled forgiveness with straight distance. The M4 utilises Twist Face and Hammerhead technologies along with Geocoustic technology – which combines geometry and acoustical engineering – to create more forgiveness and confidence-boosting impact sound.
Geocoustic Technology
Driver heads with low back CGs typically have low frequencies due to the fairly flat soles. The M4’s Geocoustic sole shape allows for a low CG and larger head size but retains a more curved shape, which has inherently higher frequencies and thus better sound and feel.
Hammerhead Slot
Similar to the M3, the M4’s Hammerhead slot features reinforced outer portions for a lighter, more flexible face for a larger sweet spot. The centre portion of the slot increases ball speed low on the face and drops unwanted spin.
Additionally, the newly-designed face saves 8g of discretionary weight. To increase the stability of the driver, the rearward mass pad has been increased by 86% from 22g to 41g.
The redesigned face is both thinner and lighter, with maximum thickness reduced from 4.47mm to 3.6mm and heel/toe perimeter thickness reduced from 2mm to 1.92mm. In addition, the mass of the face has been reduced by 17.3% – from 45.5g in the ’17 M2 to 37.6g.
D-Type
The M4 D-Type (D signifying draw) gives golfers a higher-launching, more draw-biased option. The D-Type combines multiple draw-biased design technologies to help players who consistently fight fade-to-slice trajectories. It is more heel-weighted (41g), has slight offset and uses advanced visual cues to promote a square face at address.
Specifications
Asian specs: 9.5°, 10.5° and 12° lofts with the Fubuki TM50 MCC graphite shaft (S, SR, R flexes), and women’s Fubuki TM40 MCC shaft (L flex).
Global specs: Additional lofts of 8.5° and 12° along with LH options, and equipped with a Fujikura Atmos Red shaft (6X, 5 S/R/A flexes) and a women’s TM-Tuned 45 shaft (L flex).
The M4 D-Type comes in 9.5°, 10.5° and 12° loft options, and LH options, with the Matrix Platinum White Tie 55 shaft (S & R flexes) and Matrix White Tie MSF5 45 (A & L flexes).
SRP: RM2,490
