TaylorMade M2 Driver Review: "Super Long, Super Forgiving"
The TaylorMade M2 Driver is a rocket launcher that is deadly accurate.
If you are looking for increased distance, added forgiveness and a £100 saving albeit sacrificing some gadgets, you will want to take a closer look at the new TaylorMade M2 Driver as used by the likes of Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson.
By no means a cheap investment at £329 ($399), our testing of the TaylorMade M2 Driver during the company's official press event during the PGA Show in Orlando earlier this month indicated an even hotter product than the more expensive M1 that was launched at the end of 2015.
All you need to know: Best Golf Drivers
TaylorMade engineers focused on three key performance features when it came to the M2 driver and that was to deliver ball speed protection on shots struck away from the centre of the face.
As a result, the company has packed inverted cone technology (ICT; increases the size of the high-COR area of the club face), a redesigned Speed Pocket (helps the face flex better at impact) and increased moment of inertia (resistance to twisting at impact) into this driver.
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WATCH OUR TAYLORMADE M2 DRIVER REVIEW HERE:
TaylorMade M2 Driver - Key Features
- Multi-Material Construction: 7-layer Carbon Composite Crown that is precision-formed and built ultra-thin, ultra-lite and high strength to maximize weight savings.
- Massive Sweet Spot: Weight placed lower and further back on the sole for a more efficient power transfer; giving golfers more ball speed.
- Maximum Forgiveness: Engineered with high MOI, Inverted Cone Technology and a redesigned Speed Pocket - three features that combine to produce maximum forgiveness and speed across the face.
- Hot Trajectory: A low CG projection with a new Speed Pocket and exceptional aerodynamics generate a hot, high launch/low spin trajectory.
- Adjustable Loft Sleeve: 12 positions, 4-degrees (+/- 2-degrees of loft) to dial in maximum performance by adjusting loft, lie and face angle.
Which Tour pros use the TaylorMade M2 Driver?
Many of the world's best players on the PGA Tour use the M2 Driver including Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson.
TaylorMade M2 Driver - Looks and Feel
On first inspection, the black and white crown design is exactly the same as the M1, with the top of the crown is higher than the top of the face. We admired all of this last time around and we haven't changed our opinion.
The white side of the crown seems to fixate your eyes better to the ball and we feel the face and crown differentiation works well with the black face.
TaylorMade informs us its lightweight carbon composite crown weighs 12g less than a titanium crown, so this means the company can shift weight lower in the head and drop the centre of gravity (CG) 35% lower and 46% further back than before with the former AeroBurner driver - the product this one is replacing in the line.
Flipping the head over to look at the sole, and you unsurprisingly note a Speed Pocket, which helps the flex to face at impact. It's remarkable how many times TaylorMade can "revamp" a SP, but believe us, it has. The ball flies off the face and then some at impact.
While lacking the eye-catching T-Track system on the M1 - an asset that helps players fine tune their driving performance to best match their swing - players who opt for the M2 will still benefit from TaylorMade's 12-position loft sleeve that provides up to four degrees of loft adjustment.
When it comes to feel, and just as we experienced with the M1, the acoustics of the club is just superb.
This is arguably the sweetest sounding driver you will ever experience with its hot and crisp sound - far removed from the "tinny" noise of older models.
Its stock Fujikura Pro shaft also stood up to the test, aiding great energy into the back of the ball through to impact, but fear not if you find it doesn't work for you as TaylorMade is providing 23 additional premium custom shaft options at no upcharge.
TaylorMade M2 Driver - Performance and Forgiveness
The new M2 driver delivered us with scintillating distance and impressive forgiveness.
For us, it proved the longest driver currently on the market with 268 yards of average carry distance and 290 yards total distance - an approximate eight-yard gain against the majority of drivers we've hit this season.
Spin remained nice and low, similarly to the M1, at little more than 2000 RPM, and our ball speed was up to 148 mph as opposed to 146 mph.
Of the 20 drives we struck with a standard Fujikura Pro stiff shaft, only three veered more than 10 yards offline, proving this one has more than just firepower to excite.
Should you buy the TaylorMade M2 Driver?
Absolutely. It's super long, super forgiving and super sounding.
The M1, which also received a five-star rating from us, is perfect for the tinkerer with all its gadgets in the sole, but we found the M2 packed much more of a punch and was just as accurate.
By no means cheap at £329 ($399), but if you aren't too fussed about tinkering with your driver then you should get involved with the M2.
The £100 saving against the M1 could be better used to purchase a new product like a new TaylorMade putter or wedge, or even spend it on some lessons.
Andy first joined the brand on a month's work experience back in April 2011, and he now assumes the Editor role. When Andy joined GolfMagic it was a small site with potential.
