The M3 and M4 drivers replace the most recent (2017) versions of the company’s popular M1 and M2 respectively, with both models’ new ‘Twist Face’ technology the standout piece of innovation.

“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,” TaylorMade Vice President, Product Creation Brian Bazzel said.

Designed with the most common driver mis-hits, high on the toe and low on the heel, in mind Twist Face incorporates a twisted face to correct the typical ball flight produced by both off centre strikes. In the high toe section the face is twisted to add loft and open the face to counteract the normal left shot such a strike produces, while the low heel area has been twisted closed for less loft to deliver a correction of the right miss that commonly results from a heel strike.

TaylorMade’s engineers studied data captured from more than half a million shots’ head presentation and determined traditional bulge and roll, which has been a part of driver design for years and aims to similarly lessen the effect of off centre hits, did not deliver the performance benefits of straighter drives to golfers of all levels.

The company believes its new technology delivers mis-hits that average on the centre line in testing and are longer and straighter.

Both models feature a matte silver front section that replaces the previous white of the M1 and M2 as well as the new ‘Hammerhead Slot’, which works together with the twist face and the company’s ‘Inverted Cone Technology’ to produce increased ball speeds across the clubface. The hammerhead slot features a 22 percent increase in length on previous ‘Speed Pockets’ and incorporates stiffening ribs, which allow the face to be thinner and lighter as well as more flexible across a larger area.

The M3, available in both 460cc and 440cc, utilises a ‘Y-Track’ adjustability system, which unlike the ‘T-Track’ in the previous M1 models allows players to position all 22-grams of adjustable weight for either heel-toe weighting or Centre of Gravity (CG) adjustment from the front to the back of the head. Offering over 1,000 CG configurations the new Y-Track combines with the company’s four-degree loft sleeve to deliver complete customisation.

Like the M3, the new M4 features lighter and thinner composite panels than ever before thanks to a five-layer aerodynamic design.

Available in both standard and the draw biased D-Type, the M4 aims to deliver forgiveness where the M3 offers customisation. A ‘Geocoustic’ design uses geometry and acoustical engineering to achieve a low CG and larger head size without sacrificing sound and feel.

The M4’s hammerhead slot allows for an eight-gram weight saving in the face, which is used to make up part of the 86 percent weight increase in the rearward mass pad to deliver improved stability for enhanced forgiveness.

Both the M3 and M4 drivers are complemented by fairway wood and rescue models offering similar performance driven technologies.

The M3 Fairway delivers an increase in the amount of adjustable weight on the 2017 M1 and a CG that is further forward and lower, resulting in “driver-like launch conditions”. Courtesy of the weight track being moved further forward than the previous model the M3 features a more streamlined design that provides better turf interaction and a longer speed pocket for increased ball speed on shots hit low on the face.

Similarly to the fairway of the same name, the M3 Rescue provides an increase in movable weight on the 2017 M1 Rescue, allowing players to precisely place 30-grams of weight for an optimal ball flight that is further enhanced by a lightweight three-degree loft sleeve.

With the aim of increasing the forgiveness of its “ultimate distance fairway” TaylorMade has enlarged the sweetspot in the M4 Fairway, which also produces more optimal launch conditions than previous models. A thinner and stronger Ni-Co C300 face combines with inverted cone technology to minimise the loss of ball speed on off centre hits, while the new split-weight mass pad similarly maintains ball speed and increases forgiveness.

Designed for average golfers and draw biased performance the M4 Rescue rounds out the new range of woods and like the M4 Fairway utilises a new split-weight mass pad for the first time to preserve ball speed on mis-hits and a cut-through Speed Pocket for improved launch and ball speed on shots struck low on the face.

Matching M3 and M4 irons complete TaylorMade’s new range, with the company’s new ‘RIBCOR’ the technological hero of both new models.

Designed to reduce the amount of lost energy at impact caused by an iron head flexing anywhere other than the impact point, RIBCOR stiffens iron head’s structure outside the scoring lines while maintaining the face’s ability to flex within the lines for improved energy transfer and increased ball speed across the face.

In addition to improving ball speed, carry distance and dispersion RIBCOR also allowed TaylorMade engineers to move more weight to the heel and toe of both the M3 and M4 to deliver increased moment of inertia (MOI) on the previous M1 and M2 irons.

Pushing the limits of COR allowed by the rules of golf according to TaylorMade, M4 irons combine the new RIBCOR technology with a multi-material dampening badge to deliver improved sound and feel.

The 4-7 irons in the set incorporate the company’s proven ‘Face Slots’ and speed pockets, which together with a redesigned inverted cone technology deliver increased distance and forgiveness in an iron featuring TaylorMade’s thinnest ever leading edge and a 1mm thick topline.

A 24 percent MOI increase on the 2017 M2 irons is achieved through optimal weight placement towards the heel and toe of the head to increase forgiveness and maintain ball speed on mis-hits.

Utilising a similar dampening badge, face slots, speed pocket and inverted cone as well as RIBCOR the M3 is engineered for straight distance in a more compact shape that will appeal to lower handicap players while still instilling confidence.

The smaller head design is achieved thanks to 15-grams of high-density tungsten placed in the sole of each M3 iron, lowering the CG and raising the MOI.

A 360° undercut cavity and 180° fluted hosel allowed TaylorMade to optimally position weight in the M3 irons to deliver a combination of forgiveness and workability in an iron with a thinner topline and improved turf interaction, due to enhanced effective bounce, compared to the 2017 M1.

RRP:

M3 Driver $749.

M4 Driver $649.

M3 Fairway $449.

M4 Fairway $399.

M3 Rescue $369.

M4 Rescue $329.

M3 Irons Steel $199 (per iron).

M4 Irons Steel $179 (per iron).

M3 Irons Graphite $239 (per iron).

M4 Irons Graphite $199 (per iron).

For more information visit www.taylormadegolf.com.au and keep reading Golf Australia magazine.