TAYLORMADE M3 DRIVER – TWISTED LOGIC
Feet square. Hips square. Shoulders square. Clubface twisted?
Without doubt, the Twist Face technology used in the new TaylorMade M3 driver is a monumental design change in a game where square and straight has been preached religiously ever since the Scots decided golf was a thing.
While it sounds almost counter-intuitive for a driver to have a twisted clubface, the new technology implemented in the M3 driver came about after TaylorMade studied over half a million shots played by golfers of all abilities.
In what probably wasn't a massive shock, TaylorMade determined that nasty low hooks from high on the toe and high, ballooning slices from low on the heel were the common denominators when it came to ugly results.
After identifying the problem, TaylorMade decided that the new TaylorMade M3 driver would provide the solution by straightening up ball flights and improving strikes from those problematic zones.
The answer was an ingenious clubface on the TaylorMade M3 driver that increases the gear effect on high toe and low heel strikes to produce straighter shots. It is slightly twisted open in the toe area above the centre line and slightly twisted closed in the heel area below the centre line.
The twist in the high toe zone effectively adds loft and creates spin while producing an open face to counteract the left and low ball flight that is normally produced. Conversely, the twist in the low heel area reduces loft and spin and produces a more shut clubface to straighten and strengthen the weak, high slice that is the usual outcome.
Yes, a twisted clubface sounds unusual, but don’t worry if you think you’ll be borderline hallucinating when you look down at a wonky clubface – you won't notice any discernible twist in the clubface at address.
And with a striking new silver matte finish on the crown, replacing the white used on the M1 driver, the M3 driver is easy on the eye too.
The TaylorMade M3 driver’s Twist Face technology is quite revolutionary in being able to straighten the high toe and low heel misses – it’s the driver that takes forgiveness to another level.
TAYLORMADE M3 - HAMMERHEAD SLOT
The TaylorMade M3 driver also has a Hammerhead slot engineered into the sole that works with the M3 driver's Twist Face technology to enhance the sweetspot and increase ballspeed.
It is the first time TaylorMade have fitted a sole slot on their most adjustable driver model (the M1 didn’t feature one) and the Hammerhead slot is an improvement to the Speed Pocket used in previous TaylorMade models.
The Hammerhead is divided into three zones to permit a longer overall slot length (100mm as opposed to the 82mm Speed Pocket) and enabled TaylorMade engineers to construct the M3’s clubface thinner to boost ballspeeds across the entire face.
Y WORRY – TAYLORMADE M3 WEIGHT TRACKING
The TaylorMade M3 driver also has a new weight tracking system for more precise CG (centre of gravity) adjustability than ever before.
Gone is the T-track system of the TaylorMade M1 driver, with the M3 sporting a new Y-track system that allows the two 11g weights to be moved in unison to any position within the track's footprint.
With the heel-toe and front-back tracks now connected, the Y-track can produce more than 1000 unique CG combinations, twice the number of configurations that were possible with the TaylorMade M1 driver.
And regardless of the where the weights are, the M3 has the lowest CG possible with its flat front-to-back curvature of the sole.
It is so effective that with the Y-track weights in the most rearward position, the TaylorMade M3’s CG is located 36 per cent further back than the TaylorMade M1 driver to boost the M3’s MOI (moment of inertia) by 10 per cent - which in layman's terms it means drives that should fly straighter and longer.
TAYLORMADE M3 440
Once again TaylorMade will offer a slightly smaller 440cc model of their premium driver for players who prefer a more compact head and an increased ability to shape shots.
The TaylorMade M3 440 has the same Y-track weighting system as the 460cc M3 driver and both drivers are fitted with Taylormade’s lightweight loft sleeve that can alter the loft up or down over a four degree range.
Both the TaylorMade M3 460 and TaylorMade M3 440 drivers come standard with premium MCA Tensei shafts that are available in high, mid or low launch angles and regular, stiff and extra stiff flexes.
And you’ll be wrapping your hands around a Lamkin UTx cord grip, which is the standard offering on the M3 driver.
TaylorMade also offer over 20 custom shaft options that can be fitted at no additional cost.
The TaylorMade M3 driver is available in 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 and 12 degree lofts for right handers and 9.5 and 10.5 degree lofts for left handers, while the TaylorMade M3 440 driver is available in 9 and 10 degree lofts only for right handers - sorry lefties.
The new TaylorMade M3 driver range will be available at GolfBox on February 15.
Does the NEW Taylormade range work? Let's ask Dustin Johnson!