Columnist image

TSN Senior Reporter

| Archive

TaylorMade gave golfers a Christmas present this week with the launch of an entire new bag of equipment. Drivers, irons, wedges, putters and balls have all been updated for the coming year as the company hopes to build on the success of its M family.

At the top of the list are the M1 and M2 drivers, which have both been given facelifts that are said to push them to deliver even longer, more forgiving tee shots.

Both drivers have a lighter skeleton thanks to the use of lower density titanium alloy that’s been used. This saves a total of three grams on each club. That may not sound like much but in club-making, it’s a tons.

Embedded ImageThe drivers also have toe sections on the bottom that are pushed in or recessed, with the M1 featuring carbon fiber in this section to make the club even lighter. The recessed area allows the clubs to have a larger footprint while still complying with the 460 cubic-centimetre limit. Overall, the M1 is four per cent bigger while the M2 is two per cent larger. This also helps the club become more stable at impact which means it’s more forgiving on off-centre hits; the M1 is as forgiving as last year’s M2 and the M2 is the most forgiving club in the company’s history.

And yes, the M1 still has the track sliding weights that allow the club to be dialed in to perfection for each individual swing. In fact, the front-to-back weight is two and a half grams heavier than last year’s model meaning even more control over launch conditions.

Finally, when you look down at the drivers at address, you’ll notice a sleeker look with the white section tailing out, giving the impression of movement.

Both clubs will be available Jan. 27, 2017 with the M1 coming in at $649 and the M2 at $529.

In irons, the very popular M2 iron of last year has been joined by the new M1 iron.

Embedded Image“This completes the family,” said Tomo Bystedt, TaylorMade’s senior director of product development for irons. “It’s similar to the M2 but in a different package.”

The M1 brings in a couple of past TaylorMade technologies with the Speed Pocket and Face Slots that help with off-centre hits. In appealing to better players, the clubs feature a smaller overall head size, reduced offset, thin toplines, and shorter blade lengths.

The M2 irons also have the Speed Pocket and Face Slots, along with other technologies that help players hit the ball not only longer, but also higher. They are very forgiving on balls hit off the heel or toe.
Perhaps the biggest story for TaylorMade is the launch of its new ball line, which features the TP5 and the TP5x.

Clearly Taylor Made is getting aggressive in trying to chip away at the ProV1 franchise and it has a story to tell that might entice players. First off, of course, is that it’s being used by its tour players, a group that encompasses the Nos.-1 and 2-ranked golfers in the world as well as the Olympic gold medallist.

There will also be a generous seeding campaign, with trial packs being given to golfers from coast to coast in Canada.

Embedded ImageSo what is this new ball all about? As its name suggests, it’s a five-piece ball with three inner layers (Tri-Fast Core) working for distance and the two outer layers aiding spin and feel (Dual-Spin Cover). That’s a very basic description but in essence, this ball launches higher due to reduced spin on impact with a driver or iron. Most other balls achieve launch angle through spin, but according to Eric Loper, the company’s director of golf ball research and development. “Using more spin to create height increases drag and is a less efficient way to reach peak height.”

At the same time, it offers feel and spin control on shorter shots around the green.

The TP5 will have a mid-launch height and softer compression core while the TP5x is firmer and has a higher launch.
 
The balls will be available at March 1, 2017 at a cost of $59.99 per dozen.

The launch is rounded out by new wedges and, among other putters, the popular Spider modelsf used by Jason Day and Dustin Johnson.