TaylorMade 2017 M1 Fairway Wood Review

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The TaylorMade 2017 M1 fairway wood packs a punch with a strong feel and a lot of power.

Introduction

I have a high level of appreciation for what TaylorMade did with the 2017 M1 fairway wood.  In 2016 they had a perfectly fine fairway wood, but they realized they could make it a lot better.  Rather than come out with something totally different, TaylorMade refined the original M1 design and made it great.  The 2017 M1 fairway wood’s adjustability is easy and functional, and the on-course performance is impressive.

Looks

The 2017 M1 fairway wood’s look will be familiar as it follows the scheme of its predecessor.  From address, the 2017 M1 fairway wood’s footprint is more compact with a shallow-ish face.  A slight difference is that the white topline curves as it transitions into the black carbon composite crown whereas the 2016 model was straight.  For paintfill, TaylorMade went with a more vivid neon yellow in place of gold and red.  It may be an odd point to make, but I also feel like this season’s carbon composite crowns look cleaner.

Sound & Feel

Everyone has different preferences, but if a club doesn’t sound and feel right to me, it’s not going to work.  Honestly, that was an issue for me with the 2016 M1 fairway wood.  TaylorMade took a giant leap with the 2017 M1 fairway wood, and now I’m singing a different tune.

A well struck shot feels like it absolutely shoots off the face of the club.  This sturdy and powerful sweet spot left me feeling like I must have cracked the ball in half.  If you wander off the sweet spot enough, you will notice a difference, but there is some forgiveness built into the club.

Similarly, the sound off the 2017 M1 fairway wood is a very solid “crack.”  I find the 2017 M1 to be their best sounding fairway wood to date.  It has enough life to it but doesn’t sound springy and metallic.

Performance

There’s a lot going on in the 2017 M1 fairway wood from Speed Pockets, sliding weight tracks, and carbon composite crowns.  That’s great, but TaylorMade knows they need to back up the bells and whistles of their clubs on the course.  The fact of the matter is that all of these features have a functional impact that make the 2017 M1 a slick little fairway wood.

The sliding weight track features just one 25 gram weight as opposed to last year’s model with two weights.  This makes for quicker, simpler adjustments.  TaylorMade has been on point with their adjustable weight systems since the original SLDR, and the 2017 M1 fairway is no exception.  The sliding weight can be a big help in dialing in your ideal shot shape.  With a few clicks of the sole weight, I had one of the best fairway wood flights I’ve seen in a long time.

TaylorMade used a couple different tricks to make the M1 easier to hit.  By using the carbon composite crown, the weight is reduced so the CG is lowered.  What does this mean to you?  This means you should be able to get the ball in the air more easily, which will typically result in more distance.  There’s also a Speed Pocket behind the face which is designed to increase forgiveness.  I won’t tell you this made a huge difference on bad mishits, but shots that were slightly off center had more life to them.

Conclusion

2017 has been a great year for TaylorMade woods.  The club that has impressed me the most is this 2017 M1 fairway wood because I found it to be the most improved from last year’s lineup.  TaylorMade refined every aspect into a high-performance golf club that makes you confident to call on it when needed.

Buy the TaylorMade 2017 M1 Fairway Wood HERE

TaylorMade 2017 M1 Fairway Wood Price & Specs

Bill Bush
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