When TaylorMade Golf introduced the M2 irons early in 2016, the first question out of a lot of people's mouths was: Where are the M1 irons? There's M1 everything else, why not irons?
We were told, basically, don't worry, we're on it. Turns out, the TaylorMade team was.
At their annual launch in West Palm Beach, Fla., the company unveiled the M1 irons, designed to have as much of the speed and distance of the wildly successful M2 irons in a package more appealing to a better player. That means thinner lines all over the place -- smaller topline, thinner sole -- and less offset. That means a more classic satin look that better players seem to like.
However, the company didn't strip out the technologies that they included in the 2017 M2 irons, including the return of face slots in the mid- and long-irons that offer side-to-side forgiveness, particularly for hits out on the toe. The design boasts a 15-gram high-density tungsten weight on the 3-7 irons, with a half-fluted hosel giving engineers some weight savings to put elsewhere while not distracting the player at address.
The Speed Pocket has been improved -- claiming to be even more active -- with a thinner front wall to allow for more activity and flexibility at impact to deliver more ball speed and moment of inertia protection.
As with the original and 2017 M2 irons, the M1 is ultimately a distance iron, reaching the USGA's coefficient of restitution limits. These designs, on their own, would produce a sound that isn't pleasing to golfers. So, the company has refined its badging in both the M1 and M2 irons with what they're dubbing Geocoustic technology, using all facets of design to make the club sound better at impact. Topline placement of some finning helps work with the badge to make an appealing sound.
The TaylorMade M1 irons will be available March 1, 2017 in 3-SW for $1,000 in True Temper XP95 steel shafts and for $1,200 in the MRC Kuro Kage Silver graphite shaft.
