Martin Hopley
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When manufacturers try to add forgiving or distance features into irons aimed at better players, occasionally something has to give in terms of looks or feel. However as manufacturing techniques improve that trade-off is becoming less of an issue as the TaylorMade M1 irons demonstrate.

TaylorMade M1 Irons

In terms of head size, the M1 are in the hybrid/blade cavity sector that a lot of single figure handicappers prefer.

The wedge is reasonably compact and as you go up the set, the relatively small offset and head length does increase slightly, but not at the expense of the looks.

TaylorMade M1 Irons

The M1 has a mid-sized top line at address and the satin chrome finish is oozing class and sits very well behind the ball.

TaylorMade M1 Irons

Like a swan, all looks serene from above, but under the surface there is a lot of technology at work to lower the CG so that the M1 irons launch high with as much speed as possible and then land steeply.

First up is the Fluted Hosel which was on the M2 irons previously and involves a couple of cut out sections on the underside of the hosel to save a couple of grams. There is now also a notch in the hosel to enable fitters to adjust the lie more easily.

TaylorMade M1 Irons

In a concession to better player looks, they have not continued this on the front of the hosel like the M2 irons so it can't be seen at address. It does look better, but if you a looking at the hosel when you play, then you are proabably looking at the wrong thing.

The CG is further lowered by a shallower face with a thinner top line and a 15g high density tungsten weight that is added into the toe of the 7 to 3 irons.

TaylorMade M1 Irons

As well lowering the CG, it also centres it more in the face and improves the MOI to make it more forgiving.

It sounds like I am comparing this to a previous model, when this is actually the first M1 iron. However in some ways I am because the M1 continues on from where the excellent M2 Tour iron left off.

Therefore it still has the Speed Pocket with a 33% thinner front wall in the sole of the 7 iron upwards to increase ball speed on those low face strikes.

TaylorMade M1 Irons

In addition the Face Slots return to this category of iron from 8 iron upwards in order to give that extra forgiveness if you do stray from the centre as they protect against any loss of ball speed.

TaylorMade M1 Irons

This is lifting a little from the TaylorMade PSi iron too, but in the M1 the feel is a lot better as the faces seem a little more lively.

Compared to the M2 2017 iron, the M1 is just that little bit more compact with a shorter head, thinner top line and thinner face slots.

TaylorMade M1 Irons

All these cavities can create hollow sound issues, but the 3D Fin badge and Hybrar Damper in the cavity support the face and neutralise any unwanted frequencies and the resulting sonar sensations are what you would expect from a better player's iron.

TaylorMade M1 Irons

The sole features a 3 way bevel to help the club go through the turf more easily and combine the benefits of a wider sole with one that will play narrower than it looks thanks to the thinner centre section.

TaylorMade M1 Irons

The feel through the set was also more consistent than past sets that have combined various styles of slotted and non-slotted heads.

The almost closed cavity wedge was quite compact and had that solid cavity back feel and when you went to the 7-iron with the Speed Pocket and the Face Slots it did sound a little hollower, but not by much.

TaylorMade M1 Irons

As you went up the longer irons with their larger faces started to have a nice bit of zip about them and for your average amateur this is where the benefit will come from the extra ball speed generating the necessary launch.

The M1 comes with the True Temper XP95 steel shaft or the MRC Kuro Kage Silver graphite shaft as standard, which are lighter than most better player shafts in order to work with the heads to deliver that ball speed.

TaylorMade M1 Irons

TaylorMade has been trying for some time to combine forgiving technologies from their distance irons with the better player styling of their cavity back player irons.

With the M2 Tour and the PSi, either the looks or the flow of the set got in the way, but with the M1 irons, TaylorMade has created an excellent looking, feeling and sounding set that gives better players the option of performance with forgiveness.

Golfalot Rating: 5 stars
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TaylorMade M1 Irons - Product Details

UK Launch01 March 2017
UK Launch RRP£849
USA Launch01 March 2017
USA Launch RRP$874.99
European Launch RRP€1049
Handicap Range
Low
High
GolferMens
Hand AvailabilityRight
ManufactureCast
MaterialSteel
Shaft NameTrue Temper XP95 (Steel), MRC Kuro Kage Silver (Graphite)
Shaft TypesSteel, Graphite
Shaft FlexRegular, Stiff, X Stiff
Shaft WeightTrue Temper XP95 (Steel), MRC Kuro Kage Silver (Graphite)
DesignCavity Back
Set Makeup4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, PW
Additional Clubs3, GW, SW
Manufacturer's WebsiteTaylorMade Website

User Reviews

Mikie
April 2018

I had them for about 5 months with a couple of months off and not a lot of golf otherwise because of the weather. 73 years old and don't have the swing speed I had and the faces were caving. Who knows where they would be if I practiced as much as I usually do. Doesn't Taylormade do testing?

Andy P
February 2018

Fantastic set of irons ! I’m a single digit handicap and was looking for a set that would give me a little more distance but still had good feel and some forgiveness, well this set delivers big time.They also have a great look.

Longknocker12
June 2017

I the M1 irons (5-PW) about 2 months ago after swinging multiple brands in the range. I liked the club design and feel and gained about 12 yards, yes 12. Guess what!!! I rubbed my fingers down the 7 iron (the most used) and noticed that the face was caving in toward the toe edge of the grooves, placed a straight edge on the face and oh yeah it is concave. Guess what, the 5, 6, and 8 irons have also started to show the curvature. So currently the 6 and 7 irons have been sent back and the others will be soon to follow. I use Pro v1 balls, have a 5-7 handicap, am 54 years old and swing around 95mph so these clubs should certainly handle this. I would not buy the M1 irons if you swing over 70 mph.

Bird Hunter
May 2017

I was really looking forward to the release of these irons. I have the M2 Tours which are fantastic and these irons looked to address a couple of minor things that I thought could've been improved. Sad to say Taylormade dropped the ball here. First off they are a clunky looking set of clubs. I'm not sure if it's the finish but they look nothing like the M2 Tours. Second, they also have worse feel/sound to them. While I did pick up about 2-3 yards per club the sacrifices made did not justify keeping them. I posted this same review on TaylorMade's website and not surprisingly they chose not to post it, sad. If you're considering this set I'd say look for the M2 Tours, you can probably get them for a really good price now that they are on their way out.

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