Twist Face technology in the TaylorMade M3 and M4 driver may change the “face” of the game forever
By Jon Levy
It’s no secret – to golf nerds like me, at least – that 2017’s revamped TaylorMade M1 and M2 drivers fell flat to expectations.
Their legitimately updated and improved designs got stuck in the middle of an Epic year, after all. And since M1 and M2 circa 2016 were so successful, perhaps many golfers didn’t feel the need to switch.
Well, 2018 is a different year and TaylorMade is making sure of it because they may have just changed the “face” of the game forever with one incredibly bold, brand new design: Twist Face.
As explained to GOLFTEC during a recent visit to TaylorMade HQ in Carlsbad, the company compiled a massive amount of shot data to pinpoint the location of off-center hits and the path of the club accompanying those misses.
The result? TaylorMade M3 and M4 drivers and woods featuring Twist Face.
Or, in other words, their answer to optimizing the curvature of the face/gear effect on off-center hits and a brand new take on the bulge and roll design of woods.
Intrigued?
So were we. Especially after hitting them…
Demo and purchase the TaylorMade M3 and M4 driver & woods at your local GOLFTEC!
VIDEO: TaylorMade M3 and M4 Driver Review
In-hand reaction
Let’s throw this out there before anything else: YES, you can still hit hit the ball offline and experience that nagging slice or hook you hate.
But if my anecdotal experience can at least shed some light on the performance of this new technology, it does seem to help mitigate the misses. This was especially notable with the M3 driver, which I found to be a big-time improvement in miss performance vs. the 2017 M1.
Look: The biggest thing you’ll notice looking down at M3 and M4 is a new color – reminiscent of SLDR’s gray/silver but a little bit lighter in tone. Its overall appearance is otherwise fairly similar to M1 and M2 at the address position, and it’s hard to notice the appearance of Twist Face compared to the previous face designs of M1 and M2.
Feel: Both M3 and M4 have more of an active, “metal-like” feel than their predecessors at impact. Maybe this is what helps M3 feel a little easier to hit than M1, and also what helps M4’s feel compared to the distinct “thwack” of M2.
Performance: As aforementioned, user error and my left-to-left miss did surface a few times with both M3 and M4. Without a doubt, though, I was surprised on more than a few of my not-so-great swings which saw the ball still fly high and MUCH straighter than the expectation.
Maybe there’s something to this Twist Face thing, after all?
IN-HAND PHOTOS: TaylorMade M3 and M4 driver & woods
FEATURES & BENEFITS
Twist Face isn’t the only new technology the TaylorMade M3 and M4 driver & woods boast, so here’s the full breakdown of features and benefits which includes a new sweet-spot enhancing slot and moveable track weighting system in the M3 driver:
TaylorMade M3 driver
Twist Face
• Revolutionary new face curvature with a corrective face angle on off-center hits, engineered to reduce side spin and deliver straighter shots
• Twist Face provides more loft in the high-toe and less loft in the low-heel to produce more consistent spin where golfers commonly mishit
Hammerhead Slot
• New sole slot implemented into our most adjustable driver for the first time
• The reinforced outer portions of the slot allow for a lighter, more flexible face, resulting in a larger sweet spot
• The center portion of the slot increases ball speed low on the face and drops unwanted spin for more distance
Y-Track
• Simple and intuitive system to move weight and personalize ball flight for draw/fade/high/low
• Tracks are connected for the first time, allowing for an unrestricted movement of 22g of mass – (Two 11g weights)
• The back Y-portion provides forgiving draw and fade options. Splitting the weights provides the ultimate in forgiveness
TaylorMade M4 driver
“Straight distance + ultimate forgiveness”
Twist Face
• Revolutionary new face curvature with a corrective face angle on off-center hits, engineered to reduce side spin and deliver straighter shots
• Twist Face provides more loft in the high-toe and less loft in the low-heel to produce more consistent spin where golfers commonly mishit
Hammerhead Slot
• The reinforced outer portions of the slot allow for a lighter, more flexible face, resulting in a larger sweet spot
• The center portion of the slot increases ball speed low on the face and drops unwanted spin for more distance
Geocoustic
• Shaped for a solid and explosive sound
• Reduced sole volume enables a larger, more forgiving face
* Men’s: Offered in 8.5°, 9.5°, 10.5°, 12° with stock Fujikura Atmos Red shaft
* Women’s: Offered in 10.5°, 12° with stock TM-Tuned 45 shaft
* Retail starts at $429 and hits shelves on 2.16.18
TaylorMade M4 D-Type driver
“Straight distance + extreme forgiveness in a draw-biased design”
Twist Face
• Revolutionary new face curvature with a corrective face angle on off-center hits, engineered to reduce side spin and deliver straighter shots
• Twist Face provides more loft in the high-toe and less loft in the low-heel to produce more consistent spin where golfers commonly mis-hit
Hammerhead Slot
• The reinforced outer portions of the slot allow for a lighter, more flexible face, resulting in a larger sweet spot.
• The flexible center slot increases ball speed on low shots and lowers unwanted spin
Geocoustic
• Shaped for a solid and explosive sound
• Reduced sole volume enables a larger, more forgiving face
Draw-biased design
• The two-tone crown cosmetics have been altered to make the face angle appear more open, resulting in a more closed face at impact
• 41 grams of weight have been moved heel-ward to deliver draw bias
* Men’s: Offered in 9.5°, 10.5°, 12° with stock Matrix Platinum White Tie MFS5 55 shaft
* Women’s: Offered in 10.5°, 12° with stock Matrix Platinum White Tie MSF5 shaft
* Retail starts at $429 and hits shelves on 2.16.18
TaylorMade M3 fairway wood
“Fairway power with total personalization”
Lighter materials and faster
• A lighter 5-layer carbon crown and sole frees up 8g of weight, which is repositioned for a lower more powerful CG location• Lengthened Speed Pocket provides more flexibility and more ball speed low on the face
Improved playability
• New track overhang delivers precise and consistent turf interaction
Personalization
• More left-to-right adjustability due to a heavier, 29g movable weight
• More streamlined, 12-position 4° Loft Sleeve
* Offered in 15°, 17°, 19° with stock Mistubishi Chemical TENSEI BLUE shaft
* Retail starts at $299 and hits shelves on 2.16.18
M4 fairway wood
“Fairway power + ultimate forgiveness”
Distance and forgiveness
• Our most advanced Speed Pocket is engineered to create more ball speed across the clubface for more distance and forgiveness
• Split-weight mass pads provide increased MOI and perimeter weight distribution for better stability
• Ultra-strong Ni-Co 300 steel face insert allows for a thinner, faster face for optimized ball speed
• 5-layer carbon crown creates a lower CG by saving 8 grams vs a steel crown, driving higher launch while reducing spin
• Fluted Hosel provides superior sound and feel without compromising CG location
Playability through Geocoustic technology
• A large footrprint and low-profile shape makes it easy to launch and easy to play
• The sole is shaped for optimal playability and improved sound & feel
* Men’s: Offered in 15°, 16.5°, 18°, 21°, 24° with stock Fujikura Atmos Red shaft
* Women’s: Offered in 21°, 24° with stock TM-Tuned 45 shaft
* Retail starts at $249 and hits shelves on 2.16.18
M4 tour fairway wood
“Maximized distance with tour-inspired workability”
Optimized launch conditions
• Speed Pocket technology creates more ball speed across the clubface for more distance and a penetrating trajectory
• Split-weight mass pads provide increased MOI and perimeter weight distribution for better stability
• Ultra-strong Ni-Co 300 steel face insert allows for a thinner, faster face for optimized ball speed
• 5-layer carbon crown creates a lower CG by saving 8 grams, driving higher launch while reducing spin
• Fluted Hosel provides superior sound and feel without compromising CG location
Playability through Geocoustic technology
• Smaller overall shape provides a more compact look at address preferred by the better player
• The sole and leading edge profile provides Tour-inspired workability and versatility from the fairway and from difficult lies
* Offered in 15°, 18° with stock Mistubishi Chemical TENSEI BLUE shaft
* Retail starts at $299 and hits shelves on 2.16.18
**Not included above: TaylorMade M3 and M4 Rescue clubs, which retail starting at $249 and $219 respectively, and also debut on 2.16.18.
