Stepping up to the tee and launching a ball straight down the middle is one of the easiest ways to shoot lower scores. Even though the M4 driver came out a number of years ago, we’ll test it to see how it compares to some of the newer models.
We’ve tested and/or reviewed multiple different drivers over the years. You might not think they’re that different, but we’ve noticed that some of them perform a lot better for average players. Is the M4 one of them?
In This Review
Product Details | Intro | Sound & Feel | Performance | Bottom Line | Alternatives
Taylormade M4 Driver Product Details
| Handicap | All |
| Twist Face | Yes |
| Lofts | 8.5 9.5 10.5 12 |
| Flex | L, S, R, S, XS |
| Length | 45.75″ |
| Shaft | Fujikura Atmos Red 5 |
| Grip | Golf Pride Dual Feel |
| Company Website | Taylormade |
The Intro
Up until the M3 and M4 came out, I wasn’t really the biggest fan of Taylormade. I had a couple drivers in the past that just didn’t feel right to me and didn’t seem to perform as well as others.
That all changed with the M4 series.
At the time of writing this, I have the M4 hybrid and M4 irons in my bag. Both of them are some of the nicest clubs I’ve hit, so I was pretty interested to see how the driver would perform.
This was the first release of Taylormade’s Twist Face technology, which is supposed to help with off-center hits. You and I both know, it’s not always easy hitting the center of the face.
Other than that, there isn’t a whole lot that’s new on the outside. The only adjustments you can make is to change the loft and lie. Pretty standard in the driver world.
The overall look is pretty standard, especially if you’re used to the previous M2 driver. The only difference is with the Twist Face design, which to me, makes the club look a little more closed at address.
The Sound & Feel
The main goal Taylormade had with this driver was to improve forgiveness. You not only get that with the Twist Face but you also get the “Hammerhead Slot” and “Geocoustic” too.
All that really means is that the sweet spot is bigger. Even if you hit the ball off-center (high/low or left/right), you’ll still get an explosive feel and sound.
I’d say it wasn’t as easy to tell where I made contact (compared to some drivers), but that’s not something I care about. As long as I hit the ball well and it sounds/feels decent, I’m pretty happy.
The Performance
I mentioned that I have been using the M4 hybrid and irons for a while now. That said, I went a different route with my driver and wood. Right now, I have the ST Max driver in my bag, so we’ll be comparing the M4 to that.
If you have experience with the M2 driver, the main difference I noticed was that the M4 hit the ball straighter, especially on off-center strikes. The overall distance wasn’t a huge improvement.
I don’t know about you, but I sometimes struggle with my drives curving too much. Even with the M4 hybrid (it doesn’t have Twist Face), I hit the ball very straight.
Anyway, the question for me is whether or not this driver can outperform my current one.
The ST Max is newer, so I didn’t really expect a whole lot. That said, well-struck shots were pretty similar. The ST Max gave me a couple extra yards on average.
The main difference was when you looked at the averages. The grouping of balls I hit with the ST Max were closer together and straighter off the tee compared to the M4.
My guess is that the ST Max performed better on off-center hits. I still hit the ball well with the M4, but it just couldn’t compete with the driver I already had.
The Bottom Line
After taking everything into account, I do think the M4 is a solid driver and is one of the better budget drivers out there. It’s a number of years old now so the price has dropped. It also produces good distance and respectable forgiveness.
If you don’t want to spend a fortune, I think you’d be happy with it.
That said, it’s not something I’d put in my bag. At the time of writing this, the ST Max driver (review HERE) is one of the best I’ve hit. It’s newer and more expensive though, so it won’t be for everyone.
If you have any questions or want to share your experience with the M4 driver, be sure to leave a comment below.
Where To Buy
Buy new or used from Global Golf
The Alternatives
Even though the M4 driver is a solid option, there could be better options out there for you. If you want to see some of our favorites, you can read one of our “best of” guides below:
What To Do Next:
Enter Our Gear Giveaway: Like free golf stuff? A few times per year, we pick a few of our viewers and send them some gifts. Click here to learn more.
Deals & Discounts: We’ve worked with brands to offer discounts to our readers. See our deals and discounts page to see our current promotions.
Write For Us: Calling all hackers, whackers, and golf enthusiasts. Out Of Bounds Golf is looking for writers. If you’d like to get paid to write about golf, click here for more info.
