When my driver isn’t cooperating, I’ll toss it back in the bag and use my fairway wood off the tee. It’s a club everyone should have, and in this post, I’ll review the Taylormade M4 fairway wood and discuss whether or not it’s worth picking up.
The M4 originally came out in 2018 and then was released again in 2021. I’ve used the M4 irons (review here) and hybrids (review here) in the past and really liked them, so I thought I’d give the wood a try.
Long story short, I ended up replacing my Callaway Rogue ST Max fairway wood with the M4. It didn’t hit the ball as far but it hit the ball straighter, which I find more important.
In This Review
Product Details | Intro | Performance | Bottom Line | Alternatives
Taylormade M4 Fairway Wood Specs
| Head | Loft | Lie | Volume (cc) | Length (in) |
| 3 | 15 | 60 | 176 | 43.25 |
| 3 HL | 16.5 | 60 | 178 | 43.25 |
| 5 | 18 | 60.5 | 156 | 42.25 |
| 5 HL | 21 | 60.5 | 157 | 42.25 |
| 7 HL | 24 | 61 | 146 | 41.75 |
| Shafts | Weight (g) | Torque | Launch | Spin |
| X-Stiff | 67 | 4.4 | Mid | Mid |
| Stiff | 65 | 4.4 | Mid | Mid |
| Regular | 55 | 4.4 | Mid-High | Mid-High |
| Senior | 54 | 4.4 | Mid-High | Mid-High |
| Grips | Color | Size | Weight | Feel |
| Dual Feel | Black/Grey | Standard | 47 g | Textured |
The First Impressions
I’ve had a bit of a love/hate relationship with Taylormade over the years. I was never the biggest fan, but that changed when they released the M2 series.
After playing the M2s for a while I decided to upgrade to the M6. Long story short, I wasn’t a fan and decided to check out the M4s instead.
Just a side note, the M2/M4/M6 lineup is their game-improvement series. The M1/M3/M5 lineup is their “players” series.
I already had the ST Max wood from Callaway (which is newer than the M4), so that’s what I’ll compare it to.
At first glance, the M4 has a slightly larger footprint and face compared to the ST Max. My initial thought was that the ST Max would be better off the fairway and the M4 would be better in the rough.
The M4 also felt a little bit lighter.
The main thing I prefer is the two-tone color on the M4. I find that the silver strip on the top of the club really helps me align the face properly.
Overall, the M4 felt more comfortable and suited my eye better. That said, if it didn’t perform any better then that really doesn’t matter much.
The Performance
My main knock with the ST Max was that the ball spun too much. Some people love theirs but I just found that it didn’t suit my swing well.
After taking somewhere around 20 shots with each club, the differences were clear. The main things I noticed were the distances, the height, and the straightness.
In terms of distance, the ST Max was 6-7 yards longer on average. It’s not a huge deal but that extra few yards could get you over a hazard or hit an extra GIR.
Another thing I noticed was that the ST Max was a little easier to hit off the fairway. When I say easier, I’m talking about how easy it was to get the ball in the air.
The final thing was how straight the ball went. The clear winner here was the M4. It might not be the case for everyone but it definitely was for me.
The Final Thoughts
After testing the M4 against my ST Max, the way it felt in my hands and the performance I got made me switch. Again, it likely won’t be the case for everyone.
Even though the M4 was shorter and a bit tougher to hit off the fairway, the way the ball flew through the air was well worth the sacrifice.
Being able to hit an extra green or fairway is more important to me than hitting it longer. Plus, it’s cheaper so I can sell the ST Max a put a couple of bucks in my pocket.
If you have any questions or want to share your experience with the M4 fairway wood, be sure to leave a comment below.
Where To Buy
Buy new or used on Global Golf
The Alternatives
Even though the M4 is an awesome club, it might not be right for everyone. If you want to see what our current favorites are then be sure to read one of the articles 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.
