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This is a comprehensive review of the TaylorMade M1 iron.
Labeled “distance, height and control”, the M1 is designed to pack much of the distance and forgiveness of the M2 iron, but in a more compact shape for improved feel and control.
Like the M2, the M1 iron features cutting-edge technologies like the familiar Speed Pocket and Face Slots. The M1 won a gold medal from the 2017 Golf Digest Hot List.
How well does the M1 iron live up to its claims? What type of golfer is it best suited for? Is it worth trying out?
Read on to find out everything you need to know about it to make an informed purchase.
Note: Unless otherwise stated, stock shafts and stock grips are used when evaluating this club. In most cases, the golf clubs reviewed on Golfstead are acquired temporarily for testing purposes and are not purchased. The review that follows is based on the personal experience and research of the author. Because everyone’s swing and body are different, results with a particular club may differ from person to person.
Quick Verdict
Rating: 8.1/10 (good, but you should try to see how you like it)
Classification: Game-Improvement
Best suited for: Mid-handicappers, aspiring better players or any other golfers who want the forgiveness a GI iron can offer along with some better-player attributes.
Best Places To Buy Online
Now that this model is a couple of years old, there are two places where you can get it at a great discount.
The first is eBay, which is a fantastic source for new and used sets. The second is Global Golf, which offers many attractive policies and deals that make the process as painless as possible.
Want a high-resolution look at the M1 irons? Click on the composite image at the top of the page and navigate the photos.
What are the reviews like?
The M1 iron has received mixed reviews from critics and consumers alike, but it has enjoyed a generally positive reception since its debut.
It has a rating of 4.3/5 on Global Golf and 4/5 stars with 83% recommending on the TaylorMade website.
What People Like
- excellent distance results
- generous forgiveness
- great style
What People Don’t Like
- the sound and feel is generally regarded as being poor and mechanical, with little feedback for dialing in
- many have experienced caving in of the face near the Speed Slots within a few months of starting to use them
What are the features?
As I mentioned at the beginning of the review, the M1 iron was designed to be similar to the M2 but with a more compact, refined look, additional control and more workability for those who prefer that.
The M1 has many of the modern TaylorMade features found in other irons that have come out within the past few years, and they include:
Face Slots
These are slits on either side of the hitting area on the clubface (one towards the heel, one towards the toe) that are designed to increase flexibility and ball speeds on either side of the sweet spot.
Speed Pocket
Similar to the Face Slots, the Speed Pocket is a slot at the bottom of the sole designed to increase flexibility, ball speed and forgiveness on shots hit low on the clubface.
TaylorMade started rolling these features out with the RSi line. They are are intended to produce longer, higher shots with improved consistency.
Low CG
A 15-gram tungsten toe weight in the 3-7 irons shifts the center of gravity (CG) lower and closer to the center of the face, improving forgiveness and feel.
Geocoustic Technology
Like in the 2017 M2 irons, the M1 irons implement TaylorMade’s Geocoustic engineering: acoustics tuned through geometry.
The Face Slots work in conjunction with a feature called a fin badge to dampen unwanted long-duration, low-frequency sounds.
A thin-yet-stiff head geometry combined with strategically-placed reinforcements in the top line work to optimize the sound of the M1; the sound in turn is dampened using a very stiff fin badge connecting the back of the flexible face to the stiff back bar of the iron, producing optimal sound damping.
Shafts & Customization
Available stock shafts are the True Temper XP 95 (S,R) in steel and the Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Silver in graphite.
Numerous additional custom shaft options are also available. The stock grip is the Lamkin UTX-P .580 Round 47g.
Below are the specs of the M1 irons. Click or zoom to enlarge.
How do these irons perform?
Distance/Distance Control
Distance results with the M1 are very good.
In relation to the M2, the M1 is marginally shorter throughout the set, but that’s to be expected given the slightly stronger loft, higher launch angle and low CG; when you try to add feel and workability, you have to sacrifice something, after all.
Indeed, with its tungsten toe weighting that keeps the CG low, the M1 retains nearly all of the distance that the M2 offers.
The spin rate is similar to the M2, as is the carry and rollout ratio. With that said, the M2 is by no means a pure distance iron.
Forgiveness
Like distance, the M1 has great forgiveness, but again, marginally less than the M2. During my testing, I tended to lose about 5 yards or so more distance on my off-center strikes.
Again though, the irons have superb forgiveness, and I imagine most people wouldn’t have a problem with how it differs from the M2.
The Face Slots and Speed Pockets work to minimize the damage of off-center hits and effectively increase the size of the sweet spot.
Playability/Trajectory
Typical ball flights produced with the M1 irons are high-launching and straight.
The M1 is marginally more workable than the M2, and so capable golfers can certainly shape different shots if they wish. I found general ball flight to be slightly lower than the M2, although not by much.
Playability is very good; the heavy, rounded sole moves nicely through trouble such as the rough to quickly get the ball up and away.
What about look, sound & feel?
The Look
The M1 may technically be a game-improvement iron, but you might have trouble figuring that out just by looking at it.
Compared to the M2, the top line is a bit thinner, the head is slightly shorter from head to toe (and slightly smaller in general), and there’s quite a bit less offset.
It’s a look that can appeal to aspirational and better players. While the altered appearance improves feel and control, the cavity-back M1 still provides a confidence-inspiring look behind the ball.
The badge on the back of the face has a sharp design with concise branding and a minimal colouring.
Personally, these aren’t my favourite irons in terms of how they look in and out of the bag, but that just comes down to personal taste. The M1 irons still earn high marks from me here.
The Sound & Feel
I personally don’t like the sound or feel of the M1 irons at all. At impact it’s a loud, heavy “click” that feels less explosive than the M2.
I’m not implying that nobody would like it; I think that to a large extent it comes down to preference.
When it comes to feedback, mis-hits have a feel that makes it difficult to discern where exactly you make contact with the face. Feel over the entire face seemed a little off to me and not much better than the M2.
Where should you buy these irons online?
This iron model is a few years old now, and that means you can get it at pretty darn low prices.
You can find some amazing deals from trustworthy and reputable sellers on eBay, but just be aware of their policies. If you look through the search results, you can find plenty of listings for both new and used irons.
eBay is great because you’re completely protected by the Money Back Guarantee.
Alternatively, Global Golf, which is the main partner for used TaylorMade clubs, still has some of the M1 irons in stock. You’d best grab some before they’re gone. Check and see what coupon codes they’re running here.
Conclusion
A good way to describe the TaylorMade M1 iron is being a jack-of-all-trades that does most things well, but not necessarily being the best in any one respect.
All things considered, I think TaylorMade did a pretty good job of keeping as much of the distance and forgiveness that the M2 had as possible while slimming down the profile a bit to appeal to better players.
Users should keep an eye on the Face Slots to make sure nothing funny happens with them.
Whatever your skill level, if you want the distance and forgiveness of a top game-improvement iron without the bulk, the M1 is a really great option to consider.
Have you tried the TaylorMade M1 irons yet? Feel free to share your thoughts by dropping a comment below!
I have had a set of M1 irons for two years. I agree with the review above. I’m a 6 hcp but pushing 65 years old. I wanted to get an iron that looked good at address and that I could still work the ball with. I had hit these irons at a golf show and thought they were pretty good. I looked around and found a great deal on eBay. Trust me I wouldn’t have purchased this irons set if I had to pay full retail.
The M1 irons are not a blade. The thicker topline, feel and sound all let you know that these are a GI iron. The feel is pretty good although a tad mushy. The sound is definitely different and does take some getting used to. However IMHO they do sound better in play rather than just practicing at the range off a artificial turf mat.
Interesting insights, thanks Dave.