Equipment
First Look: 2017 TaylorMade M2 Drivers
Will TaylorMade double up on the success of its M2 driver in 2017? It appears so. We’ve received photos of two new M2 drivers, one of which is marked “D-Type.”
2017 TaylorMade M2
Photo from GolfWRX Forum Member BillMurrayGolfing.
Related: See more photos of TaylorMade’s 2017 M2 driver.
2017 TaylorMade M2 D-Type
TaylorMade has yet to announce the new drivers, but it seems that the company has made some noteworthy changes to the design of the 2017 M2 heads. Keep in mind that their predecessor, the 2016 M2, is the most played driver on the PGA Tour. Also of no small consequence; it’s Rory McIlroy‘s current driver of choice.
Related: See leaked photos of TaylorMade’s 2017 M1 460 and M1 440 drivers
TaylorMade’s 2016 M2 driver (right)
Both the 2017 M2 and 2017 M2 D-Type (if that’s what it’s called) have adjustable hosels and use TaylorMade’s Speed Pocket, a slot on the front of the driver’s sole that boosts performance, particularly on off-center hits. Both drivers also have what look to be removable weights on their rear portion of their soles, which indicate that the 2017 M2 will offer a more rearward center of gravity than the company’s 2017 M1 460 and M1 440 drivers.
One last thing to speculate about: the word “Geocoustic,” which appears on both driver heads. It’s seems like a safe bet that it has something to do with sound and feel.
Join the Discussion: What GolfWRX Members are saying about the 2017 TaylorMade M2 driver photos in our forum
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- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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Equipment
Webb Simpson equipment Q&A: Titleist’s new 2-wood, 680 blade irons, and switching to a broomstick Jailbird
With seven career wins on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory, Webb Simpson is a certified veteran on the course. But he’s also a certified veteran in the equipment world, too. He’s a gearhead who truly knows his stuff, and he’s even worked closely with Titleist on making his own custom 682.WS irons.
On Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, I caught up with Simpson to hear about his experience with Titleist’s new prototype 2-wood, how Titleist’s 680 Forged irons from 2003 ended up back in his bag, and why he’s switching into an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser broomstick putter this week for the first time.
Click here to read our full story about Simpson’s putter switch on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, or continue reading below for my full Q&A with Simpson at Quail Hollow Club on Wednesday.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
GolfWRX: It seems like you’ve been a little all over the place with your irons in the past six months or so, and now going back to the 680’s. Is that just a comfort thing? What’s been going on with the irons?
Webb Simpson: Titleist has been so great at working with me, and R&D, on trying to get an iron that kind of modernizes the 680. And so the 682.WS took the T100 grooves, but kinda took the look and the bulk and the build of the 680’s into one club. They’re beautiful, and awesome looking. I just never hit them that well for a consistent period of time. It was probably me, but then I went to T100’s and loved them. I loved the spin, the trajectory, the yardage, but again, I never went on good runs. Going through the ground, I couldn’t feel the club as well as with the blade. So last week, I’m like, ‘Alright. I’m gonna go back more for…comfort, and see if I can get on a nice little run of ball striking.’
So that’s why I went back.
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OK, that makes sense. I know you had done some 2-wood testing recently. Is that in the bag right now?
It’s like day-by-day. I used it at Hilton Head every day. Valero, I used it one round. And this week, me and my caddie will do the book every morning, and if it’s a day where we think we need it, we’ll just put it in and take the 3-wood out. I love it because it’s a super simple swap. Like, it doesn’t really change much.
Yeah, can you tell me about that club? I mean, we don’t really know anything about it yet. You know? I haven’t hit it or anything, obviously.
It has grooves like a 3-wood. Spin is perfect. And it’s honestly, like, everything is in the middle of a 3-wood and driver number. Trajectory, spin, carry, all of it. So, a Hilton Head golf course is almost too easy to talk about because, you know, there, so many holes are driver 3-wood.
Valero, our thinking was we had two par-5’s into the wind, and we knew that it would take two great shots to get there in two. So instead of hitting driver-driver, we just put it in. And I used it on those holes.
Hilton was a little easier because it was off-the-tee kind of questions. But Colonial will be a golf course where, you know, there’s a lot of driver or 3-woods. It’s kind of like a backup putter or driver for me now. I’ll bring it to every tournament.
So it’s, like, in your locker right now, probably?
Well, it would be. It’s in my house [because Webb lives near by Quail Hollow Club, and is a member at the course.] It’s in the garage.
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Do you know what holes you might use it out here if it goes in play?
Potentially 15, depending on the wind. Second shot on 10. Could be 14 off the tee. The chances here are pretty low (that he’ll use the 2-wood). But, like, Greensboro would be an awesome club all day. I’m trying to think of any other golf courses.
There’s plenty that it’ll be a nice weapon to have.
It’s interesting, the wave of 2-woods and mini drivers. Like, it’s just really taken off on Tour, and all the companies have seemed to embrace it.
Yeah. The thing I had to learn, it took me, like, at least a week to learn about it is you gotta tee it up lower than you think. I kept teeing it up too high. You need it low, like barely higher than a 3-wood. And that was where I got optimal spin and carry. If you tee it up too high, you just don’t get as much spin and lose distance, I don’t know if that’s just a mini driver thing.
And you obviously have a Jailbird putter this week. What spurred that on?
Inconsistent putting. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways when it comes to my equipment, but I have to be open minded – I just hadn’t putted consistently well in a while. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel my ball-striking coming along. Like I feel better; for real, better.’
If I can just get something in my hands that I’m consistent with. Being on Tour, you see it every year, guys get on little runs. I can put together four to five tournaments where I’m all the sudden back in the majors, or in the FedExCup Playoffs. You can turn things around quick out here. I’m like, ‘Man, whatever’s going to get me there, great.’
My caddie, David Cook, caddied for Akshay at the Houston Open and he putted beautifully. Then, I watched Akshay on TV at Valero, and he putted beautifully. And, I’m like, ‘I’m just going to try it.’
I’ve never tried it for more than a putt or two, and I just ordered what Akshay uses. It was pretty awkward at first, but the more I used it, the more I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty easy.’ And a buddy of mine who’s a rep out here, John Tyler Griffin, he helped me with some setup stuff. And he said at Hilton Head, he wasn’t putting well, then tried it, and now he makes everything. He was very confident. So I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ll try it.’”
And you’re going with it this week?
Hundred percent.
Alright, I love it. Thank you, I always love talking gear with you. Play well this week.
Thanks, man.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
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Glenn kirk
Mar 13, 2017 at 6:51 am
Never liked Taylor made drivers always hit call away and titleist even epon took a demo m2 out last sat holy crap hit every fairway &along great sound going to try ping g Ls tech this sat then will decide but m2 very impressive????????
Mike Honcho
Nov 21, 2016 at 3:36 pm
I’m sure retailing at $629.99 because you have to have it.
RAT
Nov 21, 2016 at 10:05 am
Looks more like a Bridgestone driver. The ZLCobra 1st edition is still the King after all these years. Carbon fiber mix metal.
Haxor13
Nov 21, 2016 at 5:14 am
Product looks like it’s been designed by a company very much in limbo. Recycled technology and not even creative enough to think of a new name! To be fair, why would adidas allow the R&D team to create anything new when they’re actively trying to offload the brand.
Forsbrand
Nov 20, 2016 at 6:52 am
Ha ha you really are an amusing specimen, keep up your command of the English language and you’ll know doubt get emptied from this forum, although it won’t be a loss to 99% of the users.
Mark
Nov 20, 2016 at 4:35 am
Two of my regular partners have just bought M2 drivers and fairways at full whack. They are raging that their clubs are obsolete already. TM really have lost the plot. They are more like a fashion business where every season needs something new.
Chill
Nov 20, 2016 at 7:30 am
It’s been out since the start of this year, and won’t be replaced until 2017. Your friends also probably got a discount with the clubs being out for so long and looking like being replaced in the future.
Car’s get updated every year with new license plates and the depreciation is in the £000’s – not to mention any new tech / features.
If you want the newest stuff, buy it when it comes out. Not 11 months later then whinge about it.
Matto
Nov 21, 2016 at 1:21 am
Um, your friends are new to this, huh?
tzed
Nov 21, 2016 at 8:16 am
That’s so ridiculous. Like they didn’t know a new driver was ever going to come out of Taylor Made’s plant? Do they wince and moan the year after they buy a new car? ‘Oh my God, the 2017 C Class just came out, my precious 2016 is obsolete!’ Get a friggin’ grip.
KMcA
Nov 20, 2016 at 4:09 am
Why are the administraters allow MSIZZLE offensive comments to remain on the forum. This is a golf forum not somewhere to obuse European members and spout political points of view.
M2 very good driver I saw my swing speed increase by 5mph and has been the only driver I have hit that has increased my driving distance. Please do an all black version
Forsbrand
Nov 20, 2016 at 4:22 am
All black would be fab, Same opinion, I had the all black R1
BrentF
Nov 20, 2016 at 2:28 pm
I just emailed the admins. This is ridiculous and disgusting. I am reporting GolfWRX for allowing racist and homophobic remarks while deleting one that I wrote speaking out against MSmizzle’s disgusting comments. GolfWRX has turned into a revolting website which allows hate speech.
Brad
Dec 5, 2016 at 5:30 pm
What is wrong with you Brent calm down
Jim
Mar 27, 2017 at 10:10 am
Brent is just being a little snow flake
Dumb
Nov 21, 2016 at 10:33 am
OOps. Wrong comment
mctrees02
Nov 21, 2016 at 3:06 pm
Wow you must have a lot of free time on your hands…
ACGolfwrx
Nov 22, 2016 at 12:35 am
You should, Trumpet got in?
Lloyd
Nov 19, 2016 at 9:51 pm
I’ve had Taylormade products for many years and trust me when I say it’s all the same I like the M1 hated the M2 so I went toTitleist which are really aimed at the lower handicap golfer so I ended up using a brand which I never really thought I would the Callaway X-RAY pro and it’s awesome
soberD
Nov 19, 2016 at 8:34 pm
If they make an M3 it will have to be a bloated pig with no steering feel and fake engine sounds.
Tony Rich
Nov 19, 2016 at 8:27 pm
They launched this one so fast they forgot to change the name. That’s why used clubs are worth nothing, people throw in the towel quit golf and try other sports, because you feel like you can’t keep up with the 3 month trends. These guys suck and so do their products, scru Taylor Made golf.
YoureAHack
Nov 19, 2016 at 8:48 pm
Taylormade has nothing to do with used clubs being worth nothing. Who cares anyway? I love being able to buy a great golf club for cheap just because it’s a year old. Only morons think they have to have the newest clubs. Taylormade makes great golf equipment. Piss off
Tony Rich
Nov 19, 2016 at 11:36 pm
Taylor Made has everything to do with golf equipment
becoming a cheap worthless commodity….you Hack! With each successive launch every 6 weeks, the crap they made you spend $400 on the month before is worth nothing.
Look at the used racks Hack, full of dirty white heads Hahahaha
Matt H
Nov 21, 2016 at 3:38 pm
Yes it’s just Taylormade. Give
Me a break. Cally has flooded
The market worse
Than TM the last 3 years.
Give
It a rest
ACGolfwrx
Nov 22, 2016 at 12:39 am
TM and Cally are mass market giants!!! That’s why Titleist/Ping hold their value much better. Plain and simple….
Brad
Dec 5, 2016 at 5:32 pm
They’re products are not even bad and if anything them coming out with new ones so often is better for you so you can buy last years model for 300$ cheaper
Square
Nov 19, 2016 at 4:17 am
I’ve been hypercritical of Taylormade for a many years. In my opinion, their equipment wasn’t up to par and they offered a new club every other month…..However, this changed with the 2016 M1/M2 launch and a few afternoons on a launch monitor. No other brand could touch the numbers I was getting with the M1 Driver. I played the M1 Driver last year and it was by far the most enjoyable driver I’ve played in years. Truthfully, I can’t imagine the 2017 line up will be that significant of an improvement over last years model, but they did produce a winner in the M1/M2 lineup.
D. Jenkins
Nov 19, 2016 at 9:21 pm
Hey Square- this is the same line of garbage we were fed with the SLDR. Turned out you need a microscope to find th sweet spot with either the 460 or 440. You want to end up in the fairway 15 yards further than you are now, buy a Ping G with Tour shaft and be done with it.
Mike
Nov 22, 2016 at 11:39 am
+1.
I have always been a Titleist driver player and said I would never own a white driver head. Well, until the M1 came out this past year. As you stated, it really is a great driver. Will I buy the M2? No. I use to laugh at adjustable drivers until I worked with one. Now I depend on one so I can fine tune the head to my specs and once that is done I leave the wrench at home.
America
Nov 22, 2016 at 12:31 pm
Cant agree more. I’ve been a Taylormade “hater” for a few years now, but with the release of the M1/M2 and the longer product cycles, I can’t hate anymore.
Rads
Nov 30, 2016 at 4:31 pm
Me too. Been a staunch Titleist fan for years but tried an M2 last week and added an average of 20 yards!
Rupesh
Nov 19, 2016 at 3:33 am
It may be a fantastic driver. But I am not going to buy it. Not a fan of black and white crowns
Jim
Mar 27, 2017 at 10:12 am
same, I would rather have black on black ,
Dat
Nov 18, 2016 at 10:42 pm
Geocoustic? What gimmick will they think of next!
Mat
Nov 19, 2016 at 12:44 am
I dunno, but they didn’t even get their graphics guy to get them an M3 yet…