Equipment

First Look: TaylorMade 2017 M2 Irons

Published

7 years ago

Nov 21, 2016

Another day, another sighting of 2017 TaylorMade product. This time, it’s TaylorMade 2017 M2 irons that have appeared in our forum (photos from GolfWRX Member BillMurrayGolfing).

The original M2 irons were TaylorMade’s longest-flying iron of 2016, with the company’s longest blade lengths, widest sole widths and thinnest club faces. While they used the company’s Speed Pocket in the 3-7 irons — a slot in the sole designed to create a higher launch angle — they did not use the company’s Face Slots, which TaylorMade says make the club face more flexible for increased consistency on off-center hits.

From the photos, it’s clear the 2017 M2 irons will use both Speed Pockets and Face Slots.

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The immediate future of TaylorMade’s slot technologies was questioned when we spotted TaylorMade Staffers testing prototype irons at last week’s RSM Classic. The two iron models we photographed, which we believe will replace the current PSi and PSi Tour irons, did not include slots on their faces or soles.

The photos also raise more questions about TaylorMade’s new “Geocoustic” technology, a word we first spotted on our photos of TaylorMade’s 2017 M2 drivers. It’s printed on the bottom of the three-dimensional badge in the cavity of the 2017 M2 irons.

The 2016 M2 irons also used a 3D badge in their cavities, which was extremely stiff to help mitigate vibrations to improve sound and feel.

Looking closer, TaylorMade also appears to have kept the fluted-hosel design that debuted with the 2016 M2 irons, although it has a slightly different appearance.

TaylorMade says its fluted hosels improve the sound and feel of the M2 irons while also saving a few grams of weight, which are redistributed lower and deeper in the head to improve launch angle. The design was also used on TaylorMade’s M2 fairway woods and hybrids.

Join the Discussion: See what GolfWRX Members are saying about TaylorMade’s 2017 M2 irons and M1 hybrids in our forum.

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19 Comments

MrJonny

Jan 21, 2017 at 3:42 pm

I’m a 15 HC. Got fitted for them today. They are actually small and light. Bashed my Callaway xr pro irons out of the park with 17 yards extra carry. Smaller lighter and not as chunky as the Callaway xr pros or my previous ping g 30 which I sold two months after buying because they were so ugly. Looking forward for my delivery at the end of the month.

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RAT

Nov 22, 2016 at 8:12 pm

Hahahahahaha fatty irons!!! Hehehehe!

Reply Report comment
Lowell

Nov 22, 2016 at 2:09 pm

I am started to hope that Taylormade has a lease program available that way I would not feel to anxious about buying anything knowing new stuff is less than a year a way.

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BradT

Nov 22, 2016 at 9:10 am

surprised to they aren’t fluorescent green instead of chrome, bulky looking shovels

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Dave

Nov 22, 2016 at 7:19 am

No Thanks

Reply Report comment
Uncle Phil

Nov 21, 2016 at 10:11 pm

Wal-Mart?? How dare you!! These fine clubs resemble the well built Northwestern brand sold at Target!

Reply Report comment
- Mad-Mex
  
  Nov 23, 2016 at 2:43 pm
  
  Think your confused, the “tour” version sells at Target, the super-duper game improving version sells at Wal-Mart.
  
  Reply Report comment
Tony Rich

Nov 21, 2016 at 9:39 pm

GolfWrx….what is Taylor Made paying you to show
all their new junk on the daily? You used to be the non biased hardcore golf junkie site….now it’s just a TM junk site.

C’Mon you can do better.

Reply Report comment
Mad-Mex

Nov 21, 2016 at 9:36 pm

They look like cheap Wal-Mart clubs,,,

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Dave R

Nov 21, 2016 at 9:23 pm

Can you say UGLY.

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Clay

Nov 21, 2016 at 6:38 pm

Went from fully to just regular ugly. Nice work TM.

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Oskars

Nov 21, 2016 at 5:45 pm

If these came with traditional lofts like a 47* pitching wedge I would be all over them but as they are now they are just too long for most high swing speed low cap players.

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Big Mike

Nov 21, 2016 at 4:43 pm

Yawn. No real technological advance here. Just more of the same redressing previously introduced technology. No doubt they will work and I am sure they are great but I would hope they could be just a bit more creative than this. Maybe Kirkland with come out with a K2 iron that gives them a run for their money as they did with their Kirkland golf ball.

Reply Report comment
- MikeA
  
  Nov 21, 2016 at 10:28 pm
  
  You realize Kirkland doesn’t make anything. Right?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - tzed
    
    Nov 22, 2016 at 10:15 am
    
    Kirkland makes very good golf balls.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - new stuff!!
      
      Nov 23, 2016 at 12:00 am
      
      Costco markets very good golf balls – they put their Kirkland logo on an OEM golf ball and sell it for very low margins. Average Costco margin is 13%.
      
      Reply Report comment
Tom

Nov 21, 2016 at 4:40 pm

That has more parts than a Kardashian sisters.

Reply Report comment
Dat

Nov 21, 2016 at 3:52 pm

Nice A E S T H I C S lol.

Reply Report comment
Lester Diamond

Nov 21, 2016 at 3:42 pm

Apparently, all of their competent club designers have jumped that sinking ship.

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

4 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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