Equipment
New TaylorMade M5 and M6 irons feature Speed Bridge Technology
TaylorMade Golf has unveiled its new M-series irons for 2019: TaylorMade M5 irons and TaylorMade M6 irons, which are available to pre-order from January 18.
A brand new feature of both irons is TaylorMade’s new Speed Bridge Technology. The new technology from TaylorMade incorporates a high strength, mass-efficient structural beam spanning across the cavity back of the club to connect the top line with the back bar of the iron.
The Speed Bridge technology (4-PW), featured on both the 2019 TaylorMade M5 irons and the 2019 TaylorMade M6 irons, aims to increase distance and forgiveness while the increased rigidity in the top line and upper perimeter of the face is designed to improve both sound and feel.
Speaking concerning the new technology, Matt Bovee, Senior Manager of the company stated
“At TaylorMade, we have always strived to push the performance envelope to give players maximum distance and forgiveness in our game improvement irons. Our new SPEED BRIDGE technology allows us to do exactly that while improving sound and feel at the same time. Distance has never felt as good as it does with the M6 irons.”
Through this technology, TaylorMade has created a thru-slot Speed Pocket (4-7) for the first time in their irons, which the company claims is their “most flexible Speed Pocket to date”. The redesigned Speed Pocket has been created to provide greater face flexibility at impact to maximize ball speed and carry distance.
The combination of TaylorMade’s new Speed Bridge construction and thru-slot Speed Pocket are designed to work in unison, improving how the iron face performs during impact by shifting the point of maximum deflection lower on the face. According to TaylorMade, this deviation activates the Speed Pocket more efficiently, delivering extra flexibility over a large area of the face and delivering faster ball speeds than their previous irons.
Both irons also feature a new HYBRAR Compression Damper, which aims to control and minimize vibration for a soft and solid feel. The stiffer top line of the clubs means that the maximum point of deflection of the iron face at impact is lower than previous designs, and the lower deflection point aligned with the HYBRAR Damper aims to dampen unwanted vibrations more efficiently.
The 2019 TaylorMade M5 and M6 irons also feature a low and deep center of gravity which aims to produce an efficient energy transfer at impact with a high launching, penetrating ball flight even for mis-hits low on the face. While the irons also contain a high MOI which is designed to provide greater stability and forgiveness.
As well as the irons deep CG and high MOI, they also contain an ultra-thin face design with TaylorMade’s patented Inverted Cone Technology (ICT). The ultra-thin face is designed to allow the iron to be flexible and fast, and paired with the ICT design the combination aims to provide players with a larger and more accurate sweet spot.
TaylorMade M5 Irons
TaylorMade M6 Irons
Specs, Pricing and Availability
M5
- Product at Retail, (Pre-Order): February 1, (January 18)
- MSRP: $999 steel/$1,199 graphite
- Set: 4-AW, SW
- Stock Shafts: True Temper XP100 (steel) (S, R), Mitsubishi Tensei Orange (graphite) (S, R)
M6
- Product at Retail, (Pre-Oder): February 1, (January 18)
- MSRP: $899 steel/$999 graphite
- Set: 4-PW, SW
- Stock Shafts: KBS Max 85 steel shafts (S, R) or Fujikura ATMOS Orange graphite shafts (7S, 6R & 5A). For women, the M6 irons will come equipped with the TaylorMade Tuned Performance shaft.
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Equipment
Spotted: Tony Finau’s driver shaft change at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Tony Finau has always been known as one of the longest players on the PGA Tour, but he has recently been working on adding a little more distance. Last year, Finau averaged 118.3 mph club head speed and 178.08 mph ball speed, all while playing a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX driver shaft. This year, he has increased his club head speed to 123.93 mph and his ball speed to 183.32 mph.
However, Finau’s overall distance has decreased by two yards in that time. From a fitting perspective, something was amiss. We asked Tony about the shaft change at the Texas Children’s Hospital Open.
“[I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin. My driver’s been a little high spin for me over the last month or so, and so I just figured it was time to probably check out the equipment,” Finau said. “And it definitely showed me that I was using a shaft that’s maybe a little too tip-stiff for me, the way I load the club now. [I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin.”
Finau switched from the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX into the Diamana GT 70 TX. The newer Diamana GT has a slightly different profile than the D+ Limited with the stiffest handle section in the Diamana lineup. The mid sections between the two are similar stiffness but the tip is just slightly stiffer in the Diamana GT. Both shafts are within one gram of each other in the 70 TX. The torque rating on the GT is 0.1 higher than the D+Limited’s 2.7 measurement.
Mitsubishi lists the Diamana GT as a shaft between the mid-launching Diamana TB and the new low-launch Diamana WB shafts. For most players, it would be considered a mid/low launch and low-spin shaft option. Mitsubishi’s Xlink Tech Resin System makes sure the maximum carbon fiber content is there for smooth feel without reducing the strength of the shaft. MR70 carbon fiber is used for reinforcing the shaft and boron is used in the tip for its high strength and compression properties.
Finau is still using his trusty Ping G430 LST driver in 9 degrees and has the adjustable hosel set to -1 degree of loft (standard lie angle). Finau’s long-time favorite Lamkin UTX Green grip is installed. He definitely has a few extra wraps of tape under that grip as you can see the bulge down where the grip meets the shaft.
One final note: Per Ping’s PGA Tour rep Kenton Oates, Finau’s driver is also adjusted to play one degree upright to help dial in his desired launch.
We’ll see how he fares with the new setup this week in Houston!
- Check out the rest of our pictures from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
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Whats in the Bag
Zac Blair WITB 2024 (March)
- Zac Blair what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade M5 Rocket 3 (14 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution V1 X
Utility: Titleist U510 (3)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Blue 85 X
Irons: Ping i210 (4-6), Miura MB-001 (7-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 58-08M @57, 60 @61), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (52-M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 X
Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
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Whats in the Bag
Martin Trainer WITB 2024 (March)
- Martin Trainer what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Wilson Staff Staff Model (6.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kai’li Blue 70 TX
3-wood: Wilson Staff WLabs Prototype (13 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 80 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Staff Model (2, 4-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Wilson Staff Staff Model (52, 56, 60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: Bobby Grace Greg Chalmers Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Tom
Jan 8, 2019 at 3:37 pm
Wow! Its glaringly obvious these guys have NOTHING new, so they reintroduce other manufacturer’s unsuccessful concepts (Nike Slingshot) in this case. They should be embarrassed.
Save your money!!!
ogo
Jan 7, 2019 at 10:34 pm
A WILLIAM ROSS PATENT SPRING-FACE IRON, CIRCA 1893
http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2007/the-jeffery-b-ellis-antique-golf-club-collection-n08380/lot.379.html
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Well… so much for TM “engineering” innovative superiority… 😮
Scheiss
Jan 7, 2019 at 8:13 pm
I love them
hehehe
Randy
Jan 7, 2019 at 6:54 pm
Nice add
stevek
Jan 7, 2019 at 2:16 pm
That slit notch in the heel under the hosel is presumably to facilitate bending.
The TM notch is an abrupt change in the hosel area and subject to high concentrated stress loading. The Ping scalloped notch is a gradual change in the hosel area and better for stress distribution. These TM irons are undoubtedly designed for the low swing speed recreational golfer to avoid stress problems and fractures.
CaoNiMa
Jan 7, 2019 at 8:11 pm
No, you’re wrong.
That slit is to entice people to stick something in it
It’s a slit after all
lol
KM01
Jan 7, 2019 at 1:10 pm
So they come off fast, and go far… No mention of stopping control though? So these go far and don’t hold greens? Longest playable iron is going to be about 8 iron for most!!!
Rod
Jan 7, 2019 at 12:57 pm
Looks similar to Speedblades
dat
Jan 7, 2019 at 12:08 pm
That thing is chunky, and expensive. No thank you.
~j~
Jan 7, 2019 at 12:02 pm
Wow, a clear miss to fans of previous M models. But hey, we’ll just keep dialing the lofts down till we have the furthest irons ever (until theor next fall release that is).
Richard Douglas
Jan 7, 2019 at 11:43 am
I’m not a TM basher. I played the Rocketballz irons and the RSi1 in the past. But….
This chase for more distance is irons is silly. First, I doubt seriously you’d see any–or much–improvement from recent designs. If you have much older clubs, sure, but you’re due for an upgrade from those Macgregor blades anyway, right?
But the bottom line is this: if you want to hit your 8-iron 10 yards farther, go grab the 7. (Oh, and if you play single-length irons, that is a really simple prospect.)
T R
Jan 7, 2019 at 11:06 am
Remember the Nike Slingshot?
Tom
Jan 8, 2019 at 3:34 pm
Same krap, different toilet
2putttom
Jan 7, 2019 at 10:57 am
wonderful, ant pro’s carrying em’ in their bag yet?
Ronald
Jan 7, 2019 at 10:47 am
7 iron is now 27 degrees of loft??
Chip
Jan 7, 2019 at 10:14 am
Now my m3 irons are worthless!
Jerry G
Jan 7, 2019 at 10:34 am
I learned about 5 yrs ago to avoid all things TM.
John
Jan 7, 2019 at 9:42 am
That’s basically the exact thing Callaway did with Epic irons… years ago..
Brian McGranahan
Jan 7, 2019 at 8:51 am
More garbage.
Jerry G
Jan 7, 2019 at 7:36 am
So that the faces will not collapse any longer, they made a speed bridge… another TM gimmick marketed as innovation. Makes sense.
Stoney
Jan 21, 2019 at 9:43 pm
At least no one will have to return these due to the face collapsing. They got something right.