When it comes to golf, irons often stand out as daunting due to their wide range of prices and options. Despite similar claims of advanced technology across various models and years, the actual costs can vary significantly.
For those seeking cutting-edge features without breaking the bank with a price exceeding $1,000, we suggest considering the TaylorMade M4 iron head. To assist you in making an informed decision of whether the discounted price of the M4 is worth it, we’ve conducted a thorough review, providing you with all the necessary details before you make your purchase.
The TaylorMade M4 head offers exceptional forgiveness, increased ball speeds, and high launch capabilities at a remarkably discounted rate. It’s tailored for players seeking premium performance without breaking the bank.
In this review, we will look at how it performs in regards to sound, look, feel, forgiveness, and distance. We will also look at specs, stock shafts, and finally give our recommendation of whether the $599 discounted price tag is worth it.
TaylorMade M4 Irons
Introduced in February 2018, the TaylorMade M4 irons have consistently ranked among their top-selling products until 2021, boasting advanced technological features.
Ideal for golfers aiming to enhance their game, these irons offer a forgiving design tailored to launch the ball high and far.
Available for both left and right-handed players, the M4 irons come in a range from five-iron to gap wedge heads. Unlike many other game improvement irons, their loft angles remain moderate, with the 5 iron at 21.5 degrees and the pitching wedge at 43.5 degrees.
Sound, Look, and Feel
During our testing, both myself and our team found the M4 head’s appearance appealing. Unlike some other game improvement heads we’ve evaluated, it doesn’t give off an overly elongated or bulky impression during setup.
The M4 boasts a moderate topline and a standard-length head, instilling confidence in the setup.
Furthermore, its design is sleek and minimalist. When nestled in the bag, the club’s back sports a speckled black and white finish with the M4 logo neatly positioned at the center.
Regarding sound and feel, there’s room for improvement, particularly on off-center strikes. Pure shots resonate with a deep and solid feel, yet toe and heel strikes produce a somewhat higher-pitched and tingy sound, which may not be entirely desirable for a game improvement iron.
While there were aspects of this feedback that our team didn’t particularly enjoy, we also recognized its value in providing insight into mishit shots.
Ultimately, considering its price point, the M4 delivers on sound, appearance, and feel, meeting or even exceeding expectations in these regards.
Forgiveness
TaylorMade’s goal with the M4 head was to create a forgiving distance. The introduction of RIBCORE technology did just that as it helps players get consistent ball speeds and distance on off-center strikes.
By adding ribs or bars to the outer edges of the iron cavity. This modification serves to stiffen the outer perimeter, allowing more face flex at impact and raising the Moment of Inertia (MOI). As a result, the M4 irons boast a 24% increase in MOI compared to the previous year’s M2 irons, further improving their forgiveness and overall club design.
The sole speed pocket also played an impact on forgiveness as it seemed like shots hit low in the face and came off with a similar launch and spin as shots hit out of the center.
We were impressed overall by the level of forgiveness and consistency to distance, the M4 irons gave on all face strike locations.
Distance
Distance is really where the M4 irons step up their game, especially for the ridiculously low price tag.
During this period of club design with TaylorMade, the main goal of their game improvement clubs was to get the face to flex as much as possible upon impact.
The face of the M4 features speed slots as well as a speed pocket on the sole both aimed to get the face to flex more and increase ball speed.
Our team noticed a nice increase in ball speeds and picked up 2 clubs from our current gamers. Part of this is because most of our testers don’t play game improvement irons but even so, the increase in speed and distance was very impressive.
Specs
| CLUB | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | PW | AW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LOFT | 21.5° | 25° | 28.5° | 33.0° | 38.0° | 43.5° | 49.0° |
| LIE | 62° | 62.5° | 63° | 63.5° | 64° | 64.5° | 64.5° |
| OFFSET | 5.2mm | 4.7mm | 3.9mm | 3.5mm | 3.0mm | 2.6mm | 1.8mm |
| LENGTH | 38.50″ | 37.88″ | 37.25″ | 36.75″ | 36.25″ | 35.75″ | 35.50″ |
| HAND | RH/LH | RH/LH | RH/LH | RH/LH | RH/LH | RH/LH | RH/LH |
| SWINGWEIGHT | D2 | D2 | D2 | D2 | D2 | D2 | D2.5 |
Stock Shaft Options
Fujikura Atmos Red (Graphite Option)
| Flex | Weight | Torque | Tip Size | Launch | Spin | Tip Stiffness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 83g | 2.7 | .370 | Mid-High | Mid-High | Mid |
| R | 72.5g | 2.8 | .370 | High | Mid-High | Mid |
| A | 61g | 3.1 | .370 | High | High | Mid |
KBS Max 85 (Steel Option)
| Flex | Weight | Torque | Tip Size | Launch | Spin | Tip Stiffness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 87g | 2.1 | .370 | High | High | Soft |
| R | 86g | 2.1 | .370 | High | High | Soft |
Key Technologies
RIBCORE Technology
Ribcor technology, introduced by TaylorMade, involves the placement of two ribs or bars on the outer edges of the iron cavity. This design enhances the stiffness of the outer perimeter, facilitating greater face flex at impact and thereby increasing the Moment of Inertia (MOI). The primary objective of Ribcor is to generate faster speeds on off-center hits and increase ball speeds on center strikes.
Speed Pocket
Positioned directly below the face the foam-filled speed pocket is made to help the face flex on center strikes to increase ball speeds. With TaylorMade’s game improvement irons, one of their priorities is to help players pick up distance. The speed pocket is one of their strategies to get this done.
Face Forward Speed Slots
To further increase the amount of face flexion on impact, the M4 irons are also equipped with face speed slots that act alongside the main speed pocket on the sole of the club.
Key Takeaways
- Price Variability: Despite claims of advanced technology, prices across different models and years can vary significantly.
- Affordable Cutting-Edge Features: The TaylorMade M4 iron head offers cutting-edge features at a discounted rate, making it an attractive option for those seeking premium performance without exceeding a $1,000 price point.
- Compact Look: Compared to other game-improvements heads on the market, the M4 irons feature a sleek top line and shorter head.
- Variable Sound and Feel: The M4 features a deep and rich sound and feel on center strikes but is very muted on off-center hits.
- Exceptional Forgiveness: The M4’s Ribcor technology enhances forgiveness by stiffening the outer perimeter, resulting in consistent ball speeds and improved distance on off-center strikes.
- Impressive Distance: With features like speed slots and a speed pocket, the M4 delivers impressive distance gains, making it a standout performer in its price range.
- Stock Shaft Options: The M4 offers both graphite and steel shaft options, catering to different player preferences and swing characteristics.
- Key Technologies: Ribcor technology, coupled with the speed pocket and face forward speed slots, work synergistically to maximize face flexion and increase ball speeds, ensuring exceptional performance across the entire clubface.
Recommendation
At $599.99, we believe the M4 irons offer unparalleled value in the market.
They excel in every aspect we look for in game-improvement irons: aesthetics, forgiveness, and distance. While we caution about the sound and feel on off-center strikes, this feedback is beneficial for improvement.
In terms of bang for your buck, it’s hard to beat the M4 irons. They stand out as the top choice in their price range.
