New Twist Face Technology Delivers Straight Distance with Most Advanced Face Technology in Company History
(Carlsbad, Calif.) – TaylorMade Golf, makers of the #1 Driver in Golf and the winningest drivers on the PGA TOUR in 2017* with its M1 & M2 drivers, have shifted the paradigm of golf club engineering with the introduction of the M3 & M4 metalwoods, highlighted by the company’s breakthrough innovation – Twist Face technology.
“From the creation of the first metalwood in 1979, TaylorMade has established a legacy of breaking from tradition to reach new thresholds of performance. In 2018, we have once again uncovered a new frontier of driving potential with Twist Face Technology — a radical departure from traditional driver-face design, engineered to correct for inherent human swing tendencies in real-time, giving golfers a tangible competitive advantage."
-Brian Bazzel, Vice President, Product Creation
Twist Face: The Next Breakthrough in Innovation from TaylorMade
Re-imagining traditional driver face design, TaylorMade’s Twist Face technology is truly the first of its kind. Twist Face, featured in both the new M3 & M4 drivers, is TaylorMade’s solution to counteract golfers’ most common misses, more specifically, those resulting from the high toe and low heel impacts.
To counteract the high-toe miss (a hook), the driver face has been ‘twisted’ open (loft increased & face opened) on the high-toe to help straighten ball flight. Similarly, to counteract the low-heel miss (a slice) the driver face has been twisted closed to de-loft and close the face in the low heel area. Ultimately, TaylorMade’s Twist Face technology delivers a corrective face angle when hit off-center for longer, straighter shots.
The Origin of a Breakthrough
Studying data captured from more than half a million shots that simultaneously tracks head presentation (in-out path, angle of attack, loft, impact location), initial launch conditions and final landing location of the golf ball, TaylorMade engineers discovered there was a flaw in the traditional bulge and roll. By studying the performance of thousands of shots in each quadrant across the face of all golfers’ levels, researchers determined these shots were not averaging to be on the center line. In fact, high face shots and high toe shots have a left tendency of the target line and spin significantly less. Similarly, low face and low heel shots tend to land right of the target line with a significantly more spin.
World-class design and elite performance is the genesis of every product TaylorMade engineers. In 2015, the company introduced multi-material construction with eye-catching carbon composite crowns that captured the attention of millions of golfers around the world, becoming the most winning driver on the PGA TOUR and once again retaining the title of the best-selling driver in the industry. Two years later, the stakes have been raised, and engineers have responded to the challenge by creating the most advanced driver in company history — M3. In addition to Twist Face technology, the M3 driver features a new matte silver front section and a raised, aerodynamic five-layer carbon composite crown. Years of research and development have culminated in some of the thinnest, strongest and lightest composite panels in the industry. With both the 2018 M3 and M4 metalwoods, TaylorMade engineers were able to design thinner and lighter composite panels (the M3 & M4 drivers both feature a 5-layer carbon composite crown) than ever before.
Exclusive to the M3 in both the 460cc & 440cc models is a new intuitive Y-Track adjustability system that allows for CG adjustment of the head to obtain desired, optimal ball flight parameters. Dissimilar to the T-Track on both the ’16 & ’17 M1 drivers, the heel to toe track and front to back track on the M3 are connected, allowing all 22 grams (two 11g weights) of moveable mass to be utilized for both the benefit of heel to toe control as well as front to back CG adjustment. The Y-track gives the golfer more precise CG adjustability than ever before with more than 1,000 unique CG configurations — more than double the number of positions in the 2017 M1. Add in TaylorMade’s 12 position, 4-degree ultra-lightweight aluminum Loft Sleeve (back sleeve compatible) and the result is an unparalleled level of personalization.
The flat curvature of the front/back track provides the lowest CG possible regardless of the weight setting. In fact, when the weight is in the back position versus M1 2017, the 2018 M3 CG is 36% further back. This makes the moment of inertia (MOI) 10% larger without raising the CG projection on the face. Furthermore engineers were able to increase the total amount of front / back CG movement by 83%.
Hammerhead Slot
For the first time ever, TaylorMade has engineered a slot housed in the sole of our most adjustable driver. The new Hammerhead slot was engineered to work in combination with Twist Face and Inverted Cone technologies to deliver maximum ballspeed across a larger area of the face and thus, resulting in a larger sweet spot. The Hammerhead slot’s design is defined by three design elements; the central Speed Pocket™, the face geometry and the stiffening ribs.
By dividing the Speed Pocket into zones, TaylorMade was able to increase its overall length from 82mm to 100mm — a 22% increase. Additionally, it allowed for the creation of a larger flexible center zone, designed to increase ball speed on low face impacts and drop unwanted backspin. By using the new ribs, engineers were able to decrease the thickness and weight of the face allowing for a more flexible face designed to deliver higher ballspeeds across a larger area of the face. Engineers challenged themselves to evolve the construction and performance of the Speed Pocket; their answer was Hammerhead, a radical technology engineered to deliver longer drives.
M3 440
Following the success and demand for the 440cc version in 2017, the M3 will again be available in a 440cc model, which utilizes a slightly smaller head, deeper face and 22g of moveable weight, working in unison with all of the same technologies as its larger 460cc counterpart. Both the 460 and 440cc models come equipped with MCA’s popular Tensei CK Red (high launch), Blue (mid launch) or White (low launch) shafts in R, S & X flexes along with a Lamkin UTx cord grip. As the company has offered for the past few years, TaylorMade is also once again offering more than two dozen additional premium custom shaft options at no upcharge.
Availability & Pricing
Available for pre-order on February 1 and at retail on February 16 at $499 USD, the M3 460 driver will be offered in 8.5°, 9.5°, 10.5° & 12° loft options, while LH models will be offered in 9.5° and 10.5° lofts. The M3 440 driver (RH only) will be offered in 9° & 10° loft options.
M3 Fairway
The ’17 M1 fairway broke innovation and performance barriers by being both adjustable and incredibly long, a goal the engineering team set in the conception stage and executed in its creation. The new M3 fairway takes a premium, adjustable fairway to the next level; constructed with a 450 stainless steel body, strong Ni-Co C300 face and new, thinner 5-layer carbon composite crown (same as the M3 & M4 drivers). An improved track system that houses more moveable weight (29 grams compared to 25 in the ’17 M1 fairway) allows for the adjustment for preferred shot shape; from fade to draw, more than ever before.
Similar to the M3 driver, the M3 fairway also utilizes an ultra-thin, ultra-light crown and sole panel. The combination of the composite panels saves up to 8g over a similarly shaped metal fairway. The discretionary weight is placed low and forward into the M3’s clubhead to create driver-like launch conditions (high launch & low spin).
The sliding weight track (SWT) on the M3 fairway, first introduced in a TaylorMade fairway with last year’s M1, incorporates a new, smaller Loft Sleeve screw, which allowed for the moveable weight track to move 3.5mm forward, which resulted in the CG moving almost a full millimeter forward too, an 8% change over the ’17 M1.
Bringing the track forward led to a more streamlined overhang design which led to improving the sole to turf interaction for the M3 fairway. By designing an overhang that extends across the length of the track the playability of the sole was improved while allowing the weight track to be further forward.
The smaller screw head and port area to the Loft Sleeve also positively affects the Speed Pocket. By taking up less room on the sole, the Speed Pocket length from heel-to-toe on the M3 fairway is longer than the M1 2017 Speed Pocket. The through-slot is extremely efficient in terms of size and material usage, giving us the ability to package it in front of the track. The through-slot promotes faster face-flex and ball speed on mishits low on the face and also reduces backspin leading to more overall distance.
Availability & Pricing
Available on February 16, 2018 at $299 USD, the M3 fairway will be offered in 15° (3), 17° (3HL) and 19° (5) loft options while LH models will be offered in 15° (3) and 19° (5) options, equipped with an MCA Tensei Blue shaft in A, R & S flexes (65g) and X flex (75g). All models come equipped with a Lamkin UTx cord grip.
M3 Rescue
The new M3 Rescue incorporates a moderate sized, Tour-proven and preferred shape first introduced by the ’17 M1 Rescue but with more moveable weight — 30g compared to 27— and a successful sole design that will appeal to players of all ability levels. The crown showcases a whole new look with a premium two tone, matte silver front section and gloss black back body framing the ball beautifully. The sole is engineered with a performance-driven adjustable sliding weight system, allowing golfers the opportunity to not only experience the neutral/fade biases of its predecessor but having more moveable weight for an unparalleled level of personalization in a TaylorMade Rescue.
In addition to the new 30g sliding weight and advanced sole design, the head comes equipped with a 3-degree ultra-lightweight aluminum Loft Sleeve. Premium components again are offered as stock options, with a MCA Tensei Blue hybrid 80g shaft in R, S & X flexes as well as a 70g A flex along with a new Lamkin UTx cord grip.
Availability & Pricing
Available on February 16, 2018 at $249 USD, the M3 Rescue will be offered in 17° (2), 19° (3), 21° (4) and 24° (5) options while LH models will be offered in 19° (3) and 21° (4) options.
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