Taylormade M4 Irons Review, What We Love & Hate
Get the most out of your golf game with the help of our detailed Taylormade M4 irons review. We tested these clubs for a month and here's what we found! [no_toc]
TaylorMade is a brand of golf club that dominates the golfing landscape. More often than not, this is the brand that most novice golfers hear about and buy themselves.
Don’t let that make you think it’s a brand for newbies though, TaylorMade is a brand that’s beloved by professionals all over the world.
With the M4 Irons, TaylorMade seeks to keep this tradition alive. With special attention given to forgiveness and ease of use, one can assume that the brand had beginners and amateur players in mind during production.
Are they successful in providing the perfect iron set to get high handicappers a lower handicap?
In this article, we’ll seek to answer this question and more.
So Why Listen To Me?
We used the TaylorMade M4 Iron set for 30 days on some of the best California golf courses, took note of any issues, weighed in on its features, and debated its pros and cons all in an effort to determine whether or not it is worthy of purchase.
As an avid golfer with years of experience and a deep understanding of golf club technology, I believe my insights can help you make an informed decision.
Taylormade M4 Irons Specs
For those interested in the details, here are the specs of the M4 Irons, straight from TaylorMade's website!
M4 Irons Features
Let's look at what makes them tick!
The duo works together to improve two important aspects of an iron club.
Firstly, the irons need to be just the right amount of flexibility.
Secondly, the irons need to ensure an efficient transfer of more energy from the force of the swing into the ball itself. Flexibility ensures a good transfer of energy.
The duo of RIBCOR bars and Speed Pockets both works together to provide the user with as much of this as possible.
They also go a long way to improving forgiveness, but we’ll get to that a little later.
Another component of what irons need to deliver that this model aims to improve is distance.
That being said, The M4 Irons are designed to give the player maximum distance, without sacrificing too much in terms of accuracy and feel. And they’ve largely succeeded in doing so.
The clubs are long, and they have a really powerful launch to them.
They’re also quite forgiving, thanks to the inclusion of features like TaylorMade’s trademarked Face Slots technology.
Player’s who struggle with a hook or slice will find that the M4 Irons help to correct those issues.
With their unprecedented Twist Face Technology, the unique curve of the club face aims to reduce side spin and deliver straighter shots, even on off-center shots.
'Nuff Said! The M4 Irons are quite forgiving, making them ideal for amateur golfers or those with a handicap. The heel-toe weighting also provides extra forgiveness on mis-hits.
The M4 irons are a great option for mid-handicappers looking for an upgrade.
They offer a significant improvement in terms of forgiveness and performance over entry level options, without breaking the bank.
What We Experienced Using Them:
When we first got the iron set in the mail, we wasted no time opening it and inspecting each of the clubs.
One of the first things we noticed, the M4's sport a shiny, classic chrome design with black accents.
With the apparent popularity of the M2 irons and the amount of patronage the M3 iron received from professionals, it became apparent to us that there’s a lot for this set, in particular, to live up to.
One cannot use the M4 irons without comparing them to other TaylorMade irons in the M series.
Before taking them out on the course, we took them to the local driving range to test them out and see how they felt.
The clubs are very well balanced, and the sweet spot seems larger than average, which is always a plus.
The ball seemed to just jump off the clubface, and we were getting a good deal of distance with each shot.
It was easy to adjust to the clubs and get a feel for them pretty quickly.
Overall, we were extremely pleased with the Taylormade M4 irons.
The clubs have a sleek, classic look to them with black accents.
They feel well balanced and solid in your hands. And thanks to the Speed Pocket, the soles of the M4 are noticeably slimmer and longer than the dumbbell shape of the M2.
In terms of loft, it would seem that the M4 built upon its predecessors by increasing their ability to make low center strikes and a thinner leading edge.
According to the manufacturer, the M4 irons 4 to 7 have a high Coefficient of Restitution (COR), similar to what you would find in fairway woods
The new RIBCOR technology is featured prominently in each of the clubs. The bars are placed behind the club’s face slots along the heel and toe. We guessed that this was to strengthen the upper part of the head.
When paired with the much lighter graphite shaft, energy transfer is greatly improved.
We took the set to the course on a fine, sunny morning to see what it got. The stronger lofts and larger faces are, in our opinion, this model’s greatest assets.
Time and time again, we got impeccable carry with less spin and more ball speed than your standard beginner’s iron set.
After the 30-day testing period, we managed to come up with an average carry of 175-180 yards and a range of around 180 yards.
This makes it an ideal game improvement iron for high handicappers. We also saw a fair number of mid handicappers using the M4 set and, according to their estimates, they can reach upwards of 250 yards with them.
As a mid-handicapper myself, I was excited to see how the M4 Irons would affect my game.
Over the course of the month, I noticed a definite improvement in my ball striking and shot consistency.
The forgiveness these clubs offer gave me the confidence to go for more challenging shots, and I found that my overall scores started to improve as a result.
To give you a clearer picture of the M4 Irons' performance, we recorded our swing speed, ball speed, launch angle, spin rate, and carry distance for each club in the set.
Our findings show that the M4 Irons produce an average swing speed of 80-90 mph, a ball speed of 115-125 mph, a launch angle of 16-18 degrees, a spin rate of 4,000-5,000 rpm, and a carry distance of 170-190 yards
These numbers indicate that the M4 Irons are well-suited for players seeking to improve their game.
In terms of sound and feel of the M4 Vs other Iron Sets, the M4 bears a lot of similarities with its M3 sibling.
We can say with confidence that it's better than the M2, thanks to the RIBCOR technology and larger carbon fiber wrap. Compared to the M3 though, this is a set with forgiveness in mind.
The M3 for us is more adaptable, being used by professionals and mid-handicappers alike.
Where the Taylormade M3 irons are designed to appeal to some of the better players, the M4 irons are arguably super game improvement clubs
In the end, it really depends on what you need most, accuracy or forgiveness.
To further help you in your decision-making process, we have compared the TaylorMade M4 Irons with other popular iron sets on the market, such as the Titleist AP1 and the Callaway Rogue Irons.
When compared to these sets, the M4 Irons excel in forgiveness and distance, making them an excellent choice for high handicappers and a good option for mid-handicappers
However, for golfers seeking a more refined feel and greater workability, the Titleist AP1 or Callaway Rogue Irons might be a better fit.
| Feature | TaylorMade M4 Irons | Titleist AP1 Irons | Callaway Rogue Irons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forgiveness | High | Medium | Medium |
| Distance | High | Medium | High |
| Feel and Workability | Medium | High | High |
| Price Range | $$ | $$$ | $$$ |
| Ideal for Player Skill Level | Mid to High | Low to Mid | Low to Mid |
| Technology | RIBCOR, Speed Pocket, Twist Face | Multi-material construction, Tungsten weighting | VFT, Face Cup, Internal Standing Wave |
Now, let's have a look at some of the pros & cons of the M4 irons!
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Taylormade M4 Irons Review & Final Verdict (4.6/5)
And that was our review of the TaylorMade M4 Irons. Despite some minor nitpicks, this is generally another strong offering by TaylorMade.
It's a great option for those seeking a solid all-around performer that looks good, feels great, and provides enough forgiveness to keep your game on track.
If you're in the market for a new set of irons, the M4 should definitely be on your radar and in your golf bag as they're truly great irons.
We hope you enjoyed our review. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out to us. Until next time, happy golfing!
Final Verdict: 4.6/5 – A great option for high handicappers and a good option for mid-handicappers seeking a solid all-around performer that looks good, feels great, and provides enough forgiveness to keep your game on track.
For more experienced golfers or those looking for greater workability and feel, there are better options like the the Titleist T100 Irons, Or the Callaway Big Bertha Iron Set may be more suitable.