TaylorMade's First Un-Metal Wood

I know you've seen TaylorMade's commercials for the new M1 driver, which they are calling an "un-metal wood." Golf Digest put up an article about the new driver (and the associated fairway woods, hybrids and irons) about a month ago and it's clear that we've got even more adjustments to deal with now.

Take a look at this picture from the article. While a lot is being made of this being TaylorMade's first driver to use a composite top instead of a titanium one -- it not only reduces weight, it lowers the clubhead center of gravity down to the middle of the face -- it's those sliders on the bottom that caught my eye.

Yes, there are TWO of them. That's as new for TaylorMade as the composite top.



One slider adjusts a 15-gram weight from heel to toe so you can give the driver a fade or draw bias. The other slider moves a 10-gram weight from face to back that lets you change the trajectory of your shot. That's pretty cool.

Then add in the 12-way adjustment that gives you a plus/minus 2 degrees of loft change -- see the black knob on the hosel? -- and you've got one seriously adjustable driver.

I'll be honest with you. While I like adjustability in a driver, I don't like all those little crevices where mud can get in. Clubheads are hard enough to keep clean without all the slots and ridges! But such things make it easier to get a club that fits you, so I guess we just have to live with it.

While the fairway woods and hybrids (also in the M1 line) also include all the adjustments (although with different weights and slider placement), the new irons focus on using a variety of slots in the face and sole to improve their playability, along with thinner faces. They're called the PSi and PSi Tour irons (the Tour model has smaller heads).

You can read the whole article over at golfdigest.com. Just be aware that this new tech comes at a price -- $500 for the driver, $300 for the fairway woods, $250 for the hybrids, $1100 for the PSis and $1300 for the PSi Tours.