Equipment
Spotted: TaylorMade’s 2017 M1 Fairway Woods and Hybrids
A slot and a sliding weight? That’s what we’re seeing in a photo of a new TaylorMade M1 fairway wood, which is making the rounds in our forum after being posted on Instagram by an account associated with custom club maker TourQualityGolf in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
The photo of the fairway wood, which presumably is part of TaylorMade’s 2017 line, has the same graphics and color scheme as the M1 460 driver that appeared yesterday on social media.
The photo of the new driver was revealing because it indicates that TaylorMade will use more carbon fiber in the design of its 2017 drivers. While the new M1 fairway wood does not appear to use carbon fiber in the same way, there are some noteworthy changes.
For one, the fairway wood’s sliding-weight track has been moved to the rear of the sole. In previous models, the M1 and the R15, a front weight track was used. According to TaylorMade, the front weight track created a low, forward center of gravity that encouraged the high-launching, low-spinning ball flight most golfers want from a fairway wood. With the weight track moved rearward, it’s clear that TaylorMade has found other means of moving the necessary amount of weight low and forward in the clubhead.
The rearward weight track also allowed TaylorMade to add a slot to the front of the club sole, a design strategy the company has been employing since its debut of the RBZ fairway woods in 2011. The slot is of the flat, handle bar-shaped variety used on TaylorMade’s M1 hybrids that were released in 2015. It is said to increase the flexibility of a club face, leading to increased ball speed, a higher launch angle and reduced spin, particularly on shots contacted low on the club face.
A photo of TaylorMade’s 2017 M1 hybrid posted in our forum by user Ricky Ross shows that the company’s new hybrids will likely take the same approach as the company’s new fairway woods. It also appears to employ a rear sliding weight track and a flat, handle bar-shaped slot on the front of the sole.
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
Justin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
What’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
Memorial Tournament Tour Report: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young switch up drivers, and more
Cadillac Championship Tour Report: Spieth’s sizable changes, McLaren Golf launches, and more
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
J.T. Poston’s winning WITB: 2026 Memorial Tournament
Best irons 2026: Best irons overall, most forgiving irons, and more
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
Asterisk Talley WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Brianna Do WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
-
Equipment6 days agoMemorial Tournament Tour Report: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young switch up drivers, and more
-
News1 week agoRussell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
-
Whats in the Bag3 days agoJ.T. Poston’s winning WITB: 2026 Memorial Tournament
-
Equipment3 days agoBest irons 2026: Best irons overall, most forgiving irons, and more
-
Equipment1 week agoDetails on Jason Day’s latest prototype Avoda iron setup
-
Equipment3 weeks agoCJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
-
News2 weeks agoCharles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
-
Equipment2 weeks agoDetails on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
suhdude
Nov 14, 2016 at 2:12 pm
taylorlame. sorry bruh.
Rimjob
Nov 3, 2016 at 3:05 am
The slot of the Jetspeed with the added adjustability. Best of both worlds. These are gonna be heaters
Mats B
Nov 2, 2016 at 6:33 am
One of the first Equipment signs that Adidas and Nike are discussing an Equipment deal with Nike as a new owner of Taylor Made. Look at the yellow/green colour of the 1 in M1. Same och very simular to the one used by Nike. The fact that McIlroy and Koepka has made a move to Taylor Made Woods is just adding to the fact that soon Taylor Made will be under new wings…..
Rimjob
Nov 2, 2016 at 2:19 pm
Nah. But this comment is an indication that you’re an idiot
Yawn
Nov 2, 2016 at 9:54 pm
Cut n pasting your own dribble?
Good effort.
TomyD
Nov 3, 2016 at 2:41 am
It’s Lime not Volt… and why would they stop golf equipment to focus on clothes/shoes and buy a equipment brand few weeks later which is on sale for the same reason they cut their production… make no sense.
Mats B
Nov 3, 2016 at 6:32 pm
Tomy,
Who knows!? There’s more than one way to get to the Top! After 15 years of trying to be one of the big brands without being successful even though they had one of the greatest Sport stars in their team and then went on to sign McIlroy without any added success. I guess then it’s time for a change of direction. Even though Taylor Made has flooded the market with new equipment launches, using a 6 months lifetime cycle, they still remain in the very front edge of performance, especially on their woods, where they outperform most, if not all of the competition…..no further explanation needed….Adidas has had it for sale for quite some time now and I think it’s getting to a point where they have to let it go for a bargain, compared to what they expected. I think that Nike has made their fair share of calculations and this can be the right time to make a move and get straight to the Top, quicker and with a lot less effort than continuing to knock their own head’s into a concrete wall! I guess we’ll have to wait and see!? I may be wrong!? But I wouldn’t be surprised if Nike will be involved somehow in Taylor Made in the future. 🙂
FNM
Nov 2, 2016 at 2:43 am
I am going to murder that 3wood, I know I will
JThunder
Nov 2, 2016 at 12:36 am
Actually M1 was just over a year ago, and M2 was end of Jan 2016. That’s only “dialed back” for TM, still fast for anyone else.
Clay
Nov 1, 2016 at 10:45 pm
That hybrid looks awful. I was looking for words like Talor-Fit. It looks like a Chinese knock off of an actual hybrid.
M1 Smizzle
Nov 1, 2016 at 4:31 pm
They look sweet!
rechlo67
Nov 1, 2016 at 1:47 pm
If that 3 wood has a combination between the M2 (front slot) and M1 (track) that thing is going to be ridiculously hot.
G
Nov 2, 2016 at 12:17 pm
I agree it will be super hot
Dat
Nov 1, 2016 at 11:35 am
M1 Hybrids are gonna require a clean pick of the ball…if you have a less than ideal strike or lie the weight track will be a mud track.
Chris
Nov 1, 2016 at 11:20 am
Any idea if the weight on the sliding weights is heavier or lighter than the 2016 M1?
Greg
Nov 1, 2016 at 2:51 pm
Yes
mitch
Nov 1, 2016 at 9:55 am
why do they need new woods out already! they just keep flooding the market!
Sean
Nov 1, 2016 at 10:02 am
If they dont release until after the pga show the driver would have had a full two year cycle. Callaway and other companies have flooded more in that time period. Just saying
Alan
Nov 1, 2016 at 10:39 am
How can it be a full 2 year cycle when the original M1 was unveiled and launched in September 2015?
Shooters Tour
Nov 1, 2016 at 10:42 am
…word.
cgasucks
Nov 1, 2016 at 10:09 am
They’ve actually dialed back the release frequency. The last time they debuted new woods was a year ago and will continue to dial back its offerings, especially since it’s up for sale and don’t want to scare off any potential buyers that they’re back to their old ways (which got them in trouble in the first place).
rolltherock
Nov 1, 2016 at 10:36 am
Calm down Mitch
SteveID
Nov 1, 2016 at 12:04 pm
Mitch, does it affect you at all?
mitch
Nov 1, 2016 at 12:24 pm
I guess time just flies and it seems like it has not been as long that they have been out idk..