Equipment
TaylorMade 2017 M2 Fairway Woods and Hybrids: What you need to know
TaylorMade’s M2 line of golf equipment is designed to help golfers increase distance and accuracy by offering more forgiveness, at least when compared to TaylorMade’s M1 line, which targets better golfers. Generally speaking, the M2 drivers, fairways woods and hybrids have larger club heads and lower profiles to help golfers hit higher, longer shots.
Compared to the previous line of M2 fairway woods and hybrids, the new M2 models offer more forgiveness, better sound and improved feel. Learn more about how TaylorMade designed its new M2 fairway woods and hybrids below, and join the discussion of the clubs in our forums.
M2 Fairway Woods
Like the M2 drivers, the M2 fairway woods have a lighter 6-layer carbon fiber crown that helps lower the center of gravity (CG) of the club heads to make them high-launching and more forgiving. Unlike the drivers, however, TaylorMade’s new M2 fairway woods have a recess, or a “step” between the white, steel portion used on the front of the crown and the black carbon fiber used on the rest of the crown. The new geometry also lowers the CG of the fairway woods.
The M2 fairway woods also mark the first time TaylorMade is putting its Inverted Cone Technology (ICT) in a fairway wood. The technology, which serves to spread out the sweet spot of a club, has been commonly used in TaylorMade driver and iron designs, but never in a fairway wood.
“Inverted Cone” club faces are thicker in the center and get progressively thinner around the perimeter of the club face. The thicker center portion allows COR (coefficient of restitution, a measure of spring-like effect) to remain at the USGA’s legal limit in the center of the club face, and maintains COR on the outer portions of the face, thus raising ball speeds on off-center hits.
The soles of the M2 fairway woods are designed with TaylorMade’s “Geocoustic” theme, as seen throughout the M2 metal wood line. It uses geometry to tune the sound of the club head at impact, moving weight structures from inside the club head to the outside where they can improve CG location while also managing vibrations from impact.
The soles of the M2 fairway woods also have a Speed Pocket, a slot in the sole that’s longer and more flexible than its predecessors. It increases forgiveness across the club face, according to the company. As in the 2016 M2 fairway woods, the hosels of the clubs are also “fluted” to remove weight from the top of the clubs, ultimately lowering CG and dampening vibrations up the shaft.
The M2 fairway woods will be offered in 3 (15 degrees), 3HL (16.5 degrees), 5 (18 degrees), 5HL (21 degrees) and 7HL (24 degrees) options and will be available on Jan. 27 for $249 each.
M2 Tour Fairway Woods
Despite their smaller club head size (about 156 cubic centimeters), the club heads of the M2 Tour fairway woods use all the same technologies as the standard M2 fairway woods. Their compact design can improve versatility and reduce turf interaction for better players, however, while providing the more compact look that many golfers prefer.
The M2 Tour (left) and M2 fairway woods.
It’s expected that the M2 Tour fairway woods will produce all the ball speed golfers have come to expect from M2 fairway woods, while producing slightly more spin because of their deeper club faces to help better players more easily manipulate trajectory.
The M2 Tour fairway woods ($299.99) will be available Jan. 27, 2017 in lofts of 15 and 16.5 degrees. Mitsubishi Rayon’s Kuro Kage Silver TiNi 70 (R, S X) will be the stock shaft.
M2 Hybrids
The M2 hybrids have the same recess or “step” seen in the M2 fairway woods. And golfers who enjoy the black-and-white look of TaylorMade’s driver and fairway wood crowns will also be happy to see a new black-and-white paint scheme its added to the M2 hybrids.
The soles of the M2 hybrids have a Speed Pocket that TaylorMade says is “more active” compared to its predecessors. It’s larger, and is said to transfer more energy to the golf ball on off-center hits. The hosel of the new hybrids are also fluted, but shorter than their predecessor to help lower the CG of the club heads.
Although the M2 hybrid heads are still larger and longer from front to back than the M1 hybrids, which makes them play more like mini fairway woods, the 2017 models are slightly smaller than the 2016 M2 hybrids. They also have more rounded soles for improved turf interaction.
TaylorMade’s M2 Rescue clubs will be offered in 3 (19 degrees), 4 (22 degrees), 5 (25 degrees) and 6 (28 degrees) options, and will be available for $199.99 apiece starting on Jan. 27.
Related
Cameron Young’s WITB from his win at the 2025 Wyndham Championship. Cameron is a Titleist staff player but his bag is definitely filled with some unique clubs. Here are the clubs he used to secure his first PGA Tour win!
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus HB Black VeloCore+ 10 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Titleist T100 (5), Titleist 631.CY Prototype (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F @57), WedgeWorks (60-K* @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7
Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Prototype
- Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (10 degrees, C2 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X
7-wood: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T150 (4, 5), Titleist T100 (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper AMT Tour White X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F, 56-08M @57, 60-04T @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Fastback 1.5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Yellow
We’re proud to once again partner with 2nd Swing Golf to bring you GolfWRX Members Choice 2025! 2nd Swing has more than 150,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
What is the best driver in 2025? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. When it comes to the best driver of 2025, we want to know what our forum faithful think.
Since our founding in 2005, the bedrock of GolfWRX.com has been the community of passionate and knowledgeable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members — the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.
Below are the results of GolfWRX member voting for the 2025 best driver, along with the vote percentage for each club.
Best driver of 2025: The top 5
5. Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond: 6.02%
Callaway’s pitch: “For golfers looking for a fast, forgiving, yet workable driver, the Elyte Triple Diamond features a tour-inspired shape and is the preferred model by most Callaway tour players.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond here.
4. Ping G440 Max: 6.86%
Ping’s pitch: “The most forgiving G440 model, MAX has a hotter face to generate speed and distance, and a lighter overall system weight with a longer shaft (46″) for faster clubhead speed, higher launch and longer carries. The Free Hosel and Carbonfly Wrap crown save weight to create our lowest CG ever and increase forgiveness while contributing to a more muted, pleasing sound.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 Max here.
3. Ping G440 LST: 9.53%
Ping’s pitch: “LST is an especially good fit for faster swings, offering less spin and more control with a penetrating trajectory. A hotter face, lighter overall system weight and longer shaft (46″) deliver more speed and distance while maintaining tight dispersion.”
@phizzy30: “Not a fan of Ping drivers in general, but 440 LST takes the cake. It’s super forgiving across the face for a low spin head, looks and sounds good and the ability to make it play neutral or slightly fade biased through the hosel settings is very appealing.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 LST here.
2. Titleist GT3: 16.55%
Titleist’s pitch: “The GT3 Driver offers Titleist’s boldest combination of power and personalization through adjustable performance. Dial in the CG Track to your frequent contact location to make your biggest drives even bigger while taking total control over flight and shaping.”
@mrmikeac: “I’ve been Anti-Titleist for years and years and years (outside of Vokey, of course). With that being said, HOLY BEGEEZUS the GT3 driver is an absolute NUCLEAR MONSTER! This thing blew my G430 10K Max out of the water in every single category. Forgiveness is the biggest thing that stands out of me, the 3 model has always been one of the less forgiving models in the past but this GT3 can take bad shot after bad shot and still end up in the fairway, I think a ton of that has to do with the adjustability, it’s actually effective. Feel and sound is perfect, that solid crack is so addicting to hear and when you hit it out the screws this thing can absolutely bomb it. Titleist, I’m sorry for doubting you. You have converted me.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT3 here.
1. Titleist GT2: 22.91%
Titleist’s pitch: “Delivering impressive distance from any impact point, the Titleist GT2 Driver extracts maximum performance through a forgiving design. Get the stability and added confidence of a high-MOI driver without sacrificing speed.”
@DTorres: “The Titleist GT2 has proven to be the best driver of the year. Packaged in a classic profile, GT2 perfectly balances performance and forgiveness while consistently being a high performer across all categories.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT2 here.
Other drivers receiving >2% of the vote
| Driver | Vote percentage (%) |
|---|---|
| Cobra DS Adapt Max K | 4.85% |
| Ping G430 Max 10K | 3.85% |
| Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond | 3.68% |
| TaylorMade Qi35 | 3.51% |
| Callaway Elyte | 3.18% |
| Cobra DS Adapt X | 2.34% |
| Cobra DS Adapt LS | 2.17% |
| TaylorMade Qi35 LS | 2.17% |
View this post on Instagram
‘Why would anybody want to change that swing?’ – Brandel Chamblee says PGA Tour star was wrong to change his swing
‘The stupidest freaking thing I’ve ever heard’ – Billy Horschel slams Open idea suggested by Padraig Harrington
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Golfer proudly posts photo of ball mark on iron, receives immediate roasting
WITB Time Machine: Matthew Wolff’s winning WITB, 2019 3M Open
Oakmont Country Club bans Wyndham Clark over locker incident; Reveals specific conditions to earn reinstatement
Adam Scott puts Callaway blades in the bag at Wyndham Championship
Report: LIV star fires caddie and coach in shock shake up
Rickie Fowler makes equipment change to ‘something that’s a little easier on the body’
The championship formula: How 3 key stats separate winners from the field
Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)
Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2025 Wyndham Championship
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX 3-wood: Titleist...
Camilo Villegas WITB 2025 (July)
Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Brandt Snedeker fired a final-round 65 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship to outlast Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan. His 5-under...
Mr Poopoo
Dec 10, 2016 at 4:01 pm
M2 Tour = RBZ 3.0