TaylorMade stayed faithful to a steel-headed fairway wood for a long time, but 2019 is different for a few reasons. For starters, with the M5 and M6 fairway woods TaylorMade brings Twist Face technology beyond the driver for the first time, and with its M5 offering, TM has gone with a titanium/carbon head alongside an interesting weighting system that isn’t exactly new science but seems to harmonize with all the rest of the tech the company offers.

“The M5 fairway wood is a new super adjustable fairway wood featuring ground-breaking new titanium-carbon construction with a massive 65-gram movable weight. This is the first ever fairway wood to use our revolutionary Twist Face technology for unparalleled accuracy and game-changing performance,” says Tomo Bystedt, Senior Director, Product Creation, Metalwoods.

While the effect is the same — counteracting the gear effect on high-toe and low-heel mis-hits — the Twist Face shape is slightly different in the woods, owing to the differing impact patterns between drivers and woods.

TaylorMade M5 fairway wood

The titanium-bodied club features a five-layer carbon composite crown, as well as a steel 65-gram movable weight for a tri-material body construction.

The weight system is redesigned from the M family’s predecessors, as the engineers were able to lower CG and increase adjustability, thanks to the increased discretionary weight.

The M5’s 12-position loft sleeve allows for plus/minus two degrees of adjustability.

In the past TaylorMade has always designed a fairway wood that jived well with its drivers, this is no exception in the case of the M5. It will be interesting to see how Twist Face technology in a fairway wood plays with its tour staff — traditionally forgiveness or speed across the face isn’t a necessity on tour for a fairway wood.

Director of Content Johnny Wunder on early testing of the M5 fairway wood

Look
“Compact head with a deepish face, the better player will like this shape overall.”

Feel
“The titanium/carbon head is a new feel for a TaylorMade fairway wood. At 65 grams the steel weight system provides a hammer head feel to this wood that I really like.”

Sound
“Very similar to all the Taylor fairways, crisp, thumpy and non tingy.”

Overall
“A winner as an offering is concerned however as with any fairway wood coming out, this is a hard category to really elevate the conversation. These clubs are so personal to each individual.”

M5 specifications, pricing & availability

Available for preorder on January 18 and at retail on February 1. MSRP of $399.99. The M5 fairway will be offered in Rocket 3/14 degree (RH only), 15 degree, and 18 degree lofts and come equipped with a Mitsubishi CK Tensei Orange 75 (X) and 65 (S, R) with numerous additional shaft options available at no additional cost.

The stock grip is the MCC Decade grip from Golf Pride.

Related: TaylorMade M5 fairway wood, M6 fairway wood photos

TaylorMade M6 fairway wood

The M2/M4 woods had a ton of success across the board for all levels of golfers due to its overall forgiveness and for the tour player the ability get the gains out of a slightly lower profile fairway without giving up the turf interaction and workability of the deeper smaller M1/M3.

The steel-constructed M6 fairway wood is equipped with a re-engineered Speed Pocket
to boost ball speed on shots struck low on the face. A TPU slot insert sits flush with the sole of the M6 for better turf interaction/less Speed Pocket drag.

This year also sees the addition of a “Rocket 3.” The 14-degree offering targeting those who seek reduced spin and higher ballspeed, according to the company. The center of gravity sits directly behind the club face in the M6, which improves energy transfer from its predecessor, the M4.

In an interesting change this year, relative to the M5, the M6 features a slightly taller face, and as a result, a larger impact area. Like the M5, however, the M6’s carbon composite crown increases discretionary mass, which is concentrated low in the head for a lower CG/higher launch.

The M6 is also available in a draw-biased M6 D-Type, which features the company’s divergent face masking and a modified internal weighting structure for an addition 15 yards of draw bias compared to the standard M6.

Johnny Wunder on early testing of the M6 Fairway Wood

Look
“The M6 is the best looking fairway wood in the M2/M4/M6 class. I like the deeper face and from a look standpoint find it very confidence inspiring.”

Feel
“This may sound weird but it feels forgiving LOL. It’s easy to get up in the air and has a good feel across the face. If there was any negatives, for better players it may be too forgiving.”

Sound
“Acoustics on the M6 is consistent with the previous versions in this category. If anything it might sound a bit less tingy then before but that’s nit picky to the older versions, they all sound great.”

Overall
“A solid choice across the board. Probably not for me personally but I can see this thing getting a lot of attention for very good reasons.”

M6 specifications, pricing & availability

Available for preorder on January 18 and at retail on February 1, 2019 at an MSRP of $299.99 USD, the M6 fairway woods will be offered in Rocket 3/14°,

15, 18, 21 and 24 degree lofts, equipped with Fujikura’s Atmos Orange FW shaft in S, R and A-flexes. The M6 D-Type will be offered in 16, 19, and 22 degree lofts and come equipped with the Project X EvenFlow Max Carry 50 shaft in 6.0 (S), 5.5 (R) and 5.0 (A).

The stock men’s grip is the Lamkin Dual Feel grip and the stock ladies grip is the Lamkin Comfort Plus Dual Feel grip.

M6 Rescue

TaylorMade has incorporated Twist Face technology into a hybrid for the first time. With more extreme curvature than the M6 driver, engineers opted for a two-tone crown to mask the potentially visually distracting shape.

With respect to a low CG steel body, thinner face, and lightweight crown, the M6 Rescue has much in common with the M6 fairway wood. Ditto, the Speed Pocket with a TPU slot insert.

This hybrid will satisfy the needs of the higher handicap player looking to hit something high that lands softly. It doesn’t appear at first glance that the better player will land on this club, but that’s not the agenda here.

Johnny Wunder on the M6 Rescue

“I was only able to hit a couple of shots with the hybrid, as a non hybrid player I can simply say its very easy to hit and will be a great option for the higher handicap to fill top of the bag gaps.”

Rescue specifications, pricing & availability

Available for preorder on January 18 and at retail on February 1, 2019 at an MSRP of $249 USD. The M6 Rescue will be offered in 19, 22, 25,  28 and 31 degree lofts and come equipped with a Fujikura Atmos Orange HY shaft in 7 (S), 6 (R) or 5 (A).

For women, the M6 Rescue will come in 22, 25, 28, 31 degree lofts (RH only) and come equipped with TaylorMade’s Tuned Performance 45g L-flex shaft.

The stock men’s grip is the Lamkin Dual Feel grip and the stock ladies grip is the Lamkin Comfort Plus Dual Feel grip.

Related: TaylorMade M5 fairway wood, M6 fairway wood photos