TaylorMade 2017 M1 440 Driver

The TaylorMade 2017 M1 440 driver is the smaller, more compact version of the acclaimed M1 driver.  With an adjustable T-Track, multi-material construction, TaylorMade delivered a powerful and forgiving driver in the 2017 M1 440.  Oh yeah, it’s my current gamer too.

First Impressions

To say the TaylorMade 2017 M1 440 doesn’t make an immediate impression on you would be a bold-faced lie.  The contrasting white topline against the black carbon crown is an attention grabber and unmistakable on the tee box.  I can definitely see where a traditionalist wouldn’t go crazy for the look, but I personally love it.  The head shape is a compact pear shape with a somewhat deeper face.  With the white/black contrast, the M1 440 frames the ball nicely at address.

How Does it Feel?

In a season of great drivers, the TaylorMade 2017 M1 440 driver had one of the most powerful “feels” on the market.  When I’m swinging this driver well, it feels more like the head is powering through the ball as opposed to just hitting it.  This leaves you with a satisfying sense of compressing the ball on a very hot and solid face.  There is quite a bit of leeway on the face in terms of forgiveness and still feeling the aforementioned heat at impact.

If you’re anything like me with a driver, the whole balance thing is a big deal.  I like to think I’m a decent player off the tee, but I’m very sensitive to the balance of the driver head.  A simple weight swap in some heads throws me off completely and I turn into a hot mess.  Keep in mind, this makes perfect sense because you’re changing the center of gravity.  With TaylorMade’s “T-Track” you’re able to make more subtle adjustments to get the club perfectly “balanced” to your preference while also tuning the shot performance.  Ultimately, if it helps you find the center of the face consistently for that huge smash factor, you’re in a good spot.

How Does it Sound?

Much like the feel, the sound of the TaylorMade 2017 M1 440 driver is very powerful.  TaylorMade spent a lot of energy focusing in on optimizing the sound performance of this driver.

TaylorMade engineers relied on proven internal acoustic management techniques and modified them as necessary to meet the demands of new materials and shaping. The result: the re-definition of best-in-class sound by controlling vibration and pitch at impact.

A finely tuned titanium body and carbon crown combine for the sound of a sharp “crack” almost like a lightning strike.  Given the mixed material construction, the impact sound is a lot less metallic than previous generations.  In the event you’re looking to compare to the previous M1 family, the 2017 M1 definitely sounds more solid and defined.

On-Course Performance

Sometimes when you’re testing equipment, something just clicks like it’s fate or destiny.  Perhaps that’s a bit dramatic here, but there was an immediate sense of something special with the TaylorMade M1 440.  With the T-Track settings at Neutral and High I was hitting some pretty good shots, but with a few clicks of the wrench, I was dialed in.  It was as if the M1 440 driver was totally automatic for me once I had my settings right.

TaylorMade expanded the new T-Track to manipulate the center of gravity more than the previous M1s.  This allows you to get the club more precisely tuned to your swing.  Once I had the T-Track set, the M1 440’s results were pretty hard to argue with.  I was able to control the ball and find the greatest distance of my season.  Even with the trajectory weight set to a higher setting, I could still experience sub-2000 spin rates which is a rare occurrence for me.

Final Thoughts

From a pure data perspective, the TaylorMade 2017 M1 440 was by far the best driver of the season for me.  The smaller footprint, updated technology, and adjustability made the M1 440 automatic for me with some of the best numbers I’ve put up in a long time.

Stock TaylorMade 2017 M1 440 Driver Specs

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