Good honest review of M1/R15

[delc]

There is a slight problem with this thread in that though the gains from the R15 to M1 might be marginal my understanding is that in general you might want to consider changing your driver every 3 years. So should we really be talking about whether it's an improvement on the R11-S or other brands driver releases from 2012...?

My R1 driver isn't 3 years old yet, and it's already 3 or 4 generations back!

 

[Alex1975]

There is a slight problem with this thread in that though the gains from the R15 to M1 might be marginal my understanding is that in general you might want to consider changing your driver every 3 years. So should we really be talking about whether it's an improvement on the R11-S or other brands driver releases from 2012...?

That would be more interesting.

 

[One Planer]

There is a slight problem with this thread in that though the gains from the R15 to M1 might be marginal my understanding is that in general you might want to consider changing your driver every 3 years. So should we really be talking about whether it's an improvement on the R11-S or other brands driver releases from 2012...?

Which is one of the reasons I'm considering a new driver over my 910 D2.

Catch is, I hit my 910 really well so, even though the driver tech in the 910 is 5-6 years old, I'm reluctant to change.

 

[hovis]

Which is one of the reasons I'm considering a new driver over my 910 D2.

Catch is, I hit my 910 really well so, even though the driver tech in the 910 is 5-6 years old, I'm reluctant to change.

My pp plays off +3 and is a die hard titleist fan. He desperately wants a new titleist driver but his 910 has stood upto all its newer models

 

[One Planer]

My pp plays off +3 and is a die hard titleist fan. He desperately wants a new titleist driver but his 910 has stood upto all its newer models

And that's the test.

If if a new model doesn't instantly wow me vs tech from 5 years ago, I'll keep a hold of my hard earned.

 

[Qwerty]

My pp plays off +3 and is a die hard titleist fan. He desperately wants a new titleist driver but his 910 has stood upto all its newer models

And that's the test.

If if a new model doesn't instantly wow me vs tech from 5 years ago, I'll keep a hold of my hard earned.

Im still using an old 907 D2 which I've had from new in about 2007. Its as long and straight as anything else I've bought and tried since.
I honestly can't find anything as consistent. I think its mainly down to the Aldila Vs Proto Shaft which just seems to work for me.

 

[Hobbit]

Im still using an old 907 D2 which I've had from new in about 2007. Its as long and straight as anything else I've bought and tried since.
I honestly can't find anything as consistent. I think its mainly down to the Aldila Vs Proto Shaft which just seems to work for me.

Don't do yourself down Dave. Its not the tooth fairy that returns the clubhead square.

 

[Tiger]

And that's the test.

If if a new model doesn't instantly wow me vs tech from 5 years ago, I'll keep a hold of my hard earned.

Precisely - which is why I feel that these types of threads grate me a little. The manufacturers are trying to push the envelop but also make a profit. They aren't really marketing the driver to the guy who bought the last iteration (but if the fool wants to buy it...)

The thing is with annual or even six monthly releases they are cranking up the personal perception that those with older tech may fear getting left behind.

BUT and it's an important but, if when you try you don't see an improvement that justifies the cost the only compulsion to spend comes from you...

 

[Qwerty]

Don't do yourself down Dave. Its not the tooth fairy that returns the clubhead square.

Cheers Bri, I usually try to keep it modest. Anything more and the game usually bites me on the Backside

 

[MadAdey]

I had a play around with one of these a few weeks ago. I am a huge TM driver fan and my driver history is Ti BUBBLE II, R300, R540XD, R7 QUAD, R7 SUPERQUAD, R9, R11s and the SLDR, so I can pretty much put a biased TM loving opinion on the new beast.

I'm not that impressed to be honest. I tried this out a few weeks ago and even though the results where good, it was no better than my SLDR. I tried different shafts and even put my Black Tie shaft in it and got the setup perfect for me. I tried varying head and shaft combos and messed around with the settings and did get a really good smash factor from it. But, it was no straighter or longer than my SLDR, so I'm not looking at trading up.

On the other side of things, it is probably the best looking driver I have ever held and I do prefer the sound compared to my SLDR.

Is it a great club..................YES
Does it look good.................YES
Is it easy to hit....................YES
Is it long.............................YES
Am I going to get one............NO

 

[toffeelover]

Sort of true - and what I used to do some time back. These days, I believe all limits are now being approached and it's now 4-6 years before a 'new' Driver should be considered purely on performance. The real key though, imo, is to find a setup that actually works for the individual punter!

However, it's not the thread that has the 'problem', but the actual review! While I think it's great idea to demonstrate the marginal gain from one year to the next, I'm not sure it's actually good for TM! Bubba's comment about Turbulators - and other new tech - gaining 3mph ball speed was quite dramatic, but that only equates to about 5 yards - at a fairly high cost! Far more cost effective to learn to hit the ball out of the middle more often - which gains 20-25 yards with NO COST!

That would cost me £'000s in lessons! :fore:

I notice that Tour Pro's vary on this driver decision too.

Players like Justin Rose seem to migrate to the newest version instantly, whereas 'old sages' like Stenson need to be persuaded (I believe the Callaway Diablo Octane driver was a particular favourite of his).

 

[Hobbit]

I had a play around with one of these a few weeks ago. I am a huge TM driver fan and my driver history is Ti BUBBLE II, R300, R540XD, R7 QUAD, R7 SUPERQUAD, R9, R11s and the SLDR, so I can pretty much put a biased TM loving opinion on the new beast.

I'm not that impressed to be honest. I tried this out a few weeks ago and even though the results where good, it was no better than my SLDR. I tried different shafts and even put my Black Tie shaft in it and got the setup perfect for me. I tried varying head and shaft combos and messed around with the settings and did get a really good smash factor from it. But, it was no straighter or longer than my SLDR, so I'm not looking at trading up.

On the other side of things, it is probably the best looking driver I have ever held and I do prefer the sound compared to my SLDR.

Is it a great club..................YES
Does it look good.................YES
Is it easy to hit....................YES
Is it long.............................YES
Am I going to get one............NO

It's the "is it easy to hit...........YES" that appeals to me. And I'd expect a few extra yards over my SLDR which, even cranked up still flies lower than I'd like.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Yes. 5mph more

But surely that would be immediately obvious when they showed the data, as they all do, that he was swinging one a lot faster than the others? Leading no doubt to increased distance. Was this person UK based as I tend to watch the usual suspects and did not notice any significant increase in swing speed when they did any comparisons? I am doubting it was Crossfield as say what you like about him, I really don't think he'd let that one go and go along with it. However several other you tubers do seem to be mostly kitted out by TM nowadays. Mmmmm interesting.

May have to go back and watch them again.

 

[davidy233]

Very happy that Taylor Made bring out regular new products - means the SLDR I nearly bought last year was purchased new a couple of weeks ago for lots less than half what I would have paid for it then.

 

[jdpjamesp]

This reminds me of what Crossfield use to do in the old days when he first started out and didn't appeared to pander to the manufacturers as much as now (in my opinion). This seemed a far more robust GM review and I hope its the first of many. I'd love to see the GM staff doing Product A v Product B as well

Funny you should say that as I really enjoyed his latest A v B review for that reason. Ok so it's the same manufacturer, but all the same:
[video=youtube;kJjDM73w_kk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJjDM73w_kk[/video]

 

[jamielaing]

I had a blast with the M1, in a net at AG. All distances were taken from their computer (potentially tricked up) and my drives were huge! Seemed to get an extra 10-15 yards out of it and I was impressed. I honestly walked away thinking I was going back for it within the week. The guy said to me this is the driver you can really go at, give it everything you have and it will keep you on the fairway. I also had it on 7.5 degrees which gives me a bit more compared to my 8.5 G30 LS. It felt and sounded great.

Here's the BUT- I went out that week and really went at everything with my Ping driver and made up the distance that I was suddenly getting just by swinging the way the guy advised me to. I doubt I will play with a 'go at it swing' from now on but I doubt I would have with the M1 either.

 

[hovis]

But surely that would be immediately obvious when they showed the data, as they all do, that he was swinging one a lot faster than the others? Leading no doubt to increased distance. Was this person UK based as I tend to watch the usual suspects and did not notice any significant increase in swing speed when they did any comparisons? I am doubting it was Crossfield as say what you like about him, I really don't think he'd let that one go and go along with it. However several other you tubers do seem to be mostly kitted out by TM nowadays. Mmmmm interesting.

May have to go back and watch them again.

The swing speed results come up on the screen and the difference is obvious if your looking for it. They dont appear on the screen for long. Just enough to look at total distance.

Your challenge is to find the clip? 😀

 

[Hacker Khan]

The swing speed results come up on the screen and the difference is obvious if your looking for it. They dont appear on the screen for long. Just enough to look at total distance.

Your challenge is to find the clip? 

Challenge accepted

 

[Foxholer]

I had a blast with the M1, in a net at AG. All distances were taken from their computer (potentially tricked up) and my drives were huge! Seemed to get an extra 10-15 yards out of it and I was impressed. I honestly walked away thinking I was going back for it within the week. The guy said to me this is the driver you can really go at, give it everything you have and it will keep you on the fairway. I also had it on 7.5 degrees which gives me a bit more compared to my 8.5 G30 LS. It felt and sounded great.

Here's the BUT- I went out that week and really went at everything with my Ping driver and made up the distance that I was suddenly getting just by swinging the way the guy advised me to. I doubt I will play with a 'go at it swing' from now on but I doubt I would have with the M1 either.

Why not?!

My host at The Shire is in the fortunate position of being able to swing at 110 and still be 'in control' - though he can't get over 112 whatever he does. Yet his recent initial speed at a gapping was a wimpy (for him) 92! The (highly reputed) coach tore into him about it, pointing out just how much of a waste not using his potential swing speed was! The cause of the drop was fear of the huge hook, so eliminating that is actually what they will work on.

For myself, if I swing just about 'out of my shoes' I tend to swing pretty well, though still less than his 'girly' speed! If that isn't on on any particular day (my miss is normally too high on the face), then the 'easy' swing is only a few mph less and very reliable!

 

[Hacker Khan]

The swing speed results come up on the screen and the difference is obvious if your looking for it. They dont appear on the screen for long. Just enough to look at total distance.

Your challenge is to find the clip? 

Using a bit of detective work I think I've found the one you are referring to . It was actually a 6 mph increase in club head speed when he was comparing the M1 with another driver with no mention made in the video of the difference in swing speeds.

Pretty shoddy practices if I am honest, I don't subscribe to said person/channel and I'm glad I don't as to me the review/comparison was very deceiving.