TaylorMade M Woods Fitting: 6-Hcap Craig Thomson

What M Combination did our big-hitting low handicapper end up with?

TaylorMade M Woods Fitting: 6-Hcap Craig Thomson

TaylorMade M Woods Fitting: 6-Hcap Craig Thomson - We find out what happened during the TaylorMade M Metalwood fitting of low handicapper Craig and the M Combination he ended up with

TaylorMade M Woods Fitting: 6-Hcap Craig Thomson

Age: 24 Handicap: 6 Home club: Ealing GC Fitted by: Sam Day

DRIVER

Fitter analysis

Craig had an SLDR model that he was launching low with very low spin and he was also fighting a miss to the left. He needed more loft and spin to keep the ball in the air for longer and tighten his dispersion from off-centre hits at the same time. He wasn’t bothered about distance, but we got his ball speed up from 162mph to 169mph with the new M1 driver in 10.5 ̊. His dispersion came down thanks to the M1’s sliding weight that we could move to the toe to add fade bias and counter his miss.

Craig’s feedback

I know I hit the ball a long way so being able to control that distance is key. With the higher launch and overall look of the M1 the result was a club I was much more comfortable with. The white and black combination on top really helps me align the clubface and playing my second shots from the fairway rather than the trees is really going to help my scores.

FAIRWAY WOOD

Fitter analysis

Craig was playing a 15 ̊ competitor model that launched quite low and spun up a bit too much. So we needed to give him more loft with less spin and in the end the M1 model came out the best. It had a higher flight and a tighter dispersion – plus he could hit lots of different shots with it.

Craig’s feedback

We tried the M2 and M2 Tour but the M1 was the stand out winner. It feels as hot off the face as the driver, gets the ball up easily and I like how the adjustability on the sole can promote a certain ball flight.

HYBRID

Fitter analysis

Craig played a 20 ̊ hybrid but with the new M2, we were able to go with more loft in the 22 ̊ model and achieve the same carry distance. This was thanks to the hot face which offered a higher ball flight and more forgiveness.

Craig’s feedback

I’ve struggled to stop my hybrid on firm greens at times but the M2 Rescue launches the ball really high. I feel like I could stop it to a front pin. It’s going to be a real game-changer on reachable par-5 holes.

Craig's M Combination

Driver: M1 10.5˚ Fairway: M1 17˚ Hybrid: M2 22˚

Joel Tadman
Technical Editor

Joel has worked in the golf industry for over 12 years covering both instruction and more recently equipment. He now oversees all product content here at Golf Monthly, managing a team of talented and passionate writers and presenters in delivering the most thorough and accurate reviews, buying advice, comparisons and deals to help the reader find exactly what they are looking for. So whether it's the latest driver, irons, putter or laser rangefinder, Joel has his finger on the pulse keeping up to date with the latest releases in golf. He is also responsible for all content on irons and golf tech, including distance measuring devices and launch monitors.


One of his career highlights came when covering the 2012 Masters he got to play the sacred Augusta National course on the Monday after the tournament concluded, shooting a respectable 86 with just one par and four birdies. To date, his best ever round of golf is a 5-under 67 back in 2011. He currently plays his golf at Burghley Park Golf Club in Stamford, Lincs, with a handicap index of 3.2.


Joel's current What's In The Bag? 

Driver: Titleist TSR3, 9° 

Fairway wood: Titleist TSR3, 15° 

Hybrid: Titleist TSi2, 18° 

Irons: Ping i230 4-UW

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8, 54°. Titleist Vokey SM9 60° lob wedge, K Grind

Putter: Evnroll ER2V 

Ball: 2023 Titleist Pro V1x