Written by Michael VanDerLaan
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Golfers everywhere want an advantage. Which clubs are going to help you win your next match, or take home a few extra dollars from your weekend game with your friends? We put the Taylormade M4 irons through rigorous testing to see why they are one of the most universally liked game improvement irons that have been ever been released to the market.
Here is what we found:
Why Listen To Us?
Our player-experts, John and Michael VanDerLaan, are both NCAA Individual National Champions who have been playing golf with various styles of clubs since they were young children.
Our leader (and their dad), John, spent countless hours researching everything there is to know about golf equipment in order to help his sons progress in the game.
Currently, John (the younger one) is a PGA/Korn Ferry Tour Player, and Michael is chasing his older brother around the country and playing Monday Qualifiers.
Between the 3 of us, we have over 80 years of golf experience. We have played every type of club from every manufacturer over the years, and have the knowledge and experience to understand some of the nuanced differences in every different set of clubs.
In the particular case of the Taylormade M4 Irons, we have a lot to talk about.
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Taylormade M4 Irons Features:
Let's get into the specifics of the Taylormade M4 irons. Taylormade is lauded as one of the best brands in golf clubs, and we can confidently refer to the M4's as an aesthetically pleasing game improvement iron.
These cavity back heads are a good club for both men and women to use, and will feel great regardless of your club head speed.
Innovative Design
The M4's are marked by a few unique features designed to increase forgiveness and distance on every shot:
- RibCOR Technology: Two RibCor bars on the outside of the face slots stiffen the face and allow for more energy transfer into the golf ball. This allows for greater ball speeds, especially off the top of the club face.
- Face Slots: The face slots are large, vertical grooves on the heel and toe of the club help to create a wider sweet spot. You will see less of a ball speed drop when you mishit a shot.
- Speed Pocket: The slot you see on the bottom of the club is called a speed pocket and it increases flexibility of the face for more ball speed and adds forgiveness for mishits low on the face. This is a common mishit for amateur golfers.
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Premium Cast Feel
The casting process of the Taylormade M4 Irons allows for a thinner metal through the face and more density around the perimeter of the head, increasing both distance and forgiveness.
Player Performance Characteristics
- The M4's are the perfect iron for anyone looking for more distance and forgiveness (who isn't?!). Taylormade loaded these irons down with technology like face slots and the speed pocket, designed to help players hit more good shots, even on the misses.
- As game improvement irons go, the Taylormade M4 Irons look phenomenal. A modest top line, reduced offset, and middle-of-the-road club head length all lend an appearance almost like a players iron to a very forgiving club.
- Performance from the standpoint of working the golf ball and distance control see a drop off. We will discuss this more later.
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Head Shape
The Taylormade M4 Irons are a bit sleek and more compact than other irons in this class.
While a more compact head often means a smaller sweet spot, all of the forgiveness technology built into the M4's negates that trend. If you are looking for an iron that looks good without sacrificing feel and performance, this is best club you are going to be able to find.
Complete Set Makeup
Taylormade M4 irons are available in 5 iron through A wedge.
This is everything you need from a set of irons. More and more players are moving to hybrid golf clubs and woods to replace the 4 iron slot for the sake of higher launches and more versatility.
Workability
Workability is the one thing that game improvement irons sacrifice. That is the case with the M4's.
For those who aren't yet aware, workability refers to the player's ability to shape shots - AKA changing the trajectory and curve of the flight of the ball.
Increasing forgiveness, by nature, decreases the ability of a golf club to impart to spin and compression characteristics that enable workability.
All that being said, Taylormade M4 irons balance forgiveness and workability more than almost any other game improvement iron.
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Forgiveness
Taylormade M4 irons are highly forgiving and overall designed for players who don't consistently strike the center of the club face.
We are confident that any golfer can benefit from the larger sweet spot of these irons.
When you put all of these features together, it is easy to see why the TaylorMade M4 irons topped our list of the best iron sets under $500.
Handicap Range
First of all - what is a handicap?
Handicap refers to a golfer's potential, and is used to create a level playing field in club-level events as well as helping golfers to make decisions like which golf clubs to use and which tee markers to play.
With that in mind, the recommended handicap range for Taylormade M4 Irons is 10-30. These Taylormade irons are the best clubs for beginners, mid handicappers and higher handicap players.
Better players who play to a handicap lower than 10 are going to sacrifice more than they get with the M4's. While the extra distance is great, not being able to control the ball flight or carry number as precisely simply makes it difficult to score when you are an experienced player.
Players whose handicap is higher than 30 likely are not consistent enough to play the M4. If this is you, look more into hybrid sets that offer maximum forgiveness and help you get the ball in the air on the more severe mishits.
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Our Experience Using The TaylorMade M4 Irons
Reading a bunch of information about a golf club is great, but what we're really here for is to tell you what the clubs felt and performed like.
Our expert Michael took our set of M4's out to the course to take a deep dive. Here's what he found:
- Every club was 10-15 yards longer than his usual set of irons. It took a couple of holes to adjust to the incredible carry distances he was experiencing. This comes from the stronger lofts of the M4 irons.
- The mishits, whether they were slight or significant, came off the club face much more like a well struck shot than he is used to. Even shots that he intentionally struck very poorly (for testing purposes) produced playable results.
- His spin rates dropped marginally, even with his fast swing speed. This explains the increase in carry distance as there is less drag on the golf ball as it flies. However that also means it is harder to curve the ball, and irons don't stop as quickly when they land on the green.
Overall, the Taylormade M4 Irons perform exactly how you would want a game improvement iron to perform. They provide a large sweet spot, lots of ball speed, and straighter ball flights. They are perfect for players looking to get better at the game and improve their consistency
As an added bonus, the cast nature of the M4's means they are going to wear out more slowly than a forged iron!
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Pros and Cons of the TaylorMade M4 Irons
Overall Rating: 9/10
What We Like
What We Don't Like
Final Thoughts
Our in depth testing of the Taylormade M4 Irons revealed a few things that we just had to share.
This is THE HIGHEST VALUE iron you will find. Extreme forgiveness, high level speed, and a sleek look combine with an incredible price point to bring you an iron that you can both afford and rely on.
Anyone can use the M4 irons. From the best golfers in the world to the high handicap weekend warrior, this iron is versatile and works as well as any.
While we didn't love the reduced consistency we experienced in both carry distances and workability with the M4's, we still feel that these are a great club that could be a great addition to your golf bag.
