BUYERS GUIDE: TaylorMade M5, M6 Driver Comparison and Review

March 4, 2019 | by AmateurGolf.com Equipment Panel

They might look similar, but are built for different swing types. So how do you decide if the M5 or the M6 is right for your game?

The 2019 M Family of Drivers takes many of the design features from last year's M3 and M4 and builds upon them with new features, but how do you decide if the M5 or the M6 is right for your game?

The 2019 TaylorMade M5 and M6 might look similar at address, but the M5 and M6 were engineered to fit different swing types and player profiles, making it very important that you do your homework before you start your tournament golf season with a TaylorMade M Driver in your bag.

WHAT'S NEW FOR BOTH THE TAYLORMADE M5 AND M6

The player staff at AmateurGolf.com thoroughly tested both the M5 and M6 with available OEM shaft options to create a simple guide to help you choose if the TaylorMade M5 or the M6 is right for you. Testing was performed at an outdoor testing facility with TrackMan data to help us validate what the manufacturer has published about their drivers. We always recommend you get fit by a qualified fitting professional before you make your final purchase.

The TaylorMade M5 and M6 both feature a new matte black carbon composite crown. Both have a thinner two-tone crown alignment than what we saw on the previous M models. The 2019 M drivers feature blood orange color pops framing the back of each head.

The faces on the M5 and M6 are practically identical. Both drivers have the same Twist Face engineering from the 2018 drivers, but with new orange Tuning Ports located at the heel and toe. These ports are where TaylorMade injected Speed Foam to help increase ball speed off the face.

But when you flip the TaylorMade M5 and M6 over, you will see that these drivers are very different -- so how do you know which one is for you?

WHO SHOULD PLAY THE TAYLORMADE M5

The primary difference between the M5 and M6 is the adjustability. The TaylorMade M5 driver offers a lot of options in terms of setting launch conditions. In all, TaylorMade claims there are 1770 possible CG settings per loft, so it’s safe to say you should be able to find a setting for your swing.

The TaylorMade M5 T-Track allows you to move two 10 gram weights from the front to the far back perimeter. TaylorMade says moving the weights forward will produce lower spin and moving the weights all the way back will help you launch the ball higher and allow for more forgiveness.

If you like the freedom to adjust your driver, or you are a player who makes regular swing changes, you should choose the TaylorMade M5.

TaylorMade M5 Specs:

• 460CC head
• Length: 45.75 inches
• Loft: 9, 10.5, 12 degree
• OEM shaft: Project X HZRDUS SMOKE 70, Tensei Orange
• D4 swing weight
• Adjustable Inverted T-Track
• Adjustable Loft Sleeve (+/- 2°)
• Retail: $549

WHO SHOULD PLAY THE TAYLORMADE M6

If you want maximum forgiveness and workability, you should choose the TaylorMade M6. You still have 7 loft options +/- 2 degrees, but a player choosing the M6 should have a "set it and forget it" mentality when it comes to a driver.

TaylorMade placed a fixed 46 gram weight low and in the back to increase MOI and lower CG. The claim is that the M6 will produce a bit more spin than the M5, and we can confirm a slight increase in spin with our testing. More than a few of the player staff commented that the M6 was easier to work than the M5 and tended to be a bit "spinnier".

Dustin Johnson recently switched from TaylorMade’s M5 driver to their M6 model at the Saudi International. According to the company, Johnson had tested out a range of different drivers at a simulator, and after some on course testing, the world number three decided to put the M6 driver in his bag, favoring it over other models for its forgiveness.

TaylorMade M6 Specs:

• 460CC head
• Length: 45.75 inches
• Loft: 9, 10.5, 12 degree
• D3 swing weight
• Adjustable Loft Sleeve (+/- 2°)
• Retail: $499

NO-CHARGE TAYLORMADE M5 & M6 SHAFT OPTIONS

Aldila: Rogue Silver, Aldila XTORSION, Aldila Synergy

Fujikura: Atmos Orange, Atmos Black

Mitsubishi: Tensei CK White, Tensei CK Blue, Tensei CK Orange

Project X: HZRDUS Black, HZRDUS Yellow, HZRDUS Smoke, Evenflow Blue

UST: Proforce V2

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