TaylorMade M1 Rescue 2017 Hybrid Review

The basic gist of the M1 family is premium performance with maximum adjustability and with the original M1 rescue hybrid we got two moveable sole screws to create what was an elite player, anti-left hybrid.

For mere mortals it didn't play as well as the previous R15 hybrid and for some it didn't look as good either.

Now we have the 2017 TaylorMade M1 Rescue hybrid and at least they have sorted the looks as the high toe and squarer, upside down face of the Adams influenced R15 return.

Even the white returns on the toe of the club to provide echoes of its grandfather.

The sole still features a small Speed Pocket cavity behind the face to enable it to flex a little more and increase ball speeds from low on the face strikes, which is ideal for a hybrid.

At address the sleek all black looks remain and this is a decent sized head for a better players' hybrid and I thought it sat behind the ball very well.

TaylorMade say they have made it the same length as a utility iron and that they worked with their iron team to get the sole camber to play similarly too, hence the better player feeling.

The adjustable hosel is also retained, enabling you to change the loft by +/- 1.5° across 12 settings.

However it is the weight moving that gets a makeover in the 2017 M1 Rescue as the two 3g and 25g weight screws are replaced with a single 27g sliding weight that goes right across the head on a sliding track.

In theory you now have a draw option to complement the straight or fade options of the previous M1 system.

It is very easy to understand and use as you just unscrew the weight a slide it to any of the six official positions on the track, or anywhere in between.

In the central position the M1 Rescue is a pretty neutral club and whilst there is not a great deal of discernible movement in the flight when you move the weight, the feel of the club does change.

Certainly in the fade setting the club was the same anti-left hybrid as before, especially if you also use the adjustable hosel to de-loft the face and open it up a little.

As usual with heads featuring slots and weight tracks, the sound was a little on the hollow side and whilst it performed well enough, the M1 Rescue just didn't seem to have much of a soul you could relate too.

It was all business and whilst I can see why TaylorMade want to keep the sliding weight track theme going through the M1 metal woods, I just don't think the smaller size of the hybrid head does it justice.

There seems to be too much going on with adjustable this and that and the end result is that the sound, feel and overall performance of the club gets compromised for your average amateur.

The 2017 M1 Rescue is probably even more of an elite player hybrid than the last one as you will need that high swing speed to get the most from it. Therefore if you are still working towards this level, then you may be better off sticking with your R15 if you still have it, or try the 2017 M2 Rescue if you want a slotted hybrid with more oomph.