TaylorMade M4 Fairway Wood

Wood Options & Stock Shafts

Technology

Game Improvement Fairway Wood

The TaylorMade M4 driver came out in 2018 as the forgiveness-first sibling to the M3, and it introduced the technology that TaylorMade built the next several years around: Twist Face. The face isn't a simple curve. The high-toe and low-heel areas are twisted open and closed to counteract the two misses most amateurs make, the pull hook off the high toe and the weak push off the low heel. Hit those spots and the face angle nudges the ball back toward center instead of sending it deeper into trouble.

What makes the M4 the game-improvement pick is what it leaves out. There's no sliding weight track like the M3 has. The weighting is fixed and pushed low and back, so the whole 460cc head is tuned for one thing: getting the ball up and keeping it straight. You give up the fine-tune adjustability of the M3, but you get a driver that's harder to hit badly.

Add the Hammerhead slot in the sole, which flexes to protect ball speed on low-face strikes, and you have a driver aimed squarely at the golfer who wants distance without a two-way miss. It launches high, spins in a friendly range, and forgives a lot.

• Mid to high handicappers who fight a slice or an inconsistent strike and want the face to bail them out
• Players who launch the ball too low and need more carry without swinging harder
• Anyone who wants set-it-and-forget-it simplicity and doesn't care about a movable weight track
• Golfers shopping the used market for a forgiving driver at a fraction of the original price

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the TaylorMade M4 and M3 driver?

The M3 has a Y-Track sliding weight system that lets you dial in draw, fade, or spin bias, and it's aimed at better players who want to tune ball flight. The M4 skips the track and fixes the weight low and back for maximum forgiveness and higher launch. Both share Twist Face and the Hammerhead slot. If you want adjustability, get the M3. If you want the most forgiving of the two, the M4 is it.

Is the M4 driver adjustable?

The loft is. The sleeve lets you move loft up or down two degrees across twelve settings, which also changes face angle and lie to help correct a slice or hook. What you can't adjust is the weighting, since there's no movable weight like the M3 has.

Does Twist Face actually work on the M4?

It's a real change to the face geometry, not marketing. The high-toe and low-heel areas are twisted to straighten out the typical amateur misses, so a shot off the high toe curves less to the left and a low-heel strike holds its line better. You won't turn a bad swing into a good one, but your worst drives tend to end up less punishing.

What loft M4 driver should I buy?

Most golfers do well with the 10.5 degree, and the sleeve gives you room to adjust from there. If you have a fast swing or hit the ball too high, the 9.5 is worth a look. Slower swing speeds and anyone struggling to get the ball airborne should consider the 12 degree, since the M4 already launches high and that head makes it easy.

Is the M4 driver still worth buying in 2026?

As a used buy, yes. It's several generations old now, so newer drivers have moved past it on adjustable weighting and raw ball speed, but the forgiveness and easy launch still hold up. If you find one in good shape for the right price, it's a lot of driver for the money, especially for a mid-to-high handicap player.

Alternatives to the TaylorMade M4

Other game improvement fairway wood models from different brands, closest to its model year.