TaylorMade M3 Irons

TaylorMade M3 Irons Review - Technical Editor Joel Tadman tests out the new TaylorMade M3 Irons on the GCQuad launch monitor and delivers his verdict

TaylorMade M3 Irons Review

The M3 iron replaces the M1 model and the premise of the latest iteration hasn’t changed – provide distance and forgiveness in a more slimline package than the M4, and it certainly delivers on it.

The M3 has a subtle, understated look but still boasts plenty of shelf appeal thanks to its cutting-edge appearance, with carbon composite pieces in the back, Speed Pocket on the sole and Face Slots on the face.

From an address view perspective, little appears to have changed. The only difference we could see was a more bevelled top edge on M3, which makes it look marginally thinner.

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The loft (7-iron = 30.5˚) and shaft length hasn’t changed either so any extra performance can potentially be attributed to the addition of Ribcor technology, which is said to minimise energy loss for added ball speed.

Sure enough, we did get slightly more ball speed with M3 over M1. Carry distance went up by a significant seven yards and much of this may be down to the drastic reduction in spin by just under 1,000 rpm.

Less spin with a driver is normally a good thing but with an iron, it can lead to problems controlling dispersion and stopping the ball into greens but it certainly helped increase both carry and overall yardage.

Over M1, the M3 doesn’t appear to launch or fly any higher, which could result in a reduction in stopping power, but your testing may highlight different results.

Compared with M4, M3 is better suited to higher swing speeds who don’t need help launching the ball and having less offset and tungsten in the toe will make it less draw biased too.