About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the driver, which I purchased with my own money in November of 2021.

My take

The TaylorMade M4 Driver has a nice lightweight feel and is comparable in distance to some newer models such as the Stealth and SIM2. This driver is ideal for a golfer who is looking for something new without breaking the bank.

About the club I own

• Model: 2021 TaylorMade M4
• Loft setting: 10.5
• Shaft type: Fujikura Atmos
• Shaft flex: Regular

About me

• Average score: 85-89
• Handicap: 13
• Experience: 10+ years of golf on and off and 2 years consistently recently
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-handed
• Typical ball flight: Mid-high
• Golf ball used: TaylorMade TP5x, Taylormade Tour Response Stripe, Taylormade TP5x Pix

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: November 2021
• Days tested: 30+ days
• Where I’ve used it: Willow Hollow GC - CA, Rich Maiden GC - PA, TopGolf, Allentown Municipal - PA, Prince William GC - VA
• Weather and wind conditions: 30 Degrees F- 80 Degrees F

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for something affordable and forgiving to help my handicap index go down while still making some adjustments to my swings like fixing my launch angle and a weaker grip. My old driver was a very old Trident driver so anything was an upgrade but I was specifically looking for a great feeling driver.

Why I chose this club

I bought this driver because I was looking for something newer with extra distance, and also something aesthetically pleasing.

I considered going with the Callaway Mavrik but the performance I got out of that club was nearly identical to the TaylorMade M4 and the aesthetic of the M4 was much more pleasing to me.

What I love about it

• Distance: It is comparable in distance to a lot of newer models such as the Stealth when struck well.
• Feel: The club has a super lightweight, smooth feel. The newer TaylorMade Stealth just takes the cake on feel with how lightweight and smooth the swings feel however so the M4 sticks to a 4-star rating.
• Sound: I really love a nice _ting_ off the driver's face and the M4 definitely provides that sound.
• Workability: I’m able to hit fades or draws situationally.
• Adjustability: Can adjust the loft, it also comes in different standard settings. Most average golfers need a 10.5 degree to help get the ball in the air but as you work on speed and launch angle it's able to be adjusted down which is nice.
• Shaft Feel: The shaft is lightweight, while still offering torque. More torque helps you get that extra distance you want.
• Shaft Performance: The Atmos shaft is one of my favorite shafts for both performance and aesthetics. The black and red color scheme is one of my favorites as well as the unique design. It has just enough whip to offer power behind the shot without compromising my swing.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Easily one of my favorite looking drivers behind the TaylorMade Stealth. The black looks extremely sleek behind the ball.
• Launch Angle: Depending on tee height (like all drivers) I can get any flight I need. For example, if I tee it up nice and high and put it forward in my stance I’m able to hit a nice high shot to stay over the trees and vice versa, teeing it up low to hit a stinger.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Forgiveness: Off-center hits can really go far right or left depending on each golfer’s typical miss. For me, that is a high slice right due to my natural swing. This is mainly caused by the weight distribution in the club head.
• Grip Feel: While the grip is quite a premium grip, I find the grooves to be slightly annoying and I also swapped it out for an oversized grip. The stock grip does offer a good feel for the average golfer though.

Best shot with this club

I teed up at Rich Maiden Golf Course in Pennsylvania on a straightaway par 4 with a tree dead center of the fairway. I cleared the tree by a long shot and was about 5 feet short of the green, perfectly centered.

Value for the money vs. other options

For a quality driver at a lower price point, I found that this driver was the way to go. The Callaway Mavrik is extremely similar in feel but had a bit lower performance for me. Compared to TaylorMade’s SIM2 and Stealth, it holds up! The biggest difference I noticed was the SIM2 was a lot more forgiving and the Stealth feels way smoother and even lighter. For way less money though I could get the M4 and put on a show.

Final verdict

The TaylorMade M4 driver is one of the golf market's hidden gems. Everyone is talking about the SIM2 or Stealth but this sleeper is not to be forgotten. It has excellent distance, feel, and sound, and looks amazing behind the ball. For the price, the M4 can’t be beaten.