Our TaylorMade M5 vs M6 irons test took place at the brand’s launch event at their HQ in Carlsbad, California.
We followed that up with some testing at Moor Allerton‘s impressive indoor studio using a Flightscope launch monitor.
We also had our SkyTrak launch monitor set up to check the numbers were stacking up as that’s the unit we use for most of our testing.
The TaylorMade M5 and M6 irons will replace the M3 and M4 irons respectively.
Both these models fall very much into the game-improvement category and are designed with distance and forgiveness in mind.
As with the M3 and M4, the former is the slightly sleeker model while the latter is quite chunky with stronger lofts and designed to go really, really far.
TaylorMade M5 vs M6 irons: First impressions
Irons of this nature are very much about visual technology. It’s a world away from the sleeker, players irons where often the key design consideration is to hide the technology.
Models like the M5 and M6 are designed to help people who perhaps need to add a bit of distance to their game.
But at the same time they are designed to give players confidence and help them believe the club is going to help if they don’t quite strike it out of the middle.
And technology stories obviously help brands market the product.
So the the M5 and M6 are very similar to the M3 and M4 – both are loaded with technology and have a focus on distance and forgiveness.
The M5 is slightly sleeker than the M6 but still falls into the ‘helpful distance iron’ category.
People get quite confused about the TaylorMade irons line-up but I’ll run through them from smallest to largest to clear it up.
We’ve got the P730, P760, P790, M5, M6, M CGB – three ‘players’ irons and three helpful ‘game-improvement’ models.
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I’d normally expect the M5 and M6 to take up the bulk of TaylorMade’s iron sales but the P790 has been phenomenal success.
I think when consumers are faced with the choice between M5 and P790 it’s going to be a tough call not to opt for the latter because they look and perform so good.
TaylorMade M5 vs M6 irons: The technology
So what’s new in the M5 and M6 irons?
Well, we have got much of the technology from the M3 and M4 with things like an ultra-thin face, speed pocket, fluted hosel.
But TaylorMade have added something completely new called a Speed Bridge which features in both models.
TaylorMade say this bridge which runs down the cavity from the topline to the sole of the club adds stability.
It supports the topline and upper face area at the exact location that vibrates at impact.
They say the speed bridge has allowed them to make the speed pocket even more flexible for faster ball speed across the face.
So the overall end result is a better sound and feel with added distance. TaylorMade’s senior manager of product creation Matt Bovee had this to say:
At TaylorMade, we have always strived to push the performance envelope to give players maximum distance and forgiveness in our game improvement irons.
Our new Speed Bridge technology allows us to do exactly that while improving sound and feel at the same time. Distance has never felt as good as it does with the M5 and M6 irons.
Enough about the technology, how do these bad boys perform? Find out on the next page…
[skylab_video id=”159074″]Tried and tested: TaylorMade’s M5 and M6 irons are here[/skylab_video]
TaylorMade M5 vs M6 irons: The results
I am still recovering from an operation so drafted in my colleague Craig Midddleton to do the hitting.
As you can see from the FlightScope data below the numbers are very impressive from a distance point of view.
Especially the M6 – they go further than any other irons we have tested to date.
Let’s point out that the M6 loft is 28.5 and the M5 is 30˚.
Craig’s normal carry with a 7-iron is 160-165 and was seeing up to 20-yard gains in distance.
And the sound and feel was really good too. They don’t feel anywhere near as dead and hollow as the M2 irons from a couple of years ago felt.
So you have to say these irons were doing exactly what they said they were going to do.
They are very easy to hit, they are forgiving and they go an absolute mile.
We think the looks are quite cool too – that added visual technology will be a bonus for some players.
So should these be going in your bag in 2019? Read our expert’s verdict on the next page…
TaylorMade M5 vs M6 irons: NCG verdict
So the question you really have to ask yourself before considering a set of the M5 or M6 irons is: Do you want to hit your irons further?
If the answer is yes, then you should definitely put these on your testing list.
If sleeker looks, feel, precision and control are the most important things to you then look elsewhere.
Craig told me that he doesn’t really want or need his 7-iron to be going 190 yards. It just confuses the rest of his bag.
He hit the the 5-iron 220 which is how far he’d expect to hit his 3-iron or maybe even his 3-wood.
But if you are a player who hits your 7-iron 130 and want to up that to 150 then these could be ideal for you.
TaylorMade M5 vs M6 irons: The details
SRP: (7-club set)
M5: £999 steel £1,199 graphite
M6: £849 steel £999 graphite
On sale: February 15
More information can be found on the TaylorMade website
Best irons 2019
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