The TaylorMade Original 1 Metalwood (M1) uses a 12-position 4° loft sleeve (±2° from stated loft), plus T-Track weights of 15g and 10g for CG and shot-shape tuning; face angle is up to about ±4°. At 144-160 and 43 in, the head is high for period because 12° loft launch.
TaylorMade Driver Adjustment Guide
±2° (4° total sleeve) • 1979
±2° (4° total sleeve)Loft / sleeve range
T-Track: 15g front + 10g backWeight system
144-160Head size
High for period because 12° loft / Not specifiedLaunch / spin profile
What can be adjusted?
| Hosel adjustable | Yes |
|---|---|
| Loft | ±2° (4° total sleeve) |
| Face angle | Up to about ±4° |
| Lie | 56°–60° range |
| Weighting | T-Track: 15g front + 10g back |
| Standard length | 43 in |
| Flight bias | Neutral |
Why this driver needs these settings: the 43-inch stock build is short for a driver and already favours control; launch is high.
Use impact location before changing hardware
| Typical strike | What it usually does | Useful response |
|---|---|---|
| High face | Often raises launch while reducing spin | If flight is already high/low-spin, do not keep raising the tee just to chase more carry. |
| Low face | Often lowers launch and adds spin | Raise tee height slightly before blaming the loft or shaft. |
| Heel | Can add fade/slice gear effect | Work on centred contact; a slightly shorter build can help if heel strikes are common. |
| Toe | Can add draw/hook gear effect | Check strike before adding more draw bias. |
How to adjust the Original 1 Metalwood (M1)
- Use the correct TaylorMade torque wrench.
- For the hosel, loosen the heel screw until the head releases from the sleeve.
- Align the desired sleeve mark with the hosel reference line and fully re-seat the shaft.
- Tighten until the TaylorMade torque wrench clicks; do not keep cranking after release.
- Change one variable at a time and test several shots.
Loft sleeve / hosel settings
| Sleeve position | Loft change | Face angle | Lie effect | Flight tendency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STD LOFT | 0° | Square | Standard | Baseline |
| HIGHER endpoint | +2° | About 4° closed | About 2° more upright | Higher launch / more spin |
| UPRT | 0° | Square | About 4° more upright | More upright starting condition |
| LOWER endpoint | -2° | About 4° open | About 2° more upright | Lower launch / less spin |
T-Track weighting
- Heel = more draw bias.
- Toe = more fade bias.
- Back weight rearward = higher launch, more spin and forgiveness.
- Back weight forward = lower launch and spin.
What the weight system actually does: This head has no movable shot-shape weight system; use the hosel for mechanical tuning.
Best settings for this specific head
| Goal | Best first move |
|---|---|
| Higher launch / more spin | Move the sleeve one step toward HIGHER and test before jumping to the endpoint. Because this head already launches high, only add loft if actual carry/launch data says you need it. |
| Lower launch / less spin | Move the sleeve one step toward LOWER and test before using the minimum-loft endpoint. That is a logical first move because this head already launches on the higher side. |
| More draw tendency | Use the more upright/closed sleeve direction as the first hosel test. |
| More fade tendency | Use the lower/more-open sleeve direction as the first hosel test. |
| Tighter dispersion | Use STD/neutral as the baseline and change one control at a time while tracking strike and curvature. |
Spec combinations and warnings
- This head already launches high. If the flight only looks high but still carries well without ballooning, you may not need to lower it.
- This head has no movable shot-shape weight system. All mechanical tuning is through the hosel sleeve.
30-second baseline setup
- Start at STD LOFT / neutral unless you already know the current setting is wrong.
- Start with about half the ball above the crown and adjust tee height in small steps while marking impact.
- Hit a small group of shots, mark impact, then change only one setting.
Best tuning order: strike first → loft/launch → face/lie → movable weight system only in the direction that this head actually supports → re-check strike and spin.
Common mistakes
- Changing the sleeve and movable weights at the same time, then not knowing which change caused the result.
- Using a front/rear weight system as if it were a heel/toe draw-fade slider, or vice versa.
- Ignoring playing length when the real problem is heel/toe strike dispersion.
- Calling a modern TaylorMade 4° sleeve “±4°”; where fitted, it is 4° total range, normally ±2°.
- Continuing to tighten after the TaylorMade torque wrench clicks.
Source note: Mechanical settings come from the model-matched TaylorMade adjustment research. Recommendations are conditioned on the driver-spec dataset and on the actual direction(s) its weight hardware can move.