It is common for today’s high-end drivers like the Taylormade M1 to have a premium third-party shaft or a custom made shaft from the manufacturer pre-installed. These high-performance shafts are meant to deliver more performance than a standard shaft to a wide variety of golfers.
What this means for the individual golfer is that the included shaft will work well but may not be the best shaft for your individual game. With a large selection of aftermarket shafts, it is easier than ever to find the best shaft for the M1 driver.
In this review guide, we will be taking a look at the 5 best shafts for the Taylormade M1 Driver.
All the shafts on this page come with the correct Taylormade adapter pre-installed for easy plug and play compatibility. Keep in mind that if you do not purchase a shaft directly from this list you may need to also purchase a new Taylormade M1 adapter. You may also be able to use the existing adapter from your old shaft as long as you do not plan on reusing/reselling the old shaft.
Without any more delay, here is our review guide for the 5 best Taylormade M1 Driver Shafts.
Best Shaft For M1 Driver
1. Aldila RIP Alpha
Features
- Aldila RIP Alpha 70 Graphite Shaft with aftermarket Titleist adapter and Golf Pride Tour Velvet Men's Standard Grip Installed
- Fits 917D, 915D, 913D, 910D drivers, work for both right & left handed
- The shaft attached with the driver club head will be 45" in playing length
- Install Golf Pride Tour Wrap 2G Men's Standard Grip with Request
Created solely for the aggressive style of players who are looking to get the most out of their drives, the Aldila RIP Alpha is an excellent low launching shaft.
Key Features
- R.I.P. Technology
- Low Launching & Low Spinning
- Increased Stability
Aggressive swing types are not all that uncommon among golfers especially those that have a history of playing baseball. An aggressive swing is not necessarily bad, but many golf shafts do not cater directly to this swing style.
This is where the Aldila RIP Alpha steps in. Crafted using Reverse Inter-Laminar Placement, the RIP Alpha creates a lower launch angle with a decreased overall ball spin. Another benefit of RIP Technology is the increased stability due to lower overall shaft torque. The lower torque is what really makes this shaft perfect for more aggressive swing styles.
Available in Regular, Stiff, and Extra Stiff, this shaft can fit any swing speed. This particular version weighs in at 70 grams but a lighter 60-gram version is also available.
✅ Pros
- Very Stable
- Little Twisting During Swing
- Great For Aggressive Swing Styles
🚫 Cons
- Price
- Not For All Swing Styles
Combining new technology developed specifically for aggressive swings off the tee, the Aldila RIP Alpha 70g is a great upgrade to a Taylormade M1 Driver.
2. Aldila VS Proto
Features
- Aldila VS Proto 70 with Aftermarket TaylorMade Adapter, installed with Golf Pride Tour Velvet Men's Standard Grip
- Fits M1, M2, M3, M4, R15, SLDR Driver For Right-Handed
- This Shaft Attached with a Club Head is About 45.5" in Playing length
- Can choose the Golf Pride Tour Wrap 2G or Winn Dri-Tac Grip for installation
Aldila has many different lines that cater to different golfer types, but the VS Proto is Aldila’s attempt at making an aftermarket shaft that works for many different golfers.
Key Features
- NextGen Micro Laminate Technology
- Low Torque
- Mid Launch Angle
In the world of aftermarket driver shafts, one can get lost in all the numbers and marketing hype. Aldila’s VS Proto is here to make it as easy as ever to buy a premium aftermarket shaft that will increase your driving performance.
The VS Proto features Micro Laminate Technology that gives the VS Proto consistent flex shot after shot. Like many aftermarket driver shafts, the VS Proto is a Low Torque shaft that makes it easy to swing. A mid launch angle will fit many swing styles, but if you already have a high launch angle, you may want to avoid using any shaft other than a low launching shaft.
The VS Proto is available in Regular, Stiff, and Extra Stiff flexes and comes with a velvet style grip. This particular model weighs in at 70 grams and a lighter or heavier option is available as well.
✅ Pros
- Great Feel & Flex
- Perfect For Many Swing Types
- Excellent Performance
🚫 Cons
- Price
If you are unsure as to which shaft you want to buy for your M1 Driver, chances are the Aldila VS Proto 70g will fit your swing style and help you get even more distance and accuracy.
3. FujikuraVista Pro
Features
- Fujikura Vista Pro 55
- Shaft Flex: Regular
- Shaft Material: Graphite
Fujikura’s Vista Pro 55g Driver Shaft is chock full of features and technology that make it one of the best progressive style of driver shafts on the market.
Key Features
- Cage Structure
- Maximum Carbon Fiber Content
- Phantium Finish
Progressive design golf shafts have become widely used because certain assumptions can be made about certain groups of golfers. An example is that if you are using a senior flex shaft you will need more torque and a higher launch angle.
Due to most of these assumptions being correct, many golf shaft manufacturers have switched to golf shafts that change characteristics depending on the weight and flex. The Vista Pro fits the progressive design and features a mid to low torque rating for their 55-gram model. A patented cage structure helps the Vista Pro maintain its flex for years to come.
Golfers can expect the Vista Pro to have a mid to high launch trajectory, making it perfect for those that want to get more carry. Each Vista Pro Shaft comes with a lightweight yet durable Phantium Finish. The 55-gram version is available in regular and senior flex.
✅ Pros
- Progressive Torque
- Wide Range Of Weights
- Great Finish & Color
🚫 Cons
- Price
The Fujikura Vista Pro 55g is a lightweight driver shaft that will help you gain more swing speed and distance over the stock shaft in the Taylormade M1.
4. Aldila NVS
Features
- Aldila NVS 55 with Aftermarket TaylorMade Adapter and Golf Pride Tour Velvet Men's Standard Grip Installed
- Fits M1, M2, M3, M4, R15 Driver For Right-Handed
- This Shaft Attached with a Club Head is About 45.5" in Playing length
- Install Golf Pride Tour Wrap 2G Men's Standard Grip with Request
Middle of the road torque combined with a carry inducing high launch gets you the premium Aldila NVS 55g Driver Shaft.
Key Features
- NextGen Micro Laminate Technology
- Mid Torque
- High Launch Angle
Just looking at the stats of the Aldila NVS Shaft makes it obvious that this driver shaft was made for carry. All versions of the NVS have a high launch angle that is also coupled with torque towards the middle of the pack. Higher torque can be found on the lower weighted options.
Micro Laminate Technology creates unsurpassed feel and flex that makes this shaft a dream to swing. Another benefit of this technology is the increased durability compared to cheaper shafts. A little less flex is apparent at the tip of the shaft to help promote the overall higher ball flight.
This review focuses only on the 55-gram option, but many more shaft weights are available including 45, 65, and 75 grams. Flexes cover Ladies through all four of the men’s flexes.
✅ Pros
- Excellent Performance & Feel
- Incredible Carry Distance
- Many Options
🚫 Cons
- Price
Every golfer is after more carry off the tee and with the Aldila NVS 55g, you can get a higher launch and faster swing speeds to hit farther than ever before.
5. Integra SoooLong
Features
- White SoooLong Ultra Lite 45 gram wood shaft
- WORLD'S LIGHTEST AND LONGEST!!! HUGE DISTANCE OFF THE TEE...
- IMMEDIATELY INCREASE YOUR SWING SPEED BY SWITCHING TO THE SOOOLONG 45 GRAM ULTRALITE NANO TECHNOLOGY SHAFT. THE RESULT? MUCH LONGER DRIVES!
- This is our highest rated 46" 45 Gram Nano Golf Wood Shaft -- ALL AAA+++ Feedback for Distance & Accuracy
- Available Flexes: L, A, R, S, X (. 335 PARALLEL TIP, 46" 45g)
Possibly one of the lightest aftermarket driver shafts available, the Integra SoooLong Ultralite 45g shaft will help any golfer gain more swing speed.
Key Features
- 45 Gram Ultralite
- Filament Wound
- Mid/Low Kick Point
Weighing in at 45 grams, the Integra SoooLong Ultralite shaft feels as light as a feather. Many other traditional Driver shafts have a weight of around 70 to 75 grams. At just half the weight of a traditional shaft, the swing speed gains from changing to the SoooLong Ultralite will be huge.
Crafted to have a low to mid kick point, the SoooLong Ultralite Shaft will help golfers get the ball higher off the tee for added carry distance. Consistency is a key characteristic of a great driver shaft and this shaft was made by filament winding which removes the much talked about “spine”.
A regular, Senior, and Stiff flex are available on the 45-gram version. While this particular version is black and white other colors such as all white is available as well.
✅ Pros
- Light As A Feather
- Greatly Increases Swing Speed
- Very Consistent
🚫 Cons
- Might Be Too Light For Certain Golfers
Grip it and rip it takes a whole new meaning with the Integra SoooLong Ultralite 45g Shaft since anyone can swing this club at swing speeds just short of Mach 5.
Bottom Line
The Taylormade M1 Driver is an excellent driver that makes hitting fairways a breeze. One thing that can help you get even more distance and accuracy is an aftermarket shaft. All of the shafts in this review are a perfect upgrade for your stock M1 shaft.
Again, it is important to remember that any shafts ordered from the links in this review will have the needed Taylormade Adapter. If you order any of these shafts from any other in person or online stores an adapter will not be included. In this case, be prepared to install the adapter yourself, or take it to a pro shop for installation.
While these five shafts are what we consider to be the best Taylormade M1 Driver Shafts available, there are many more driver shafts on the market. So if you feel that these shafts won’t fit your game don’t fret! A quick look at any large retailer like Amazon will result in hundreds of different shafts with one bound to work for you.
So now that you know what shafts are best for the M1, it’s time to order a shaft and get ready to feel and see the improvement!
