TaylorMade Qi10 Driver Review

The TaylorMade Qi10 driver aims to increase forgiveness without compromising on ball speed. But does it deliver on that promise?

TaylorMade have always challenged themselves to create the fastest and longest drivers on the market. It’s a stance that has become the brand’s calling card over the last two decades. But, for 2024, they have taken a hugely different approach in designing the new TaylorMade Qi10 driver. This year, in a bid to create the best golf drivers ever, the brand set themselves what up until now has been an impossible challenge.

Golfers have typically had to choose between prioritizing speed or forgiveness with their driver. Golfers wanting to prioritize speed and distance have usually turned towards TaylorMade, Callaway, and Cobra, while golfers seeking forgiveness over raw power have found comfort in Ping drivers.

But TaylorMade are promising the best of both worlds with the new TaylorMade Qi10 driver. Here’s how…

How to design drivers for speed and forgiveness

TaylorMade drivers have never lacked speed. The company has prided itself on pushing the speed and distance envelope to the absolute limit for decades.

To preserve this speed while increasing forgiveness, TaylorMade have redesigned the face surrounds to work in tandem and not oppose each other. This helps retain ball speed when shots don’t perfectly impact center face. Thanks to a 3rd generation 60-layer carbon fiber face (which improves impact energy transfer, due to being lighter than titanium) the TaylorMade Qi10 driver is designed to sacrifice zero speed while offering improved forgiveness.

The most forgiving drivers typically have a center of gravity located further back in the head, which boosts stability. A deeper center of gravity, though, dictates this style of driver having a higher center of gravity projection through the face, which increases spin. High MOI driver heads are also routinely less aerodynamically efficient and come with slightly heavier head weights, which costs additional speed and distance.

But it’s important to remember high MOI drivers are great at preserving ball speed on off-center hits. They do this as the ball experiences less gear effect at impact. So the face deflects less when hit off-center. Which is exactly why the company has pursued this route. Even though historically the idea goes completely against TaylorMade’s usual aim of delivering maximum speed and distance above all else.

How did TaylorMade break the speed and forgiveness barrier?

Their thinking comes down to three key areas.

First, they’ve learned how to incorporate advanced lightweight materials together. Yes, the carbon fiber face is part of the equation, as it has been before. But so too is upping the carbon crown size to 97% from 79% on the previous Stealth 2. They’ve done it by creating an Infinity Crown, so the carbon fiber weave runs to the top of the face. It’s an incredibly tough engineering challenge to pull off, but it means golfers can expect a very clean and simple look at address.  

Secondly, they’ve deployed a whole new inertia-focused head shape (on the Max model only). Expect a 9% larger footprint that is not too dissimilar to a Ping G430 Max. The Max head is 8mm longer from face to back and sits right on the size limit allowed by the game’s governing bodies. Whereas this standard Qi10 model is much more streamlined behind the heel like a traditional TaylorMade driver.

Putting all the lightweight advanced materials together, along with the new shaping, plus weight positioned in extreme locations (thanks to the increased head size and shape and 32g low/deep backweight) it’s possible to hit the magic 10,000g cm² MOI number.

What does the Qi10 name mean?

After the Stealth and Stealth 2, the new Qi10 franchise is very different in terms of naming conventions. Some will inevitably say it’s a way of burying ‘Stealth’ which didn’t set the market alight in 2023. But the idea behind the new name makes a lot of sense. It’s an amalgamation of the brand’s ‘Quest for Inertia’ and hitting the ‘10K’ barrier.

An idea spurned by the company’s quest to produce the world’s most forgiving driver, without compromising on speed.

Video: How does the TaylorMade Qi10 compare to other drivers?

Will the TaylorMade Qi10 driver suit you?

RRP: $599 / £499

Lofts: 9° / 10.5° / 12°

Stock shafts: Mid Launch – Mitsubishi Diamana T+60 (X/S/R) | Mid Launch – Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 5 (S/R/A)

Stock grip: Golf Pride Z-Grip Plus 2 (52g)

The standard TaylorMade Qi10 driver has an angled crown and back weight much like the SIM, SIM 2, Stealth, and Stealth 2. Expect a slightly larger footprint than the previous corresponding TaylorMade driver but with a very typical TM streamlined head shape. The MOI is about 200 points higher than the previous Stealth 2 driver at 8450g cm².

This is the model for golfers who don’t need the all-out forgiveness of the Qi10 Max, and those who don’t want the additional versatility of dialing in shot shape with the weight track on the Qi10 LS.

Where historically the middle ‘standard’ model of the brand’s driver line-up has generated the most sales, for 2024 that might well change with golfers migrating to the Qi10 LS (to lower spin) or Qi10 Max (for increased forgiveness) at either end of the scale.

At the request of the brand’s tour staff, all three driver models have a super simple laser-etched face alignment stripe just below the top edge to aid in setting up square at address.

Verdict: TaylorMade Qi10 driver

In any normal year the standard TaylorMade driver that sits in between the Low Spin LS or forgiving Max /HD model outstrips the other two in terms of sales. It’s the model that’s aimed at a majority of golfers, and with those that need most help fighting a slice often shying away from draw-biased offerings, it typically cleans up huge swathes of driver sales.

In 2024, thanks to TaylorMade revealing the super forgiving new 10K MOI Qi10 Max, things could well be set to change.

Looks and sound

TaylorMade drivers are always brilliant looking beasts, but where the standard Qi10 differs from the Qi10 Max is how it comes decked out with a familiar streamlined TaylorMade driver head shape. With very little mass behind the heel, this model doesn’t generate the confidence of a Ping G430 Max or TaylorMade’s new Qi10 Max sat behind the ball on a tee. If though you’ve used TaylorMade drivers before and liked them the Qi10 is still likely to be a very good fit for you.

I like how the new infinity crown runs all the way to the top edge of the face. It does away with the thin slither of titanium that historically has given TaylorMade drivers quite an unforgiving look over recent generations. It goes without saying, as this model will be played by some of the best players in the world the sound is muted yet powerful, and from my experience the harder you hit them the better they sound.   

Performance

TaylorMade drivers rarely disappoint on data spreadsheets, they’re reputation for being fast and powerful has been built over decades. The issue this year is the Qi10 is up against the Qi10 Max which is brilliant at preserving ball speed on off-center hits. We’re almost splitting hairs when we say the Qi10 posted numbers 5 yards back from our very longest forgiving driver. As I know on another day’s testing the data could well be more closely matched or even reversed.

But for me the important numbers to consider this year, should you find yourself drawn to the standard Qi10 is how our test pro hit the Qi10 Max 3 yards further and was more accurate with it. Those numbers at least should make you think about why you put such a serious premium on head shape to play a more streamlined model. When in reality it brings so little merit in on-course gains.

And finally…

I completely understand not everyone wants to play the bigger profile Qi10 Max head, but even golfers like TaylorMade staffer Collin Morikawa think it’s the right choice for his bag. If you’re familiar with and like previous TaylorMade driver heads then absolutely do not switch to the Max for a fraction more forgiveness, especially just because it’s the hot product right now.

All in the standard Qi10 is actually an excellent driver, in my book it’s more than capable of taking on any competitor models in 2024.   

Data comparison: How does the TaylorMade Qi10 driver compare to competitor models?

We put the Qi10 in the hands of TG Test Pro Neil Wain at Keele Golf Centre. Our test data below shows how the best forgiving drivers of 2024 compare in numbers.

Driver	Ball Speed	Launch Angle	Backspin	Height	Descent Angle	Carry Distance	Shot Area
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (Ventus Blue S)	161 MPH	11.9º	2246 RPM	34 YDS	38.6º	275 YDS (1)	406.8 SQYDS
Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (Tensei S)	161.5 MPH	11.4º	2212 RPM	32 YDS	37.9º	272 YDS (T2)	210.6 SQ YDS (1)
Cleveland Launcher XL 2	162.6 MPH	9.3º	2033 RPM	25 YDS	31.4º	272 YDS (T2)	384 SQ YDS
Ping G430 Max	162.8 MPH	10.2º	2397 RPM	31 YDS	37.4º	271 YDS	509 SQ YDS
Titleist TSR 2 (10º Tensei Blue S)	161.1 MPH	10.3º	2266 RPM	29 YDS	35.7º	271 YDS	792.3 SQ YDS
TaylorMade Qi10 Max (8.5º Diamana X)	162.4 MPH	9.6º	2201 RPM	27 YDS	34º	270 YDS	337.5 SQ YDS (2)
Ping G430 Max 10K (9º)	163.1 MPH	9º	1993 RPM	23 YDS	30.1º	270 YDS	542.4 SQ YDS
Cobra Darkspeed X (Front Weight)	161.6 MPH	9.7º	2161 RPM	27 YDS	33.7º	270 YDS	667.5 SQ YDS
Ping G430 Max 10K	161.2 MPH	11º	2556 RPM	34 YDS	34º	268 YDS	506 SQ YDS
Cobra Darkspeed X (Back Weight)	161 MPH	9.9º	2375 RPM	29 YDS	36.2º	268 YDS	370.8 SQ YDS
TaylorMade Qi10	159.2 MPH	10.6º	2338 RPM	30 YDS	36.8º	267 YDS	385 SQ YDS
PXG 0311 XF GEN6	160 MPH	9.9º	2226 RPM	27 YDS	34.5º	267 YDS	564.2 SQ YDS
PXG 0211	160.6 MPH	9.9º	2185 RPM	27 YDS	34.2º	267 YDS	953.7 SQ YDS
TaylorMade Qi10 Max (8.5º Tensei S)	161.9 MPH	8.6º	2215 RPM	24 YDS	31.7º	266 YDS	630.5 SQ YDS
Wilson DynaPWR Ti	161 MPH	10.7º	2532 RPM	32 YDS	39.1º	266 YDS	1001.3 SQ YDS
Cobra Darkspeed Max (Mid Launch Shaft)	159.4 MPH	11.5º	2372 RPM	33 YDS	39.1º	265 YDS	342 SQ YDS (3)
Srixon ZX5 MK II	158.2 MPH	10.9º	2300 RPM	30 YDS	37º	264 YDS	669.2 SQ YDS
TaylorMade Qi10 Max (Tensei S)	161.2 MPH	9.8º	2823 RPM	32 YDS	39.5º	263 YDS	404 SQ YDS
Mizuno ST Z	157.8 MPH	9.6º	1954 RPM	23 YDS	30.5º	262 YDS	750.5 SQ YDS
Mizuno ST X	160 MPH	8.6º	1956 RPM	26 YDS	28.4º	262 YDS	609.6 SQ YDS
AVERAGE	160.9 MPH	10.1º	2267 RPM	28.8 YDS	35.3º	267.8 YDS	551.8 SQ YDS

*All lofts at 10.5º unless otherwise stated.

If you’re not sure the TaylorMade Qi10 standard model is for you, check out our reviews of the TaylorMade Qi10 Max and Qi10 LS drivers.

TaylorMade Qi10 driver

RRP: $599 / £499

Lofts: 9° / 10.5° / 12°

Stock shafts:

Mid Launch – Mitsubishi Diamana T+60 (X/S/R)

Mid Launch – Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 5 (S/R/A)

Stock grip: Golf Pride Z-Grip Plus 2 (52g)

Visit the TaylorMade website here