Realizing not everyone has the time to consume endless content on club launch day, we’re trying something different and offering a fresh version of our detailed tech write-ups that hits on the high points. Here’s what you need to know about TaylorMade’s Qi10 driver series, which is coming to retail on February 2.
Tap here to explore and pre-order TaylorMade Qi10 drivers.
Carbon is here to stay
When the original Stealth driver was introduced a few years ago, TaylorMade promised that they were putting titanium face drivers out to pasture. With the new Qi10 series, they are once again committing to that promise.
The 60X layer carbon twist face is back with a new supporting structure on the inside of the head to further improve ball speed on mishits. The redesigned support structure that holds the face to the rest of the body has been engineered to flex more, a change that should help to produce higher ball speeds and better distance off the tee than the previous Stealth generation.
Technology and design
Beyond the carbon face and internal structure, the one thing golfers will notice right away with the entire Qi10 line (which includes the core Qi10, Qi10 Max, and Qi10 LS) is a new infinity carbon crown that is pushed closer to the topline of the driver. This new crown design covers 97 percent of the total surface on the top of the driver, and helped free up more mass to be repositioned for added moment of inertia. (More of this in just a moment.)
Other proven TaylorMade technologies in the Qi10 include the adjustable loft sleeve (2 degrees up and down), the thru-slot speed pocket for optimized ball speeds on lower face strikes, and “twist face” with asymmetrical bulge and roll for better performance on shots struck off the center of the club.
And speaking of the face, one unique design trait in the TaylorMade Qi10 carbonwood line is an enhanced visual aid at the top of the face to help with alignment. This high contrast alignment aid actually started a couple of years ago with the original Stealth fairway woods, and player testing from TaylorMade showed that when it was applied to the driver, golfers aligned better to their intended target. Considering how much fairway wood technology comes from drivers, it’s interesting to see a fairway wood design feature move up the golf club food chain, so to speak.
Forgiveness to the MAX
Carbon is here to stay, and there’s more of it than ever before, but as far as forgiveness and MOI are concerned, there is one more big change TaylorMade utilized in the Qi10 series: geometry. The original SIM was all about “Shape in Motion” to help lower spin and increase clubhead speed through aerodynamics. But the engineers at TaylorMade decided to make another change to the shape of the head with all three models, specifically the Qi10 MAX, to improve forgiveness across the board.
This altered geometry allows all three of the Qi10 driver models to see a boost in overall MOI, but it’s extremely apparent in the Qi10 MAX, which pushes a combined 10,000 g/cm in both horizontal and vertical MOI, resulting in great consistency on shots missed all over the face.
Find your fit
Now it is time for specifics, and like many that came before, the Qi10 driver line comes in three distinct models to help golfers find the right fit. This year’s TaylorMade models have been given greater performance separation to help golfers and fitters be more pointed in their decision-making.
Core Qi10
The core Qi10 offers a blend of added forgiveness with low-spin performance to go along with a slightly larger address profile to inspire confidence off the tee.
TaylorMade Qi10 Custom Driver
Qi10 MAX
The Qi10 MAX is designed for golfers looking for straight distance without being overtly draw-biased. By strategically placing mass around the large head shape, engineers were able to make the head easier to square into impact and to help launch the ball higher with less spin.
The Qi10 MAX is also available to order with a “lite” spec through TaylorMade’s custom program, which reduces the club’s overall mass and makes it even easier to gain speed and distance.
TaylorMade Qi10 Max Custom Driver
Qi10 LS
For golfers looking for low-spin performance and workability, look no further than the Qi10 LS. The LS model offers the most classic address shape as well as a newly designed sliding weight track to dial in ball flight and impact position.
One thing to note is that even though the track looks smaller from the outside, the larger weight and smaller housing in the body of the driver offers just as much adjustability as before. There’s also more discretionary mass to be positioned around the head so there is no sacrifice in forgiveness compared to previous tour and low-spin models. This is music to the ears of higher swing-speed golfers who desire low spin but don’t want to give up on off-center performance.
TaylorMade Qi10 LS Custom Driver
Price and availability
The entire Qi10 lineup is available now for fitting and presale through select accounts starting today (January 9th, 2024) and will be available in stores starting February 2nd. The Qi10 core and Qi10 MAX models are priced at $599 each, and the LS model comes in at $629.
Tap here to explore and pre-order the Qi10 collection.
Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.
