Realizing not everyone has the time to consume endless content on club launch day, we’re offering a fresh version of our detailed tech write-ups that hits the high points. Here’s what you need to know about TaylorMade’s Qi10 irons, which are coming to retail on February 2. Today we’re focusing on TaylorMade’s new Qi10 irons.
Tap here to explore and pre-order TaylorMade Qi10 irons.
More than just distance
When it comes to game improvement irons, the design goals are pretty simple: help golfers hit the ball farther, higher, straighter, and more consistently. But in many cases, it’s hard to do all of those things well at once. Many of the design characteristics that help make these irons forgiving are the same ones that make many of the game improvement irons counterproductive to the target player: fade-biased — I’ll explain this part in a moment.
Now with the help of lessons learned from previous generations of game improvement clubs, as well as the extremely popular P790 irons, TaylorMade believes they have cracked the code on creating an iron that can go far, straight, and help golfers with the always annoying fade.
“Qi Irons represent a fusion of performance and design, delivering a combination of distance and accuracy with a solid feel unexpected of game improvement irons. We rely on a team of technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of giving golfers straight distance that outperforms the competition,” said Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation at TaylorMade.
Individually optimized heads
To help bring these irons to life TaylorMade engineers brought together many technologies, including FLTD (flighted) CG, speed pocket, cap back, and an all-new organic face design process for straighter shots.
So, about the fade bias. The reason game improvement irons have fade bias is simple: As clubheads grow larger (and more forgiving), the center of gravity moves further away from the shaft, which makes it more difficult for many players to close the face.
By using what TaylorMade calls Integrated System Design, the manufacturer was able to see how different technology variables impact how a golf club reacts at impact, allowing TM to tune each key technology for a better end ball flight. This comprehensive approach to design helps to ensure ideal gapping, ball speeds, launch angles, and ball flight through the full set.
As an example, the 4 and 5-irons feature a lower profile back weight bar design, lowering the center of gravity and bringing it closer to the heel of the club in order to encourage easy face closure and a higher ball flight. At the other end of the set, the back bar in the short irons is more evenly distributed between the heel and toe for more forgiveness and ball flight control into the scoring clubs.
Big on feel
The second-generation Cap Back design of the Qi10 irons merges the benefits of hollow body iron with a more traditional cavity back by replacing a large section of the rear with a lightweight carbon cap. This helps to lower the center of gravity, providing better feel.
The 2024 Qi Irons also have newly redesigned HYBRAR Echo Dampers in the 4-through 9-irons which have been individually tuned based on the face shape and size of each iron. These dampers rely on strategically placed ribbed structures behind the face to reduce unwanted vibrations, especially in mishits without having a detrimental impact on face COR or forgiveness.
“These irons epitomize TaylorMade’s continual evolution in game improvement designs. We maintain the elevated forgiveness and ease of use but package it with a clean look that any golfer would proudly display in their bag,” said Bovee. “We are delivering both distance and forgiveness within a more consistent and accurate package, all while achieving a larger sweet spot and a feel akin to forged irons.”
Tap here to explore and pre-order TaylorMade Qi10 irons.
Lighter and longer
To go along with the core Qi10 irons TaylorMade is also adding LightQi HL irons to the lineup for 2024 to help golfers who struggle with getting the ball in the air and maintaining spin.
The irons have lofts that are, on average, 2 degrees higher than the standard Qi10 and are built with lighter components (up to 26g lighter than the standard model) to help increase club head speed and create better gapping into hybrids and higher lofted fairway wood.
Price and availability
The Qi10 and QI10 HL irons are available for preorder starting today (January 9, 2024) and will be at retail beginning February 2. The Qi irons (as a 7-piece set) are priced at $1099 with steel (KBS Max MT 85) and $1199 (Fujikura Ventus Blue 7S, 6R, and 5A). The Qi10 HL irons are priced the same but with the stock steel shaft being the KBS Max LITE and the graphite option being the Fujikura Speeder NX 50g.
The stock shafts for the Qi10 women’s set are the Fujikura Speeder NX TCS 40 shafts.
TaylorMade Qi10 Irons
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