The good and the bad
Verdict at a glance
What we rate
- The Qi10 Max reaches 10,000 MOI, among the most stable heads ever made
- Easy, high launch that suits a wide range of swing speeds
- Clean, low-contrast carbon crown that frames the ball well
- A head for every player: forgiving Max, all-round standard, low-spin LS
- More solid, muted sound and feel than recent TaylorMade drivers
What gives us pause
- Distance gains over the Stealth 2 are incremental, not dramatic
- The standard Qi10 sits between the Max and LS, so many players fit better into one of those
- The standard head runs a touch higher on spin than the rest of the range
- Premium price, and the LS costs more again
The TaylorMade Qi10 driver is an impressive blend of distance and forgiveness, and the golf driver that put TaylorMade back among the leaders for stability. The name stands for Quest for Inertia, a nod to the 10,000 MOI target that makes it so forgiving, and this review covers how the TaylorMade Qi10 is built, how it performs off the tee, and who should play it.
What the TaylorMade Qi10 is built for
The Qi10 is aimed at the golfer who wants a forgiving, long and workable driver that still rewards a good swing. The base Qi10 is the all-round head, explosive on centre contact yet playable when you miss toward the heel or toe, and it suits a wide range of players. Faster swingers who need lower spin have the Qi10 LS, and players who want maximum forgiveness have the Qi10 Max, whose MOI reaches around 10,000.
What makes the Qi10 stand out among golf drivers is that it does not trade workability for forgiveness. Reviewers found no issue shaping shots, drawing or fading and flighting the ball up or down, which is rare in a head this stable.
Design and the carbon face
The TaylorMade Qi10 is a 460cc driver built around a third-generation 60X Carbon Twist Face with a new supporting structure, paired with a carbon crown that saves weight to spend on stability. An adjustable hosel tunes loft and lie, so the driver is easy to fit and easy to tweak as your swing changes.
The forgiveness comes from a very high MOI, the head's resistance to twisting on off-centre hits. The higher the MOI, the straighter your mishits stay and the more ball speed they hold, and the Qi10 Max pushes that figure to the 10,000 mark that defines the most forgiving drivers.
TaylorMade Qi10 at a glance
| Spec | TaylorMade Qi10 |
|---|---|
| Head size | 460cc |
| Face | 60X Carbon Twist Face |
| Lofts | 9, 10.5 and 12 degrees |
| Adjustability | Adjustable hosel |
| Forgiveness | High MOI (around 10,000 on the Max) |
| Family | Qi10, Qi10 Max, Qi10 LS |
Off the tee: distance and forgiveness
Off the tee the Qi10 is fast and long. In independent testing with Titleist Pro V1 balls it produced more ball speed than the previous Stealth 2 with less spin, carrying nearly 8 yards further, so the distance gain is real. It is explosive on centre contact and stays playable on marginal strikes, which is the combination most golfers want from a driver: length on the good ones and forgiveness on the rest.
Sound and feel
The Qi10 gives a solid, muted crack at impact rather than the louder note of some carbon-faced drivers, and better players like the feedback it offers between a flushed strike and a miss. The clean, matte carbon crown looks premium at address and frames the ball well, which adds confidence over the club.
Performance and testing
Across our review and independent launch-monitor tests, the TaylorMade Qi10 driver posts an excellent blend of ball speed, low spin and forgiveness, with reviewers rating it among the best golf drivers of its generation. It is easy to hit, holds the fairway well, and with the right shaft it suits everyone from club golfers to tour-level swing speeds. As an all-round performer it is one of the best drivers for a player who wants distance without giving up stability, and it sits near the top of every driver equipment test.
How the Qi10 compares
The TaylorMade Qi10's main rivals are the Ping G430 Max and the Cobra Darkspeed. Against the Ping the Qi10 matches it for forgiveness while offering a touch more workability and a different sound and look, so the choice often comes down to fit and feel. All are excellent high-MOI drivers, which is why a fitting that compares them head to head is the best way to decide.
Who should play the TaylorMade Qi10
The base Qi10 suits players who want a forgiving driver they can still shape, from mid handicappers to better ball strikers. Choose the Qi10 Max if you want the most forgiveness and a straighter ball flight, or the Qi10 LS if you swing fast and need to reduce spin. Whichever head you pick, a fitting for loft and shaft will get the most from it.
Verdict
The TaylorMade Qi10 is one of the best golf drivers for combining distance, forgiveness and workability, built on a high-MOI, carbon-faced design that is both long and stable. If you want a driver that rewards your good swings and forgives your bad ones without locking you out of shaping shots, the Qi10, and the Qi10 Max for maximum forgiveness, is a superb choice.
Key features
Tech
- Three heads: Qi10, Qi10 Max (10,000 MOI), Qi10 LS (low spin)
- 460cc body with Infinity Carbon Crown (about 97% coverage)
- 60-layer Carbon Twist Face
- Adjustable loft sleeve, plus or minus 2 degrees
- Lofts of 9, 10.5 and 12 degrees on Qi10 and Qi10 Max
- Qi10 Max weight for draw bias; Qi10 LS twin front weights
FAQ
Is the TaylorMade Qi10 a good driver?
Yes. It is one of the more forgiving, easy-to-launch families of its year, with the Qi10 Max standing out for its 10,000 MOI stability. The gains over the Stealth 2 are incremental, so the value is in the forgiveness and fit rather than a big distance jump.
What is the difference between the Qi10, Qi10 Max and Qi10 LS?
The Max is the most forgiving at 10,000 MOI with a draw-bias weight. The standard Qi10 is the all-round head at about 8,500 MOI. The LS is the low-spin, better-player head at roughly 7,600 MOI with two movable front weights for faster swings.
What does Qi10 stand for?
Qi10 is short for the quest for 10,000 inertia, a reference to MOI, or moment of inertia. The Qi10 Max is the model that actually reaches 10,000, which is a measure of how stable the head stays on off-centre hits.
Which Qi10 driver is the most forgiving?
The Qi10 Max. Its 10,000 MOI makes it one of the most stable driver heads ever made, so mishits stay straighter and lose less speed. It is the first choice for golfers who want maximum forgiveness.
Is the Qi10 longer than the Stealth 2?
Ball speed is competitive with the best drivers of its year, but in most testing the distance gain over the Stealth 2 is small. The bigger improvement is forgiveness and stability, especially on the Max.
What lofts does the Qi10 driver come in?
The standard Qi10 and the Qi10 Max come in 9, 10.5 and 12 degrees, and the adjustable loft sleeve lets you tune that by up to 2 degrees either way. The lower-spin LS is offered in stronger lofts for faster swings.
How much does the TaylorMade Qi10 cost?
A Qi10 driver typically costs around 600 dollars, in line with the other flagship drivers. Last year's model or a proper shaft fitting can offer better value, since the year-on-year distance gains are small.
Which Qi10 is best for a slow swing speed?
The Qi10 Max. Its high launch, maximum forgiveness and slight draw bias suit slower swings, while the LS and standard head are aimed at faster players who can use lower spin.
What is the Infinity Carbon Crown?
It is a carbon crown that covers about 97 percent of the top of the head. Covering so much of the crown in lightweight carbon frees up weight that TaylorMade repositions to raise stability and improve launch.
Is the Qi10 good for high handicappers?
Yes, especially the Max. Its 10,000 MOI keeps mishits in play and its easy, high launch helps get the ball airborne, both of which are exactly what a higher handicapper needs from a driver.
Qi10 Max or Qi10 LS, which should I choose?
Choose the Max for maximum forgiveness and an easy, high launch, which suits most golfers. Choose the LS if you have a faster swing and want the lowest spin and most distance, and can accept less forgiveness in return.
Does the Qi10 come with an adjustable weight?
The Qi10 Max has a movable weight for a slight draw bias, and the Qi10 LS has two movable front weights to tune launch and shot shape. The standard Qi10 keeps a simpler, fixed set-up.