We have all seen the TaylorMade Qi10 LS model since Rory McIlroy decided to put it in play in Dubai for his last event of 2023. The speculation then went into overdrive as to how this club differed from his Stealth 2, a club Rory had his struggles with in 2023.
Today TaylorMade have unveiled the full Qi10 family of drivers and as expected it features three different Qi10 head options with the Qi10, Qi10 MAX and Qi10 LS. Each head shares several key technologies but all are constructed to suit very different category of players.
The age old balancing act driver manufacturers have to balance is whether they tip the scales in favour of a more forgiving head or a pure distance machine that needs to be hit out of the screws. The traits that often produce more ball speed and distance can diminish stability, but increasing a club’s MOI and making it more resistant to twisting on off-centre hits can come at the price of ball speed. Simply put, getting more of one typically means giving up some of the other.
In the Qi10 driver family, specifically the Qi10 Max driver, TaylorMade set out to change that, bringing more forgiveness and a higher MOI to drivers while also trying to deliver more ball speed. TaylorMade say they are not making a trade-off, but breaking the trade-off in Qi10.
To get this balance between speed and forgiveness TaylorMade designers did a few key things. The first being using more lightweight materials and reshaping the entire clubhead. Stealth 2 had 79% carbon covered crown but in the Qi10 Max the carbon fibre is up to 97% thanks to an Infinity Crown that nearly eliminates the ledge the carbon fibre rests on.
The crown now weighs only 15 grams and attaches to a 16-gram carbon composite ring in the back of the head. That part also holds a nine-layer, 21-gram carbon fibre sole plate along with a 71-gram titanium front piece that encircles the face and attaches to the hosel.
True to their promise with the introduction of Stealth in 2022, Carbon face technology remains with Qi10. The face of all three Qi10 drivers is designed again using 60 layers of carbon fibre and a nanotexture finish to improve spin control. The faces were also designed with an off-centre Inverted Cone on the inner-facing side, so they are slightly thicker in the high-middle area and thinner around the perimeter to maximise speed. This all works in tandem with the now familiar Speed Pocket designed into the sole to improve speed on low face strikes.
How the carbon face is housed into the club structure has also changed with a redesigned ledge and perimeter area, which TaylorMade said allows the off-centre portions of the face to flex more, broadening the sweet spot and protecting ball speed on mis-hits. The redesigned face area is also more durable than the hitting area in previous Stealth and Stealth 2 models.
All three Qi10 drivers have a 460 cc head size but in very different shapes so let’s look at the three heads.
Qi10 Max
Those ultra-light materials allowed TaylorMade to make the Qi10 Max driver bigger than the Stealth 2 Max from front to back. It’s very noticeable when you compare the three heads. The longer head creates more areas where mass can be positioned – specifically, a 32-gram weight in the back of the sole and internal mass pads behind the face.
In terms of stability, the result is the Qi10 Max is the first TaylorMade driver to have a combined MOI (moment of inertia) of 10,000 g-cm2. That’s what the Qi10 name stands for: Quest for Inertia 10,000. In its simplest form, higher MOI = more forgiveness. Higher MOI reduces head rotation on off-centre impacts, protecting ball speed on mis-hits and delivering more consistent launch conditions. This is measurable forgiveness. The Qi10 Max driver boasts a combined total MOI of 10,000 g-cm² (10K), a feat that is the result of advanced lightweight materials, a reinvented head shape and strategic placement of mass.
The forgiveness of Qi10 Max can be a benefit to golfers of all skill levels, from the everyday golfer to a major champions like Team TaylorMade’s Nelly Korda and Collin Morikawa.
“This quest to 10K is the sum of a variety of proven TaylorMade technologies that have been integrated into a new shape in the Qi10 Max, literally giving us the most forgiving driver in TaylorMade history with the highest MOI we’ve ever achieved. On top of it, the evolution of 60X Carbon Twist Face features a new blue colour pattern and high contrast topline that works in unison with the Infinity Carbon Crown to provide a very clean and refined look at address position.” Tomo Bystedt, Senior Director Product Creation
Qi10 LS: FORGIVENESS, ADJUSTABILITY AND PERFORMANCE FOR THE BETTER PLAYER
Qi10 LS delivers a lower spin and lower launch that is engineered to optimise performance for players with faster swing speeds and higher spin rates. With a deep face and a more compact overall head shape, Qi10 LS will be the preferred driver for many of Team TaylorMade’s Tour athletes.
Utilised throughout the Qi10 family, the Infinity Crown marks a significant leap forward in TaylorMade’s carbon crown construction. By extending carbon fibre to the extreme perimeter of the head and aligning it flush with the top of the face, this new design maximises mass savings. This innovative approach removes excess weight previously located in less advantageous positions, resulting in optimal redistribution of mass for lower CG and better spin properties critical to players who choose the Qi10 LS driver.
Qi10 LS also incorporates a new, more efficient moveable weight that features a single 18g steel sliding weight housed by an innovative track system. Strategic shaping along the sole is designed to deliver better aerodynamics with reduced turbulence. The redesigned structure allows the adjustable weight to move farther forward and lower relative to its predecessor, resulting in a lower balance point and optimised inertia for a more forgiving low-spin experience.
Qi10: COMPLETE PERFORMANCE
The Qi10 driver has been strategically engineered to help players optimise distance and maximise forgiveness, wrapped in a clean, confidence-inspiring package. Qi10 features lower CG projection and higher MOI than previous TaylorMade drivers in this category, creating a driver aimed at golfers seeking the ultimate blend of distance and forgiveness.
A brand-new, slightly larger address shape combined with the clean look of the Infinity Carbon Crown and a high contrast topline for enhanced alignment that inspires confidence for all levels of golfers.
Qi10’s re-engineered 60X Carbon Twist Face is significantly lighter than traditional titanium and creates a more efficient energy transfer with a new supporting structure that promotes faster ball speeds. The face is also designed for improved preservation of ball speed on off-centre shots. The entire Qi10 family of drivers feature a 4° loft sleeve (+/- 2°) and build upon proven TaylorMade technologies such as the Thru-Slot Speed Pocket™ designed to optimise ball speed on low face hits.
PRICING, SPECIFICATIONS & AVAILABILITY
Qi10 Max, Qi10 LS and Qi10 are available for pre-order at retail starting Jan. 9, 2024 and available in stores Feb. 2, 2024.
Qi10 Max is priced at an RRP of €649 and has loft offerings of 9.0° (RH/LH), 10.5° (RH/LH) and 12.0° (RH/LH). Shaft offerings are Fujikura Speeder NX TCS 50 (S, R, A) and Mitsubishi Diamana T+ 60 (X, S, R). Qi10 Max also comes in a women’s version at 10.5° and 12.0° lofts with Fujikura Speeder NX TCS 40 shaft. A lightweight High & Light (HL) version of the Qi10 Max both at 10.5° and 12.0° lofts will be available in custom.
Qi10 LS is priced at an RRP of €669 and is offered in the following lofts: 8.0° (RH), 9.0° (RH/LH), 10.5° (RH/LH). It comes with two shaft options in the Mitsubishi Tensei AV Limited Blue 65 (R, S, X) and Mitsubishi Tensei AV Limited Black 65 (S, X).
Qi10 comes at an RRP price of €649 and in 9.0° (RH/LH), 10.5° (RH/LH) and 12.0° (RH) lofts. The driver is equipped with Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 5 (S, R, A) and Mitsubishi Diamana T+ 60 (R, S, X) shafts.
GolfPride’s Z-Grip Black/Blue 0.600 52g grip is featured on Qi10 Max, Qi10 LS and Qi10 drivers. Qi10 Max women’s drivers come with Lamkin’s ST Soft Grey/White 0.580 40g grip.
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