The R&A and USGA set a Moment of Inertia limit of 5900g cm2 per axis on all drivers, which is a calculation that measures the clubhead’s resistance to twisting when a ball is struck away from the sweet spot. This means the higher the clubhead’s MOI, the less it will twist and the straighter the ball will fly on a mishit. The club has two axis, vertical and horizontal, hence the combined compliance of 10,000g cm2. To put the evolution of TaylorMade’s into perspective, their iconic M1 driver had an MOI of 6,600.
HIGHER MOI = STRAIGHTER
Stealth2 produced the fastest ball speed compared to any other driver we tested in 2023 but build quality and stability was an issue. At first glance the Qi10 has certainly addressed the quality aspect, and the face is now integral and flush unlike the Stealth2.
At address the first thing that grabs your eye is the carbon crown which is now 97 percent of the top surface, sitting flush with the new blue carbon 60X face. The additional carbon has enabled TaylorMade to redistribute weight and lower the centre of gravity. This makes it easier to launch and increases the MOI.
Then we have the colour change. The 60X Carbon Twist Face is now a distinctive blue instead of the red, but it’s just a colour swap and the technology still delivers those impressive ball speeds. Though we can not forgetting the proven Thru-Slot Speed Pocket which prevents ball speed drop off from those distance killing low-face strikes.
Qi10 Max – the shallower head shape has allowed more weight to be positioned the centre of gravity to the limits, with the mass pushed further from the centre of the clubhead. This model is all about stability and forgiveness, though the Max’s large head isn’t an aerodynamically efficient driver but a confidence booster.
Qi10 – is a dialled down version of the Max, with the back weight positioned more towards the tow for a neutral bias. The MOI is not going to be as high as the Max, but online tests have found it more forgiving and less spinning than the Stealth2.
Qi10 LS – designed with the better player in mind that is looking to lower spin and work the flight. This club is not about forgiveness compared to the other models. Though numbers suggest it is more forgiving than Stealth2 Plus, this would have been helped by a more compact weight system that enabled TaylorMade to adjust the CG. As a result, you might expect the spin rate to increase, but the RPM was even lower than the Stealth2 Plus.
We decided to test the Qi10LS v the Stealth2 Plus and not the Max, as we wanted to know why Rory and company put it straight in the bag. To achieve this, we sought the services of Nicholas Poppleton, a Tour player with a robotic 116mph swing speed and more importantly not aligned to any manufacturer. Proof was in the pudding, as they say, and the Qi10LS delivered exactly what TaylorMade claimed. On average the Qi10 spun 180rpm less with a ball speed increase of close to 1.3mph.
TaylorMade drivers have always been about performance and less about accuracy or forgiveness. Yes, speed sells, but TaylorMade has taken a fresh approach with the Qi10 distance is paired with straightness.
Higher ball speeds are only useful if you are finding fairways, so has TaylorMade finally got the balance right and could the Qi10 be their best driver to date as a result?
