Taylormade Qi10 Driver Review – Expert Tested & Approved

This is Golfer Geeks’ Taylormade Qi10 Driver Review.

Summary: The Taylormade Qi10 richly rewards good swings and keeps you playable on your marginal swings or marginal contact. It’s explosive on center contact and forgiving when you miss toward the heel or toe. Exactly what we expect to see from a premium driver, especially a Taylormade.

In this review of the Taylormade Qi10 driver, I discuss my experience with the clubs, unique features and benefits, as well as customer reviews and potential alternatives. 

Club Testers

Driver Specs

• Loft setting: 10.5 set to 8.5 degrees
• Shaft type: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green 6.5 70g
• Shaft flex: X-Stiff flex

How We Tested

Wes performed the main testing (the data you see below) on the 17th hole of our golf course. He used premium Titleist balls, and we used the Garmin R10 launch monitor. We compared the Qi10 to the Stealth 2 and the Qi10 Max during this session.

I took the Qi10 on the course for most of 3 rounds. I hit multiple drives and drivers off many of the holes so I could get a good feel for them.

Launch Monitor Data

Performance Review of the Qi10

Looks: (A) The Qi10 retains Taylormade‘s classic driver shape when looking down at address. The crown is glossy black with a barely perceptible carbon weave beneath the surface – most visible in sunlight. The crown also goes up to the edge of the face now. Taylormade calls this an “Infinity” crown. This differs from the Stealth 2 of last year. The accent colors are now blue and yellow.

Sound & Feel: (A) Solid, soft, muted, and springy. Not unlike last year’s Stealth 2 line.

Distance: (A) A lot, as you would expect. Slight misses toward the toe and heel didn’t lose much distance in our testing.

Forgiveness: (A) What we expected. All but our worst swings were findable and playable. Again, I think they’re about the same as last year’s model…maybe a touch more.

Flight / Playability: (A) Well-struck drives launched high and carried forever. Wes hit his normal fade from the first shot on. My good swings were rewarded with high draws. My marginal swings were pushes, but long. My terrible swings were duck hooks.

Value: (A) ~$599 – Expensive, just like all the others.

Overview & Why Consider It

The Promise: Taylormade touts the Qi10 as THE driver for golfers who want the best blend of distance and forgiveness. I can’t say I disagree if you’re shopping the Taylormade line of drivers.

How?

• Going to an Infinity crown allowed Taylormade to move weight elsewhere in the clubhead to optimize CG (center of gravity) and MOI (moment of inertia) for more forgiveness and better distance when you miss the sweet spot.
• They wanted the Qi10 to inspire confidence, so they made the head look larger at address and used that same infinity crown we mentioned above with a whitish alignment line at the top of the face to increase contrast and frame the ball better.

Why consider the Qi10: As Taylormade advertises, the Qi10 is a great combination of distance, forgiveness, and workability. You should consider testing the Qi10 if you are a great driver or even a decent driver.

• Wes is a great driver, and I’m a decent driver.

Our Experience with the Qi10

Wes virtually didn’t miss with the Qi10. Driving is a strength of his game, so this went as expected. He nailed high fade after high fade. His only real misses were when he was playing around. As you see above, he was a fan from his first swing. (he’d hit the Qi10 once before this day of testing)

My driver swing is hit and miss…for now. I hit quite a few very long drives with the Qi10. We’re talking 300+. But I also put quite a few marginal and awful swings on it too. My marginal swings were playable pushes and pulls. My awful swings were duck hooks and slices. Two-way misses are not my favorite.

The Qi10 behaved like any other premium driver not designed for elite swing speed and low spin. It saved a bunch of marginal swings and richly rewarded good swings. Awful swings can’t and shouldn’t be helped.

Who is the Qi10 for?

Wes and I agree the Qi10 is for golfers who want good forgiveness and distance but want good feel and the option to work the ball.

Low handicaps: (Yup) Wes is an elite driver and would put the Qi10 in his bag.
Mid handicaps: (Yes) Great club for you if you’re fairly straight.
High handicaps: (Possible) We think your first option should be the more forgiving Qi10 Max. (Unless you’re a fairly straight driver and the Max would produce too much spin)

For a head-to-head look at all the Qi models from TaylorMade, including the Qi10, Qi35, and Qi10 Max, explore our TaylorMade Qi series comparison guide.

Potential Alternatives

In addition to our selections below, see how the Qi10 stacks up against other top drivers for mid-handicap golfers thanks to its all-around performance.

The Darkspeed X played much better for me. Has better sound and feel. And, costs less than the Qi10.

The Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max, players similar to the Qi10, but has more adjustability to help dial in more forgiveness.

I also like the Stealth 2 as a viable alternative. I find they play and feel almost identical. Plus, the Stealth 2 will be at least $100 cheaper.

Customer Reviews

96% of buyers would recommend the Qi10 to a friend. It has an average rating of 4.7/5 out of 91 reviews at taylormadegolf.com.₍₁₎

Final Verdict

We recommend the Taylormade Qi10 Driver for you if:

• You want a driver you can work off the tee.
• You want a driver that’s long and forgiving.
• You want a driver with good feel.

My #1 suggestion is to get your hands on them before you buy. Either at your local golf store or take advantage of Global Golf’s Utry trial program. I use it and recommend it.  

Thanks for checking out our Taylormade Qi10 Driver Review and let us know how they work for you.