Taylormade Qi10 Max Driver Review – Expert Tested & Approved

This is Golfer Geeks’ Taylormade Qi10 Max Driver Review.

Summary: The Taylormade Qi10 Max is a max distance, max forgiveness, and low-stress driver that rewards good swings and keeps you playable on your marginal swings or marginal contact.

In this review of the Taylormade Qi10 Max driver, I discuss my experience with the club, 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.

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

Launch Monitor Data (Wes’s)

Performance Review of the Qi10

Looks: (A) The Qi10 Max has the same basic shape as the Qi10, but the rear of the crown is more rounded, and the head is longer from the face to the other rear. It just looks bigger from every angle.

They both retain Taylormade‘s classic driver shape when looking down at the 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. Just like the Qi10 and last year’s Stealth 2s.

Distance: (A) Very hot on center contact and not much different with slight mishits toward the toe and heel..

Forgiveness: (A) Ample forgiveness. Distance and direction are virtually untouched with slight mishits. Your distance is affected a little more when you miss a little more, but direction is largely maintained.

Flight / Playability: (A) High and straight is the default. We were able to shape the ball a little. A small fade for Wes and a small draw for me. This driver is built to negate curve balls.

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

Overview & Why Consider It

We’ve all seen this demonstration of 10K in action by now:

Here’s my two cents. I believe it, but I think that is predicated on a sound swing on a good swing path adjusted for slightly missing the sweet spot toward the toe (or heel). That’s not how most amateurs miss the sweet spot.

• Yes, I miss the sweet spot that way on occasion. And I bet that’s virtually the ONLY way pros miss the ball. But I usually mishit the ball because of a swing path issue.

Don’t get me wrong, the Qi10 Max corrects for a lot. But, it’s not a cure-all, so don’t expect that.

The Promise: 10K MOI – the most forgivingist driver eva! Here’s the official formula that lets them arrive at the 10K number – (g-cm² (10K)). I’ve got no idea.

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 made the Qi10 Max longer front to back so they could move the CG farther away from the face. Plus, the head shape is supposed to make the head more stable which helps with off-center contact. This stability also helps on
• They also use a lower-torque shaft, which is supposed to work with the newly designed clubhead to keep your golf ball from veering too far off the path.

Why consider the Qi10 Max: You just want more playable drives, and you don’t care much about shaping or changing the flight of your driver.

• Wes loves the Max but thinks he’ll lose about 20 yards over a lower-spin driver because of the added spin. He also likes to work the ball a little more.

Our Experience with the Qi10 Max

Wes had a big old smile on his face the entire time he hit the Qi10 Max – might be because he didn’t miss a shot, pretty much.

Though the numbers were neck and neck with the Qi10, Wes thinks the Max probably has to much spin for him and would cause him about 20 yards over a lower spin driver he could dial in. There’s no real dialing in at his swing speed with the Max.

My swing was mostly off for my time with the Qi10 Max. But I managed to hit a few nice drives over my 3ish rounds. Some of my misses ended up in high spinny short drives, which didn’t happen with the Qi10 or any of the other drivers I’m currently testing.

You should probably consider the Qi10 Max if you are looking for an easier time hitting drives in play. The one caveat is if you already produce too much spin and hit the ball fairly high. Test, test, test.

Center contact was heavenly, as expected, but the real story is how the Qi10 Max performs on mishits—making it one of the most forgiving drivers on the market for inconsistent swingers.

Who is the Qi10 Max for?

Wes and I agree the Qi10 is for golfers who want max forgiveness and aren’t concerned with working the ball.

Low handicaps: (Maybe) Wes is an elite driver and hit it very well. (Nelly Korda & Colin Morikawa have put the Qi10 Max in play.
Mid handicaps: (Yes) Great club for you. You should test it.
High handicaps: (Yep) You’re the reason this club was made. Will cover up a lot of mistakes. (but not all)

Potential Alternatives

The Qi10 has many of the playing characteristics of the Qi10 max, but it’s more workable, slightly less forgiving, and doesn’t create as much spin.

The Cobra Darkspeed Max has veeery similar playing characteristics to the Qi10 Max. Better sound and feel. Is plenty long. And, costs less.

I also like the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max as a viable alternative. I find they play and feel almost identical.

See other beginner and high handicap drivers.

It’s one of our top picks — see more of the most forgiving drivers we’ve tested.

Now you can see hot the Qi10 Max ranks high in our driver selections for mid-handicaps guide—see other ultra-forgiving options here.

Customer Reviews

97% of buyers would recommend the Qi10 Max to a friend. It has an average rating of 4.7/5 out of 100 reviews at taylormadegolf.com.₍₁₎

Final Verdict

In General, we recommend the Taylormade Qi10 Max Driver for you if:

• You need max forgiveness off the tee.
• You want plenty of help with launch and carry.
• You don’t spin the ball excessively with your driver – robbing you of distance.

My #1 suggestion is to get your hands on it 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 Max Driver Review and let us know how they work for you.