TaylorMade Qi35 Driver Range - Full Review

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Four Distinct Heads - Do the Claims Stack Up?

TaylorMade QI-35 Driver Lineup Review: Do the Claims Stack Up?

TaylorMade’s QI-35 series includes four distinct heads designed to appeal to a wide range of golfers. In this hands-on review, Mark Crossfield puts them through an independent, data-driven test—including the type of face comparison TaylorMade probably wouldn’t promote—to determine whether the tech delivers on its promises.

What Mark Says

“These are four very good sounding, feeling drivers, which is no surprise from TaylorMade. They always make great-looking and sounding clubs. The LS looks a bit more compact, not quite as pretty to my eye, but definitely feels like a bombing machine. The Max Lite...more people should be gaming this. If you're someone who just needs to move the club faster, it’s a great option.

“What I love about the LS is that it's way less fade-biased. My pattern was pretty evenly split left and right. The Standard Qi-35 gave me my best numbers: 166 mph ball speed, spinning at 2.4K. That’s super solid. The LS spun at 2.1K, 300 RPM lower, exactly what you'd want from a low-spin driver.

“I tested these over three days. Against a random modern driver, the Qi-35 gave similar ball speeds and carry. The Max was fine (very forgiving) but it wasn’t quite right for me. The Standard and LS were my top performers. I didn’t see any real ball speed gains from off-center hits compared to other drivers, but the numbers were classic TaylorMade. Very solid; just don't expect miracles.”

Inside the Review – A Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. The Four Heads at a Glance

QI-35 Standard: Mid-to-large profile with fixed front/back weight adjustability; neutral shaping and strong all-around appeal.
QI-35 LS (Low Spin): Smaller, deeper-faced look with movable weights in the toe, heel, and front; ideal for dialling in spin and shape.
QI-35 Max: Shallower head with a stretched profile, fixed 34g rear weight, and extreme forgiveness targeting 10K MOI.
QI-35 Max Lite: Lightweight version of the Max with a similar shape but lighter rear weight to boost clubhead speed.

2. Looks and Feel

All four heads present premium visual cues; grey carbon crown, clean shaping, and a modern matte finish.
LS looks more compact; Max feels more stretched; Max Lite features silver detailing for a "lightweight" look.
Sound and feel across all heads is consistent: muted, solid, and satisfying, especially for those preferring a less metallic tone.
“TaylorMade always make great-looking and sounding clubs, and these are no different.”

3. Tech Rundown

Carrying over from past generations: Carbon Twist Face, Through Slot Speed Pocket, and Loft Sleeve (±2°).
Multi-material construction with CG placements optimised for each model.
Key tech focus: delivering speed and forgiveness across more impact points on the face.
Max and Max Lite use fixed rear weighting; Standard and LS offer weight adjustability for dialing in flight and spin.

4. Performance Testing and Numbers

Over three days, Mark tested each head extensively, including against a random older driver.
Best performers: QI-35 Standard and LS, both averaging 166 mph ball speed.
LS spun ~300 RPM less (2.1K vs 2.4K) than the Standard; just what you want in a low-spin head.
Max and Max Lite felt great but didn’t suit Mark’s swing quite as well.
Carry distances were within a tight window: 290–281 yards for the top models.

5. The “Faster Across the Face” Test

Mark tested QI-35 Standard vs a random driver for ball speed, launch, spin, and dispersion.
Results: Almost identical ball speed, spin, and carry distance; just 1–2 yards difference.
Standard deviation (consistency) was similar or slightly better in the random driver.
Conclusion: “The QI-35 didn’t outperform a good modern driver in this test—but it’s very solid.”

Final Thoughts

The QI-35 line looks and feels great, as expected from TaylorMade. But while the heads performed well, Mark’s real-world testing showed no magical leap in off-center ball speed compared to a random, modern driver.

Who Should Choose Which?

QI-35 Standard: For golfers who want adjustability and balanced performance.
QI-35 LS: For lower spin and a compact look; good for stronger players.
QI-35 Max: For those prioritizing forgiveness and stability.
QI-35 Max Lite: For players needing extra speed and easier swing effort.

Mark’s Conclusion:

These are very good clubs, but don’t expect revolutionary speed gains across the face. Get fit, look at your numbers (especially standard deviation!), and don’t fall for marketing without the data to back it up.