Golfstead is reader-supported. When you buy through links on the site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Our affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network and Amazon Associates.
Today, I’ll be reviewing the TaylorMade Qi10 driver.
With the Qi10 family, TaylorMade redesigns its previous tech and makes a number of enhancements and changes to the construction of the driver to increase moment of inertia (MOI) higher than ever before, leading to unprecedented forgiveness.
The standard Qi10 model, in particular, is designed to provide a blend of forgiveness and distance, thus appealing to a wide range of golfers.
How does the Qi10 driver actually perform when put to the test? How does it compare to the previous Stealth models? Who is it best suited for? Is it worth putting in the bag?
Here’s what will be covered in the review:
Read on to learn what you need to know to make an informed purchase.
Note: Unless otherwise stated, stock shafts and stock grips are used when evaluating this club. In most cases, the golf clubs reviewed on Golfstead are acquired temporarily for testing purposes and are not purchased. The review that follows is based on the personal experience and research of the author. Because everyone’s swing and body are different, results with a particular club may differ from person to person.
What are the reviews like?
The Qi10 driver won a gold medal on the 2024 Golf Digest Hot List. Critic reviews are highly positive and consist of many 4-5 star ratings.
What People Like
- appeals to a wide range of golfers
- appealing round look at address
- longer than the Stealth 2
- very forgiving given the spin profile
What People Don’t Like
- some find the length and forgiveness to be disappointing
- no sole adjustability
The Features
Infinity Carbon Crown
This crown is completely unique to the Qi10 driver.
Unlike the Stealth 2, the carbon portion of the crown extends virtually all the way to the top line, covering about 97% of the top of the driver. This enables weight savings that are redistributed to increase MOI.
60X Carbon Twist Face
The 60X Carbon Twist Face, originally featured in the Stealth driver, makes a return for the Qi10. It’s comprised of 60 layers of carbon sheets strategically arranged to maximize energy transfer and ball speeds in all regions.
The Carbon Twist Face is substantially lighter than an equivalent titanium face. The third generation version of this face has an improved support structure that is designed to flex more, thus delivering even better mis-hit performance than previous generations.
Here are a few other things to note about the Qi10 driver:
- it has a low center of gravity (CG) and higher MOI than its predecessor
- it features the Thru-Slot Speed Pocket which has been a staple in TaylorMade drivers for many years; this flexible pocket increases sole flexibility, leading to increased ball speed and forgiveness low on the face.
- it includes an adjustable loft sleeve
Stock Info
The Qi10 driver is available in 9°, 10.5°, and 12° standard lofts at 460CC.
Included is a 4° loft sleeve that allows you to adjust loft, lie and face angle. There are 12 possible sleeve variations that can increase or decrease the loft and lie angle by ±2°, and the face angle by ±4°.
The stock graphite shafts are the Fujikura VENTUS TR Blue and Mitsubishi Diamana T+60, and the stock grip is the Golf Pride ZGRIP Plus2.
If you’re interested, full information on the driver, shafts, grips, their specs, and any custom options can be found here.
Below are the specs of the Qi10 driver. Click or zoom to enlarge.
The Performance
Distance
I didn’t find that I was generating any additional clubhead speed compared to the Stealth 2 during my field test.
However, I’m pleased to report that the Qi10 seemed to have a slight edge in ball speed (smash factor), leading to a few yards more distance on average.
Forgiveness
The standard Qi10 driver isn’t as forgiving as the Qi10 Max in absolute terms, but given that it produces similar RPMs to the previous generation Stealth 2, mis-hit performance is highly impressive.
Compared to the Stealth 2, there is less variability in ball flight and it’s easier to maintain a consistent trajectory from shot to shot. Bad swings and poor contact can still lead to missed fairways, but there’s a decent-sized margin of error to work with.
The Qi10 is supposed to be more forgiving than the previous generation, and it indeed is.
Playability
The launch, trajectories and spin produced by the Qi10 are comparable to the previous Stealth 2. Penetration and performance in the wind is good.
The Qi10 is a balanced performer, true to its place as the middle model in the Qi10 family; neither spin nor launch are too high or too low, and the flight bias is more or less neutral.
Like the Stealth 2, the Qi10 lacks a sliding sole weight, which is reserved for the Qi10 LS model. Some may dislike this lack of adjustability, but it does allow TaylorMade to improve weight distribution to better optimize forgiveness and general performance.
Contrary to what some might assume, the Qi10 driver is very workable. I had no issue putting shape on my shots during my field test, whether it was a draw, fade, or flighting it higher or lower. This deserves praise given the Qi10’s higher level of forgiveness.
The Look
The Qi10 driver has a clean, modern look with a shape that is more rounded than pear. One thing that stands out is how elongated the driver is from front to back, which is indicative of the very high MOI and forgiveness.
While red accents dominated the Stealth and and Stealth 2 drivers, the Qi10 goes with a blue colour to pair with the black gloss finish. I think this colour scheme could perhaps be less polarizing and be more widely appealing than the Stealth.
The club sets up square at address, and it features a new high-contrast alignment line at the transition point between the face and crown. This works with the alignment logo on the crown to make setting up square easier than ever.
The Sound & Feel
The Qi10 driver feels very similar to the Stealth 2, which is not surprising given the carbon construction. It’s powerful and strikes a great balance between solidness and responsiveness.
The sound is also similar to the Stealth 2 and can be described as a fairly loud, sharp “snap” at impact. If anything, I found the Qi10 to sound just a touch more muted, but the difference is very minor.
The sound is fairly consistent across the face. You’ll get a pretty good idea of where you make contact based on the feel alone, which lacks some explosiveness in mis-hit areas relative to center strikes, but the feedback isn’t overly harsh by any means.
Where To Buy This Driver Online
You can order a Qi10 driver with your choice of loft and shaft on TaylorMade’s official store, or you can optionally do full customization through their Custom Shop.
Another option is PGA TOUR Superstore. They offer performance guarantees, club fittings, club trade-ins, and other programs designed to make the buying experience as smooth as possible.
You can also buy the Qi10 driver from Global Golf and Amazon.
Don’t forget about eBay, where you can often find unbeatable deals on new and used golf equipment.
Final Thoughts
If TaylorMade’s goal was to make the Qi10 driver match or outclass the previous generation Stealth 2 in every category, they succeeded.
While it’s not the most forgiving nor the longest model in the Qi10 family, it boasts an ever-so-slight edge in distance and has markedly better mis-hit performance than the standard Stealth 2. This is in addition to balanced launch and spin and good workability, making the Qi10 a top driver for 2024.
Pretty much anyone, from pro to high handicapper, could see success with the Qi10, although it will tend to appeal to the middle part of the spectrum more than anything.
Are you interested in the Qi10 driver? Have you played it? What’s your experience? Tell us about it in the comments below.
