2nd Swing Golf
Master fitters, Trackman-heavy testing
“This felt awesome, too, by the way. Felt really good.”
Set the distance bar of the test — launched higher with far less spin and gained about 15 carry yards over the Cobra while feeling awesome.
+ the facts · 3 pros · 1 cons− the facts
- +Dropped spin tremendously and gained roughly 15 carry yards versus the DS-Adapt Max
- +Compact, appealing shape with a deeper face the tester liked
- +Felt awesome with no loss of peak height or landing angle
- −May carry too far for players who need a 7-wood for a tighter gapping window
For: Players wanting maximum 7-wood distance without giving up height
“pictures do not do this driver Justice”
The core Qi35 delivered stability and speed together: stunning gunmetal looks, a huge confidence-inspiring footprint, and remarkably consistent ball speed and spin across his spray of strikes, though he stops short of declaring it better than Qi10 without a fitting.
+ the facts · 6 pros · 3 cons− the facts
- +Absolutely stunning in person; pictures don't do it justice
- +Inertia shaping makes it look enormous at address (he jokes 560cc) without losing depth
- +Very consistent carry numbers (289-296) and mid-2000s spin despite varied strike locations
- −£529 RRP
- −He wishes it had a touch more green/colour in the design
- −He can't say it beats Qi10 for you without a proper fitting
For: Golfers who want forgiveness and speed in one head; get fitted across the five-head range
Golf Monthly
UK magazine, season-long testing
“there's nothing I don't like about it”
The major highlight of the range and a standout driver of 2025 for him, with a gorgeous rounded profile, powerful feel and interchangeable weights that make it almost two drivers in one.
+ the facts · 5 pros · 1 cons− the facts
- +Rounder profile than even the Qi10 he loved
- +Seriously powerful impact feel, a touch firmer than last year
- +Neutral setting is safe and user-friendly, finding lots of fairways
- −Weight-forward setting sacrifices a little accuracy
For: Almost everyone; its versatility covers both forgiveness and low-spin distance
“Tailor Made absolutely blew it out of the park”
The runaway performance winner of the seven 2025 drivers, giving him his best and longest hits (296+ and over 300 yards) with total confidence at any swing speed, despite TaylorMade historically not suiting him.
+ the facts · 3 pros− the facts
- +Best strikes of the whole test, longest distances including a drive over 300 yards
- +Confidence-inspiring: he could swing as hard or soft as he wanted and trust the result
- +Won gold for performance despite only bronze on looks
James Robinson Golf
Mid-handicap everyman reviews
“this has been one of the clubs that has been stand out”
The standout fairway wood of the year for SGT's fitters, with the core model launching high without excess spin and huge versatility.
+ the facts · 5 pros · 1 cons− the facts
- +Core model launches high with low spin for real distance, fantastic all round
- +Through-slot speed pocket keeps ball speed on low-face strikes
- +Forward weight adds versatility, easy to flight down on command
- −Tour model is the more expensive route
For: Almost anyone, a really nice middle ground between forgiveness and workability
The super-forgiving core model that is really hard to hit badly, but spun more and flew higher, costing him distance versus the LS.
+ the facts · 3 pros · 2 cons− the facts
- +Super forgiving, really hard to hit a bad shot
- +MOI up to 9,000 from 8,400 in the Qi10
- +Adjustable weight can go forward for speed or back for forgiveness
- −Higher spin (3,200 rpm average) and higher launch cost him distance
- −213 carry / 227 total, down on the LS
For: Golfers who want easy launch and forgiveness over maximum distance
Mark Crossfield
Coach, famously hard to impress
“the standard just does push me to my limits”
His top performer of the four heads with 166 mph average ball speed and 290-yard carries, but his three-day claim test found it no faster or tighter across the face than a random fitted driver.
+ the facts · 4 pros · 3 cons− the facts
- +Best numbers of the lineup for him, 166 average ball speed, ~290 yard carry
- +Pure carbon-face feel and sound, looks fantastic and sits square
- +Left-right pattern is less fadey than older generations
- −In his mega test the across-the-face speed claim didn't hold up: identical ball speed, spin, carry and worse standard deviation than a random driver
- −Prices seem high for a club not that different from the generation before
- −Tech is all carried over from prior generations
For: Players who want a fitted, dialed-in setup rather than fixed max forgiveness
“that just looks huge behind that golf ball”
Big, confidence-inspiring standard head with a stunning carbon crown that delivered genuinely low spin and strong distance for him.
+ the facts · 5 pros · 1 cons− the facts
- +Head looks huge and confidence-inspiring behind the ball despite being the standard model
- +Stunning satin-gray carbon crown and new black carbon face
- +Low spin numbers (around 2,200) with runs out near 296 yards
- −High-polish section around the hosel contrasts with the matte crown and could reflect sun at address
For: The head most golfers will get into, blending forgiveness with low spin
TrottieGolf
Tour-level club builder
“This one already is like dead to me to be honest.”
Last year's model held its own on raw launch-monitor numbers but was squirrelier and shorter on the course, and he admits he has given up on it.
+ the facts · 2 pros · 3 cons− the facts
- +Similar ball speed and totals to the Qi4D on the launch monitor (304 vs 303 on the hardest hits)
- +Three-weight setup gives a few more adjustment options
- −Misses went further right and flew squirrely on the course
- −He never quite got the setup dialed despite a lot of tinkering
- −Wasn't particularly well accepted on tour
Club Champion (TXG)
Tour-level fitting studio
“I was really excited and it just didn't pan out”
Referenced in passing as last year's disappointment: easy to fit with its movable weighting but it never panned out for him, and almost no pros switched to it, unlike the Qi4D.
+ the facts · 1 pros · 2 cons− the facts
- +Easier to fit because of the movable weighting
- −Didn't live up to his excitement in testing
- −No pros switched to it for any measurable period last year