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TaylorMade · Driver · 2026

TaylorMade Qi35 Driver

9 reviewers tested · split · 3 named it a top pick

78

Strongly recommended

what does 78 mean? →

The takeaway

The driver even TaylorMade quietly abandoned.

They agree

  • +tour pros never really bagged it
  • +inconsistent spin and squirrely on course
  • +the Qi4D fixes its admitted flaws

The knocks

  • core head ran too big for some

Buy it ifyou find a deep discount and it genuinely fit you

Skip it ifyou're paying anything close to new price, get the Qi4D

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The verdicts.

AlexEtchesGolf

Loved it

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
  • +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

Loved it

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
  • +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

Full review · top pickWatch the review ↗

Golfbidder

Loved it

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
  • +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
Head-to-head · top pickWatch the review ↗

James Robinson Golf

Mid-handicap everyman reviews

Loved it

Arguably the best, most forgiving all round driver of 2025.

Reaffirmed as arguably the best, most forgiving all-round driver of 2025, clearly faster and roughly 10 yards longer than the budget MacGregor, but at more than double the price.

+ the facts · 4 pros · 2 cons
  • +Ball speeds into the 165-166 mph range, averaging about 163
  • +Lower spin and about 10 yards more carry than the MacGregor
  • +Movable front-back weighting and full fitting options
  • Costs north of £500-£600 depending on shaft
  • He never liked the Qi35 branding, name or colour scheme

For: Golfers happy to pay premium money for the best all-round performance and fitting options

2nd Swing Golf

Master fitters, Trackman-heavy testing

Liked it

the Qi35 is going to give you really good stuff

Still delivers very consistent carry distances and good ball speed a year on, making it a strong value if you're not paying for a new 2026 driver, though it sat closed at address for the tester.

+ the facts · 3 pros · 3 cons
  • +Extremely consistent carry (263-266 yards across the good swings) even with heel and toe strikes
  • +Good ball speeds, in line with TaylorMade's reputation
  • +A solid lower-cost option versus buying new in 2026
  • Naturally sits closed at address, forcing the tester to fight the face
  • Lighter gray crown color was divisive and hasn't worn well
  • Head shape looks bulbous compared to the Qi4D

For: Golfers not looking to spend new-driver money in 2026.

GolfalotTV

Liked it

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
  • +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

Liked it

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
  • +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

Full review · top pickWatch the review ↗

MichaelNewtonGolf

Liked it

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
  • +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

Lukewarm

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
  • +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

Lukewarm

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
  • +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