“The first time I've been well and truly gobsmacked with hitting a driver”
The first driver to genuinely gobsmack him: strikes all over the face and the dispersion was still boringly tight, backed by a fitting system he rates as a real step forward.
+ the facts · 6 pros · 2 cons− the facts
- +Maintains spin and ball speed regardless of strike location; mishits everywhere still produced tight dispersion
- +New 8-inch face roll adds RPM from the top of the face and cuts it from the bottom versus the Qi35
- +Higher COR area than the Qi35 (52.9 vs 48.4)
- −The Qi4D name landed flat compared to the tech story behind it
- −Down at the ball it looks little different from the Qi35
For: Almost anyone, and especially golfers whose strike location wanders around the face
Golf Monthly
UK magazine, season-long testing
“the Qi 4D from my testing was actually the longest”
The core Qi4D was the longest fairway wood in his test and a hugely forgiving all-rounder he is seriously considering for his own bag.
+ the facts · 4 pros− the facts
- +Longest fairway wood of his testing with the high launch, low spin flight he wants
- +Really forgiving, especially on strikes low on the face thanks to the speed slot
- +Head size works for a massive range of golfers, played by elite tour pros
For: A huge range of players, from good amateurs up to elite ball strikers
“Oh, it's gorgeous. Really enjoying hitting that.”
The core head gave him extra club head speed, superbly consistent spin, and a better look and feel than the Qi35, producing his best numbers of the whole lineup.
+ the facts · 6 pros · 1 cons− the facts
- +Gained 2-3 mph of club head speed for him (112-113 vs his usual 110), crediting the aerodynamic reshaping
- +Far superior darker bronze-tinted look versus the Qi35
- +Better, more solid feel off the face than the Qi35
- −Flight was a touch high for his personal preference in the rear-weighted setting
For: The standard head for most golfers, with heavy fitting adjustability via the new React shaft lineup
Today's Golfer
UK magazine, robot + human testing
“this might be the most popular driver of the year”
The head he was personally fit into and the other half of his clear one-two: a more compact, faster, four-weight core model he suspects will be the most popular driver of the year.
+ the facts · 4 pros · 2 cons− the facts
- +Four-weight system (back for forgiveness, front for speed, heel for draw, toe for fade) is a fitter's dream
- +More compact, faster aero shape claimed to add ~0.75 mph club speed and ~1.2 mph ball speed on average
- +Produced his long-sought baby draw at 300 yards in testing
- −Feel trails some other drivers on the market
- −He won't call it the outright best until Today's Golfer's group drivers test
For: The broadest range of golfers; his bet for the most popular driver of 2026
TrottieGolf
Tour-level club builder
“It's problems in it... because I thought I had a driver that I was going to be in.”
The core Qi4D wins him over despite his LS loyalty; it has widened the range of players it suits and unlocks a high-tee shot he doesn't have with the LS.
+ the facts · 5 pros · 2 cons− the facts
- +Widened the cone of players the core model appeals to, back toward tradition versus the Qi35 core
- +Four movable weights let you fit it for accuracy or turn it into a distance/launch machine
- +Consistently straight with low spin (nothing over 3,000 rpm in his session)
- −Bigger footprint than the classic-shaped LS, which some players see as a hindrance
- −One shot came out a bit floaty, needing loft/weight tweaks to dial in
For: Anyone wanting a TaylorMade driver, especially 10+ handicaps, plus good players who assume they need low spin
MyGolfSpy
Data-driven independent testing
“the TaylorMade core model is fantastic this year”
Named MyGolfSpy's Most Wanted best overall driver of 2026 from a ~20,000-shot, 35-tester field, scoring above nine across the board and validating TaylorMade's promised return to speed-first design.
+ the facts · 3 pros− the facts
- +Best overall in the 2026 Most Wanted driver test
- +Above nine across distance, accuracy and forgiveness scores
- +Confirms TaylorMade's stated return to fast, back-to-roots driver design
For: The highest-probability starting point for most golfers building a demo shortlist, not an automatic buy without fitting
2nd Swing Golf
Master fitters, Trackman-heavy testing
“It's a great driver for for the masses”
The core model is the driver for the masses with great looks and a new four-weight system, though the crown dashes distracted this tester at address.
+ the facts · 4 pros · 1 cons− the facts
- +Best-looking finish in years: matte black with an orange tint and a minimal logo
- +New R7-style quad weight system (two back, two forward) makes it a fitter's dream
- +Low spin that fits roughly 95% of mid-to-low handicap players; already popular on tour
- −White dash markings on the back of the crown were distracting and made aim feel off for the tester
For: The vast majority of mid-to-low handicap golfers wanting a low-spin all-around driver
The new Qi4D 7-wood was the straightest club of the test, but its deep face and slightly lower ball speed kept it behind the Titleist and Ping for him.
+ the facts · 2 pros · 2 cons− the facts
- +Definitely the straightest of the group, helped by the deepest face in the test
- +All-matte crown, clearly differentiated look
- −Slightly lower ball speed for him (140-141 mph, down on the Titleist and Ping)
- −Deepest face in the lineup made it harder for him to flight than the shallower heads
For: Players who fight a left/right miss and want a deep-faced, stable 7-wood
James Robinson Golf
Mid-handicap everyman reviews
“I'm edging towards knowing what head I'm putting in play”
Playing it on course he's straight, consistent (272-281 yards), and openly tempted to put it in the bag over his Callaway, though he credits some of the gains to his new shaft and swing work rather than the head alone.
+ the facts · 3 pros · 3 cons− the facts
- +Very consistent on course: repeated 275-yard drives with straight flight, not losing golf balls
- +Lets him attack the driver again; hit 281 with ball speed up to 159 mph
- +Launching high and long even from the 9-degree head once his delivery improved
- −Only tested in a 9-degree head when he'd normally fit into 10 or 11 degrees
- −Hard to isolate the driver's contribution from the new Oban shaft and HackMotion swing work
- −Spin creeping to around 2,900-3,000 on some drives, leaving distance on the table
Mark Crossfield
Coach, famously hard to impress
“It's as quick as anything out there. Is it quicker? Not really.”
The best-sounding TaylorMade in ages with top-end performance when fitted, but it is not actually quicker than anything else and the launch narrative quietly admits the Qi35's flaws.
+ the facts · 4 pros · 3 cons− the facts
- +Best sounding TaylorMade driver he has hit for ages; the famous thud is gone for a great thud-and-carbon combination
- +Looks classy and sits square; great fitted numbers with spin in his sweet spot (~2,329 rpm) and 277-yard average carry, near his top end
- +Felt great on the golf course; flight, looks, feel and end result all delivered
- −As quick as anything out there but not actually quicker
- −Expensive premium pricing (his comparison: 1,300 chicken nuggets or a high-end pizza oven)
- −The marketing story fixes roll-radius and speed problems TaylorMade never admitted the Qi35 had, and the aero/high-speed narrative flipped as soon as tour staffers bagged it
For: Golfers who get properly fit and want a premium core head on the slightly lower-spin side