Each year, the golf world eagerly anticipates the release of new drivers from TaylorMade and Callaway, two titans in club innovation.
For 2025, the battle between the TaylorMade Qi35 and Callaway Elyte takes centre stage. We tested both at La Cala in Spain to determine which driver offers better distance, forgiveness, and overall performance. Here’s what we found…
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TaylorMade Qi35 Vs Callaway Elyte Driver: First Impressions
For 2025, the TaylorMade Qi35 LS and the Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond are making waves as two of the hottest drivers on the market.
Every year the brands bring out new clubs that look better with even greater performance. The former certainly applies if you’re a fan of head covers when it comes to the Qi35 and the Elyte. It’s a tough choice to pick between the two, they both feel the same and have the exact same lining, but I was edging towards the Callaway.
The green and white colour scheme swayed my choice in favour of the Callaway. Although, I am a fan of the subtle detailing on the TaylorMade driver head cover.
In terms of the club head aesthetics the TaylorMade Qi35 LS sports a much more modern grey infinity crown. I think this complements its sleek, low-spin shape really well. Callaway have opted for a more professional and traditional black finish which is also paired with a compact shape, giving it a more classic look.
TaylorMade Qi35 Vs Callaway Elyte Driver: Performance
One of the standout characteristics of the Qi35 LS is its aerodynamics, allowing for a consistently high club speed. Even on mis-hits, it maintained strong ball speed and distance. The low-spin design made it one of the fastest and most forgiving low-spin heads TaylorMade has produced and that I have tested.
This was certainly the case during testing as I found that the club speed averaged at 109 mph whilst the ball speed peaked at 161 mph from the TaylorMade driver. This was a touch quicker than what I could produce with the Callaway offering which produced an average club speed of 107.5 mph. Additionally the peak ball speed was a few miles per hour down at 157mph.
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However, the Callaway driver provided solid performance when struck well, with a great feel and more traditional feedback. The feel of the club is where the Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond hit back for me. I love a traditional titanium feel which I think provides a more immediate feedback.
The better feel and sound of a golf club will always come down to preference. If you prefer the modern feel of a carbon face, TaylorMade is the winner. But, if its a classic titanium feel, Callaway is the better choice.
I think one of the biggest differences between the two drivers was the dispersion of the strikes. The TaylorMade Qi35 was by far more tighter and consistent from back to front. This led to better accuracy off the tee and more fairways hit. The Callaway seemed to show more spread in dispersion, making it slightly less forgiving over multiple shots.
Across testing the TaylorMade just seemed to feel more forgiving than the Callaway Elyte driver on off-centred strikes. This was particularly clear on toe strikes. TaylorMade’s carbon face technology ensured mishits still performed admirably, keeping the ball speed and spin relatively stable.
When it came to the Callaway the mishits, particularly toe strikes, this resulted in noticeable drop-offs in both ball speed and carry distance.
That’s the data outlined, but which did I think was the best driver?
The Verdict
It must be said that the TaylorMade Qi35 LS and the Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond are two exceptional driver options. But if I had to pick one the TaylorMade Qi35 LS would take the nod. The Callaway still shines for those who prefer a more traditional feel and sound, but in terms of raw performance, forgiveness, and consistency, the TaylorMade Qi35 LS takes the win in this head-to-head matchup.
So, that just leaves the matter of which one should you choose? Well, if you prioritise speed, distance, and forgiveness, the TaylorMade Qi35 LS is the way to go. If you’re looking for a more traditional feel with a compact head shape, the Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond remains a solid option. Either way, 2025 has delivered two exceptional drivers worth testing on the course.
More information on both drivers: Callaway UK / Callaway US / TaylorMade website
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Would you go for TaylorMade’s modern tech or Callaway’s classic feel? Let us know on X
Also, check out the individual driver video reviews below…
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