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What’s new? How much does it cost? And how does it perform? Jack Backhouse brings you the low down on TaylorMade Qi35 driver.
This maybe still in the TaylorMade Qi family but the tech has certainly moved on. The Qi35 signals we have come a long way from the Qi10. I went to the TaylorMade factory last year to get the low down, and now we headed over to the La Cala Golf Resort in Spain to how it performs on the golf course.
A big profile driver head that will give golfers of all abilities confidence on the tee to swing hard. Boasting an impressive 9K MOI, there is plenty of forgiveness on offer that doesn’t effect the distance.
Aerodynamically, the Qi35 has developed massively from the previous Qi generations for quicker speeds.
The design of the core head has changed a little bit since the Qi10. It now has a much bigger profile to allow this driver to be more forgiving than anything TaylorMade have released in the Qi range.
The confidence inspiring looks of the TaylorMade Qi35 driver are an assurance to swing as hard as possible and being able to launch the golf ball in the air with greater ease. This is without having to compromise on speed or distance.
On the whole, I like what TaylorMade have done with the design of the Qi35. There’s loads of interesting detail, such as its an asymmetrical head which I don’t think is particularly noticeable. Rather spectacularly, they have taken design inspiration from Lamborghini with the head being made to look fast.
It looks good behind the ball, still looks square despite the oversized profile and doesn’t look at all like a draw bias driver.
NCG Verdict
This driver has an outstanding 9K MOI, making the one of if not the most forgiving standard driver heads on the market. They have managed to do this by adding more weight to the back of the club, TaylorMade have also removed all titanium from the head to introduce a new infinity carbon crown.
I really like the two adjustable weights which enables golfers to turn the head into almost a low spinning core driver head. This is a great inclusion as it caters to those who prefer a more oversized head, certainly in comparison to the LS driver.
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One of the tech stories in the head is the new aerodynamics. Something that can be seen with the angles cut into the sole of the driver. This is of course designed to help the golfer swing quicker, which I think it succeeds at.
I think the higher the loft setting on this driver head the better. I personally liked the look and feeling of it more, being able to see more of the club face.
Now for the data. I was happy with the ball speed at around 162mph.
Considering this isn’t the driver head I would personally play or fitted into, I was still seeing decent carry and spin.
The launch angle and height data reflects how it feels; easy to get in the air.
The big tech change in the new Qi35 driver is the lowering of the club’s centre of gravity (CG) projection, which in layman’s terms makes more of the face hotter. CG projection essential means the centre of gravity in the head balances on the face somewhere and have moved the CG projection lower down the face to give more of a hotspot.
All you need to know is that more of the driver’s face is hotter than it ever has been. Impressively TaylorMade have been able to do this without messing up the MOI and distance.
As mentioned before, being a low handicap golfer this the core head I wouldn’t be fitted into out of the Qi35 range. Although, I do see how this can be a big asset to golfers who requiring a forgiving and confidence inspiring driver that still delivers great distances.
Unfortunately, I think the driver did suffer with my ball striking on the day I tested this. The good strikes I did hit saw me achieve distances that rivalled the low spinning model which is extremely positive.
We were fortunate enough to head out to the La Cala Resort in Spain to conduct some of our equipment reviews. A picturesque resort that is located in the Sierra de Mijas, just 30 minutes from Málaga Airport and 20 minutes from Marbella.
The place offers outstanding views of the Andalusian countryside and the Mediterranean Sea as well as three magnificent golf courses. All three were designed by Cabell B. Robinson and it’s a popular choice for players seeking variety, challenge, and stunning scenery. For more information head to La Cala Resort’s website here.
