Effectively, this needs to be the final of it. With the 2025 TaylorMade Qi35 touchdown on the USGA conforming record, we’ve seen the whole lot the large boys will probably be offering-up come January (or in a single case, later this week).
The entries on the USGA record counsel that TaylorMade will launch 3 driver fashions and that these 3 fashions will mirror what TaylorMade gave us with Qi10, although there are some notable modifications.
Qi35 (the plain one)
Paradoxically, the least notable of TaylorMade’s three new drivers is the one that ought to match the very best share of golfers.
For the usual Qi35, essentially the most noticeable replace right here is the inclusion of a entrance weight port containing what the USGA exhibits as a 3g weight.
Sadly, the USGA doesn’t give us a rear view of the membership, however provided that 3g isn’t a very vital chunk of mass, it’s completely doable, if not going, that the Qi35 will provide a front-to-back weighting system.
Perhaps it’s only for swing weighting, however I’m optimistic we’ll discover a heavier chunk of mass mounted within the rear that may be swapped for trajectory management functions, which might be a fairly candy improve.
Qi35 MAX (the forgiving one)
We are able to safely assume that the MAX will once more be TaylorMade’s highest MOI driver and that MOI will once more push past the ten,000 barrier.
That’s evidenced by a sole marking that reads 10kg-cm².
At this level, it looks like we’re one launch cycle from full formulation being stamped onto golf equipment … at the very least when stated golf equipment aren’t cast or don’t include tungsten.
I digress.
It’s beginning to really feel like 10K is right here to remain and whereas I’ll proceed to remind you that not everybody must be chasing most MOI, I suppose it’s significant that as golfers come to phrases with the truth that the times of huge distance positive aspects are behind us, forgiveness tales are beginning to resonate.
I simply want they had been extra centered round the correct amount of forgiveness as a substitute of completely maximizing what’s, in a way, an arbitrary quantity.
Qi35 LS (the low spinning one)
Lastly, TaylorMade will once more provide an LS (low spin) model of its flagship driver. The evolutionary word for the brand new LS is that TaylorMade has moved away from a full SLDing weight monitor within the entrance in favor of two discrete areas.
Just like the modifications Callaway seems to have made with Elyte, the two-weight system eliminates the necessity for all the construction essential to assist the sliding weight system.
Once more, I’d wager most golfers are shifting weight to 1 facet or the opposite, so it’s in all probability value compromising a bit of little bit of becoming capabilities to release some weight for different functions.
My Qi35 Questions
Goes all in on grey a fantastic thought? – The opposite images we’ve seen of the Qi35 sequence counsel TaylorMade goes all in with a grey paint scheme. I don’t hate it myself, however it’s not misplaced on me that the market has historically most well-liked black crowns on its drivers.
It’s true that TaylorMade has succeeded previously with each white and grey (SIM), however with its infinity crown design, it’s going to be attention-grabbing to see if golfers will love the clear look or really feel prefer it’s just a bit too clear (and grey).
Is spin beneath management within the MAX? – I believed the Qi10 MAX was a little bit of a miss in that TaylorMade didn’t do one of the best job of addressing a few of the pitfalls of utmost MOI. Particularly, the Qi10 MAX was one of many highest-spinning, if not the highest-spinning driver in the marketplace final yr.
And whereas, certain, there are gamers who want spin, it was a wrestle to get Qi10 MAX beneath 3000 RPM for nearly anybody.
My feeling is that if TaylorMade hopes to compete on efficiency within the 10K house, Qi35 must be considerably higher than its predecessor.
So we’re sticking with carbon faces then? – admittedly, that’s extra of a remark than a query, however after three generations of Carbon, I puzzled if TaylorMade, regardless of assurances on the contrary, would take into consideration shifting away from Carbon.
Not this yr.
With the USGA notes indicating CARBON on all three faces, it seems to be like TaylorMade is sticking with the fabric for one more cycle.
Is {that a} mistake? (I assume that’s my query.)
The chatter is that not each tour participant loves it. That’s undoubtedly true on the shopper stage.
Market response coupled with persistent, although bettering, breakage and delamination points, and I believed possibly it could be time for TaylorMade to stroll away.
Not taking place … at the very least not proper now.
Our carbon-faced journey continues for one more season.
What’s the 35 for? –Final yr, the ten in Qi10 meant 10,000 MOI (even for the fashions that didn’t provide it). I believe we are able to safely assume the Qi35 doesn’t provide 35,000 MOI, so what’s with the 35? Early phrase on the road was the brand new drivers had been referred to as NOVA, so possibly that was a code identify or a intelligent little bit of misdirection. Regardless, I’m certain there’s a narrative right here.
How a lot will Qi35 value? – As I famous with my final USGA piece, we’re in an attention-grabbing place proper now. Titleist has pushed its costs to $650, and whereas we are able to discuss whether or not or not that’s justified, value is ceaselessly conflated with high quality, so I’m unsure the most important opponents are going to be comfy with the $50 distinction.
There’s additionally little doubt that the potential for heavy tariffs weighs closely on everybody and my thought is that the optics could be higher elevating costs now than attempting to cope with value will increase mid-cycle.
Frankly, I don’t know what it can appear to be when the mud settles, however $600 is absolutely the ground, and $650 is probably going the ceiling.
Extra to return
Count on the TaylorMade Qi35 drivers to be formally launched in early January. Extra particulars coming quickly.
The submit TaylorMade Qi35 Drivers Are Coming Quickly and I Have Some Questions appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
