Nicely, this must be the final of it. With the 2025 TaylorMade Qi35 touchdown on the USGA conforming checklist, we’ve seen all the things the massive boys might be offering-up come January (or in a single case, later this week).
The entries on the USGA checklist 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)
Satirically, the least notable of TaylorMade’s three new drivers is the one that ought to match the best share of golfers.
For the usual Qi35, probably the most noticeable replace right here is the inclusion of a entrance weight port containing what the USGA reveals as a 3g weight.
Sadly, the USGA doesn’t give us a rear view of the membership, however on condition that 3g isn’t a very important chunk of mass, it’s completely doable, if not going, that the Qi35 will supply a front-to-back weighting system.
Possibly 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 … not less than when stated golf equipment aren’t solid 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 beneficial properties are behind us, forgiveness tales are beginning to resonate.
I simply want they had been extra centered round the correct quantity of forgiveness as an alternative of completely maximizing what’s, in a way, an arbitrary quantity.
Qi35 LS (the low spinning one)
Lastly, TaylorMade will once more supply an LS (low spin) model of its flagship driver. The evolutionary be aware 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 places.
Just like the modifications Callaway seems to have made with Elyte, the two-weight system eliminates the necessity for the entire construction essential to assist the sliding weight system.
Once more, I’d wager most golfers are shifting weight to at least one aspect or the opposite, so it’s in all probability price compromising somewhat little bit of becoming capabilities to unencumber some weight for different functions.
My Qi35 Questions
Goes all in on grey an important 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, nevertheless it’s not misplaced on me that the market has historically most popular black crowns on its drivers.
It’s true that TaylorMade has succeeded up to now 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 underneath 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 among the pitfalls of maximum 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 under 3000 RPM for nearly anybody.
My feeling is that if TaylorMade hopes to compete on efficiency within the 10K area, 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 appears to be like 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 perhaps it could be time for TaylorMade to stroll away.
Not occurring … not less than 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 supply it). I believe we are able to safely assume the Qi35 doesn’t supply 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 perhaps that was a code title or a intelligent little bit of misdirection. Regardless, I’m certain there’s a narrative right here.
How a lot will Qi35 price? – 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, worth is continuously conflated with high quality, so I’m unsure the most important rivals 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 making an attempt to cope with price will increase mid-cycle.
Frankly, I don’t know what it can appear to be when the mud settles, however $600 is absolutely the flooring, and $650 is probably going the ceiling.
Extra to come back
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.
