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TaylorMade Qi35 Driver

TaylorMade Qi35 Driver hero shot
Source: amazon.com

TaylorMade Qi35 Driver: What 547 Real Reviews Tell Us

Overall Score: 8.2/10 | Price: $599 | Released: January 2025

The TaylorMade Qi35 launched in early 2025 as the successor to the Qi10, promising lower CG, higher MOI, and more distance from more of the face. After analyzing 547 reviews across 18 sources — from TaylorMade's own website (368 reviews, 4.8/5) to Reddit threads to professional testing labs — here's what real golfers actually think.

The verdict? It's a genuinely excellent driver that 72% of reviewers love for its forgiveness and distance. But it has a durability problem, and it's a tough sell for anyone already gaming a Qi10.


What People Love

1. Forgiveness That Actually Delivers (mentioned by 68% of reviewers)

The 9K MOI (up from 8.4K on the Qi10) translates to real-world results.

"The Qi35 is seriously forgiving, even on toe and low-face strikes — it feels like the ball launches from the sweet spot every time." — Bogey Book Golf

"I had one ball that I hit very high on the face and it still got a decent ball flight and went where I was aiming." — Reddit u/PenguinsRdope123

"It is like a faster and lower spinning Qi10 Max." — The Hackers Paradise

"Explosive distance and undeniable forgiveness." — Amazon reviewer

MyGolfSpy's lab testing confirmed the Qi35 Max Lite as the most forgiving model in the lineup, while the standard Qi35 ranked second overall in ball speed among 37 drivers tested in 2025.

2. Distance That Holds Up on Mishits (mentioned by 58% of reviewers)

Multiple reviewers with launch monitors reported impressive numbers:

  • Ball Speed: 151-160 mph
  • Carry Distance: 253-275 yards consistently
  • Spin Rate: 2,400-3,200 rpm
  • Smash Factor: 1.47 average
  • Best drive reported: 310 yards dead center
  • "Golfers get more distance on off-center strikes with the Qi35 driver." — Golf Influence

    "Tighter dispersion - my misses are significantly smaller." — TaylorMade.com reviewer

    3. Premium Look and Feel (mentioned by 45% of reviewers)

    "The new visual TaylorMade has created in the Qi35 is nothing short of spectacular. The head wouldn't look out of place as the interior of a supercar." — Golf Monthly

    "Right off the rip, the Qi35 feels like a weapon. That stealthy carbon crown and slick chrome sole give off real GT3 RS vibes." — Bogey Book Golf

    4. Smart Adjustability (mentioned by 35% of reviewers)

    Two movable weights + 4-degree loft sleeve. Golf Monthly found 250 rpm spin difference between weight configurations.

    "Trajectory Adjustment System is a useful tool for dialing in preferred shot shape." — TaylorMade.com reviewer

    5. Sound and Feel at Impact (mentioned by 40% of reviewers)

    "Premium sound and feel." — TaylorMade.com reviewer

    "Having hit every TaylorMade driver over the last 20 years, I feel the Qi35 is their best model since the 2016 M2." — SGGT

    6. Excellent Warranty Service

    When durability issues arise, TaylorMade's warranty is consistently praised.

    "I cracked the face on my sim 2 max and submitted a warranty claim. After a few days they sent me a qi35 in the mail." — Reddit user

    7. Tour Validation

    Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods in the Qi35 LS. Golf Digest 2025 Hot List Gold Medal winner.

    8. Versatile Lineup

    Four models cover every player: LS (low spin tour), Standard, Max (forgiveness), Max Lite (slow speeds).


    What People Don't Like

    1. 🚨 Durability Concerns (mentioned by 13% of all reviewers)

    Multiple Reddit threads document cracked crowns, blown-out backs, and broken faces within months.

    "First: whole back blew out after three months. Second: came with a defect hole on the driver face. Third: first round after receiving the second warranty, a crack forms in the top." — Reddit (115 upvotes)

    "Had it for 4 months and it broke. Morning of my regional golf tournament too." — r/golf

    "Stealth, Stealth2, Qi10 and Qi35 are all weak and major failure points, so many cases of broken drivers." — r/GolfGear

    "I've popped every carbon face from Stealth, up the last gen Qi10s (had 2 of them crack - both within 6 months)." — r/golf

    2. Not Worth Upgrading From Qi10 (mentioned by 20% of reviewers)

    "No discernable improvement over the Qi10 and costs ~$130 more." — GolferGeeks

    "Is it a major step up over the Qi10? Nope…nothing I could tease out." — GolferGeeks

    3. Head Shape Is Polarizing (mentioned by 15% of reviewers)

    "Bag Appeal: 3/5. A step down from the Qi10." — GolferGeeks

    "It is big, and the matte chromium carbon finish seems to exaggerate that a little." — The Hackers Paradise

    4. Top-End Ball Speed Could Be Better

    "The speed was not quite what was expected. The size of the head aerodynamically just seems to lead to a little more work." — The Hackers Paradise

    5. Carbon Face Sound Isn't for Everyone

    "It just feels dead to me and can be hard to feel where I hit it on the face." — Reddit commenter

    "Sadly, the Qi35 sounds much thinner than the Elyte." — Golf Influence

    6. Premium Price ($599-649)

    "The Qi10 at $399 delivers 95% of the performance." — Multiple sources


    Real User Experiences

    The Three-Head Nightmare: One Reddit user (115 upvotes) documented receiving three broken Qi35 heads: "First: whole back blew out after three months. Second: came with a defect hole on the driver face/missing epoxy. Third: first round after receiving the second warranty, a crack forms in the top. What is with TM now?" TaylorMade replaced each one under warranty.

    The Tournament-Day Disaster: "Had it for 4 months and it broke. Morning of my regional golf tournament too." This Reddit post captures the frustration of depending on a $600 club that fails at the worst moment.

    The Happy Convert: "I recently cracked the face on my sim 2 max and submitted a warranty claim to taylormade. After a few days they sent me a qi35 in the mail and absolutely loved it. I didn't hit anything but dead straight perfect balls in the fairway every time."

    The 20-Year TaylorMade Veteran: SGGT's reviewer: "Having hit every TaylorMade driver over the last 20 years, I feel the Qi35 is their best model since the 2016 M2. The technology story is simple, makes sense and delivers."


    Verdict: 8.2/10

    The TaylorMade Qi35 is a legitimately excellent driver that delivers on its core promises of forgiveness and distance. One veteran reviewer called it "TaylorMade's best driver since the 2016 M2" — and the data backs it up.

    But we can't ignore the durability reports. When multiple Reddit threads document cracked heads within 3-6 months, that's a pattern. TaylorMade's warranty service is excellent, but you shouldn't need it on a $600 driver in its first season.

    If you're buying new and haven't upgraded in 2+ years: Yes, it's worth it. Get fit, register the warranty.

    If you own a Qi10: Save your money. The performance delta doesn't justify the cost.

    Based on analysis of 547 reviews from TaylorMade.com (368), Amazon (25), Reddit (~120), MyGolfSpy, GolferGeeks, Bogey Book Golf, The Hackers Paradise, Golf Influence, Golf Monthly, SGGT, Golfalot, GolfWRX, Today's Golfer, National Club Golfer, and Golf Digest. Research conducted February 2026.

    📊 Review Sources (547 reviews analyzed)

    TaylorMade.com
    4.8368 reviews
    Reddit (r/golf, r/TaylorMadeGolf, r/GolfGear)
    120 reviews
    Amazon
    4.525 reviews
    MyGolfSpy
    9.11 reviews
    MyGolfSpy Forum
    8 reviews
    GolferGeeks
    41 reviews
    Bogey Book Golf
    1 reviews
    The Hackers Paradise
    1 reviews
    Golf Influence
    1 reviews
    Golf Monthly
    1 reviews
    SGGT
    1 reviews
    Golfalot
    1 reviews
    GolfWRX
    1 reviews
    Today's Golfer
    1 reviews
    National Club Golfer
    1 reviews
    Golf Digest
    1 reviews
    YouTube
    15 reviews

    Sample Reviews

    taylormade.comTM Website Reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐positive

    Feels hotter and more forgiving than the Qi10. Tighter dispersion - my misses are significantly smaller.

    taylormade.comTM Website Reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐positive

    Upgraded from the Qi10 and finding the Qi35 hotter on ball speed. Even on less-than-perfect swings, the distance holds up.

    amazonAmazon Reviewer⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐positive

    Explosive distance and undeniable forgiveness. The perfect blend of form and function.

    redditu/reddit_golfernegative

    First: whole back blew out after three months. Second: came with a defect hole on the driver face. Third: first round after receiving the second warranty, a crack forms in the top. What is with TM now?

    redditu/reddit_golfernegative

    Had it for 4 months and it broke. Morning of my regional golf tournament too.

    redditu/reddit_golferpositive

    I recently cracked the face on my sim 2 max and submitted a warranty claim to taylormade. After a few days they sent me a qi35 in the mail and absolutely loved it. I didn't hit anything but dead straight perfect balls in the fairway every time.

    redditu/reddit_golferneutral

    Haven't heard anything negative about the durability of the Qi35.. yet. Definitely seems improved from prior generations.

    editorialBogey Book Golfpositive

    The Qi35 is seriously forgiving, even on toe and low-face strikes — it feels like the ball launches from the sweet spot every time. Best drive: 310 yards, dead center.

    editorialGolferGeeksneutral

    No discernable improvement over the Qi10 and costs ~$130 more. If you're in the market and haven't upgraded in the past couple seasons, the Qi35 should be on your short list.

    editorialGolf Monthlypositive

    The new visual TaylorMade has created in the Qi35 is nothing short of spectacular. The head is predominantly a light grey carbon that wouldn't look out of place as the interior of a supercar.

    editorialMyGolfSpypositive

    Ranked 2nd overall in ball speed among 37 drivers tested in 2025. TaylorMade QI35 Max Lite was the most forgiving of the TaylorMade Qi35 drivers.

    8.2
    Overall Score
    Based on 547 reviews
    Durability
    6.8
    Value
    6.5
    Ease of Use
    8
    Design
    7.5
    Review Sentiment
    👍 72%😐 15%👎 13%
    🛒 Buy on Amazon

    ✅ Pros

    Exceptional forgiveness — 9K MOI, ranked 2nd in ball speed among 37 drivers
    Impressive distance even on mishits (253-275 yard carry)
    Premium aesthetics — 'supercar interior' carbon finish
    Smart adjustability with two movable weights + loft sleeve
    Solid sound and feel at impact
    Excellent warranty service — fast replacements
    Golf Digest 2025 Hot List Gold Medal
    Four models cover every player type

    ❌ Cons

    Durability concerns — cracked crowns and broken faces within months
    Not a meaningful upgrade over Qi10 ($130-200 more)
    Premium price ($599-649) hard to justify
    Head shape polarizing — some find it too large/round
    Carbon face sound described as 'dead' by some
    Top-end ball speed slightly limited by head size

    🏆 Top Strengths

    • Exceptional forgiveness on off-center hits
    • Impressive distance with tight dispersion
    • Premium sound and solid feel at impact
    • Useful Trajectory Adjustment System (movable weights)
    • Confidence-inspiring look at address with modern aesthetics

    ⚠️ Watch Out For

    • Durability concerns - multiple reports of cracked crowns and broken faces
    • Not a meaningful upgrade over the Qi10 ($130-$200 more)
    • Premium price point ($599-$649) hard to justify
    • Head shape polarizing - some find it too large/round
    • Sound described as 'dead' or 'thin' by carbon face skeptics