TaylorMade QI10 MAX

[anth]

What loft are you playing? Seems to be launching quite low?

[Steelhead]

On 2/17/2024 at 7:44 AM, lbhitter said:

Played Ping G430 Max 10.5 Driver with Tour Chrome Stiff Flex all last year.  Had one of my best driving years ever.  This driver is an absolute fairway finder.  Not the longest out there but very dependable.  My CHS averages about 95mph and I am fairly consistent at hitting up on it about +1 or more AoA.  I was on a LM last year and it spun about ~3000 rpm, and the fitter said that was too much spin.  I didn't want to change anything because I just liked the results.  Gives me a nice mid flight with good roll, in the fairway!

 

I first purchased a Ping G430 10k with the same shaft to try based on the feedback, believing I would gain a few more yards.  The feedback was higher launch but lower spin.  However, just the opposite happened.  The lower spin caused the 10k to be less forgiving, and I missed several fairways with it.  The driver seemed very inconsistent for me, the opposite of the G430 Max.

 

Enter the TM Qi10Max.  Thought I would give it a try.  Picked up a 10.5 with a stock Diamana T60 Stiff.  Beautiful driver, sits perfectly square to me and looks far better than my Ping.  I have about 3 rounds with it, and I am really starting to gel with this driver.  It gives me a little higher launch than the G430 Max, more of a mid-high launch, and I am finding it to be ~5-7 yards longer than my Ping.  I play the same course mostly so I know where my ball usually ends up.  The distance isn't what's attractive to me though, its the forgiveness as advertised.  I played with the Qi10Max yesterday and didn't have my best stuff.  I hit two bad drives, one on the toe and one on the bottom of the club and both went dead straight where I was aiming.

 

My take on the Qi10Max is that it is just as forgiving as the G430Max, with a little higher launch and a touch more distance.  It also has a really good feel to it, ball just sounds and feels solid coming off the face.  Have no idea what the spin numbers are, but it probably spins more and that is probably a good thing for me.  Beautiful driver, solid results.  

 

I would recommend adding some version of this TM to your 2024 testing.  I don't usually associate forgiveness with TM drivers, but this one is different.  Best of luck with your findings.

 

As an aside.  I have TM, PXG, Titleist, Cleveland and Callaway in my bag.  Trying to play the stuff that helps me be better.

LB

 

 

I had a similar experience as you did. I went back-and-forth between the ping 430 max 10k, PXG black ops also the QI 10 max. PXG and QI 10 max both had Ventus blue Velocore, Ping had the Tour Chrome stiff. I mostly played the same course. I found all three drivers almost interchangeable with the PXG, being slightly longer, and ever so slightly less forgiving. But that’s really splitting hairs. Sold the PXG first then it was down to the TM and PING. I probably would have similar results if I put the Ventus and in the Ping, but that said, with the QI 10 max, I have developed a baby draw, which I can’t seem to replicate on the Ping. Resulting in additional length from 0 yards to 10+ yards. Sold the Ping. Not a big hitter like most of the boys here. :-). But going from 220+ carry to Over 230 carry with a draw/rollout giving me more after carry, has been sweet. Of course it doesn’t hurt when we all work on technique and actually put a ton of work in. I’m trying to stay away from YouTube videos and this site telling me I need another driver :-). hopefully the driver part of the bag is set for a little while. (Wait, look at that new Mizuno, Max that could be a nice ticket.)

Edited March 6, 2024 by Steelhead

[Walkerdb7]

11 hours ago, anth said:

What loft are you playing? Seems to be launching quite low?

10.5 + 2 clicks up

 

I had that exact same thought yesterday, but am not worried about it at the moment… 

 

I’m a 12 and perpetually working on my swing. If you look at the prior two times I used this driver, I was launching it like 11 or 12 deg? 

 

I was not swinging well yesterday, as stated in the post, and rushed to get setup. Low launch was probably an issue of an “off day” or my maybe my MLM 2 pro not being perfectly aligned? Callaway is 10.5 playing 11.5 and was low too.

 

I didn’t see the mind blowing results I saw during the fitting… but if it really carries 5 yards further, and is 5 yards straighter on my worst days, that really feels like a tool that could save a couple strokes around? 
 

If I don’t see the launch improve consistently with my lessons and a larger sample size, I’d probably consider a refit to get a different shaft. I think this head is gonna work well for me
 

 

Edited March 5, 2024 by Walkerdb7

[Walkerdb7]

@anth got to hit again during today. Inside a trackman studio... nothing like the new driver coming in and a lighter week at work...

Anyway, I think the low launch yesterday was a bad swing + fixed mat tee. I got to pick my tee height today and I naturally tee the ball high. I noticed instantly on the first swing. Launch was back up to 11-13 deg. If I get the Trackman report, I will post. Generally speaking was like +4 carry yards longer again today. I actually hit the Callaway touch straighter when I did 10 vs 10 head to head, but that is the first time that has happened in 5 head to head sessions and I am not a scratch player. Variability of the swing comes into play.

Edited March 6, 2024 by Walkerdb7

[Walkerdb7]

I have not seen anything that say Qi10 Max or fairway woods is Draw biased. I don't much care if it is or is not... but does anyone know the answer to this? I am more concerned on the fairway woods.

It was my understanding that Max line was NOT draw biased.

[ode1]

nm....enjoy the Max🙃

Edited April 10, 2024 by ode1

[JAM01]

Thread has been quiet. After demoing the Paradym AI smoke, the PXG black Ops and the G430 10k, I also tried the QI10 max. The AI One felt and sounded great, but was a little shorter ( I really have lost swing speed and distance in the last few years). Also tended to fade too much for me. The Ping’s face was just too Shallow for me. The Black Ops was quite nice, look, sound, feel. I had the wrong loft. 9 degrees was just too low launching. Got the QI10 in 12 degrees. Played with the loft to open the face, then went back to the standard. Today I hit every fairway but one and was maybe a foot off. Just a nice high slight fade. Very controllable. At that loft, it’s maybe 5 yards off my distance, though today several holes had a stiff breeze in my face. 

[dmeeksDC]

I’ve currently got the standard Qi10 and Qi10 MAX, both in 9 degrees. I can’t decide which one I like more. Hitting them very well and once I adjust the hosel I can hit the MAX as far as I can the standard. On some drives it spins a little more but it also launches higher. On some drives that spin is a savior. It feels excellent. It is larger but not huge, but it’s fast. Just a great driver.

 

There will be times this year I will want a max forgiveness driver, and I’m definitely going with the Qi10 MAX. It’s somewhat difficult to hit wild shots with it, the tech truly does keep errant shots under control. I was going to try both and keep my favorite, but I may very well keep both and rotate them because there are features I like about both heads. Both can deliver the long ball and are much, much more forgiving on mishits than Stealth2. If players of any handicap give the MAX a try, a lot are going to like it. 

[Walkerdb7]

12 hours ago, dmeeksDC said:

I’ve currently got the standard Qi10 and Qi10 MAX, both in 9 degrees. I can’t decide which one I like more. Hitting them very well and once I adjust the hosel I can hit the MAX as far as I can the standard. On some drives it spins a little more but it also launches higher. On some drives that spin is a savior. It feels excellent. It is larger but not huge, but it’s fast. Just a great driver.

 

There will be times this year I will want a max forgiveness driver, and I’m definitely going with the Qi10 MAX. It’s somewhat difficult to hit wild shots with it, the tech truly does keep errant shots under control. I was going to try both and keep my favorite, but I may very well keep both and rotate them because there are features I like about both heads. Both can deliver the long ball and are much, much more forgiving on mishits than Stealth2. If players of any handicap give the MAX a try, a lot are going to like it. 

Yeah, I always wonder what life would be like the Core model. I didn’t hit that much more out of control, but the good ones were a touch longer. I ended up picking the max because it had gains on what I came from and I assumed the technology would help with a larger sample size. Cliche life of a gear junkie. 

I routinely take lessons. I had a break through a few weeks ago and I am getting lots more spin now. The second reason I went with Max is that I am a low swing player through swing flaws. The fact the Max spins a bit more was good for me. My new “miss” is a high spinner that ballons and goes no where, haha, better than OB! This is just adding to my curiosity around re-testing the core. 

[dmeeksDC]

2 hours ago, Walkerdb7 said:

Yeah, I always wonder what life would be like the Core model. I didn’t hit that much more out of control, but the good ones were a touch longer. I ended up picking the max because it had gains on what I came from and I assumed the technology would help with a larger sample size. Cliche life of a gear junkie. 

I routinely take lessons. I had a break through a few weeks ago and I am getting lots more spin now. The second reason I went with Max is that I am a low swing player through swing flaws. The fact the Max spins a bit more was good for me. My new “miss” is a high spinner that ballons and goes no where, haha, better than OB! This is just adding to my curiosity around re-testing the core. 

 

We always want what we don’t have! Worked on my driver swing over the weekend, really, just on tempo and swinging freely. Patience is the best tempo thought for me. I get way more ball speed when I build the speed and don’t rush coming down. 
 

As for the drivers, the only thing I have definitely noticed is the Max is easy to hit high and keep in play. Still comparing distances. I do see a little less spin with the standard based on rollout I am seeing. TM did a great job on the design of these drivers, whichever one you choose. Fun watching those guys crush it at the Masters. 

[Aggielefty]

Anyone go from the 10.5 max to the 9?  Did you lose a bit of forgiveness? Pick up noticeable distance? 

[Walkerdb7]

3 hours ago, dmeeksDC said:

 

We always want what we don’t have! Worked on my driver swing over the weekend, really, just on tempo and swinging freely. Patience is the best tempo thought for me. I get way more ball speed when I build the speed and don’t rush coming down. 
 

As for the drivers, the only thing I have definitely noticed is the Max is easy to hit high and keep in play. Still comparing distances. I do see a little less spin with the standard based on rollout I am seeing. TM did a great job on the design of these drivers, whichever one you choose. Fun watching those guys crush it at the Masters. 

CC messed up my order and sent the 5W core instead of the 5W max. I noticed a big difference with those. The core was easy enough to hit, but it was bullet / stinger city. The Max is like beautiful high shots. It’s definitely the easiest to hit fairway wood I have ever used. Unfortunately, to correct the mistake, they just head swapped my clubs and reused the shaft. I never got to do them side by side for a proper comparison  

[this_is_golf]

I found a Max on eBay that has my attention…now deciding to pull the trigger or not…

[JAM01]

24 minutes ago, this_is_golf said:

I found a Max on eBay that has my attention…now deciding to pull the trigger or not…

Do it, I tried AI One, Black Ops, G430 10k and the QI10 Max. The TM was the best for dispersion and really close on distance. 

[dmeeksDC]

34 minutes ago, this_is_golf said:

I found a Max on eBay that has my attention…now deciding to pull the trigger or not…

If it’s a good deal, I would not hesitate if you’re looking for a powerful but very forgiving driver. It’s legit. 

[AbSWFPGA]

Anyone compare qi10 max to cobra dark speed max?

[Walkerdb7]

16 hours ago, AbSWFPGA said:

Anyone compare qi10 max to cobra dark speed max?

Cobra was second place for me during my fitting, but it was the core head. I don’t remember if I hit the Max or not.

 

that is a very good driver family as well.

[AbSWFPGA]

6 hours ago, Walkerdb7 said:

Cobra was second place for me during my fitting, but it was the core head. I don’t remember if I hit the Max or not.

 

that is a very good driver family as well.

The dark speed max has been good.  Not sure if it will dethrone my g400max but have heard good things about qi10 max so was curious 

Edited April 16, 2024 by AbSWFPGA

[Walkerdb7]

Listening to Ian Fraser on a podcast and he called Qi10 Max a miss… “slow and spinny”.

 

I get different clubs work for different people, just curious who else is gaming a Qi10 Max and how it’s going?

 

Based on what I learned this year, I don’t release the club well and the spin actually helps me

[blufblufshuv]

6 hours ago, Walkerdb7 said:

Listening to Ian Fraser on a podcast and he called Qi10 Max a miss… “slow and spinny”.

 

I get different clubs work for different people, just curious who else is gaming a Qi10 Max and how it’s going?

 

Based on what I learned this year, I don’t release the club well and the spin actually helps me

 

That was an interesting listen, that's as scathing as it gets without being rude. The comparison he made between the Cally and TaylorMade Mini Drivers was also interesting too. 

[Scottyrocket]

I don't spin the ball enough with the driver, ball just kinda falls out of the sky. Got fitted with the Q10max and my drives are longer and straighter. I can still miss with this club but it's not as extreme. Very forgiving on toe hits. There are a couple of holes on my course that are pretty tight through the trees and the Max is easy to bunt up the fairway for safety. If you are a strong player with good speed and a ascending AoA this driver will probably spin to much for you. 

[erock9174]

like @Scottyrocket I don't spin all of the modern drivers enough.  I swing right around 90 mph, swing up on the ball around 2-5* and play a draw which also takes spin off.  Being a Ping guy, I wanted to love the 430 10k and I am sure with the right shaft combo and fitting could have dialed it in...But in every session with it, I would have one great drive and the rest really dropped off.  To where with the Qi10 Max my average of all shots would equal that one good one with the Ping 10K..This was the same in every session.

I bought a 12* at the beginning of the season with the non-velocore Ventus TR Blue 5R (playing at 45") and have been using it since.  Neutral loft setting.  So far its pretty much up there if not at the top of my stats list since 2020.

 

I put this chart together based on my ShotScope data.

Year	Driver	FIR	Avg Drive	Performance Avg	Strokes Gained (Lost)	Total drives
2024	Qi10 Max	59%	225	245	0.06	153
2023	430 Max	52%	222	241	0.04	303
2022	425 Max	54%	225	240	0.07	278
2021	425 Max	53%	225	244	0.1	100
2021	Mavrik	58%	217	238	0.04	153
2020	Epic Flash	57%	219	237	0.03	176
2020	Speedzone Xtreme**	54%	230	246	0.1	100

 

**The Speedzone is a bit inflated as I owned it briefly in the summer of 2020 and only played it in very warm and firm conditions.  

Edited August 27, 2024 by erock9174

[Walkerdb7]

Yeah, sounds like I’m sorta the higher speed of you guys, haha.

 

I swing around 105.

 

here’s my last 3 drivers:

 

 

[mlwenzlick]

Anybody still gaming their Max? Picked one up recently and surprisingly after a couple rounds, hitting alot of cuts and the left side cannot be found. Wasn’t expecting that…haven’t had it on a monitor but im guessing it’s a bit shorter as anticipated, but not guiding the ball and being pissed off half the day like my old LS/SIM.

[Josh H]

22 minutes ago, mlwenzlick said:

Anybody still gaming their Max? Picked one up recently and surprisingly after a couple rounds, hitting alot of cuts and the left side cannot be found. Wasn’t expecting that…haven’t had it on a monitor but im guessing it’s a bit shorter as anticipated, but not guiding the ball and being pissed off half the day like my old LS/SIM.

Moved into GT2, gained serious yardage since qi had become a bit of a spin monster for me as I have got progressively quicker. 

 

Also found the same with its want to fade, I do find the 10k drivers harder to turn over. 

[CCC10]

On 5/17/2025 at 6:58 PM, mlwenzlick said:

Anybody still gaming their Max? Picked one up recently and surprisingly after a couple rounds, hitting alot of cuts and the left side cannot be found. Wasn’t expecting that…haven’t had it on a monitor but im guessing it’s a bit shorter as anticipated, but not guiding the ball and being pissed off half the day like my old LS/SIM.

Something to keep in mind if you're switching from a smaller, lower spinning head to a more forgiving head is the CG of the club will be slightly different. In the SIM the weight was more then likely very forward in the driver head. There's old videos from Taylormade of Rory's SIM driver build where they talked about having to go to a higher lofted head off the shelf and turned down the loft with the adjustable hosel because spin rates were so low by default. The Qi10 Max by design has more weight on the perimeter and towards the back-middle of the driver head to get it to be more forgiving. 

 

That said if you're losing your new driver out to the right more maybe play around with the adjustable hosel settings. In particular adjust the driver to the Upright setting (direct opposite of the standard setting on the loft sleeve) to see if that gets rid of the right miss. The upright setting should slightly close the club face and encourage the toe of the driver to stay moving through impact. Hope this helps.

[mlwenzlick]

8 hours ago, CCC10 said:

Something to keep in mind if you're switching from a smaller, lower spinning head to a more forgiving head is the CG of the club will be slightly different. In the SIM the weight was more then likely very forward in the driver head. There's old videos from Taylormade of Rory's SIM driver build where they talked about having to go to a higher lofted head off the shelf and turned down the loft with the adjustable hosel because spin rates were so low by default. The Qi10 Max by design has more weight on the perimeter and towards the back-middle of the driver head to get it to be more forgiving. 

 

That said if you're losing your new driver out to the right more maybe play around with the adjustable hosel settings. In particular adjust the driver to the Upright setting (direct opposite of the standard setting on the loft sleeve) to see if that gets rid of the right miss. The upright setting should slightly close the club face and encourage the toe of the driver to stay moving through impact. Hope this helps.

yeah, I should’ve clarified I’m not “losing it” per se…just didn’t expect the ease of such buttery fades and zero left. We’ll see with more time if that stays the same, Ive had it turned down from 9* 1-2 clicks to try and neutralize the closed face a bit.

[Walkerdb7]

I ended up switching to the Core head... working with my instructor, seemed like some of the best swings were ballooning. Switched to the Core, gained like 10 years and no loss of accuracy on mishits? The difference is that the bad swings are uglier, haha, but not off the planet bad