In this TaylorMade Qi4D vs Qi35 comparison guide, I’ll tell you if you need to upgrade to the latest TaylorMade golf driver or if last year’s model is just fine.
I’ve been testing out both drivers head to head on my golf launch monitor and have some interesting pieces of data to share!
What is the TaylorMade Qi4D?
The TaylorMade Qi4D Driver is the 2026 flagship driver from TaylorMade. There are five models to choose from, each with slightly different characteristics based on your golfing style. Each model comes with TaylorMade’s Reax shaft, which they’ve developed over the years to match golfers’ swing types. You can choose from these new stock shafts to provide better performance with the driver head.
The new TaylorMade Qi4D is a specialized driver designed to prioritize maximum forgiveness and directional stability. Built with a draw bias in mind, the Qi4D is built for golfers who tend to miss right and want help squaring the face at impact.
Like other modern TaylorMade drivers, it features a carbon-faced design to promote faster ball speeds while maintaining high consistency across the face. The Qi4D lineup also features a redesigned cut-through speed pocket that reduces spin rates, offering more consistent spin on your tee shots.
What sets the Qi4D apart is its emphasis on stability and correction rather than adjustability. The internal weighting is engineered to encourage a right-to-left ball flight, helping reduce slices and keep tee shots in play.
How to Buy
The TaylorMade Qi4D driver lineup can be purchased from the official TaylorMade website here.
What is the TaylorMade Qi35?
The TaylorMade Qi35 Driver is the latest offering from TaylorMade, which this year featured four different heads on its driver models. It is the fourth generation of carbon-faced drivers released by TaylorMade and came out on January 7th, 2025.
The Qi35 is a premium driver designed for golfers seeking precision, distance, and forgiveness in one sleek package. It feels slightly more refined and advanced than the Qi10, with subtle design tweaks emphasizing control. The standout feature is its advanced face technology, engineered to maximize ball speed for more distance while maintaining a consistent flight pattern.
The Qi35’s new chromium carbon crown and strategically positioned sliding weight offer enhanced stability during the swing. One key difference is its slightly more adjustable design, with adjustable weighting giving you more control over launch angle and spin.
TaylorMade has also fine-tuned the sound and feel, making the impact incredibly satisfying.
How To Buy
The TaylorMade Qi35 driver lineup can be purchased from the official TaylorMade website here.
TaylorMade Qi4D Models
Qi4D Driver
The TaylorMade Qi4D driver is the core model in the lineup, designed to deliver a balanced blend of forgiveness, distance, and consistency. It features a confidence-inspiring driver head shape with internal weighting engineered to promote a neutral-to-slight draw ball flight.
The Qi4D Driver prioritizes stability at impact, helping reduce side spin and keep shots straighter on mishits. While it offers limited adjustability compared to tour-style drivers, its set-and-swing design appeals to golfers who want reliable performance without over-tuning.
The Qi4D driver features a quad weighting system, with four moveable Trajectory Adjustment System (TAS) weights (9g x2 / 4g x2) that provide the best adjustability for optimized ball flight and spin.
This model is best suited for mid-handicap golfers looking for dependable distance and improved accuracy off the tee.
Qi4D LS
The TaylorMade Qi4D LS (Low Spin) driver is the most performance-driven model in the Qi4D lineup, designed for golfers with faster swing speeds who want lower spin and a more penetrating ball flight. It features a more compact, aerodynamic head shape that promotes control and workability while still benefiting from TaylorMade’s carbon face technology.
Compared to the standard Qi4D and Qi4D Max, the LS model shifts the center of gravity more forward to reduce spin and lower launch. This results in a flatter trajectory with increased rollout due to the reengineered roll radius. Adjustable weighting and the loft sleeve allow golfers to fine-tune launch and spin to match their swing.
The Qi4D LS is best suited for low-handicap or high-speed players who prioritize control, lower consistent spin, and distance efficiency over maximum forgiveness.
Qi4D Max
The TaylorMade Qi4D Max driver is designed for maximum forgiveness. It features a noticeably larger clubhead and a heavily rear-weighted construction that increases MOI, helping minimize twisting on off-center strikes.
This design promotes higher launch and straighter ball flight, making it easier to achieve consistent carry distance. The larger driver head also inspires confidence at address, especially for golfers who struggle with consistency.
The ultra-forgiving Max driver is best for mid- to high-handicap golfers who want the easiest-to-hit option in the Qi4D family.
Qi4D Max Lite
The TaylorMade Qi4D Max Lite driver combines maximum forgiveness with an ultra-lightweight design. Built to be significantly lighter than standard models, it helps golfers generate more clubhead speed with less effort.
The Max Lite features a large, rear-weighted head that promotes high launch and straight shots while reducing fatigue during long rounds. It is especially helpful for players with slower swing speeds.
This model is perfect for seniors, beginners, and players seeking a lightweight, easy-to-swing driver that delivers consistent distance and accuracy off the tee.
Qi4D LME
The TaylorMade Qi4D LME (Launch Monitor Enabled) driver isn’t a separate model in terms of head design; instead, it’s a special, fitting-enhanced version of the standard Qi4D driver heads (including the core, LS, Max, and Max Lite designs) engineered for more precise launch monitor data during fittings.
Unlike regular Qi4D models, which require external dots or stickers on the face when capturing data on launch monitors, the LME versions have reflective markers built into the club face. These markers enable launch monitors such as GCQuad and similar camera-based systems to automatically gather accurate clubhead performance data, including face angle, ball spin, and impact location.
This makes the Qi4D LME especially useful for players working with certified club fitters or launch monitors and who value precision feedback and custom-fit optimization over other normal configurations.
Key Similarities Between the TaylorMade Qi4D vs Qi35
The TaylorMade Qi4D and Qi35 drivers share several technologies that reflect TaylorMade’s modern driver design philosophy, focusing on speed, stability, and consistency:
- Carbon Face Construction: Both the Qi4D and Qi35 use TaylorMade’s advanced carbon face technology to reduce weight in the clubhead and promote faster ball speeds across a larger hitting area.
- Forgiveness-Driven: Each driver is engineered with high MOI characteristics to improve stability at impact, helping minimize distance loss on off-center strikes.
- Twist Face Technology: Both models feature TaylorMade’s Twist Face design, which helps counter common mishits by correcting gear effect and improving accuracy on heel and toe strikes.
- Multi-Material Build: The two drivers feature premium multi-material construction, blending carbon, titanium, and steel to optimize weight distribution and enhance overall performance.
- Refined Sound and Feel: TaylorMade has tuned both drivers to deliver a solid, muted impact sound and responsive feel, giving players consistent feedback on every strike.
Key Differences Between the TaylorMade Qi4D vs Qi35
While the Qi4D and Qi35 share core TaylorMade technologies, they are built for very different types of golfers and performance priorities:
- Target Audience: The Qi4D is designed primarily for golfers seeking maximum forgiveness and directional correction, making it ideal for beginners to mid-handicap players. In contrast, the Qi35 is aimed at mid- to low-handicap golfers who want more control, precision, and the ability to fine-tune performance.
- Design Philosophy: The Qi4D focuses on stability and straight ball flight with built-in bias options and a confidence-boosting shape. The Qi35 takes on a more compact, refined profile with a sleek, light-grey carbon crown that emphasizes control.
- Adjustability: One of the biggest differences is the level of adjustability. The Qi35 features adjustable weighting and a loft sleeve, allowing golfers to dial in launch, spin, and shot shape. The Qi4D offers limited adjustability, relying instead on internal weighting to deliver consistent performance.
- Ball Flight & Performance: The Qi4D promotes higher launch and straighter drives, prioritizing forgiveness over shot shaping. The Qi35 delivers a more penetrating, workable ball flight, giving skilled players greater control over trajectory and spin.
What I Like About the TaylorMade Qi4D Better
What stood out to me most about the TaylorMade Qi4D is how easy it is to hit straight without having to think about adjustments. Unlike the Qi35, which puts a lot of performance in your hands through adjustable weights, the Qi4D just works right out of the box. The built-in forgiveness and stability make it much easier to find the fairway.
I also prefer the look of the Qi4D at the address. The slightly larger, more forgiving head makes it feel easier to swing freely, without worrying about shaping shots or dialing in settings. For many golfers, that simplicity is a big advantage.
Finally, the sound and feel of the Qi4D are more muted and solid compared to the sharper, firmer feedback of the Qi35. Impact feels smooth and forgiving, reinforcing confidence and making mishits feel less punishing.
What I Like About the TaylorMade Qi35 Better
Unlike the Qi4D, what I liked the most about the TaylorMade Qi35 was the adjustability and how it can dramatically impact the performance of the golf club. When I moved the rear weight back, the ball launched higher with noticeable forgiveness, and shifting it forward produced a lower, more penetrating flight. That level of fine-tuning simply isn’t available on the Qi4D.
I also appreciate the workability and feel of the Qi35. The compact, refined driver head shape doesn’t feel oversized, and the sound at impact has a sharp note that feels responsive and precise. It feels like a club that rewards good swings and provides intuitive feedback.
Overall, the Qi35 driver strikes a great balance between forgiveness and control, which makes it fun and versatile for a wide range of golfers. The adjustability lets you tailor the performance to your game, and I think that’s a big reason why better players gravitate toward it.
Is the TaylorMade Qi4D Worth the Upgrade?
Short answer: It depends.
For most golfers moving up from older or less forgiving drivers, the Qi4D offers very clear benefits. The advanced carbon face helps maintain consistent ball speed across the face, so mishits aren’t punished as severely, translating into noticeable gains in distance and accuracy.
However, if you already use a recent high-performance driver, such as the Qi35 or another premium model, the upgrade may feel less dramatic. The Qi4D lacks the sliding weights and extensive adjustability of the Qi35, meaning skilled players who prioritize shot-shaping and fine-tuning may find it more of a sidegrade than a true upgrade.
