There’s a challenge for every manufacturer that brings out a new driver—how to make something that is forgiving and helps find fairways—or keeps your bad drives inbounds—versus having the distance to remain competitive with other manufacturers. In many ways, the battle over driver technology has become an arms race, focused on offering distance without sacrificing forgiveness.
That’s exactly the challenge TaylorMade is addressing with its new Qi35, the successor to last year’s Qi10. Where the Qi10 focused on increasing forgiveness, the Qi35 is about balance.
“It’s about an overall performance, and also our performance in all the heads,” says Jamey Dees, TaylorMade Canada’s Golf Product Line Manager. “We’re talking about the three real main pillars of product design and product performance, and that’s formed function and fit.”
To accomplish this, TaylorMade has focused on materials, especially in the newly reconfigured face, lowered center of gravity, and the ability to optimize launch conditions to balance forgiveness and distance. Overall, dispersion on drives is 15% better with the Qi35, while models are also showing speed and distance gains.
Face focus
One of the keys for Qi35 is the focus on the face, specifically when it comes to center of gravity (CG). Basically, the measurement of the balance point of the head projected into the face, this is a key for offering appropriate launch conditions. For years, golfers have wanted to hit upwards on the ball with a driver, striking it on the upper portion of the face, resulting in less spin, ideal launch conditions, and more distance. If a golfer hit the ball low on the face, the result was less distance. The goal with Qi35 is to lower the balance point by optimizing the weight in the head, lowering the balance point and creating a larger area with better launch conditions.
Face fitting
In the past, TaylorMade found golfers—even good players—weren’t consistent in where they struck the ball on the face of their driver. However, determining this in fitting was a challenge, something TaylorMade addresses on Qi35 by building in reflective markers on every driver. The built-in markers will deliver incredibly accurate face delivery details and allow fitters to further optimize the technology in Qi35.
Adjustable weighting
By using the adjustment system weights, the CG of both the LS and Qi35 can be further optimized. TaylorMade used chromium carbon fiber in the head, along with the fourth generation of Twist Face technology, allowing engineers to reposition weight and offer a high MOI driver. That means the MAX version of Qi35 continues to offer MOI exceeding 10,000.
Pre-order the Qi35 Driver now through 14th January and get 2 dozen TP5 Golf Balls FREE!
Pre Order Now : TaylorMade
