It’s an arduous activity to make any fairway wooden (or hybrid) launch story sizzle. The class tends to lack the requisite pomp and circumstance essential to make broad, scroll-stopping claims. With out the promise of extra distance (17 extra yards, anybody?), the place is the clear profit? What’s an organization to do?
The TaylorMade Qi35 fairway woods and hybrids present some compelling insights which deal with this conundrum. Put in a different way, how does TaylorMade outline higher, significantly given its longstanding perch as a class juggernaut.
The quick reply is the alliterative speaking factors: Type, Perform, Becoming. Now, the diploma to which every of those parts resonates with the patron is, effectively, the place we are able to engender some wholesome debate.
However earlier than we offer a summative evaluation, let’s take a more in-depth take a look at each.
From Qi10 to Qi35?
The “10” in final 12 months’s Qi10 set the stage for TaylorMade to inform us all about its quest for a driver with 10K MOI. It was a little bit of a misnomer in that MOI isn’t typically a part of a fairway wooden story (Qi10 isn’t actually a fairway wooden factor and I don’t suppose “Qi6” would discover government approval) so I’m glad to report that “Qi35” is a extra inclusive naming conference.
With that, Qi35 is a fast nod to the three alliterative pillars (Type, Perform, Becoming) paired with 5 methods to optimally match every product.
Qi35 fairways: Type
Consider kind as not simply how a membership seems however as the whole visible presentation of the product. Finally, customers are likely to price membership aesthetics on a private Likert scale (hate it, don’t adore it, ambivalent, prefer it, adore it and are going to inform everybody about it).
As with the Qi35 driver, the first colour scheme revolves round Chromium Carbon which for my cash is a cool metallic hue with delicate blue hints. I put it within the “like it” class. At deal with, the crown is almost fully consumed by a visual carbon weave sample with understated perimeter striping (on all fashions aside from the Qi35 Tour).
The only real options requisite title, mannequin, model and materials name outs: Qi35, TaylorMade, Titanium, Max, Tour, Max Lite, and many others. A high-gloss polished end makes taking high quality images more difficult than taking Eddie Vedder’s drive-thru order however ought to garner fairly a little bit of consideration on the rack at massive field retailers.
Shaping, face angle and total footprint matter to discerning customers. How a fairway wooden sits at deal with might be the deciding issue whether or not the membership will get a re-evaluation or returns to the demo bag. With the Qi35 fairways, TaylorMade hasn’t deviated from its blueprint which made it probably the most performed fairway wooden mannequin on the PGA Tour in 2024. I point out that stat as a result of touring professionals are typically fairly choosy on this regard and it’s one of many cases the place “what’s good for tour is good for consumers.”
Qi35 fairways: Perform
How do the membership and its tech platform enable you to get the outcomes that you really want? That’s operate.
Essentially, it’s the story of a model and the important thing applied sciences it makes use of to average mass properties to offer golfers with optimized efficiency and discrete fashions of various traits.
A superb little bit of operate is derived from CG placement which is paramount in setting boundaries for what’s potential relating to ball velocity, launch/trajectory and forgiveness. With Qi35, TaylorMade is sticking with its typical beginning lineup, albeit with a number of tweaks. The widespread theme, nonetheless, is a barely decrease CG location all through all fashions which works to permit for extra vitality to switch from the membership to the ball at impression.
Infinity Carbon Crown – The aim of the Infinity Carbon Crown is two-fold. First, carbon composites are light-weight supplies and eradicating weight greater within the head permits engineers to redistribute mass to assist obtain a decrease CG location. TaylorMade’s association within the Qi35 generates a CG location marginally decrease than the Qi10 fairways (nearer to the impartial axis). The web result’s a CG location extra according to the equator of the ball thus producing extra environment friendly impression. The opposite bit right here is that TaylorMade makes use of carbon on as a lot of the crown as potential to attain a cohesive take a look at deal with.
Twist Face – That is TaylorMade’s proprietary face topology which works to appropriate trajectory and spin on off-center strikes. Each model makes use of some type of variable-face thickness and face curvature to maximise the percertage of the face the place the golfer can obtain outcomes as shut as potential to center-face strikes.
Through-Slot Velocity Pocket – Primarily, the velocity pocket is designed to maximise ball speeds and generate extra forgiveness on low-face strikes. On condition that we’re speaking about fairway woods (and hybrids) the place the standard impression location is under the middle of the face, this can be a essential attribute for all golfers, significantly leisure amateurs and weekend warriors.
Qi35 fairways: Becoming
With the Qi35 drivers, the becoming story took us down an surprising path centering on closure price which is a Foresight metric outlined because the rotation of the clubhead heel to toe measured in regards to the shaft in levels per second or rpm. For now, TaylorMade’s becoming protocols leverage this data completely for drivers however my sense is that it’s one thing we should always see in different golf equipment comparatively quickly.
That apart, TaylorMade’s becoming developments in fairway woods facilities on adjustability, significantly in higher-lofted fashions.
“We want to be the leaders in fit. For this year, the question became how can we put loft sleeves in fairway woods without losing face performance? After years of research and testing, we were able to incorporate 4° loft sleeves into all our 3-woods and 5-woods. With Qi35 fairway woods, we’ve elevated the fitting experience and given golfers the chance to truly optimize their distance, flight and face angle.”
– Andrew Oldknow, Director of Woods & Putter Product Creation
One caveat I’d point out is that TaylorMade additionally included the four-degree loft sleeve into the Qi35 Tour 7-wood.
It stands to cause that if loft/lie are necessary when becoming irons, wedges and drivers, it must also be one thing that producers permit for in higher-lofted fairway woods. Kudos to the TaylorMade crew for getting this proper.
Qi35 fairway fashions
The usual Qi35 encompasses a barely decrease skirt part and a TSS weight positioned towards the entrance of the clubhead. At 185cc, it’s a average dimension and may match the widest section of the market. That stated, I totally anticipate to see the usual mannequin as the most well-liked amongst paid and non-paid touring professionals.
AT 200cc, the Qi35 Max fairway is, because the title suggests, the biggest of the 4 fashions. It’s additionally probably the most forgiving and designed with a rear TSS weight to help golfers who rely a bit extra on expertise to get the ball within the air. Although it’s 80cc or so smaller than even the smallest mini-drivers, a part of me wonders what would possibly occur for those who took the 15.5-degree 3-wood head, and turned it down two levels to 13.5. Perhaps it might be a de facto mini-mini driver? Meals for thought.
TaylorMade can also be providing a Qi35 Max Lite which is similar dimension (200cc) because the Qi35 Max, albeit with lighter elements (head, shaft, grip). Loads of golfers can swing a lighter membership quicker, significantly these for whom distance is crucial.
Then we’ve the Qi35 Tour. With a titanium building and 40-gram flippable sole weight, it’s probably the most adjustable of the 4 Qi35 fashions. With the load set all the way in which again, trajectory and MOI enhance. Conversely, with the load pushed ahead, launch will come down as will spin. There are a number of settings in between the 2 excessive positions and the load might be totally eliminated, rotated 180 levels and reinstalled to entry extra settings. It’d really feel a bit like overkill however for the tinkerer, I’m unsure if that’s potential.
As well as, at 170cc, it’s probably the most compact form and designed for golfers who place a premium on workability and like a smaller footprint. My solely concern with this mannequin is that at a retail value of $449 and the “Tour” title, golfers could be inclined to suppose that it’s by some means superior to the usual Qi35. That’s not the case. It’s a costlier possibility due to its versatility, building and supplies however that doesn’t inherently imply it would all the time be the higher possibility.
A phrase on Qi35 hybrids
Once more, the first design consideration with all Qi35 metalwoods is to decrease the CG projection and enhance the general high quality of impression. A barely decrease CG location results in greater launch and TSS weights that sit inline with the CG improve vitality switch between the clubface and ball.
TaylorMade is launching three Qi35 fashions: Qi35 Rescue, Qi35 Max Rescue and Qi35 Max Lite Rescue. The usual mannequin is the one-ski quiver, designed to suit the wants of most golfers and, with a three-degree adjustable hosel, it needs to be comparatively straightforward to seek out correct distance gaps.
As with the Qi35 fairways, the Max Rescue is higher-launching and extra forgiving than the usual Qi35 Rescue. Additionally, it doesn’t have an adjustable hosel. The Qi35 Max Lite Rescue is basically the Max Rescue with lighter elements (head, shaft, grip) to offer golfers a light-weight possibility to advertise quicker swing speeds.
At this level, you could be questioning whether or not there’s a alternative for the Qi10 Tour Rescue. Survey says … Nope.
Market behaviors shift and, between the rise in reputation of higher-lofted fairway woods and developments in utility irons, there isn’t sufficient curiosity to warrant a small, iron-like hybrid. So seize your beverage of selection and pour one out.
My $0.05
Generally, TaylorMade doesn’t miss in terms of fairway woods and hybrids. The model has a historical past of bona-fide metalwoods that resonate with the very best gamers on the planet, aggressive amateurs and discerning leisure golfers. The Qi35 household builds upon that legacy and takes it a step additional by providing incremental enhancements that instantly translate to raised efficiency.
Past that, I’m intrigued by the decrease CG projections all through the road and extra becoming choices in greater lofts, particularly the Qi35 Tour 5-wood. As a result of I are likely to hit the ball excessive, a lower-launching, versatile 5-wood is a crucial a part of the highest finish of my bag. Lastly, I totally anticipate the recognition of the 7-wood (aka Tony Covey’s cheat code) to proceed its upward pattern. Don’t be shocked if you see a bunch of scratch golfers with a bag stuffed with headcovers.
Availability and pricing
Qi35 fairway woods can be found for $349.99 USD in 3-wood (15° RH/LH), 3-HL (16.5° RH), 5-wood (18° RH/LH) and 7-wood (21° RH/LH). The inventory shaft is the Fujikura Ventus Blue FW 25’ 6 (X, S) 5 (R, A).
Qi35 Max fairway woods can be found for $349.99 USD in 3-wood (15.5° RH/LH), 5-wood (18.5° RH/LH), 7-wood (21.5° RH/LH) and 9-wood (24.5° RH). The inventory shaft is the Fujikura AirSpeeder 25’ (5S, 5R, 5A)
Qi35 Max Lite fairway woods can be found for $349.99 USD in 3-wood (15.5° RH/LH), 5-wood (18.5° RH/LH), and 7-wood (21.5° RH/LH). The inventory shaft is the Mitsubishi Vanquish 4 (R, R2/A)
Qi35 Tour fairway woods can be found for $449.99 USD in 3-wood (15° RH/LH), 5-wood (18° RH/LH) and 7-wood (21° RH). The inventory shaft is the Mitsubishi Kaili Blue DarkWave FW 75 (X, S) and 65 (R).
Qi35 Rescue is obtainable for $299.99 USD in 2 (17° RH), 3 (19° RH/LH), 4 (22° RH/LH) and 5 (25° RH/LH). The inventory shaft for mid-flight is the Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 25’ 7 (S), 6 (R), 5 (A). The inventory low-flight shaft is the Mitsubishi Kaili Blue DarkWave HY 95 (X), 85 (S).
Qi35 Max Rescue is obtainable for $299.99 USD in 3 (20° RH/LH), 4 (23° RH/LH), 5 (27° RH/LH), 6 (31° RH) and seven (35° RH). The inventory shaft is the Fujikura AirSpeeder 25’ (5S, 5R, 5A)
Qi35 Max Lite is obtainable for $299.99 USD in the identical 4-7 lofts and RH/LH choices as Qi35 Max. The inventory shaft is the Mitsubishi Vanquish 5 (R, R2/A)
TaylorMade Qi35 fairways and hybrids can be found for pre-order now. Full retail availability begins Jan. 30.
For extra data, go to TaylorMadeGolf.com
Test Value
In the event you’re trying to avoid wasting cash on what is nearly the most recent tech, final season’s Qi10 fairways have been discounted.
The publish TaylorMade Qi35 Fairways and Hybrids Are Precisely What I Wished appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
