Updated January 30, 2024. This article was thoroughly audited by multiple golf experts and coaches for its accuracy. You can read more about our rigorous testing protocol here.
With TaylorMade’s new Qi10 series released, golfers are eager to see how these new clubs differ from the company’s very successful Stealth series.
For this review, I’ll take the TaylorMade Qi10 Fairway Wood out for a test drive to tell you whether these highly-anticipated clubs are worth the hype and whether you should consider upgrading your golf bag.
TaylorMade Qi10 Fairway Wood
Best TaylorMade Fairway Wood for Mid Handicappers
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Specifications
- Loft: 15°-24°
- Lie: 58.5°-60°
- Shaft Length: 41.25”-43.25”
- Swing Weight: D3
Pros
- Large Carbon Crown maintains high MOI
- Very forgiving with revamped 60x Carbon Twist Face
- High launch with extended carry
Cons
- No sliding weight for customized shot shape
- Doesn’t have the flair of the Stealth series
I recently took the new Qi10 Fairway ($350 MSRP) out for a test drive with a Trackman before the early February release date.
Outfitted with a Fujikura Ventus TR Blue FW 6 stiff flex shaft, I put the 15° model through the paces to see if the new club provided a noticeable improvement over last year’s incredibly popular Stealth 2.
How does the Qi10 Fairway look?
I certainly loved the Stealth series’s black and red color scheme, so the Qi10’s subdued black and chrome with blue trim delivers a relative disappointment.
A few of the top features from TaylorMade make their way over to the Qi10 Fairway, such as the Carbon Crown, V-Steel sole, Thru-Slot Speed Pocket, and 60x Carbon Twist Face.
These features offer some symmetry with the Stealth Fairway’s appearance, but the new color scheme certainly makes you feel as if you are playing a different golf club, even if the results are similar.
What handicap is best for the Qi10 Fairway?
I’d suggest that mid handicappers give the standard Qi10 a first look. There’s no customization here, such as an adjustable hosel or sliding weight, but that fixed setting can help if you need consistency.
Most high handicappers and beginning golfers will want to look at the Max Fairway, as its draw-bias setting will reduce side spin for tighter dispersion that keeps the ball toward its target.
How does the Qi10 Fairway perform?
Once I felt warmed up, I put the Qi10 through roughly 50 full-speed swings. My first impression of the club concerned the weight and feel. This is one sturdy fairway wood that doesn’t feel loose at address.
The fairway wood provides confidence immediately, especially once you start smashing balls off the club face.
I also appreciated how the low, deep CG easily lifts the ball into the air. The launch angle stayed within my desired margins, so I fully expect the wood to perform well once the snow thaws and I can get this club onto the golf course.
Ball speed registered at the higher end of my typical range, and I noticed a few yards of additional length with this 3-wood. The improved distance should help with gapping if you like to carry multiple fairway woods.
How does the Qi10 Fairway Wood compare to the Stealth 2 Fairway?
When comparing the standard version of each fairway wood, I was impressed by the Qi10’s dispersion. My shots stayed relatively tight in pattern, and strikes off the toe didn’t stray too far from my intended path.
While the standard Qi10 can’t match the customization of the Stealth 2 Plus Fairway (for obvious reasons), this new model delivers a high, easy launch off the face coupled with clean turf interaction.
I do think the higher your swing speed, the more forgiving the entire Qi10 line is for your game.
So, if you are a little wild with your swing but can keep the MPHs up toward the top of the scale, you’ll probably find these new fairway woods are worth the money and more forgiving than the Stealth 2 Fairway.
My TaylorMade Qi10 Fairway Wood Verdict
After my time with the Qi10 Fairway, I can certainly say the club delivers the performance that you’d expect from a new TaylorMade offering.
The fairway wood produces that hot, fast face you want to increase your distance. The low profile offers a long sweet spot that’s even more forgiving than the Stealth 2 model. In my book, the new Qi10 Fairway is a winner.
Other Qi10 Fairway Wood Models
TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Fairway Wood
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TaylorMade’s Qi10 Tour Fairway delivers premium workability for advanced players looking to further customize their shot shape from the tee box and short grass.
With a more compact face, the Qi10 Tour Fairway requires more precise contact, making it ideal for low handicappers.
The Tour model carries the Mitsubishi Tensei AV Limited Blue FW shaft and offers a 50-gram sliding weight similar to the Stealth 2 Plus Rory McIlroy and other PGA Tour TaylorMade-sponsored pros played in tournaments.
The club offers additional customization with a 4-degree loft sleeve.
Available in 15- and 18-degree models, the Tour Rescue has enough pop to be used as an alternative driver on tight Par 4s and 5s.
TaylorMade Qi10 Max Fairway Wood
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Featuring a long, low profile that smoothly lifts the ball skyward, the Qi10 Max Fairway helps mid to high-handicappers achieve more accuracy and distance from their mid-range swings.
The Qi10 Max also works as a weapon off the tee box for golfers who struggle to find consistency with their driver.
The wide sole also dramatically improves turf interaction, helping the club head move smoothly over the grass without snagging.
The fairway wood has no adjustable features, but that shouldn’t stop golfers who want more consistency from their long-range shots from giving the Qi Max Fairway a chance to join their golf bag.
TaylorMade Qi10 Women’s Max Fairway Wood
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Great off the tee or from the short grass of the fairway, the TaylorMade Qi10 Women’s Max Fairway produces an easy launch with premium forgiveness.
The ultra-high MOI face produces solid ball speed no matter where the ball contacts the face.
TaylorMade has deepened and lowered the CG in this fairway wood to help female golfers with slower swing speeds get the ball into the air to maximize their length after contact.
Helping lighten the weight, the Women’s Max Fairway comes with either the Fujikura Speeder NX TCS 40 or TCS 50 shaft to help boost speed by making the driver more agile through the golf ball.
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