EQUIPMENT: Is The TaylorMade Qi10 the Brand’s 2024 Driver?

Last week we highlighted that Kirkland’s Driver was one of the first upcoming, 2024 models that hit the USGA Conforming Golf Club List. And while it may not have the same technology and features as some of the offerings from the major OEMs (nor should it, as it expected to retail for less than $200), the important takeaway is that it signaled that the floodgates would soon be opening with the new 2024 equipment offerings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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And it appears that TaylorMade is now ready to throw it’s hat in the ring with the Qi10 LS.  As is the case with Conforming List posts, we get very little information with a basis black and white photograph and, therefore, information concerning some of the more noteworthy developments is hard to discern.

But what we do know from the Conforming List filing and pictures is that the Qi10 features Carbonwood, TaylorMade’s new breakaway technology that features a driver clubface developed with carbon fiber instead of titanium. While all driver clubfaces are limited to a smash factor limitation of 1.5 (the measure of how fast a golf ball can rebound off the face of the driver for each mile per hour of club head speed), TaylorMade promises that its Carbon Twist Face is lighter, stronger, faster and more forgiving without violating any of the USGA/R&A speed restrictions.

Returning to the Qi10, TaylorMade’s Speed Pocket makes another return and is combined with a sliding weight track, to help dial in draw and fade ball flights, albeit this one that appears to be smaller than the one found in the Stealth 2 Plus driver.

The rear of the Qi10 also features a weight port, and when that’s paired with the photo, it may be safe to presume that the Inertia Generator—first found in the SIM in 2020—will also be kept in the new model.

Finally, the Conforming List filing suggests that an adjustable model will be returning on this low-lofted, 8.0° low-spin variant head.

Sadly, what isn’t known is whatever technology TaylorMade may be hiding on the face, crown and inside the Qi10’s clubhead, nor is the new color combination. With respect to the latter, TaylorMade’s CustomShop program did allow golfers to customize nearly ever aspect of their Stealth 2’s, including the Carbon Twist Face, signaling that face color is not limited to the red that was seen in the Stealth and Stealth 2.

And while the complete details won’t be confirmed for closer to 2 months from now, we can expect that additional images of the complementing TaylorMade models will soon find their way onto the USGA Conforming Golf Club List, along with the upcoming offerings from the competition. So make sure to follow Golficity to stay up to date with all the new 2024 equipment launches!