In last week’s column, I mentioned that the focus of manufacturers for 2024 is forgiveness. Longer and straighter not only when you hit it flush, but more importantly, better drives on mishits. Of course, all the articles and video reviews are no substitute for actually holding, hitting and seeing the results firsthand. Luckily, I got to do just that a few days ago.
Pacsports, the local distributor of TaylorMade Golf, recently held a product launch at the Orchard Golf and Country Club. This year’s newest product line from TaylorMade, the Qi10 line of drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, and irons were there for selected guests to try. Thanks to Vince Hizon who got me into the event, I got to try what all the buzz on 10K MOI (10,000 grams per square centimeter, moment of inertia) is about.
The goal was to make the most forgiving driver while maintaining speed. As speed and forgiveness are opposing forces, TaylorMade found the balance by surpassing the MOI plateau, previously at 8500. The new Max driver surpasses 10,000 g-cm2 MOI, hence the name Qi10 (Quest for Inertia 10k). The formula they used was a combination of better materials, changing the head shape, and placing the max in more extreme positions inside the club head. All this simply means longer drives on mishits. How? MOI measures resistance to twisting. The more you hit it off-center, the more twisting. Aside from hitting it all over the place, twisting means less distance, too.
After a presentation, we were led to Orchard’s driving range to test the whole Qi10 range. I was most interested in the driver and quickly grabbed one of the demo clubs. My own driver is set at 10 degrees and installed with a 65-gram shaft. I chose the closest spec to my gamer and proceeded to hit drive after drive. Just after a few hits, I noticed how the technology in the Qi10 was helping keep my drives straight and maintain manageable distance. We all know our swings and what typical mishits result in. I instantly saw mishits keep within a small window and I was still carrying over 210 yards on my worst mishits. It was clear that the technology works. The next question is, will this work for better players?
Max MOI drivers are usually reserved for slower swingers, categorized in the “game improvement” range of drivers. The Qi10 is so good and benefits such a wide range of golfers that Major champions Collin Morikawa and Nelly Korda both put the Qi10 Max in their bags. No, not the LS models, not even the standard Qi10 — they are gaming the Max model! That is as good proof as any of how a wide range of golfers can benefit from maximized MOI.
The Qi10 range of drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and irons all offer maximum forgiveness, levels never achieved previously. If much better players like Collin and Nelly are taking advantage, I think it’s time we do, too. Try the TaylorMade Qi10 at your nearest Pacsports shop.
