TaylorMade just released the new Qi4D driver, but the Qi35 is still available for less money. So the real question is simple: is the Qi4D actually better, or are you better off saving the cash and buying last year’s driver?
In this video, I test the TaylorMade Qi4D against the Qi35 using the same loft, same shaft, same settings, and the same launch monitor setup. Then things get interesting. The stock Reax Blue shaft did not suit me at all, so we also tested both heads with my gamer shaft, a Feruga TXR, to see what the head was really doing.
We also break down:
Qi4D vs Qi35 ball speed
Carry distance and total distance
Dispersion and forgiveness
Qi4D movable weight settings
Draw bias vs standard setting
Why shaft fit matters more than most golfers think
What I learned at TaylorMade Kingdom in Carlsbad
The result was not what I expected. The Qi4D did come out on top in the end, but the gap was small, and this test showed exactly why getting fit matters before buying any new driver.
If you’re shopping for a new TaylorMade driver in 2026, this should help you decide whether the Qi4D is worth the upgrade over the Qi35.
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0:00 TaylorMade Qi4D vs Qi35
0:36 Qi35 Benchmark Numbers
1:03 First Look at the Qi4D Head
2:15 Did TaylorMade Fix the Face?
3:21 The New Shaft Rotation System
4:50 Why Shaft Fit Gets Confusing
5:59 Test Setup and Specs
6:28 First Swings With the Stock Shaft
7:38 Switching Qi4D to Draw Setting
8:23 Qi4D vs Qi35 Initial Data
9:13 Same Heads, Gamer Shaft Test
10:38 The Dispersion Changes Everything
11:55 Final Verdict: Qi4D or Qi35?
Perfect timing, I'm upgrading from Nike Vapor Fly. Was looking for a QI10 but only found one available.
I use to be a TM MAXI!
I quit after carbon faces were introduced. Too many friends faces peeling off.
Am happy with my AI Smoke titanium face! 🫡
If you frequency the made for shafts the taylormade uses their normally softer frequency than OEM shafts.
I have a similar story..but from the other end of the swing speed spectrum…slow swinger…went for a fitting multiple drivers fitter immediately chucked out the Qi4d..said it didn't work for me Reax shaft …
Few days later different fitter( pro that teaches me)…said he was surprised the other guy didn't try different set ups as he was seeing a lot of ball speed from the head….30 mins later 50 gram soft shaft in draw setting…I'm getting distance and ball speed I haven't seen for about 10 years…….just goes to show…not all fittings are equal….best thing is …I'm seeing the same results on the course
So you state the importance of a fitting for a shaft, but you go against the shaft that was fitted for you by Taylormade themselves??
Local shop had the 4IQD demo. 3 of us hit it and all of us were getting fade when all of us usually hit a draw. We switched weights to draw setting and still push fade for all of us. We all did not like it at all. We all have very different swings as well. But that shaft was giving us shot shapes we have never seen with any driver and shaft combo. I currently am using a Stealth and it seems way better for me than the Qi4D. I stick with my $150 driver for now.
The Qi4D beat the 35 by 2 yards in carry and 1 yard in total, basically nothing and you had to put the 4D in draw setting to get better dispersion! Just doesn’t seem like much of a difference and for 200$ more dollars for the new one it really doesn’t seem worth it to me, and I’d bet the QI10 would be right there with the other two…shows me that all the marketing is kinda smoke and mirrors and maybe that 200$ better spent on lessons or green fees.
Brandon helped improve my game so much that my ex wants me back
Or put it up against the SIM 2. Everyone says how great that club is
It's so funny how I felt the same thing that MR BLUE 60x was a push slice machine.
Can we get an overview video on Feruga shafts?
Some of us are very shaft sensitive. I envy the guys who can hit anything. In the QI4D with the Reax shaft (white), I hit it better than my gamer shaft (Ventus/Velacore +). What really impressed me with the new driver was the consistency of spin on toe shots. Spin did not drop to 1400 like it did with my GT3. It actually only dropped from my normal 2400 to about 2000. Amazing.
i had the Qi35 Max in 9 degree but sold it i did like it BUT I wanted the Qi4D Core in 10.5 degree i ended up going with the Denali Frost Red 50R shaft and a MCC+4 Midsize grip also got it at 44.5 inches I am 61 years old smooth tempo 88-92 mph swing speed and this set up was money LOVE IT Awesome video Brandon well done cheers from Vulcan Canada
What are the draw settings? Just weights, or lie angle and loft too?
Tested the QI4D and kept hitting push fades and slices so the Reax shaft is definitely the problem. Glad to see you had much better results with your gamer shaft..
I switch from the Qi35 to the Qi4D. For me the choice is a no brainer. The Qi4D is much better. My ball speed has jumped 3-8mph, the result is more yardage. I'm also seeing better spin window than the Qi35. I should note, I'm using last years shaft, Ventus Blue Velocore+.
I'd like to see you swing all three REAX shafts to see the difference.
That Chuck and Larry GIF killed me 😂
Now you have to try the qi4d in a 10.5 because it launches lower. A lot of reviews I’ve seen have guys switching to that 10.5 that have always been in a 9. 9 degree launch is too low and you might get a few more yards carry coming out of an 11-12 degree window.
still deciding buy it or not. it is a little bit expensive and also the frequency that they launch the new model have been way faster than before.
As an influencer…im assuming they wanted to gave that reax fit you sssooo bad…but i also feel they knew you had that shaft at home…however, im surprised they had you in a blue profile
I haven't had a TM driver since the superquad…but the new 4d gave with the different spin fits sssooo many more people including myself
Dial that 4d in and you got a monster…5mph more ball speed should be more than 1 yard!
I was at the golf show in Ottawa last week and tested the QI4D max lite and was not bad. Gave me a few pointers on my swing. Walked around bit and went back to try again and TM guy was gone so I spoke with a Golftown fitter and he told me when it come to the head of the max lite there really is no difference, but he said when comes to the shaft the Reax he does not like so told me to save $ and go with QI35 max lite and the air speeder