{"id":150194,"date":"2025-09-17T17:08:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T17:08:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/150194\/"},"modified":"2025-09-17T17:08:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T17:08:12","slug":"taylormade-qi35-vs-titleist-gt2-driver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/150194\/","title":{"rendered":"TaylorMade Qi35 vs Titleist GT2 Driver"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This is one of the best-looking drivers TaylorMade has released in years. The stunning, futuristic aesthetic is backed by strong technical underpinnings and excellent versatility thanks to the weight ports on the sole. When you strike it in the centre, you get great launch monitor numbers and a solid feel. It may not be the most forgiving driver TaylorMade has made recently, but many will be so taken with its looks they won\u2019t even mind.<\/p>\n

ProsSensational looksGreat versatility and adjustabilityA genuine step forwardConsThe rounder profile may not suit everyone’s eyeQuite spinny on mishit shots<\/p>\n

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\"Titleist\n<\/p>\n

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Titleist has stepped up its game in terms of forgiveness throughout the entire GT range and the GT2 is no exception. The retention of ball speed particularly when struck low on the face is very impressive and the clean looks will please Titleist loyalists everywhere. The technology behind the improved feel and acoustics is sure to make this a very popular model.<\/p>\n

ProsClassic Titleist looksImpressive innovation with the new crownMore user friendly than previous familiesConsThe sole view could have more shelf appeal<\/p>\n

As two of the more popular drivers on tour, the TaylorMade Qi35 and the Titleist GT2 carry some serious credentials. Both brands are known for making some of the best drivers<\/a> around, and these two flagship models are no different.<\/p>\n

Each driver is a new addition to the respective line-ups, with the Qi35 looking to build on the success of the Qi10 range<\/a> that was seen in the bags of many tour pros, while the GT range<\/a> sets out to be a faster, more explosive version of the TSR family<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s fair to say that both of these US-based companies have dedicated followers, but could you be persuaded to switch? To establish the merits of both drivers, we\u2019ve not only tested them thoroughly but also put them up against each to see which can claim the crown, and perhaps also find its way into your golf bag.<\/p>\n

You may like<\/p>\n

Technology<\/p>\n

When TaylorMade launched the Qi35 range, which also includes the Qi35 LS<\/a> and Qi35 Max<\/a> models, the tech headliner was CG<\/a> projection. In essence TaylorMade has built the clubhead to project the CG as low as possible with the aim to produce an optimal ball flight, namely a high launch, low spin ball that flies forever. To achieve this, the engineers have shaved off a few grams, allowing them to redistribute the weight to the crown, the ring and the hosel, which brings that balance point down.<\/p>\n

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\"TaylorMade\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

As for the club\u2019s construction, it uses a blend of materials including chromium, carbon, steel, aluminum, tungsten and titanium along with a fourth-generation carbon twist face. As you\u2019d expect from a premium driver there\u2019s also adjustability: two sole weights let you dial in launch and spin to optimize flight shape, plus a 4-degree loft sleeve.<\/p>\n

As mentioned, Titleist wanted the GT range to be faster than the TSR line-up. To do this it went to a multi-material construction, which includes its Proprietary Matrix Polymer, used in the club\u2019s crown. According to the brand it\u2019s three times lighter than other all-titanium construction used in the TSR clubs, allowing the engineers to better distribute the club\u2019s mass, and thus help optimize the CG. Certainly the club feels light and that PMP material feels almost malleable in a way that a credit card does.<\/p>\n

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\"Titleist\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

In terms of the desired playing characteristics, the GT2 is designed to be the most user-friendly of the three-driver line-up and its high Moment of Inertia<\/a> points to this; a higher MOI will translate to a more stable clubface through impact, with less twisting of the face.<\/p>\n

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Other tech details include an interchangeable back weight that allows you to fine tune the head and swing weight of the driver to suit your needs as well as a SureFit adjustable hosel.<\/p>\n

Looks<\/p>\n

Yes it\u2019s a subjective category, but we think the Qi35 is a stunning looking driver. TaylorMade has managed to blend space-age looking materials – just check out the gray carbon crown – with a minimalist design to create a design that works both in the bag and behind the ball. Even the sole is stylish, with just a few flourishes of green added. And the small alignment aid is just as refined. In short, it oozes class.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re familiar with the TaylorMade Qi10 driver, you\u2019ll notice that at address the Qi35 is far rounder in shape, looking much more like the high-MOI Max model; for us this is a definite bonus and a look we prefer in any driver.<\/p>\n

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A rounder profile and an eye-catching carbon finish help make the Qi35 driver stand out.<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Despite the multi-material approach, Titleist has managed to do what it does best with the GT2 – create a clean look, with a beautifully proportioned, rounded head. All the areas where the polymer meets the titanium have been filled and polished creating that familiar finish that\u2019s become part of Titleist\u2019s signature look.<\/p>\n

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\"Titleist\n<\/p>\n

A classic appearance at address is one of the hallmark’s of the GT2 driver.<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

Behind the ball, the rounded 460cc head inspires confidence. With the shape longer front to back, and paired with a shallower face it adds up to a look that really appealed to our eye; the shading on the face is used to create the illusion of more loft, which should add confidence at address for many players. There\u2019s a subtle \u2018GT\u2019 logo on the crown, which is there for alignment purposes, but other than that from the playing position it\u2019s a refined and classic look.<\/p>\n

The same can’t quite be said of the sole. For us it takes the minimal approach a step too far, and verges on the basic and underwhelming. Fortunately this has no bearing on the club\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n

Feel<\/p>\n

For us the Qi35 delivers a different, and improved, feel from its \u2018carbonwood\u2019 products of the past few years. Yes, compared to other brands the acoustics are still more subdued, but here you get a distinctly livelier sound and a firmer feel at impact than ever before.<\/p>\n

The GT2 truly excels in the feel department, with all that new technology combining to create an incredibly sophisticated sound and feel, that\u2019s powerful but not harsh. It\u2019s a real standout feature of the club.<\/p>\n

Performance<\/p>\n

Of course it\u2019s vital that the technology, look and feel of a club deliver the right results and the Qi35 impressed us where it matters most.<\/p>\n

The stars of the show are those two adjustable weights, which give you a driver that can deliver a considerably different performance based on their position. Set up in neutral and you\u2019re met with a really stable and forgiving driver that will be a joy to use for those who struggle to find the fairway and have lost some confidence off the tee as a result. However, place the heavier weight at the front and you get a lower spin rate and more distance, although we noticed that our dispersion rates suffered, which is perhaps unsurprising.<\/p>\n

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The face of the Qi35 driver.<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

This did make us question the need for the Low Spin version of the Qi35. If you can get the lower spin rate you\u2019re looking for in a more forgiving package, then why would you opt for the specific LS model? For comparison, we achieved 1910rpm with the LS and 2101 with the regular Qi35 with the weight located at the front (using one of the best launch monitors<\/a>, the Foresight GCQuad, to record the data). This is a negligible difference, and the added ball speed we got resulted in 8 more yards carry and 9 more in total distance.<\/p>\n

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\"GT2\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Future)<\/p>\n

The big question with the GT2 is whether the new construction and materials would deliver the additional ball speed that it is designed to achieve. The answer is yes but it’s a little more nuanced than that. What really impressed us was the level of forgiveness and just how little our misses impacted both ball speed and dispersion. Strikes both low on the face and towards the heel weren\u2019t punished too harshly and coupled with the great sound and feel of the GT2 and you get a driver that\u2019s a pleasure to use.<\/p>\n

Which club should you choose?<\/p>\n

Choose the TaylorMade Qi35 driver if…<\/p>\n

– You want plenty of adjustability
– You want a rounder profile
– You value versatility<\/p>\n

Choose the Titleist GT2 driver if….<\/p>\n

– You value Titleist’s classic look
– You want forgiveness and distance
– You appreciate sophisticated feel and sound<\/p>\n

For more driver buying advice, be sure to have a read of our guides on the most forgiving drivers<\/a>, best drivers for seniors<\/a>, or the best high handicap drivers<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This is one of the best-looking drivers TaylorMade has released in years. The stunning, futuristic aesthetic is backed…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":150195,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[566],"tags":[64,63,755,85],"class_list":["post-150194","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-golf","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-golf","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150194","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=150194"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/150194\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/150195"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=150194"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=150194"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=150194"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}