Taylormade Qi10 Hybrid Review – Is it Good & Forgiving for High Handicappers?

Taylormade Qi10 Hybrid

“The Taylormade Qi10 Rescues are out and I got my hands on the standard version for this round of testing.”

The new Taylormade Qi10 Rescue clubs delve even deeper into the carbon age with a more expansive carbon crown.

They also have interesting features that we don’t see a lot in hybrid clubs.

For this particular review, I tested the standard Taylormade Qi10 Rescue which is aimed at a wide swath of players ranging from low teen handicappers to about low 20’s handicappers.

The Taylormade Qi10 Hybrid Family

Since we will be detailing the standard Taylormade Qi10 hybrid, let’s take a quick look at the other versions:

Taylormade Qi10 Max Rescue – Boasting the largest head shape and light standard shaft, the Taylormade Qi10 Max is designed for slower-swinging, high handicappers.
Taylormade Qi10 Tour – With the smallest footprint of the new line, the Taylormade Qi10 Tour was made for mid to low handicappers.

Is it Good for High Handicappers?

Taylormade Qi10 Hybrid1

“One of the unique pieces of technology that went into this club is the split weighting.”

The Taylormade Qi10 Rescue features internal weighting in both the heel and the toe which promotes a neutral flight bias. As a result, I found it easier to coax straight flight out of it – and harder to work.

But high handicappers will be happy with that exchange. The Taylormade Qi10 offers tight dispersion and great distance on face-center strikes.

Is it Forgiving?

“The Taylormade Qi10 features a 450SS variable face thickness design.”

It’s thinnest at face-center and the perimeter so you get good forgiveness when you actually miss face-center.

The club head isn’t immense but there is enough space for you to easily find your groove with this hybrid and start nailing the sweet spot.

How Does the Taylormade Qi10 Hybrid Look?

At address, you can see the larger expanse of carbon fiber at work.

It sort of bleeds into the top line and the glossy finish gives it a more uniform, streamlined look behind the ball.

The sole features the V-Steel plate and you get the “Taylormade” branding on the side of the head. Overall, it’s a nice looking hybrid that won’t necessarily turn heads; but it won’t distract you either.

Difference Between the Taylormade Qi10 and the Taylormade Qi10 Max Hybrids

“The standard and Max Taylormade Qi10 hybrids have all the same features.”

But the specs and head shape are different. The standard Taylormade Qi10 rescue offers stronger lofts from 3H to 7H. The Taylormade Qi10 Max has a larger footprint, and because of the weaker lofts, launches higher.

Available Shafts

The Taylormade Qi10 standard rescue is available with a stock Fujikura Ventus TR Blue HB shaft in stiff (76g), regular (67g) and amateur (57g) flex.

Taylormade Qi10 Hybrid

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In 20 Words or Less

“The Taylormade Qi10 Rescue offers straight flight and a solid feel at impact – even on mis-hits.”

Taylormade Qi10 Hybrid – First Impressions

Taylormade Qi10 Hybrid4

“After my very first swing with the Taylormade Qi10 Rescue, I was impressed with how powerful it felt.”

I’m not gonna sit here and tell you I understand all the ins and outs of the new 450SS face architecture, but whatever Taylormade has done, it makes for a really solid, satisfying feel at impact.

Even when I missed slightly to the left, I felt like I got the better of the ball. It probably also has to do with the split weighting as well.

I didn’t feel like the face was deflecting quite so much – even when I missed towards the heel or the toe.

Overall it gives a very powerful, satisfying feel that for the most part, translates to good distance. My average smash factor with the Taylormade Qi10 3-hybrid was 1.42 and my average carry was 227.3 yards.

The variable face thickness design generates fantastic ball speeds on both pure strikes and mis-hits. Including some chunks and slices, my average ball speed was still 141 MPH after my test session was finished.

And I liked the feel and launch I was getting when I was taking shots off the deck. The V-Steel sole helps pull your swing down so you get under the ball and cut through the turf nicely.

Off the deck, my average apex height was about 104 feet which was more than enough to hold greens.

Taylormade Qi10 Hybrid Selling Points

V-steel sole panel
Variable face thickness
Sock Fujikura Ventus shaft
Split mass weighting
Neutral ball flight
Solid feel at impact
Thru-Slot Speed Pocket
Carbon fiber crown

Who is the Taylormade Qi10 Hybrid for?

“I can see the Taylormade Qi10 hybrid working very well for mid to high handicappers.”

In my opinion and based on the results of my own testing, I would say the Taylormade Qi10 hybrid would work best if you’re in the 14-22 handicap range.

It has a moderate footprint that looks really nice behind the ball. My only gripe is that it was hard to work from side-to-side. But if accuracy is something you struggle with, this shouldn’t be a problem for you.

The Taylormade Qi10 hybrid is also a great choice if you want to increase your ability to hold the green from the fairway.

I was getting excellent height with the Taylormade Qi10 off the deck and was able to hold even fast greens.

The stock Fujikura Ventus shaft (in regular flex) also felt really easy to turn over which, again, helps promote straight flight.

This is yet another advantage for players who have trouble turning the club over and missing to the right of the fairway.

The Taylormade Qi10 is available in 3H at 19°, 4H at 22°, 5H at 25°, 6H at 29° and 7H at 33°. It retails for $300.

And if you need help getting the ball airborne or simply need the forgiveness of a larger head, you can opt for the Taylormade Qi10 Max Rescue.