TaylorMade Qi10 Max vs Stealth 2 HD Driver Comparison

When it comes to golf equipment, few drivers rival the forgiveness and advanced technology packed into the Qi10 Max and Stealth 2 HD.

In this thorough comparison, we’ll look at the 2024 Qi10 Max alongside its predecessor, the 2023 Stealth HD, to determine if the additional $100 investment is justified for the newer club.

Our assessment will cover aspects like sound, look, feel, forgiveness, distance, and key technologies, and ultimately provide a recommendation on where your money should go.

Stealth 2 HD Driver

In 2023, TaylorMade launched the upgraded Stealth 2 HD driver, building upon the success of its predecessor with the incorporation of the second generation of the forgiveness boasting carbon face.

Recognized as TaylorMade’s most forgiving driver at the time, the Stealth 2 HD was tailored to provide maximum forgiveness, launch, and spin, particularly beneficial for higher handicappers seeking consistent performance and ball control without prioritizing distance.

Within the Stealth 2 lineup, players have three models to choose from: the regular Stealth 2, Stealth 2 HD, and Stealth 2 Plus.

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The Stealth 2 Plus was engineered for low-handicap players aiming to optimize distance while maintaining controlled launch and spin, with less emphasis on forgiveness, assuming these players consistently strike the center of the face.

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Conversely, the regular Stealth 2 driver offers a balanced approach suitable for players of all abilities, striking a harmony between distance and forgiveness with a mid-launch and spin profile.

Available in 9, 10.5, and 12-degree head options for both left and right-handed players, the Stealth 2 HD driver offers a D2 swing weight and a stock shaft length of 45.5 inches.

Qi10 Max Driver

Debuting in 2024, TaylorMade’s latest addition to the Q10 lineup, the Qi10 Max driver, stands out as the pinnacle of forgiveness among its counterparts. It also represents TaylorMade’s most forgiving driver to date.

The Qi10 series offers three distinct models: the regular, Max, and LS.

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Tailored for players with higher handicaps, the Max head of the Qi10 series provides maximum launch, spin, and forgiveness to help keep the ball in play.

The standard Qi10 head strikes a balance between forgiveness and distance, catering to both low and high-handicap players with a mid-launch and mid-spin profile.

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On the other hand, the LS head is designed for skilled players prioritizing distance over forgiveness, featuring low launch and spin with maximum distance.

Available in 9, 10.5, and 12-degree loft options for both left and right-handed players, the Qi10 Max boasts a D4 swing weight, notably heavier than many competitors. Its stock shaft length measures 45.5 inches.

Sound, Look, and Sound

The head design of both drivers boasts a timeless appeal, presenting a square head shape at address that caters to players preferring a traditional setup.

However, the Qi10 Max distinguishes itself with a slightly shallower and longer head shape, strategically moving weight further back to enhance MOI.

While some on our team found this adjustment slightly awkward during setup, the majority didn’t mind the minor change.

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One notable feature of the Qi10 Max is its seamless transition from crown to face, seamlessly blending through a white alignment stripe. In contrast, the Stealth 2 HD incorporates a centimeter-thick aluminum stripe, separating the crown from the face. These subtle design variances contribute to the unique look of both clubs.

Both drivers share a glossy finish on their crowns, adding to their sleek and refined appearance. However, in terms of stock colors, the Stealth 2 sports a bold red and black combination, while the Qi10 offers a broader spectrum including black, blue, and yellow.

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In terms of sound and feel, both the Stealth 2 HD and Qi10 Max emit a satisfying mid-pitch crack upon impact, providing an enjoyable auditory experience for players.

Notably, both models represent a significant improvement in sound and feel compared to the original Stealth driver, thanks to advancements from the introduction of the carbon face a couple of years ago.

Ultimately, both drivers excel in this category, but if we were to choose a winner, the Stealth 2 HD would take the lead due to its deeper face and more classic head shape, although our team particularly appreciated the clean top line of the Qi10 Max.

Forgiveness

Both the Stealth 2 HD and Qi10 Max drivers are primarily crafted with forgiveness in mind, emphasizing high launch and spin rather than pure distance.

The forgiveness of the Qi10 Max is notably elevated due to its innovative crown design and elongated head, which strategically shifts weight towards the back.

In contrast to the Stealth 2 HD, the Qi10 boasts a seamless carbon crown that flows freely into the clubface, eliminating the interruption of a centimeter-thick aluminum strip featured in the Stealth 2 that adds weight in an unadvantageous position.

This design decision proves pivotal in enhancing forgiveness, facilitating a redistribution of weight that optimizes the club’s center of gravity (CG) and moment of inertia (MOI).

In this category, the Qi10 Max emerges victorious as our team found this pivotal weight redistribution exceedingly beneficial on off-center hits and was for sure the most accurate driver we have ever tested.

Distance

Club	Club Speed	Ball Speed	Spin	Carry	Total
Qi10 Max	101.4	148	2416	246	272.8
Stealth 2 HD	101.1	149.1	1971	256.7	283

As you can see, TaylorMade did not build the Qi10 Max driver for distance. However, we did learn from this test that it does hit the ball straighter which can be attributed to the increase in spin.

In this test, the Qi10 Max was an average of 17 feet off of the center line while the Stealth 2 HD was an average of 21 feet off of the center.

Stealth 2 HD Exclusive Key Technologies

Draw Biased Inertia Generator

The Stealth 2 HD features a small weight positioned in the heel of the club to help players produce more a draw with their tee shots.

This small weight is called the inertia generator and helps the toe of the club to close faster promoting a draw bias on center strikes.

Qi10 Max Exclusive Key Technologies

To get maximum forgiveness, the following key technologies are worth noting:

Innovative Head Shape

The Qi10 Max showcases a head shape with increased shallowness from front to back, effectively boosting inertia by enabling mass to be positioned farther away from the center of the clubhead.

The lower and farther back mass is placed from the clubface, the for forgiveness and inertia the club will produce.

Infinity Carbon Crown

The Qi10 Max driver features an Infinity Carbon Crown that covers an impressive 97% of the total crown area.

This design offers a strategic advantage by redistributing mass effectively, leading to enhanced forgiveness.

At address, the Infinity Carbon Crown provides a sleek and clean view, complemented by subtle alignment cues.

This not only contributes to a visually appealing driver but also sets the stage for increased confidence and success on the course.

60x Carbon Twist Face

Utilizing the third generation of 60X Carbon Twist Face®, the Qi10 driver incorporates a significantly lighter face compared to traditional titanium constructions.

This engineering advancement results in a reduction of forward weight, maximizing energy transfer at impact. The lighter face allows TaylorMade to redistribute weight lower and farther back on the club to increase MOI.

An evolved support structure of the Carbon Face Technology effectively bonds the face and protects ball speeds, ensuring consistent performance across the clubface.

Adjustable Loft Sleeve

This innovative technology allows players to fine-tune the loft and face angle with a 4° loft sleeve.

The flexibility provided by the Adjustable Loft Sleeve empowers golfers to customize their driver settings, optimizing performance according to their preferences and play style.

Additionally, the sleeve allows for an upright setting, providing further customization options to cater to individual preferences.

It is important to note that increasing loft using this feature will slightly close the face and decreasing loft will slightly open the face.

Key Takeaways

Qi10 Max and Stealth 2 HD

TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max and Stealth 2 HD drivers offer unparalleled forgiveness and advanced technology, prioritizing forgiveness over sheer distance, making them ideal choices for players seeking consistency and control in their game.

Forgiveness

While both drivers prioritize forgiveness, the Qi10 Max emerges as TaylorMade’s most forgiving driver yet, thanks to its innovative crown design and strategically redistributed weight.

This pivotal weight redistribution significantly enhances forgiveness, particularly on off-center hits, making it the most accurate driver we’ve tested.

Distance

The Stealth 2 HD excels in distance, delivering longer shots compared to the Qi10 Max.

However, the Qi10 Max’s straighter ball flight, attributed to increased spin, enhances accuracy, making it a compelling choice for players prioritizing precision over sheer distance.

Exclusive Key Technologies

Each driver boasts unique technologies to optimize performance.

The Stealth 2 HD features the Draw Biased Inertia Generator, promoting a draw bias on center strikes.

On the other hand, the Qi10 Max incorporates innovative features such as the Infinity Carbon Crown and 60x Carbon Twist Face, enhancing forgiveness and maximizing energy transfer for consistent performance across the clubface.

Recommendation

It’s challenging to definitively declare one driver superior over the other between these two models.

Our assessment suggests that the Qi10 Max is more suitable for players seeking a neutral setup, aiming to consistently find fairways with ease.

Conversely, the Stealth 2 HD caters to players comfortable with a draw bias, prioritizing a high level of forgiveness while maintaining considerable distance off the tee.

While both clubs excel in their respective categories, they cater to different types of players, emphasizing the importance of aligning your choice with your playing style and preferences.