The brand new TaylorMade Qi10 LS Driver has been causing quite a stir online the last two days after the USGA officially placed it on the conforming list.
That excitement then really caught fire when Rory McIlroy was spotted with the driver in hand ahead of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
So, with speculation already running wild about what we can expect from the new model, we've put together a handy guide containing everything we know so far.
While we can't provide you with specific details of the model McIlroy will be using in Dubai this week, our Content Producer Alex Lodge and Reviews Editor Johnny Percival will have more information about it for you very soon.
Let's get into it.
Five things we know about the TaylorMade Qi10 LS
1. McIlroy will be using the Qi10 this week in Dubai
One of the worst-kept secrets in golf, we do now officially know that McIlroy will be putting the Qi10 LS in play at this week's DP World Tour Championship.
Thanks to a sneaky video posted from the DP World Tour X (formerly Twitter) account, McIlroy confirmed he will be testing out the new driver.
Luckily, having already secured the Race to Dubai title for a fifth time in his career, he knows his result this week is less consequential, which makes it the perfect opportunity to get some competitive reps in with the driver before the start of the 2024 season.
2. Carbon remains king
Another factor that won't surprise many golfers who like to keep their finger on the equipment pulse is that TaylorMade is sticking with a carbon face for the Qi10. When TaylorMade first introduced the carbon face with the original Stealth driver, they also told Golfweek they had no plans on returning to a Titanium face in the future.
What isn't yet clear is precisely how much carbon is going to be used in the head. Both the Stealth and Stealth 2 drivers featured a carbon fibre crown, so it seems likely the brand will stick with what has been a winning formula for both pros and amateurs around the world.
TaylorMade iQ10
3. Moveable weight
From images produced by the USGA, we can see that the Qi10 has a weight port right behind the speed pocket slot near the face. Much like the Stealth 2 Plus, this slot appears to allow fitters to move weight left or right to shift the centre of gravity in the head in order to favour a draw or a fade.
While the weight port is similar in position to that of the Stealth 2 Plus, it does look considerably narrower, which could suggest the weight won't be able to be moved quite as dramatically as before.
4. More models to come
The model of the Qi10 that has hit the USGA's conforming list is called the Qi10 LS, which we would be willing to put our house on stands for 'low spin'. If this is the case, then the Qi10 looks to be the corresponding model to the Stealth 2 Plus used by the likes of McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler.
With that being said, it looks likely we will also see a standard Qi10 model and a more forgiving draw bias model, perhaps called the Qi10 HD, also released when TaylorMade launches the range.
5. Colour
TaylorMade iQ10
Thanks to some on-course photos we've recently seen from McIlroy playing in Dubai, it looks like TaylorMade has stepped away from the red that proved so popular with the Stealth and Stealth 2 range and has opted for a predominantly dark blue/black and silver colour scheme.
The Qi10 logo also appears to have a small amount of yellow in it.
What do you make of the look of the new TaylorMade driver? Will you be giving it a go in 2024? What have your made of the Stealth or Stealth 2 drivers of recent years? Share your comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels.
Johnny joined GolfMagic as Reviews Editor in 2023 having worked for Sports Impact for two years as Head of Social Media, working alongside prominent golf brands including Galvin Green, Motocaddy and Wilson.
