50 Words or Less
The TaylorMade Qi35 Max fairway wood is remarkably easy to hit. Strong ball speed with excellent speed retention across the face. Virtually every ball launches into the air. Adjustable hosel allows it to work for a wide range of players.
Introduction
“Fun to hit” is one of the biggest compliments that I can give a golf club. I’ve used to frequently for drivers, and irons and wedges have received it, too. Fairway woods…not so much. The TaylorMade Qi35 Max fairway wood looks to break new ground, offering maximum forgiveness so that the long game can be maximally fun.
Looks
The biggest difference between the TaylorMade Qi35 Max fairway wood and its predecessor, the Qi10 Max fairway wood [review HERE], is the crown. Unlike the gloss black of the Qi10, the Qi35 Max has a matte grey carbon fiber crown. The classic “T” alignment aid is centered, but the face does sit slightly closed in the neutral setting.
The TaylorMade Qi35 Max fairway wood is primarily a high gloss black that almost looks like a dark silver. Branding is very minimal – “TaylorMade” across the middle of the sole, a small “Qi35” on the toe, and “Max” near the heel. Two tiny triangles of mint green give the club the smallest hint of color.
Comparing the Qi35 Max fairway wood to the Qi35 (above, left), the Qi35 Max is a bit larger from front to back and heel to toe. The Qi35 also has a slightly taller face. What stands out more than the dimensional differences is the contrast in shape. Where the Qi35 has a slimmer look, the footprint of the Qi35 Max is sprawling, fuller in heel and toe.
Sound & Feel
Despite looking very similar, the TaylorMade Qi35 Max fairway wood and standard Qi35 have very different sounds. The Qi35 Max has a lively, bouncy sound that I’d call a “Sproing!” It’s not traditional or prototypical, but it put a big smile on my face every time I heard it. Despite my exclamation point, it’s not a particularly loud sound, just lively.
The feel of impact matches the sound. You get the sense that the ball is energetically jumping off the face. Despite being super forgiving, the Qi35 Max fairway wood does provide fair feedback through the hands. I wouldn’t describe it as precise, but you can easily tell a miss from a pure strike.
Performance
The most standout trait of the TaylorMade Qi35 Max fairway wood is the way that it launches almost every shot skyward. This is one of the highest and easiest launching fairway woods I can remember testing. As a low launch player who has historically struggled with fairway woods, this is the #1 thing that makes this club so much fun to hit. If you’ve struggled to elevate fairway woods in the past, this is one to try.
That high launch and mid-high spin will also help a lot of players to get more distance. I know that “low spin” gets the all the hype, but many players – not just slower swingers – would benefit from more spin and higher launch with their fairway woods. It will make these clubs more playable into greens, and it’s likely to add distance.
Moving from distance to direction, the TaylorMade Qi35 Max fairway wood has a moderate draw bias. It’s not an all-out anti-right club, but it definitely favors a draw over a fade. This club is not just for slicers, however, because TaylorMade has given it an adjustable hosel. I was able to open the face slightly (turning the loft down) and consistently hit shots on my intended line.
The adjustable hosel allows players of all handicap levels to enjoy the Qi35 Max’s other great quality: first rate forgiveness. Thanks to its larger footprint and multi-material construction, this club is very stable through impact. You can hit it toward the heel or toe and still get excellent ball speed and distance. Additionally, the shots don’t fly wildly off course just because your contact wasn’t ideal.
Finally, hitting the Qi35 Max fairway wood side-by-side with the Qi35 fairway wood [review HERE], some very obvious differences were revealed. The Qi35 Max launches higher and spins more, and it has a moderate draw bias. In contrast, the standard Qi35 flies a bit lower without a preferred side of the course. While both are quite forgiving, the Qi35 Max is noticeably easier to hit, launching every shot up into the air. On the launch monitor, you can see that it also preserves ball speed slightly better on mishits.
Conclusion
If you’re searching for a club that can get your longest approaches high in the air, check out the TaylorMade Qi35 Max fairway wood. This club has excellent forgiveness paired with high launch and above average spin for longer carry distances. The adjustable hosel makes it playable for a wider range of golfers.
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TaylorMade Qi35 Max Fairway Wood Price & Specs
Editor In Chief at Plugged In Golf
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.