TaylorMade has been at the forefront of developing driver technology for over four decades and it continues to produce equipment that delivers market-leading performance. Rarely does a TaylorMade driver launch pass quietly, such is its presence on Tour among the world's best players.
Be it the JetSpeed, AeroBurner or Rocketballz - to name but a few models - TaylorMade can never be accused of bringing products to the market that lack innovation. In 2022 and 2023, TaylorMade introduced us to the Carbonwood age, as it launched the Stealth and then the Stealth 2 range of drivers, one of the first ever drivers to have an all carbon face and chassis.
For 2024, TaylorMade brings in the Qi10, with the main focus being on a new level of forgiveness and stability. Such is the quality, it's the first time that the company have surpassed 10,000 MOI (moment of inertia) and, consequently, it ranks as one of the best golf drivers money can buy.
Below, we examine their range and offer our advice on which model will suit your game and skill level. Importantly, be sure to follow the links to our full reviews where you can read more about the latest technology and find out how each driver performed during testing. Alternatively, if TaylorMade is not for you, we have also created guides for other brands too – such as the best Ping drivers, the best Titleist drivers, and the best Callaway drivers.
WATCH: We run through the performance of the best drivers in 2024
The Quick List
Combining the best bits of both the Max and LS models, the standard Qi10 model is an exceptional all round performer that is extremely forgiving and will appeal to a broad spectrum of players.
The whole Qi10 series was named after this model and, thanks to incredible stability at impact and its easy to launch nature, the Max is the headline product of the range.
Providing users with low-spin and high ball speeds, the LS version of the Qi10 is designed for the 'better player', with the aesthetics a big improvement over its predecessor.
Providing a powerful feel at impact, the Stealth 2 is an impressive all-rounder that features a huge amount of technology.
The Stealth 2 HD driver is the most forgiving of the three Stealth 2 models, with the subtle draw bias and extra weight making it very easy to hit and get the ball airborne.
Like the Qi10 LS, the Stealth 2 Plus is designed to be the low-spinning model, with the compact look at address likely appealing to the more confident ball striker.
Load the next 2 models
Mini drivers are becoming more popular on the professional circuit and, thanks to aspirational, retro aesthetics and incredible control, it's easy to see why in the BRNR Mini Driver.
Not only is the Kalea effortless to hit, but the elegant styling and construction makes this one of the best women's drivers currently available on the market.
Best TaylorMade Drivers
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Qi10 Models
Sitting in the middle of the Qi10 range in terms of its spin and forgiveness levels, in theory the Qi10 will appeal to the broadest range of players. One thing that is for certain is that the tech story is pretty simple; TaylorMade has aimed to maximise the MOI without compromising ball speed.
How have they achieved this you may ask? Well, the company have re-engineered their 60X Carbon Twist Face and provided a new supporting structure to promote faster ball speeds and improve the durability of the face. Coupled with a brand new, larger address footprint and a lower CG projection, and we felt the Qi10 hit the mark in all the important aspects, with our testing showing an improvement over the Stealth 2.
Visually, TaylorMade has also come away from the red face that we saw in the Stealth range of clubs, with the color being replaced by a more subtle and less garish navy colour. Furthermore, the new ultra rounded shape of the Qi10 is a real delight and we felt it should inspire confidence when at address.
- Read our full TaylorMade Qi10 Driver Review
TaylorMade Qi10 Max Driver
As mentioned, the whole Qi10 series was named after this model, with TaylorMade's engineers searching for 10K MOI, which is why you have the ‘Q’ for quest, the ‘i’ for inertia and the ‘10’ for 10k, giving us the Qi10.
Sharing similar looks to that of the standard Qi10 and LS, the stand out of this driver is the forgiveness, which we thought was astonishing! On mis-hits, the Max retained its ball speeds no matter where struck off the face, whilst the dispersion remained tight from a length and directional perspective.
One notable difference between the Max and the other options is that the spin was on the higher side, which is something we expected as this is the more forgiving model. Also, rather interestingly, TaylorMade have implemented the Qi10 Max with a shaft that is an inch shorter. This is to help promote centre contact to be made more regularly, something which puts the Max amongst the best high handicap drivers.
- Read our full TaylorMade Qi10 Max Driver Review
TaylorMade Qi10 LS Driver
The Qi10 features the new looks we see in the standard and Max versions, with the LS model retaining a more familiar pear-shaped TaylorMade profile. This is slightly different to the other models listed above, which tend to have a more rounded footprint.
Beginning with the performance, the LS was producing some really solid numbers and, importantly, the spin rate was low. This is what the Qi10 LS is designed to do and, thanks to the high ball speed, we think this will be better suited to those with faster swing speeds and more competent ball strikers.
- Read our full TaylorMade Qi10 LS Driver Review
Stealth 2 Models
Just like the previous Stealth, the Stealth 2 features the 60X Carbon Twist Face and a face design that features an advanced version of Inverted Cone Technology (ICT). From our testing, we found that it still maintained the ball speed on off-center strikes, as well as providing an increase in forgiveness.
Although there is still the red and black aesthetic, which will divide opinion, TaylorMade has made it more user-friendly, especially behind the ball. How, you may ask? Well, they have by making the red on the face brighter, which ensures the loft on the club is a little clearer to see. What's more, the glossy black crown also helps it look a bit more generous at address.
Compared to the previous generation, the Stealth 2 is more evolutionary than revolutionary and, when we hit it, we found that the distance was good but it was the added consistency that impressed us most. This was especially true in terms of ball flight, as it remained pretty consistent throughout testing.
- Read our full TaylorMade Stealth 2 Driver Review
TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD Driver
When released, we were such big fans of the Stealth 2 HD that we actually rated it five stars out of five in our review. The reason for this was down to the fact it was so easy to launch, had high levels of forgiveness and had a subtle enough draw bias to really help straighten out a slice.
Providing users with a more rounded head than the other Stealth 2 models, the HD has the inverted cone variable face thickness we see on TaylorMade drivers, but their engineers have put the majority of the weight gain towards the heel side of the sweet spot. By doing this, the HD is very forgiving, especially on mis-hits that are low and to the inside of centre.
As mentioned, the HD is designed to straighten out a slice and, in our testing, it did just that, as it had around a 5 to 10 yard draw bias. One notable point is that the flight was considerably higher, which we put down to the extra spin generated.
- Read our full TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD Driver Review
TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus Driver
Of the three Stealth 2 models, the Plus driver has the most compact footprint at address (the Stealth 2 and Stealth 2 HD are slightly bigger to look down on) and, as such, it is probably best suited to the more consistent ball strikers. That being said, like with the other Stealth 2 models, the aesthetics of this driver are excellent.
Another thing we picked up on while testing the new Stealth 2 Plus on the course was the feel. This is a really important part of the overall package and we were pleased that the second generation Stealth still felt powerful through impact.
In terms of acoustics, we thought it was a fraction more muted than the previous generation and we really liked it but, if you prefer a higher-pitched contact sound, you might find this isn’t lively enough for you. Finally, it features a 15g sliding weight to help golfers dial in their ball flights. We found this aspect fun to tinker around with but, realistically, after a custom fitting, it will be best to just leave where it is.
- Read our full TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus Driver Review
TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver
Mini drivers seem to be becoming more and more popular in the modern era and, with the BRNR Mini Driver, we see a club that provides retro styling and a 304cc head that is noticeably more compact than any of the best golf drivers on the market.
Although it is a smaller head, the BRNR Mini Driver is crammed with technology like two moveable weights in the sole of the club. These can be switched to dial in the spin profile and overall flight on offer, whilst a ‘K Sole’ design helps with turf interaction. Because of the versatility, it can be struck both on the tee box, as well as away from it.
In testing, we found that the black and bronze colour scheme worked well when down at address and, in terms of performance, it was superb, with our tester missing just one fairway when out on the golf course! The distance is obviously less than a proper driver, but for the confident ball striker who is searching for control off the tee, the BRNR Mini is an excellent option.
- Read our full TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Review
Women's Models
TaylorMade's goal with the Kalea range was to produce the absolute best clubs for ladies across a broad spectrum of playing styles. In fact, the company ran focus groups across four countries, asking over 15,000 lady golfers of varying abilities what they wanted in a driver and even built an advisory panel made up of female PGA professionals. The result, in our opinion, is one of the best golfer drivers for women TaylorMade has ever built.
Coming in at 12.5 degrees of loft as standard, it features a super lightweight carbon crown and sole, as well as a 22-gram steel back weight to help launch the ball higher. What's more, it also has TaylorMade's corrective 'Twist Face' to help straighten out your heel and toe mis-hits.
There's yet more technology in the flexible 'Speed Pocket' channel behind the face that expands the sweet spot. In testing, it provided an added boost of ball speed and forgiveness on low face strikes, something which many will absolutely adore!
- Read our full TaylorMade Kalea Premier Women's Driver Review
How We Test
When it comes to product testing, our reviews and buyers' guides are built upon a rigorous testing procedure as well as the knowledge and experience of the test team.
Getting into the specifics of the drivers, we first attend product launches and speak to manufacturers to understand the technology. We then hit the golf clubs indoors, usually at Foresight Sports and test the products with premium golf balls on a launch monitor.
Outdoor testing is the next port of call, as conditions outside will be a lot different to the perfect set up you can produce indoors. Ultimately, we aim to be as insightful and honest as possible in our reviews, so it is important to acknowledge that no manufacturer can buy a good review. This is because our team tells it how it is.
How to choose a new driver
You've probably already asked yourself whether you need to buy a new driver, but there's a few key things to consider when investing in a new driver, especially one that can help with your slice. Hopefully answering these questions will narrow your search down slightly and make comparing between various models much easier.
When purchasing a new big stick, it is crucial to ask yourself just what you need from it. Is distance your main priority or are you looking for something to help you find more fairways? We'd always recommend a custom fitting with a PGA Pro but if you know what you're looking for you can make an informed decision.
You also need to think about factors like feel, sound and looks as well because if a driver falls down for you in any of those facets, you are compromising when you don't have to.
FAQs
Which TaylorMade driver is most forgiving?
In the current range the TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD is the most forgiving driver. In the previous Stealth range either the standard Stealth or HD secured this title.
Is a 10.5 degree driver more forgiving?
It depends what loft you're comparing it to. Normally, the more loft on the driver the more forgiving it is. Most of the best TaylorMade drivers are available in a 12 degree head if you want maximum forgiveness. They are all also full adjustable for loft, so you can tweak the loft if you need.
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