Callaway Quantum Max D Driver Review

A new year, a new set of draw bias, anti-slice drivers. Joe Ferguson has been looking at Callaway's offering, the Quantum Max D...

Photo of the Callaway Quantum Max D Driver
(Image credit: Future)
Golf Monthly Verdict

The Callaway Quantum Max D is a highly effective and powerful driver for its category. It successfully mitigates the slice with a tangible draw bias while maintaining impressive ball speeds that rival the low-spin tour models. Despite a slightly unoriginal address profile that mirrors previous generations, the overall aesthetic package is undeniably premium. For the golfer who needs help turning the ball over but refuses to give up distance or feel, the Quantum Max D is one of the more powerful drivers of its type on the market.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Powerful, thuddy feel with good feedback

  • +

    Highly effective slice-reduction bias

  • +

    Impressive ball speed retention compared to other draw drivers

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Address profile is a repackaged Ai Smoke Max-D

  • -

    Grey accents detract slightly from the premium look compared to Triple Diamond models

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The Callaway Quantum Max D arrives as the dedicated draw-biased option in the new Quantum family, built to tackle the amateur golfer's most common enemy: the slice.

While it shares the same high-tech DNA as its siblings - including the new Tri-Force Face - it is specifically engineered for easy launch and maximum forgiveness. I’ve been testing this new slice-killer to see if it can deliver the powerful, corrective performance of the best golf drivers that many golfers desperately need without sacrificing too much speed.

The Quantum Max D is designed for easy launch and maximum forgiveness, pairing the Tri-Force Face with Callaway’s next-generation A.i.-Optimized Face Mapping. This tech is crucial, as it aims to optimize speed and spin based on real impact patterns, which for this player profile often means heel and toe strikes.

Internal heel-side weighting has also been strategically added to promote a slight draw bias for slice reduction or draw enhancement, depending on which way you’d like to phrase it!

Photo of the Callaway Quantum Max D Driver

(Image credit: Future)

Despite the unoriginality of the playing position (it is essentially a re-packaged Ai Smoke Max-D from that angle), the overall aesthetic package is a solid one. The graphics and branding all look very premium, utilizing the dark carbon textures well.

However, I would have steered away from adding the grey accents to the sole. The Triple Diamond models don't have the grey, and they look all the more premium for it; the grey just cheapens the look slightly in my opinion. That said, the confidence-inspiring shape sits nicely behind the ball, looking friendly and eager to launch.

Photo of the Callaway Quantum Max D Driver

Quantum Max D (left) and the Ai Smoke Max-D (right)

(Image credit: Future)

The feel at impact is powerful and 'thuddy'. It doesn't have the hollow, tinny sound that some draw-biased drivers suffer from. Instead, it offers a solid, deep acoustic that feels substantial at impact, letting you know you've moved the ball with force.

For whatever reason, many drivers that sit in the draw bias category often somehow feel a little weaker than other members of the same brand family - almost like the "junior" partner in terms of raw power. Truthfully, the Quantum Max D was no exception in that regard, although it got a lot closer to keeping its speed than most other anti-slice drivers.

Photo of the Callaway Quantum Max D Driver

(Image credit: Future)

In my testing on my Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor, it was only 2 mph behind the Triple Diamond model in terms of ball speed. When coupled with the fact that it produced over 500 rpm more spin, this equated to an 11-yard distance gap for me, although for slower speed players, the additional spin may be welcome and have the reverse effect on carry.

Photo of the Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond Driver data

(Image credit: Future)

However, speed isn't the primary purpose of this model. Its main task is to fight the slice, and it does that admirably. The internal weighting and face design work together to help close the face, and this produced a substantial amount of left curvature for me.

The ease of launch is another standout feature here and will certainly help maximize carry for players with moderate swing speeds who struggle to keep the ball in the air.

Photo of the Callaway Quantum Max D Driver

(Image credit: Future)

Overall, I really like the Callaway Quantum Max D. It is one of the more powerful drivers of its type, offering genuine help for the slicer without looking or feeling like a training aid in any way.

It’s a serious piece of equipment that brings the speed of the Quantum line (almost) to the most forgiving, draw-biased chassis. If you battle a right miss but still want a premium, powerful feel, this is a top contender.

The Callaway Quantum Max-D driver will be retailing at £599/649.99

Joe Ferguson
Staff Writer

Joe has worked in the golf industry for nearly 20 years in a variety of roles. After a successful amateur career being involved in England squads at every age group, Joe completed his PGA degree qualification in 2014 as one of the top ten graduates in his training year and subsequently went on to become Head PGA Professional at Ryder Cup venue The Celtic Manor Resort. Equipment has always been a huge passion of Joe’s, and during his time at Celtic Manor, he headed up the National Fitting Centres for both Titleist and Taylormade. He’s excited to bring his knowledge of hardware to Golf Monthly in the form of equipment reviews and buying advice.

Joe lives in North Devon and still plays sporadically on the PGA West region circuit. His best round in recent years came earlier in 2023 where he managed a 9 under par 63 at Trevose GC in a Devon & Cornwall PGA Tournament.

Joe's current What's In The Bag?

Driver: Switch between TaylorMade Qi35 and Callaway Elyte TD - both with Fujikura Ventus Black 6-X

Fairway wood 1: TaylorMade BRNR Copper Mini Driver - Fujikura Ventus Black 7-X

Fairway wood 2: Callaway Apex UW 17˚- Fujikura Ventus Black 9-X

Irons: TaylorMade P7CB 3-PW with Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts

Wedges: Callaway Opus 50, 54, and 60 degrees - Project X LS 6.0 shafts

Putter: LAB Golf Oz.1 (zero shaft lean)

Ball: TaylorMade 2024 TP5x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 60R

Bag: Vessel Player IV Pro DXR Stand

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