TaylorMade Qi35 vs Titleist GT2 Driver: Read Our Head-To-Head Verdict

As two of the more popular drivers on tour, the TaylorMade Qi35 and the Titleist GT2 carry some serious credentials. Both brands are known for making some of the best drivers around, and these two flagship models are no different.

Each driver is a new addition to the respective line-ups, with the Qi35 looking to build on the success of the Qi10 range that was seen in the bags of many tour pros, while the GT range sets out to be a faster, more explosive version of the TSR family.

It’s fair to say that both of these US-based companies have dedicated followers, but could you be persuaded to switch? To establish the merits of both drivers, we’ve not only tested them thoroughly but also put them up against each to see which can claim the crown, and perhaps also find its way into your golf bag.

Technology

When TaylorMade launched the Qi35 range, which also includes the Qi35 LS and Qi35 Max models, the tech headliner was CG projection. In essence TaylorMade has built the clubhead to project the CG as low as possible with the aim to produce an optimal ball flight, namely a high launch, low spin ball that flies forever. To achieve this, the engineers have shaved off a few grams, allowing them to redistribute the weight to the crown, the ring and the hosel, which brings that balance point down.

As for the club’s construction, it uses a blend of materials including chromium, carbon, steel, aluminum, tungsten and titanium along with a fourth-generation carbon twist face. As you’d expect from a premium driver there’s also adjustability: two sole weights let you dial in launch and spin to optimize flight shape, plus a 4-degree loft sleeve.

As mentioned, Titleist wanted the GT range to be faster than the TSR line-up. To do this it went to a multi-material construction, which includes its Proprietary Matrix Polymer, used in the club’s crown. According to the brand it’s three times lighter than other all-titanium construction used in the TSR clubs, allowing the engineers to better distribute the club’s mass, and thus help optimize the CG. Certainly the club feels light and that PMP material feels almost malleable in a way that a credit card does.

In terms of the desired playing characteristics, the GT2 is designed to be the most user-friendly of the three-driver line-up and its high Moment of Inertia points to this; a higher MOI will translate to a more stable clubface through impact, with less twisting of the face.

Other tech details include an interchangeable back weight that allows you to fine tune the head and swing weight of the driver to suit your needs as well as a SureFit adjustable hosel.

Looks

Yes it’s a subjective category, but we think the Qi35 is a stunning looking driver. TaylorMade has managed to blend space-age looking materials - just check out the gray carbon crown - with a minimalist design to create a design that works both in the bag and behind the ball. Even the sole is stylish, with just a few flourishes of green added. And the small alignment aid is just as refined. In short, it oozes class.

If you’re familiar with the TaylorMade Qi10 driver, you’ll notice that at address the Qi35 is far rounder in shape, looking much more like the high-MOI Max model; for us this is a definite bonus and a look we prefer in any driver.

Despite the multi-material approach, Titleist has managed to do what it does best with the GT2 - create a clean look, with a beautifully proportioned, rounded head. All the areas where the polymer meets the titanium have been filled and polished creating that familiar finish that’s become part of Titleist’s signature look.

Behind the ball, the rounded 460cc head inspires confidence. With the shape longer front to back, and paired with a shallower face it adds up to a look that really appealed to our eye; the shading on the face is used to create the illusion of more loft, which should add confidence at address for many players. There’s a subtle ‘GT’ logo on the crown, which is there for alignment purposes, but other than that from the playing position it’s a refined and classic look.

The same can't quite be said of the sole. For us it takes the minimal approach a step too far, and verges on the basic and underwhelming. Fortunately this has no bearing on the club’s performance.

Feel

For us the Qi35 delivers a different, and improved, feel from its ‘carbonwood’ products of the past few years. Yes, compared to other brands the acoustics are still more subdued, but here you get a distinctly livelier sound and a firmer feel at impact than ever before.

The GT2 truly excels in the feel department, with all that new technology combining to create an incredibly sophisticated sound and feel, that’s powerful but not harsh. It’s a real standout feature of the club.

Performance

Of course it’s vital that the technology, look and feel of a club deliver the right results and the Qi35 impressed us where it matters most.

The stars of the show are those two adjustable weights, which give you a driver that can deliver a considerably different performance based on their position. Set up in neutral and you’re met with a really stable and forgiving driver that will be a joy to use for those who struggle to find the fairway and have lost some confidence off the tee as a result. However, place the heavier weight at the front and you get a lower spin rate and more distance, although we noticed that our dispersion rates suffered, which is perhaps unsurprising.

This did make us question the need for the Low Spin version of the Qi35. If you can get the lower spin rate you’re looking for in a more forgiving package, then why would you opt for the specific LS model? For comparison, we achieved 1910rpm with the LS and 2101 with the regular Qi35 with the weight located at the front (using one of the best launch monitors, the Foresight GCQuad, to record the data). This is a negligible difference, and the added ball speed we got resulted in 8 more yards carry and 9 more in total distance.

The big question with the GT2 is whether the new construction and materials would deliver the additional ball speed that it is designed to achieve. The answer is yes but it's a little more nuanced than that. What really impressed us was the level of forgiveness and just how little our misses impacted both ball speed and dispersion. Strikes both low on the face and towards the heel weren’t punished too harshly and coupled with the great sound and feel of the GT2 and you get a driver that’s a pleasure to use.

Which club should you choose?

Choose the TaylorMade Qi35 driver if...

- You want plenty of adjustability
- You want a rounder profile
- You value versatility

Choose the Titleist GT2 driver if....

- You value Titleist's classic look
- You want forgiveness and distance
- You appreciate sophisticated feel and sound

For more driver buying advice, be sure to have a read of our guides on the most forgiving drivers, best drivers for seniors, or the best high handicap drivers.