This Is The Most Complete Fairway Wood I've Ever Tested

TaylorMade seemingly dominated the fairway wood count on the PGA Tour over the last couple of years, and this year the brand has returned with the Qi4D fairway wood. This replaces the popular Qi35 fairway wood released last year, and given the very quick tour take-up, I think we’re in for a treat.

TaylorMade really has thrown the kitchen sink at the Qi4D range to ensure the technological refinements are matched aesthetically. I think the range as a whole looks superb, with TaylorMade opting for a darker carbon crown this year, which gives it a sleek, premium aesthetic and makes it look as though there is a touch more loft on the face - something I like.

The gloss black sole and matte carbon infinity crown are accented by subtle hints of navy and orange that really help bring the club to life without being distracting.

Down behind the ball, the core (standard) head sits beautifully to my eye, featuring a refined 185cc shape with a slightly flatter lie angle than the previous model - something that suited my eye. I particularly love how the graphics towards the perimeter of the crown, as I think they help the club frame the ball exceptionally well at address.

The head is fairly symmetrical, offering a confidence-inspiring look at address, much like many of the best fairway woods on the market, and will appeal to a wide range of golfers. The Qi4D fairway wood boasts an improved Speed Pocket - a slot behind the face, which is designed to protect ball speed and keep spin low if you strike the ball thin or further towards the toe and heel.

The Speed Pocket is a proven piece of tech that TaylorMade has used for many years now, and I don’t see it leaving TaylorMade fairway woods any time soon. The Qi4D also utilises TaylorMade’s Twist Face, a bulge and roll design on the face that helps straighten out shots when you miss the centre through gear effect.

TaylorMade has incorporated an 8g weight towards the rear of the head, and you can purchase a weight kit via the TaylorMade website if you want to test different weights to alter CG and therefore the launch and spin characteristics. The 4° loft sleeve adds another layer of customisation, allowing you to alter loft, lie, and face angle to dial in your preferred ball flight.

To put the Qi4D through its paces, I started with indoor testing using a Foresight Sports GCQuad launch monitor and a Titleist Pro V1x golf ball to gather data, removing all the external variables that come with testing outside.

The Qi4D performed exceptionally well, producing an impressive average ball speed of 155.6mph, but alongside the speed was the control I crave from a fairway wood. The spin was hovering around the 2876 rpm mark - exactly where I like to see it for a 3-wood. This combination resulted in an average carry of 260 yards and the ability to shape the ball fairly comfortably on demand.

Crucially, I achieved a peak height of 107ft, which means that while this fairway wood wasn’t spinning as much as some of the most forgiving fairway woods on the market, the ball is coming down steep enough to hold even firm greens. If you are looking to attack par 5s in two, this club has the stopping power to set up plenty of eagle putts.

Moving outside, I was keen to see if the data translated to real-world ball flight, and I was immediately impressed with the trajectory on offer because, despite launching easily from the fairway, I saw a strong, penetrating flight when hitting from a tee, making the Qi4D work perfectly when using it as an alternative to a driver on tighter holes.

The TaylorMade Qi4D range as a whole now offers a better stock shaft offering after the brand secured a partnership with Mitsubishi Chemical, providing a family of new REAX shafts that are fitted based on a golfer's amount of face rotation through the ball.

The combination of the penetrating flight, the ability to hold greens, and the stunning navy and orange aesthetics makes the TaylorMade Qi4d fairway wood ($379/£319) a standout release this year and one of the most complete clubs I've ever tested. It passed every test with flying colors and I'm confident it will be a hit with both professional and amateur golfers.