TaylorMade Qi4D & Qi4D Max Fairway Woods Review: One step closer to perfection

While their clubs are, of course, routinely excellent, TaylorMade have developed something of a knack for making fairway woods that golfers of all levels particularly love.

While the brand had mixed fortunes with the Qi35 driver, the fairway woods were a resounding success, building upon the reputation of the Qi10 models gamed by both Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. Indeed, TaylorMade fairway woods have been the most played on the PGA Tour for some time now, and were in the winning bags at all four majors last year. Tommy Fleetwood also took his Qi35 5 and Qi10 9-woods to FedEx Cup victory.

How, then, do you improve upon a formula already so beloved by tour pros and amateurs alike? Unfortunately, the boffins at TaylorMade were unable to simply slap a new coat of paint on the Qi35 and call it a day, and as such we have this: the new range of Qi4D fairway woods.

Like prior TaylorMade fairway wood models, the new range comes in four distinct models: the core Qi4D wood, the more forgiving Max option, the more compact Tour and the senior-oriented Max Lite. Here, we'll be focusing on the two models that we think will end up in the bags of most golfers: the core and the Max.

GolfMagic was invited along to TaylorMade's press launch at their Kingdom HQ in Carlsbad, California, to get fully acquainted with the new models and see how they perform.

Check out our video review below and scroll on to read our detailed thoughts. Let us know what you think of the new range in the comments below, and be sure to check out our reviews of the new TaylorMade Qi4D driver and Qi Max irons here.

Looks and features

While, the Qi4D driver line has had a dramatic overhaul compared to the old Qi35, the approach TaylorMade brought to its new metalwoods was altogether more incremental, taking everything people loved about prior Qi woods and refining it further.

The 4D concept refers to what TaylorMade calls the four dimensions of speed, which to you and me just means the four basic elements that make up the club. In terms of the head and face, the brand has carried through all the much-loved tech of models old, incorporating the Twist Face design to tighten dispersion on mishits and its signature Speed Pocket to protect ball speeds on low-face strikes, while refining the shape of each head to sit more distinctly from the other.

A driving motivation for TaylorMade's engineers going into 2026 was the notion that they wanted each of their new models to feel as distinct from one another as possible. As such, the four new models (namely the , Qi4D, Qi4D Tour, Max and Max Lite) are far more distinguishable from one another than we saw in the Qi35 range. As such, the Qi4D Max is noticeably larger at address compared to the core model, with a 200cc head size compared to the core wood's 185cc. 

Both the core and Max models have a multi-material construction, combining a steel face with a carbon crown (the Tour, which is more expensive and geared towards better players, swaps the steel for Titanium at a £60 mark-up).

The key innovation in the new Qi4D range is an added dimension of adjustability, which comes through what the brand calls a Trajectory Adjustment System (TAS) of weights. Both the Qi4D and Qi4D max have differently-shaped 8g TAS weights, which in the core model can be adjusted to create different ball flights, and in the Max is rearward-oriented to promote launch and maximise MOI.

TaylorMade have adopted a fairly minimalist aesthetic identity for the Qi4D's design, offsetting the lashings of matte carbon that fill the crown and sole with a subtle metallic navy and golden accents. TaylorMade have also addressed an alignment issue that cropped up for many golfers who struggled to square up the TwistFace design at address, placing a white line over the top of the crown that now makes it much easier to align properly. We think it looks absolutely brilliant.

Performance

Straight off the bat, the key takeaway is that the both Qi4D fairway wood models are as remarkably forgiving as prior Qi fairway woods. They feel absolutely gorgeous to hit, with a satisfying sense of power that really gives you the confidence to give it your all both off the fairways and when employed for tighter tee shots. 

Both the Qi4D and Qi4D max felt exceptionally easy to hit and unquestionably more consistently fast than the Qi35 (although just by how much we're yet to confirm until we bring out the launch monitor). While we were expecting to be fitted into the core model as I was with the driver, the added launch of the Max actually suited our style of game better, and we saw much more favourable launch and spin numbers when we switched into the Max, which uses its rearward weight and added size to make really getting the ball up into the air incredibly easy.

The main caveat with the Max, despite the fact that it's perhaps the most forgiving fairway wood on the market, is the bigger profile. At 200cc, this is about as big as fairway woods come, with an almost saucer-like appearance behind the ball at address that we don't particularly love. For some players less confident with their fairway woods, this might be just the reassuring presence they need. Even though it performed the best in hand, for our eye, it could simply be too big and unwieldy to justify the added forgiveness.

For those who prefer a more compact profile in their metalwoods, the Qi4D cuts a much more distinct figure in relation to the Max than in prior generations. TaylorMade have done an outstanding job packing as much forgiveness as they have into a profile that's noticeably more sleek than the Max option, and the new weighting system, in combination with the loft sleeve makes adjusting the woods to suit a wider range of swings an absolute breeze.

Should you buy the TaylorMade Qi4D fairway woods?

TaylorMade Qi4D Golf Fairwayfrom £319.00 at Scottsdale Golf

TaylorMade have knocked it out of the park with the Qi4D and Qi4D Max fairway woods, delivering a pair of ultra-forgiving, easy-hitting options that are distinct enough to cater to a much wider array of golfers. This isn't a revolutionary update by any stretch of the imagination, but by refining what players loved about the past two Qi models even further, they've pushed ever so slightly closer to true perfection with this pair of models.

The Qi4D is a club that performs as good as it looks, with tons of forgiveness for a core model driver. It's fast across the face, produced outstanding dispersion numbers when properly dialled in, and offers an entirely different profile at address that we absolutely love. The Max, meanwhile, is among the longest and easiest-hitting fairway woods we've ever tested. If you value forgiveness above all else and don't mind the added size, this is the model to test out first.

TaylorMade Qi4D MAX Golf Fairwayfrom £319.00 at Scottsdale Golf

Either way, we're confident that in these two models TaylorMade have created a formidable fairway wood package for 2026 that the other major OEMs are going to have a tough time beating. And as such, it's easy to predict that their status as the most-gamed fairway wood on tour should remain for some time to come.