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DriversTaylorMade Qi4D DriversHow to choose among the Qi4D, MAX, LS and MAX LITE
Updated: Oct 13, 2026Contains affiliate links
TaylorMade has four Qi4D drivers. Head volume (460cc), length (45.5 in) and price (¥107,800) are the same on all four; the difference is mainly the number and position of the weights. The soles don't make it obvious, so I lined them up using the numbers in the official news release.
Rakuten Ichiba / AdQi4D
Rakuten Ichiba / AdQi4D MAX
Rakuten Ichiba / AdQi4D MAX LITE
Product images: Rakuten Ichiba (ad). Click an image to go to the Rakuten Ichiba sales page. Check price and stock on the sales page.
In this article
- Bottom line: how I'd choose
- Drivers: The four Qi4D models split by weighting
- No published Qi4D head weight: about 200 g by subtraction
- Choose by whether the heavy weight sits front or back
- What's new in the build, and what it does
- Before you buy last year's model: how it differs from the one before
- The limited Shadowfall costs ¥11,000 more
- FAQ
Bottom line: how I'd choose
If in doubt, take the Qi4D MAX. It has a 13 g weight at the back and favors keeping the ball from curving.
For fine adjustment, the Qi4D (four weights); to cut spin, the LS (15 g forward); for an easy swing, the MAX LITE (275 g standard).
In September the LS was labeled "SELECTFIT STORE only," but the official product page I checked on Oct 13 no longer shows that label.
Drivers: The four Qi4D models split by weighting
All 4 models went on sale Jan 29, 2026, at ¥107,800, with 460cc, 45.5 in and a loft sleeve of ±2°.
| Model | Loft as built | Weights (movable) | Standard weight | Ball-flight tendency (official comparison chart) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuten Ichiba / AdQi4D | 9 / 10.5° | 4 (front 4 g × 2, rear 9 g × 2) | 308g | Mid spin, mid draw bias |
| Rakuten Ichiba / AdQi4D MAX | 9 / 10.5° | 2 (front 4 g, rear 13 g) | 306g | Mid spin, high draw bias |
| Qi4D LS | 9 / 10.5° | 2 (front 15 g, rear 4 g) | 310g | Low spin, low draw bias |
| Rakuten Ichiba / AdQi4D MAX LITE | 10.5° | 1 (front 4 g) | 275g | Mid-high spin, high draw bias |
The way to tell them apart is whether the heavy weight sits at the front or the back. The LS has 15 g forward; the MAX has 13 g back. The further forward the weight, the less spin and the lower and stronger the ball flight; the further back, the less the ball curves on off-center hits.
The MAX and MAX LITE swap the titanium frame for forged aluminum. TaylorMade describes them as its first "titanium-free" drivers.
Two cautions. When I checked on Sep 13, the LS carried a "SELECTFIT STORE only" label on the official site. The product page I saw on Oct 13 doesn't show it, and the LS can be selected in the official online store. Whether a shop stocks it varies by shop. Also, none of the four has a published moment of inertia (the number for how resistant the head is to twisting). There's also a detailed Qi4D page.
No published Qi4D head weight: about 200 g for all four by subtraction
The answer first. TaylorMade doesn't publish the weight of the head alone. The official product page lists three things: the whole club's weight, the shaft weight and the grip weight (checked Oct 13, 2026).
So I subtracted. The whole club minus the shaft and grip is what's left on the head side.
| Model (shaft) | Club weight | Shafts | Grip | Remainder (head side) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qi4D (REAX 60 MR, S) | 308g | 60.5g | 47.5g | about 200 g |
| Qi4D MAX (REAX 50 MR, S) | 306g | 56g | 47.5g | about 203 g |
| Qi4D LS (REAX 60 LR, S) | 310g | 62.5g | 47.5g | about 200 g |
| Qi4D MAX LITE (REAX 40 MR, SR) | 275g | 44g | 33.5g | about 198 g |
On all four, the head side is around 200 g. Nearly the same.
The MAX LITE is 33 g lighter than the Qi4D, and about 30 g of that came from the shaft (60.5 g → 44 g) and grip (47.5 g → 33.5 g). What makes a "light driver" is a light shaft and a light grip. If you pick the MAX LITE expecting a light head, you'll be disappointed.
That's why I compare the four by whole-club weight rather than head weight. Even within one model, changing the shaft moves it this much.
- Qi4D: 308 g (REAX 60 MR, S) / 304 g (REAX 50 MR, S) / 301 g (same, SR) / 302 g (REAX 50 HR, S) / 298 g (same, SR)
- Qi4D MAX: 306 g, 302 g, 300 g (REAX 50 MR in S, SR, R) / 304 g, 300 g, 298 g (REAX 50 HR in S, SR, R)
- Qi4D LS: 310 g (REAX 60 LR, S) / 309 g (REAX 60 MR, S)
- Qi4D MAX LITE: 275 g (REAX 40 MR, SR) / 274 g (same, R)
MR, HR and LR are the three REAX shaft types (Mid, High and Low Rotation). On the Qi4D alone, the heaviest and lightest combinations differ by 10 g. How you choose the shaft affects total weight more than the head weight does.
The movable weights on the head add up to 26 g on the Qi4D (9 g × 2 + 4 g × 2), 19 g on the LS (15 g + 4 g), 17 g on the MAX (13 g + 4 g) and 4 g on the MAX LITE. If you swap in separately sold weights, the head-side weight moves from here.
Choose by whether the heavy weight sits front or back
All four are 460cc, 45.5 in and ¥107,800, so no difference there. When I look at the construction, the first thing I compare is where the heavy weight sits. The LS has it forward for low spin and workability; the MAX has it back for forgiveness; the Qi4D sits in between and lets you fine-tune with four weights. If you're short on swing power, start with the MAX LITE, which brings the whole club down to about 275g.
Qi4D (standard)
For players who want to fine-tune with weights
- Players who want to fine-tune ball flight with four weights
- Players who want to start adjusting from “medium” spin and draw bias (medium spin, medium draw bias on the official tendency chart)
- Players with head speed around 45 m/s (per Yoshikazu Matsuo, Minna no Golf Digest)
Qi4D MAX
Suits
- Players who value stability on off-center hits and straightness (officially a “high-MOI design”: high moment of inertia, so the head twists less on off-center hits)
- Players who want to use the rear weight to launch the ball higher
- Players who want weight adjustment even in a MAX model (a first for the MAX line)
Qi4D LS
Suits
- Players who spin it too much and balloon the ball (officially the lowest-spinning model in the series)
- Players who want to work the ball with a traditional tour shape
- Players with head speed of 45 m/s or more (per GDO's new product report)
Qi4D MAX LITE
For players short on swing power
- Players who want distance with an easy swing and a light club (lightest in the series)
- Players who miss right a lot and want a ball that turns over
- Players with head speed under 40 m/s (per Yoshikazu Matsuo)
What's new in the design, and what the maker says it does
Face Roll Design + 60-layer Carbon Twist Face
Construction: a new face shape slightly rounded top to bottom (roll), with a carbon face made of 60 layers.
What TaylorMade says: it reduces variation in spin (ball rotation) on hits high and low on the face, stabilizing ball flight. It also straightens flight on high-toe and low-heel hits, reducing left-right dispersion (no figures published for the effect).
Larger through-slot Speed Pocket
Construction: the slot in the front of the sole (Speed Pocket) is redesigned and larger than before.
What TaylorMade says: even on low-face hits it preserves ball speed (how fast the ball leaves the face) while cutting excess backspin, enlarging the sweet area.
7075 forged aluminum frame (MAX, MAX LITE) and movable TAS weights on every model
Construction: the MAX and MAX LITE switch the body frame from titanium to lighter aluminum (the MAX LITE is TaylorMade's first “titanium-free” driver). The saved weight goes into removable weights on all four models.
What TaylorMade says: this is the first time weight adjustment has come to its MAX line. Combined with separately sold weights, every model lets you fine-tune launch height and spin.
REAX shaft
Construction: using data from over 11 million driver shots across 20 years, TaylorMade split players into three types (HR, MR, LR) by how much the face opens and closes during the swing, and developed a shaft for each with Mitsubishi Chemical.
What TaylorMade says: using the shaft that matches your type improves smash factor (how centered your strikes are), ball speed and consistency, leading to more head speed and distance.
Before you buy last year's model: how it differs from the one before
| Current | Previous model | Difference in numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Qi4D | Qi35 (Feb 2025) | Price ¥99,000 → ¥107,800. Weights 2 → 4 |
| Qi4D MAX | Qi35 MAX (Feb 2025) | Fixed 34 g rear weight → 2 movable weights (13 g + 4 g). Frame changes from titanium to aluminum |
| Qi4D LS | Qi35 LS (Feb 2025) | Weights 3 → 2 (front 15 g, rear 4 g) |
The previous Qi35 MAX published a moment of inertia of 10,000 g·cm². The Qi4D MAX gives no figure. That means the older model was easier to compare by the numbers. If you're hunting for a used Qi35, see also the article on beginner drivers.
The black limited finish, "Shadowfall," costs ¥11,000 more. The spec-table numbers are the same
TaylorMade's official store lists a model called the Qi4D Shadowfall. It's labeled "SELECTFIT STORE +PLUS only" at ¥118,800 (incl. tax). That's ¥11,000 more than the regular Qi4D (checked Oct 13, 2026).
You choose the head from three: Qi4D, Qi4D MAX or Qi4D LS. TaylorMade says it's finished in glossy black (high-gloss black).
I lined the spec table up against the regular models: weights (Qi4D 9 g × 2 + 4 g × 2, MAX 13 g + 4 g, LS 15 g + 4 g), 460cc volume, lie angle and club weight (Qi4D 304 g, MAX 306 g, LS 309 g). Every figure matches the regular model with the same shaft. The only options were 9° and 10.5° lofts and a REAX MR50 or MR60 in S.
The ¥11,000 pays for the look. If you're buying distance or forgiveness by the numbers, the regular model is enough. Pick it only if the black head draws you and the S shaft fits you. The official product page doesn't give a release date, so I haven't listed one here.
FAQ
How heavy is a Qi4D driver head?
TaylorMade doesn't publish the head weight alone. Subtracting the shaft and grip from the club weight on the official product page gives about 200 g for the Qi4D, about 203 g for the MAX, about 200 g for the LS and about 198 g for the MAX LITE (my own calculation, including the sleeve and weights, with the shaft weighed before cutting).
How do the four Qi4D drivers differ?
Volume (460cc), length (45.5 in) and price (¥107,800) are the same; the number and position of the weights differ. The Qi4D is the standard model with four weights and a wide adjustment range, the MAX puts 13 g at the back to resist curving, the LS puts 15 g forward for low spin, and the MAX LITE is a light model at 275 g standard.
Where can I buy the Qi4D LS?
On TaylorMade's official product page as of Oct 13, 2026, it was selectable in the official online store. When I checked on Sep 13 it said "SELECTFIT STORE only," so check each store for in-store availability.
Other TaylorMade clubs
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TaylorMade Putters Compared: Spider ZT and More
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Read these before you choose, so you don't get stuck
Best Drivers for Beginners 2026
Update history
Sources for this article
- TaylorMade official: Qi4D driver product page (club weight, shaft, grip, weights; checked Oct 13, 2026)
- TaylorMade official: Qi4D MAX driver product page
- TaylorMade official: Qi4D LS driver product page
- TaylorMade official: Qi4D MAX LITE driver product page
- TaylorMade official: Qi4D Shadowfall driver product page (price, specs)
- TaylorMade official news release list (2026)
- Qi4D Drivers, 4 Models (Jan 9, 2026)
- Qi4D MAX LITE WOMEN'S and others (Jan 9, 2026)
- Qi4D driver feature page
- Qi35 driver (previous model, Jan 8, 2025)