Game improvement irons are specifically designed to assist mid-to-high handicap golfers in making the game easier. Generally speaking, they are built to provide additional forgiveness, launch, and speed, allowing weekend warriors to enjoy the game more even when their swings are not finely tuned. Surprisingly, some of these designs have a fade bias in the long irons. TaylorMade has identified this issue, and they have devised a solution to it with their all-new Qi irons.
“Qi irons represent a fusion of performance and design, delivering a combination of distance and accuracy with a solid feel unexpected of game improvement irons. We rely on a team of technologies to make this possible with the ultimate goal of giving golfers straight distance that outperforms the competition.” – Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Irons
As part of the Qi irons, TaylorMade introduces their new Integrated System Design, essentially multiple pieces of technology that work together to help create a special performing set of clubs. As we break down each piece of technology, know that each complements the other to help bring straighter distance, higher launch, and a better feel.
For the Qi irons, it all starts with the face. TaylorMade engineers are tackling the fade bias problem commonly found in game improvement irons, specifically in long irons. Part of this problem arises due to the iron face’s shape, where the toe is more elevated than the heel, leading to increased flex in the toe and faster rebound in the heel. For this reason, every face on the new Qi irons has been individually optimized. TaylorMade R&D is confident in their efforts to control the face’s flexibility, thereby reducing unwanted cut spin.
TaylorMade has taken steps to reduce cut spin by redesigning the face of their irons. Each iron in the set has a unique face designed to produce specific results. The long irons feature an organic face design with the thinnest part of the face on the heel side and the thickest part along the bottom from center to toe, with the high toe section being the middle ground for thickness. By placing the thickest part of the face towards the toe, players can expect to achieve straighter distance thanks to this reduction in cut spin.
When moving up to the middle and scoring irons, the face geometry continues to shift. For these clubs, the thickest area is concentrated more in the mid to upper toe section. There are certainly more similarities between the topography of the middle and scoring irons than those of the long irons. However, each has its nuances to ensure it’s designed to deliver peak performance.
TaylorMade irons are well-known for their innovative use of Speed Pocket technology in their game improvement and player’s distance category irons. Like the iron faces, the Speed Pocket has been carefully crafted for each iron, with the longer irons featuring a thicker Speed Pocket in the middle to optimize launch properties. Meanwhile, the mid irons feature a uniformly thin Speed Pocket across the sole. Notably, the scoring clubs do not have the Speed Pocket.
FLTD CG is an essential piece of technology in both TaylorMade’s P790 and P770 irons. With each Qi iron individually crafted for specific performance, it only makes sense that they finally incorporated this design within their game improvement irons. FLTD CG is TaylorMade’s way of moving the center of gravity in specific locations to help improve launch conditions throughout the set. In the long irons, the center of gravity has been shifted lower to help increase launch, while it has been raised in the scoring clubs for increased control and additional spin.
To enhance the overall feel of the Qi irons, TaylorMade uses HYBRAR Echo Dampeners, which, once again, are designed individually for each iron head. These Echo dampeners sit behind the face and are connected to the heel and toe of the club. According to TaylorMade, these dampeners will remove unwanted vibrations and help deliver a forged-like iron feel.
Finally, we again see a multi-material Cap Back design, which helps save some weight from a more traditional backing. Besides weight, one of the other advantages of using this Cap Back is that by not simply attaching a badge, the face can flex more freely and produce a faster iron.
On top of all the tech that TaylorMade has rolled into the Qi irons, they have also undergone some shaping refinements from previous generations of game improvement irons. For starters, the overall blade length has increased by 1mm, allowing the club to gain extra stability and escalating the MOI. They have also manipulated the sole design, mainly focusing on lowering the leading edge, which golfers will notice more in the longer and mid-irons. With a lower leading edge, the Qi irons help promote consistent contact and increased launch.
TaylorMade’s Qi range comprises two distinct iron sets, the standard Qi and the Qi HL, which stands for High and Light. Qi HL distinguishes itself from the traditional set by incorporating weaker lofts, nearly 2° across the board, a lighter head design, and other weight-saving components. Overall, the Qi HL is 26 grams lighter than the standard Qi, rendering it an attractive option for golfers who may lack the speed required to achieve optimal performance with the Qi range. As such, the Qi HL model may be an excellent fit for golfers seeking a set of irons that offer high performance and low weight.
The Details
Preorder: January 9, 2024
In Stores: February 2, 2024
Shafts: Qi :
KBS Max 85, Fujikura Ventus Blue TR (7s, 6r, 5a)
HL: KBS Max Lite, Fujikura Speeder NX TCS 50
