Price
$157 per iron
TaylorMade Qi Max
Price
$157 per iron
OFFICIAL RETAILER
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matt martian photography
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Why we like it
- The multi-material cap-back is lighter than the steel it replaces to reduce weight in the high toe. This makes the club easier to square at impact.
- The center of gravity is lower in the long irons for easier launch and higher in the short irons for optimal control, launch and spin.
- A rounder sole geometry promotes improved turf interaction, higher impacts closer to the center of the face, and better launch conditions across varied lie angles.
- The “speed pocket” slot (up to the 8-iron) remains a vital component of the power element.
- Dampers inserted into the 4- through 8-irons feature ribbed structures that align with the contact area to get the impact feel just right while allowing the face to flex.
- Top 5 in Forgiveness, middle- and high-handicaps
- SPECS: 7-iron: 28 degree; PW: 42.5 degrees
What our testers said
handicap
- all
- low
- mid
- high
Wayne
61, Handicap 7
3 years testing
I would put it in the just-above-average category. I didn't feel like the ball jumped off the face. It felt almost a little hollow. Forgiveness was good.
Daniel
34, Handicap 11
6 years testing
Through the turf, the ground just dispersed underneath the golf club. It felt like I had a lot of clubface to work with, and a decent amount of workability, too. A little bit higher-launching, but it still had lots of carry. Probably one of the longer carrying clubs I hit in this category.
Skylar
28, Handicap 7
3 years testing
You really can't miss with this club. Every shot is perfect. Even if you're not hitting the ball directly in the center of the face, it goes exactly where you need it to. Really nice ball flight. It just climbs and then falls slowly. You can work the ball, but it tends to fly straight with just a little bit of your natural draw or fade.
Ryan
47, Handicap 12
3 years testing
The look is a bit busy and chunky. It performed well, but nothing really stood out. The sole dug into the turf a little bit, which is maybe why most of my shots felt a little heavy. Distance is okay, but it doesn't feel workable in terms of shot shape.
Todd
63, Handicap 13
1 year testing
Looking down, I enjoyed the reassuring topline and the very deep, accepting face. The club performed really well on centered hits and was forgiving on off-center hits. Love the balance throughout the swing. Overall, a great hitting experience.
SEE ALL (24)
Wayne
61, Handicap 7
3 years testing
I would put it in the just-above-average category. I didn't feel like the ball jumped off the face. It felt almost a little hollow. Forgiveness was good.
Daniel
34, Handicap 11
6 years testing
Through the turf, the ground just dispersed underneath the golf club. It felt like I had a lot of clubface to work with, and a decent amount of workability, too. A little bit higher-launching, but it still had lots of carry. Probably one of the longer carrying clubs I hit in this category.
Skylar
28, Handicap 7
3 years testing
You really can't miss with this club. Every shot is perfect. Even if you're not hitting the ball directly in the center of the face, it goes exactly where you need it to. Really nice ball flight. It just climbs and then falls slowly. You can work the ball, but it tends to fly straight with just a little bit of your natural draw or fade.
Ryan
47, Handicap 12
3 years testing
The look is a bit busy and chunky. It performed well, but nothing really stood out. The sole dug into the turf a little bit, which is maybe why most of my shots felt a little heavy. Distance is okay, but it doesn't feel workable in terms of shot shape.
Todd
63, Handicap 13
1 year testing
Looking down, I enjoyed the reassuring topline and the very deep, accepting face. The club performed really well on centered hits and was forgiving on off-center hits. Love the balance throughout the swing. Overall, a great hitting experience.
Matt
28, Handicap 7
2 years testing
Overall, it's a very forgiving club. My main issue with it is that it's very inconsistent—not in terms of shot dispersion, but more so trajectory. Some of my shots were moon balls, others line drives. I really didn't know what to expect. Definitely more draw-biased than others, which is interesting because I can't hit a draw to save my life.
Aaron
45, Handicap 16
1 year testing
I found it a little more difficult to hit than some others in this group. My mis-hits were big, and I couldn't get into a consistent groove with it. It must have been due to the smaller sweet spot. The trajectory was a little bit lower than I desired.
Matt
53, Handicap 11
4 years testing
Unfortunately, the only remarkable takeaway from hitting this club is that it produced an unusual left miss that I don't otherwise possess. Distance, forgiveness and height were all just average.
Sean
54, Handicap 6
9 years testing
Despite all of the help that I could visually see, it did not perform well for me. It performs like a club that shouldn't be in this category, because when I did hit it well, it didn't go very far.
Peter
58, Handicap 8
10+ years testing
Very cool, subtle looking cavity. You know there's some technology there without it looking like it's helping you too much. It's a bulldozer through the turf. Very forgiving and easy to hit long and straight.
Wei
56, Handicap 14
10+ years testing
There's a lot of neat tech behind it. Everything seems to scream that they put a lot of engineering into it. Super easy to hit. My bad swings still got really good distance, and my good swings? My goodness, they seemed to go forever. A really fun club to hit.
Jin
31, Handicap 10
2 years testing
It has a high-pitched sound to it at impact. Doesn't feel like the ball is popping off the face very well. But in terms of dispersion, I found it pretty forgiving. So if you're more interested in accuracy than distance, this is the club for you.
Alejandra
27, Handicap 6
5 years testing
It's one of those clubs that makes you feel very comfortable. Both the feel and sensation whenever the ball leaves the club is very powerful. Not the highest or the longest in its category, but easy to repeat.
Scott
38, Handicap 16
10+ years testing
Abracadabra, this was like having a cheat code. I felt like I couldn't miss and just everything was going a mile. As soon as the ball reached its max height, it seemed to stay there forever, then drop out of the sky and stick. Immediate crisp, pop sound at impact gave me tingles.
Gary
38, Handicap 13
10+ years testing
I really like the combination of forgiveness and the higher ball flight. The head and the shaft felt light and fast, but then it also felt supportive across the face. My shots were always going through the same window. You could feel the muscle behind the sweet spot on pure hits. Nice, high trajectory and good distance.
Paul
64, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
I struggled with this one. The sound was off-putting, and I didn't get the pop off the face I was expecting. It looked strong at address, but it pretty much ended there
Timothy
46, Handicap 17
1 year testing
This club was consistent, but it did nothing extra for me in terms of distance, forgiveness or launch. It was smooth to hit, but that's about the only positive thing I can say.
Shane
37, Handicap 12
6 years testing
Explosive off the clubface. It was almost like you didn't have to do much to get a lot out of it. Center, toe, heel shots, it didn't matter. The ball was just jumping off the face. The towering ball flight had me squinting, until I could clearly see the ball holding the green.
Jamie
53, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Forget about mis-hits, because this club's got your back. It has a massive sweet spot and delivers a soaring, high ball flight on every shot. It's pillowy soft at impact with a pleasant muted sound. The most enjoyable club I hit all day.
Anand
44, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
Extremely consistent club across the board. Easy to launch. Predictable trajectory and window through which the ball is going go, which is very important, especially with the 5-iron. Not the longest of the bunch, but very consistent in terms of ball flight and accuracy.
Andrew
40, Handicap 8
1 year testing
it looks like it has some pop right in the middle of the face. However, the height of the ball doesn't seem to correspond with how it looks. Distance was just average.
Chris
60, Handicap 8
1 year testing
This club is very pure on center hits. The ball takes off on a great line and stays true. Penetrating ball flight performs well across all elements.
Thomas
61, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
The distance is the most noticeable thing about these clubs. They're a full club longer than any of the other irons I hit in this category. The 5- and 7-irons were just launching. I didn't hit any bad shots with the 5-iron, and that might be a first.
Ryan
50, Handicap 10
8 years testing
A really comfortable, light club in your hands with a nice, appealing head design. The ball never darts tragically offline, so the forgiveness is very apparent. Distance was in line with my expectations.
Daniel
34, Handicap 11
6 years testing
Through the turf, the ground just dispersed underneath the golf club. It felt like I had a lot of clubface to work with, and a decent amount of workability, too. A little bit higher-launching, but it still had lots of carry. Probably one of the longer carrying clubs I hit in this category.
Ryan
47, Handicap 12
3 years testing
The look is a bit busy and chunky. It performed well, but nothing really stood out. The sole dug into the turf a little bit, which is maybe why most of my shots felt a little heavy. Distance is okay, but it doesn't feel workable in terms of shot shape.
Todd
63, Handicap 13
1 year testing
Looking down, I enjoyed the reassuring topline and the very deep, accepting face. The club performed really well on centered hits and was forgiving on off-center hits. Love the balance throughout the swing. Overall, a great hitting experience.
Aaron
45, Handicap 16
1 year testing
I found it a little more difficult to hit than some others in this group. My mis-hits were big, and I couldn't get into a consistent groove with it. It must have been due to the smaller sweet spot. The trajectory was a little bit lower than I desired.
Matt
53, Handicap 11
4 years testing
Unfortunately, the only remarkable takeaway from hitting this club is that it produced an unusual left miss that I don't otherwise possess. Distance, forgiveness and height were all just average.
Wei
56, Handicap 14
10+ years testing
There's a lot of neat tech behind it. Everything seems to scream that they put a lot of engineering into it. Super easy to hit. My bad swings still got really good distance, and my good swings? My goodness, they seemed to go forever. A really fun club to hit.
Jin
31, Handicap 10
2 years testing
It has a high-pitched sound to it at impact. Doesn't feel like the ball is popping off the face very well. But in terms of dispersion, I found it pretty forgiving. So if you're more interested in accuracy than distance, this is the club for you.
Scott
38, Handicap 16
10+ years testing
Abracadabra, this was like having a cheat code. I felt like I couldn't miss and just everything was going a mile. As soon as the ball reached its max height, it seemed to stay there forever, then drop out of the sky and stick. Immediate crisp, pop sound at impact gave me tingles.
Gary
38, Handicap 13
10+ years testing
I really like the combination of forgiveness and the higher ball flight. The head and the shaft felt light and fast, but then it also felt supportive across the face. My shots were always going through the same window. You could feel the muscle behind the sweet spot on pure hits. Nice, high trajectory and good distance.
Timothy
46, Handicap 17
1 year testing
This club was consistent, but it did nothing extra for me in terms of distance, forgiveness or launch. It was smooth to hit, but that's about the only positive thing I can say.
Shane
37, Handicap 12
6 years testing
Explosive off the clubface. It was almost like you didn't have to do much to get a lot out of it. Center, toe, heel shots, it didn't matter. The ball was just jumping off the face. The towering ball flight had me squinting, until I could clearly see the ball holding the green.
Ryan
50, Handicap 10
8 years testing
A really comfortable, light club in your hands with a nice, appealing head design. The ball never darts tragically offline, so the forgiveness is very apparent. Distance was in line with my expectations.
Wayne
61, Handicap 7
3 years testing
I would put it in the just-above-average category. I didn't feel like the ball jumped off the face. It felt almost a little hollow. Forgiveness was good.
Skylar
28, Handicap 7
3 years testing
You really can't miss with this club. Every shot is perfect. Even if you're not hitting the ball directly in the center of the face, it goes exactly where you need it to. Really nice ball flight. It just climbs and then falls slowly. You can work the ball, but it tends to fly straight with just a little bit of your natural draw or fade.
Matt
28, Handicap 7
2 years testing
Overall, it's a very forgiving club. My main issue with it is that it's very inconsistent—not in terms of shot dispersion, but more so trajectory. Some of my shots were moon balls, others line drives. I really didn't know what to expect. Definitely more draw-biased than others, which is interesting because I can't hit a draw to save my life.
Sean
54, Handicap 6
9 years testing
Despite all of the help that I could visually see, it did not perform well for me. It performs like a club that shouldn't be in this category, because when I did hit it well, it didn't go very far.
Peter
58, Handicap 8
10+ years testing
Very cool, subtle looking cavity. You know there's some technology there without it looking like it's helping you too much. It's a bulldozer through the turf. Very forgiving and easy to hit long and straight.
Alejandra
27, Handicap 6
5 years testing
It's one of those clubs that makes you feel very comfortable. Both the feel and sensation whenever the ball leaves the club is very powerful. Not the highest or the longest in its category, but easy to repeat.
Paul
64, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
I struggled with this one. The sound was off-putting, and I didn't get the pop off the face I was expecting. It looked strong at address, but it pretty much ended there
Jamie
53, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Forget about mis-hits, because this club's got your back. It has a massive sweet spot and delivers a soaring, high ball flight on every shot. It's pillowy soft at impact with a pleasant muted sound. The most enjoyable club I hit all day.
Anand
44, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
Extremely consistent club across the board. Easy to launch. Predictable trajectory and window through which the ball is going go, which is very important, especially with the 5-iron. Not the longest of the bunch, but very consistent in terms of ball flight and accuracy.
Andrew
40, Handicap 8
1 year testing
it looks like it has some pop right in the middle of the face. However, the height of the ball doesn't seem to correspond with how it looks. Distance was just average.
Chris
60, Handicap 8
1 year testing
This club is very pure on center hits. The ball takes off on a great line and stays true. Penetrating ball flight performs well across all elements.
Thomas
61, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
The distance is the most noticeable thing about these clubs. They're a full club longer than any of the other irons I hit in this category. The 5- and 7-irons were just launching. I didn't hit any bad shots with the 5-iron, and that might be a first.
NO REVIEWS
There are no tester reviews here.
Range Results
We tracked 20,000 shots through player testing and then had them analyzed by our team of scientists. These graphics reflect the relative performance our players saw for each club in the category.
A Skeptic’s Guide To New Golf Equipment
From the Manufacturer
TaylorMade Qi Max
Proven TaylorMade patented face technology controls face flexibility to reduce “cut” spin that can result from fast face iron designs, allowing golfers to experience straighter shots throughout the entire set.
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