TaylorMade Qi4D Fairway

Spec and Tech
Head: 15 deg Core Head, Shadowfall Edition; 21 deg Core Head, Shadowfall Edition
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red Velocore+ 7 S; Fujikura Ventus Black Velocore+ 7 S
Configuration: Stock

As was the case with the driver, GolfWRX published an excellent launch report covering Qi4D’s new face design, weighting system, and fitting philosophy. I won't attempt to improve on their work here. My goal is to answer a different question: what is it actually like to live with these fairway woods?

Looks
Fairway woods don’t typically garner as much buzz around their looks – they’re utilitarian. As such, their design is more about getting down and through the turf. In the case of the Qi4D Shadowfall Edition, they’re in their Sunday best doing the Lord’s work.

The standard matte finish has been swapped for an all-black gloss treatment, but something else caught my eye looking down at the ball – these aren’t small. The 7 wood has a noticeably larger footprint than the GT2 5 wood I’m used to. That added mass inspires confidence, but it's taking my eyes a little longer to catch up.

Feel
My prior experience with TaylorMade has been admittedly counter to the brand’s stellar reputation with their fairway woods. Generations’ old memories of a few bad rounds with the SIM2 Ti 3 wood have kept me at arm’s length from recent releases. Unfortunately, feel is subjective and it is what it was: I stunk, and so they stunk.

With Qi4D, rigidity is replaced with stability. Physically, sure, but mentally even more so. It’s the feeling of confidence when my second shot is a 3 wood from the next fairway over…or maybe it’s a 7 wood on the same line. I find myself reaching for either without hesitation. I’m not laying up, frustrated – I’m attacking.

Performance
I'm 230 out with the 7 wood in my hands—no real expectations. Just get it down there somewhere handy. I’m watching it fly high and far, left of the pin, but falling right. It lands softly, leaves its mark, and finishes a few inches past. I’ve got less than 10’ for birdie.

I missed the putt, for the record, but I took that shot home with me that day. The confidence isn’t coming from the club’s look at address. It’s the way they swing – the way I swing – under pressure, reliably. That’s the performance. That’s the feel. The only problem is now I have to re-gap my bag.

Summary
It’s not uncommon for pros to play the same fairway woods for years, even with unlimited access to the latest and greatest. But they’re not looking for more. Rather, they’re looking for trust. Our needs are no different. We shouldn’t be digging for distance. We’re fighting for our lives, and when we find trust, we hold on. (I’m talking to you, future me.)

Well, I’m holding on to Qi4D. I simply cannot get better on longer courses without this level of trust in my fairway woods. And honestly, until I get my driver in better shape, these are my lifelines, regardless of length.