This is the time of year when most of us are searching for photos and details on next year’s golf equipment. Fortunately, what appear to be TaylorMade’s new drivers have made it onto the USGA conforming list. Last week, we reported on the Qi10 LS driver (which Rory McIlroy put in play at the DP World Tour Championship). This week, TaylorMade’s Qi10 has appeared on the “List of Conforming Driver Heads.”

TaylorMade has chosen “Qi10” as the driver name and as of now, there are two different models that are approved for play by the USGA. The folks in Carlsbad aren’t giving out any official information on the new clubs, but we can speculate some things from the photos we have seen.

TaylorMade Qi10 LS

This driver looks to replace the Stealth 2 Plus that is currently in the lineup. We will assume the LS is the lower spin model as it has a moveable weight on the sole up near the face. Moving weight forward (towards the face) usually shifts the center of gravity forward to lower the spin rate and launch angle. The weight and its adjustment have changed from the Stealth 2, and it looks like TaylorMade is using a similar sliding weight as in the Stealth 2 Plus fairway woods. A single screw is attached to the sole, and when a golfer loosens it, the weight slides towards the toe for more fade bias or towards the heel to promote a draw.

In front of the weight is TaylorMade’s Speed Pocket slot that helps keep ball speed up on shots struck low on the face. What looks like a single weight is on the back of the driver (away from the face) just like the SIM and Stealth models before. The sole still has the “Carbonwood” logo on it, and we can assume the sole plate, crown, and face will all be made from carbon fiber. Yes, the face is carbon fiber on the Qi10 LS, but it is painted blue instead of red, and we can be pretty sure that a revised Twist Face technology will be part of the design.

TaylorMade Qi10

If you need a little more spin, launch, and forgiveness, then the Qi10 driver might be a better fit than the Qi10 LS head. The standard Qi10 should replace the Stealth 2 driver that was so popular with us amateur golfers, as well as getting some play on tour.

The big difference between this head and the Qi10 LS is the lack of a movable weight on the sole. There is a smaller weight on the sole, near the heel of the driver, that adds a little draw bias to the head, but it is likely mostly used for dialing in the swing weight of the driver when it is built at the factory. This Qi10 looks to have a similar weight in the back of the driver, but it looks to be a little larger and takes up a little more space on the sole. This larger weight could add some stability and forgiveness, as well as helping increase the launch compared to the Qi10 LS.

You can also see more of the ring that goes around the driver — on the Stealth 2 it was called the Carbon Reinforced Composite Ring — that helps bring all of the carbon panels together. The ring looks to be larger than the one on the LS model, potentially moving more mass to the outside of the club head for greater MOI.

Both drivers look to be going with a gloss black finish and black and white accent colors. This will give them a more subtle look from the Stealth and Stealth 2 red that some people were not fans of. The blue carbon faces on the drivers blends in well, and I think will not be noticeable when you are out on the course.

A final note: Tiger Woods is rumored to be putting the Qi10 driver in play at this week’s Hero World Challenge, which he was spotted with at last week’s Bridgestone Golf commercial shoot. GolfWRX will certainly be keeping its collective eyes peeled.