Callaway Elyte vs TaylorMade Qi35: Which driver is best?
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Looking for the best driver in 2025? Callaway and TaylorMade are at the top of their game, with the Elyte and Qi35 leading the charge. But which one should earn a spot in your bag? We put both to the test to uncover the differences and help you make the right choice.
Anyone looking for the best golf driver in 2025 is likely to have Callaway and TaylorMade firmly on their radar. They’re two of the biggest names in the drivers category, and both incredibly popular with tour pros and amateurs alike.
Their latest models – the Callaway Elyte and TaylorMade Qi35 – claim to be better than ever, but which one comes out on top? We put them to the test to highlight the key differences and help you decide which one to go for.
How we tested
- The tester
Our test pro, Neil Wain, is a very consistent golfer, having played for England as an amateur before turning pro off a +4 handicap. He’s a highly regarded player, coach, and custom fitter. - The test
Neil hit balls with each driver, while we tracked every piece of data on a GC Quad launch monitor. Any drives that our test pro felt weren’t a fair representation of the club – severe mishits, etc – were discarded and replaced with another shot. Thanks to Neil’s remarkable consistency, this was a very rare occurrence! - The testing environment
The test was conducted under strict conditions, overseen by a former Team GB bio-mechanist, at an indoor facility. We chose to test indoors to eliminate the influence of wind or temperature changes. - The ball
We used the TaylorMade TP5 golf ball. - The specs
Both drivers were tested in the same loft and using the same shaft. The TaylorMade Qi35 can be set with the heavier weight at the front or back of the driver head – we tested in both settings.
Callaway Elyte vs. TaylorMade Qi35: Ball speed
Brands have worked hard to maximize ball speed because it’s a key factor in distance. Advanced materials, aerodynamic head shapes, and face thickness have all been engineered to generate as much speed as possible.
The Callaway Elyte takes the crown here, with a 165.3 mph ball speed compared to 163 mph with the TaylorMade Qi35.
| DRIVER | BALL SPEED |
| Callaway Elyte | 165.3 mph |
| TaylorMade Qi35 | 163 mph |
The reason? Clubhead speed.
With the Elyte, our test pro averaged 117.3 mph of clubhead speed, compared to 116 mph with the TaylorMade Qi35.
The shaft was the same, so that extra speed came solely from the head. It could be that the head shape is marginally more aerodynamic and therefore moved through the air quicker, or simply that Neil felt more confident with it and therefore generated a little extra speed.
Callaway Elyte vs. TaylorMade Qi35: Distance
Distance is one of the first things golfers look for when choosing a driver, and rightly so – more distance makes the game more fun and is statistically proven to improve your scores.
It’s impossible to split the Callaway Elyte and TaylorMade Qi35 on distance – depending on how you set up the Qi35…
The TaylorMade Qi35 features two weights – one at the front and one at the back – which can be swapped. Put the heavier one at the front and you’ll typically get more distance but less forgiveness; put the heavier one at the back and you’ll get the opposite.
| DRIVER | CARRY DISTANCE |
| Callaway Elyte | 283.3 yards |
| TaylorMade Qi35 (weight forward) | 283.7 yards |
| TaylorMade Qi35 (weight back) | 275.8 yards |
With the heavier weight forward, the TaylorMade Qi35 averaged 283.7 yards of carry distance.
The Callaway Elyte core model doesn’t feature the same swappable weight adjustability (the Elyte Triple Diamond does). It generated an almost identical 283.3 yards of carry distance.
With the heavier weight at the back – the more forgiving setting – the TaylorMade Qi35 generated 275.8 yards of carry distance. So what do you get in return for giving up that eight yards of carry distance?
Callaway Elyte vs. TaylorMade Qi35: Accuracy
With the heavier weight at the back – so the more forgiving setting – the TaylorMade Qi35 beat the Callaway Elyte when it came to accuracy. It averaged just seven yards offline, compared to 12.8 yards with the Elyte.
But, remember, that setting saw it give up almost eight yards of carry distance.
With the TaylorMade’s heavier weight in the forward setting, where the distances were equal, the Callaway was actually the more accurate of the two – averaging 12.8 yards offline compared to 16.5 yards with the TaylorMade.
| DRIVER | OFFLINE |
| Callaway Elyte | 12.8 yards |
| TaylorMade Qi35 (weight forward) | 16.5 yards |
| TaylorMade Qi35 (weight back) | 7 yards |
If you’d like to have the option of adjusting your driver to increase forgiveness at the expense of some distance – perhaps when playing a tight course or just during a spell of poor driving – the TaylorMade Qi35 gives you that flexibility.
But if you know you’ll always want to maximize distance and therefore won’t use the forgiving setting on the Qi35, the Callaway Elyte might just edge it for accuracy.
With all that said, we do stress that dispersion and offline metrics are heavily user-influenced and can vary from day to day. You only have to look at the best players in the world to see that. One day they can’t miss, the next they’re struggling (in relative terms) to keep it in play. Anyone who’s played golf will understand the endless mystery of why your swing produces different results from one round to the next.
Callaway Elyte vs. TaylorMade Qi35: Spin
With the heavier weight forward, the TaylorMade Qi35 generated just 2,284 rpm of spin, which would place it among the best low-spin drivers. It also launched lower and had a lower peak height than the Callaway Elyte. If you generate too much spin, the Qi35 (with weight forward) would be a good option. But you’d also want to test the low-spin models in both families – namely the TaylorMade Qi35 LS and Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond.
With the Qi35’s heavier weight at the back, the height and descent angle increased significantly and were both higher than the Elyte’s.
| DRIVER | SPIN | LAUNCH ANGLE | PEAK HEIGHT | DESCENT ANGLE |
| Callaway Elyte | 2,692 rpm | 11.4° | 35.7 yards | 40.8° |
| TaylorMade Qi35 (weight forward) | 2,284 rpm | 11.8° | 32.5 yards | 37.7° |
| TaylorMade Qi35 (weight back) | 2,856 rpm | 11.7° | 36.7 yards | 41.9° |
Spin and height aren’t inherently good or bad – they depend on your speed and impact conditions.
Having the option to tweak the Qi35 to increase or lower spin is nice, but some golfers will like the happy middle ground offered by the Elyte.
Callaway Elyte vs. TaylorMade Qi35: Price
The Callaway Elyte has an RRP of $599.99 / £569, while the TaylorMade Qi35 is $599.99 / £529.
The current exchange rate would make $599.99 roughly £463. That means that golfers in the UK are getting a worse deal, and it’s particularly unfavorable with the Callaway Elyte. Shop around, though, as both drivers will be available for less than the RRP.
Callaway Elyte vs. TaylorMade Qi35: Conclusion
The Callaway Elyte and TaylorMade Qi35 are two of the best drivers of 2025, and it’s difficult to say that one is better than the other.
If you’re after maximum clubhead and ball speed, the Callaway Elyte might just edge it.
But, in its forward weight setting, the TaylorMade Qi35 matches the Elyte for distance.
Both clubs perform well when it comes to accuracy, but the TaylorMade Qi35 offers a forgiving setting that may appeal to players who value consistency off the tee and are willing to give up some distance to increase their odds of hitting the fairway. However, for golfers who prefer a more simplified setup and consistent results, the Elyte stands out.
If you’re never going to adjust your driver, the Elyte offers a great blend of distance, accuracy, and spin. On the other hand, the TaylorMade Qi35’s adjustable weight system provides excellent versatility, allowing you to prioritize forgiveness or distance depending on your playing conditions.
Both drivers are fantastic choices, delivering premium performance, but the right pick for you will depend on what you value most in your game. If possible, testing both is the best way to make the final call.
Pros
- Fast and forgiving
- Distance gains over Ai Smoke
- Confidence-inspiring crown and sound
- Clean design
Cons
- Hosel adaptor limited compared to some brands
Pros
- Incredible adjustment options make it a one size fits all
- New chromium carbon finish looks amazing
- Consistency in very high in every setting
Cons
- The head size footprint is too big for my liking
| RRP | £529.00 / $599.00 |
| Lofts | 9° / 10.5° (RH/LH), 12º (RH) |
| Head Size | 460cc |
| Standard Shaft Length | 45.75” |
| Stock. Shaft Options | Fujikura Air Speed 50g / Mitsubishi Diamana T+ 60g |
| Stock Grip | Golf Pride Z-Grip Black/Silver |
- Ultra Low Center of Gravity
- Multi-Material Construction
- High Moment of Inertia Design
- Trajectory Adjustment System
- Carbon Twist Face
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We test the Callaway Elyte driver vs. TaylorMade Qi35
