If you’re shopping for a new driver in 2025, there are a lot of great options. While we always recommend to know which driver is best for you, sometimes it helps to know how one driver compares to another. We looked at the Callaway Elyte driver versus the TaylorMade Qi35 and compared them head to head.
Distance
The Callaway Elyte scored 8.9/10 for distance in the best driver testing. Its average total driver distance was 248.85 yards. The TaylorMade Qi35 was about two yards longer at 250.07.
When compared side by side, the Qi35 generally posts higher ball speeds, about one mile per hour faster than the Elyte. Its spin rate was slightly higher than Elyte’s but still produced a solid rollout. If you’re specifically looking for distance, the Qi35 has a slight edge.
Distance is a big part of finding the right driver so the distance performance kept the Qi35 in the top 15 drivers of 2025.
Accuracy
The accuracy scores for the Callaway Elyte and TaylorMade Qi35 were almost identical. Out of 37 drivers, they finished just inside the top 20 with the Callaway Elyte having a slight edge. Some testers mentioned that the Callaway Elyte produced very few big misses.
Forgiveness
Here’s the big difference between the Callaway Elyte driver and the TaylorMade Qi35. The forgiveness score for the Callaway Elyte is 9.10 and only 7.80 for the TaylorMade Qi35.
We look at forgiveness as the driver’s ability to produce consistent results. The Callaway Elyte was seventh overall for forgiveness and the Qi35 finished 32nd. Players felt the ball flight remained playable more often with the Elyte.
If you struggle with consistency off the tee, the Callaway Elyte is the better choice.
Overall verdict
Choosing between the Callaway Elyte and TaylorMade Qi35 largely depends on your priorities and the results of your fitting. One finished 10th overall, the other 13th. Here’s a side-by-side look at who should buy each.
Callaway Elyte
✅ Golfers seeking consistent, predictable results with good forgiveness.
❌ Golfers prioritizing aesthetics, particularly those who dislike carbon-fiber crowns.
TaylorMade Qi35
✅ Golfers looking for maximum ball speed and extra distance on centered strikes.
❌ Golfers who frequently miss the center of the clubface.
Other models tested
The Callaway Elyte and TaylorMade Qi35 were not the only TaylorMade and Callaway drivers we tested in 2025. Here is a look at how the other models compared:
- Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond: Best overall of 2025; low spin design yet versatile enough for a wide range of players.
- Callaway Elyte X: Higher distance potential; a better option than the standard Elyte for total yardage.
- TaylorMade Qi35 LS: Lower-spin model built for faster swingers who need to keep spin rates down.
- TaylorMade Qi35 Max: Offers more forgiveness than the standard Qi35; good option for players needing extra stability.
- TaylorMade Qi35 Max Lite: Lightweight design with higher launch and spin.
Final thoughts
If the TaylorMade Qi35 or Callaway Elyte are not a fit for your game, here is a look at our complete driver test results:
David Lancaster
1 year ago
Your pic of the QI35 is actually the LS model, not the “core” QI35.