Drivers · Facts checked Sep 2026
Is the TaylorMade Qi35 worth replacing your G430 MAX?
Keep
Keep your G430 MAX.
Nothing the brands publish gives the Qi35 something your G430 MAX can't do.
Lofts you can buy Fact
Same lofts in both. Each one comes in 9°, 10.5°, 12°.
What actually changes Fact
- Hosel
- Yes, ±1.5° vs Yes, ±2°
All specifications Fact
13 specs
| Spec | PING G430 MAX (yours) | TaylorMade Qi35 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch priceLaunch price, not today's price. | Not available | $599.99 ↗ |
| Lofts | 9°, 10.5°, 12° ↗ | 9°, 10.5°, 12° ↗ |
| Hosel | Yes, ±1.5° ↗ | Yes, ±2° ↗ |
| Weights | Yes, movable weights ↗ | Yes, movable weights ↗ |
| Standard length | 45.75" ↗ | 45.75" ↗ |
| Spec | PING G430 MAX | TaylorMade Qi35 |
|---|---|---|
| Model year | Not available | 2025 |
| Sold as the brand's current driver | No | No |
| Hands | Right-handed and Left-handed ↗ | Right-handed and Left-handed ↗ |
| Head volume | 460 cc ↗ | 460 cc ↗ |
| Standard lie | 58° ↗ | Not available |
| MOI published by the brandWe never estimate MOI. Marketing figures for combined MOI are listed as claims, not facts. | Not available | Not available |
| Stock shafts | PING ALTA CB Black 55, PING ALTA Quick, PING Tour 2.0 Chrome 65, PING Tour 2.0 Black 65, Mitsubishi Kai'li White 60, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX 50, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX 60 ↗ | Fujikura Ventus Blue, Mitsubishi Diamana T+ 60 ↗ |
| On the USGA conforming list | Not available | Not available |
Checked Sep 20, 2026 (G430 MAX) and Sep 20, 2026 (Qi35) on each brand's own pages. ↗ opens the official source. A newer model year is never a reason on its own.
What the brands claim Manufacturer claim
5 claims
PING G430 MAX
- PING says an optimized face flexes more at impact for a notable distance gain. ↗
- A 25 g movable rear weight lets the CG be shifted to help shape shots, per the brand. ↗
- Brand claims a more pleasing impact sound. ↗
TaylorMade Qi35
- With the 13g weight in back, TaylorMade claims 13% tighter dispersion than Qi10. ↗
- A longer head front-to-back lets the standard Qi35 reach about 9K combined MOI (8.1K with weights flipped). ↗
The brands' words, summarised. Not tested by us, and they never change a verdict.
Our take Our assessment (based on published specs)
2 min read
Side by side, these are close: both 460 cc, both 45.75" standard, both sold in 9°, 10.5° and 12° for right- and left-handers, and both with movable weights.
The clearest published difference is small: the Qi35's hosel adjusts ±2°, your G430 MAX's ±1.5°. That's half a degree more range each way, which matters only if you already sit at the end of your sleeve's settings. PING lists a 58° lie for the G430 MAX; TaylorMade doesn't publish one for the Qi35. Neither brand publishes an MOI.
PING says your head's 25 g movable rear weight lets you shift the CG to shape shots, along with a face that flexes more and a nicer sound. TaylorMade claims about 9K combined MOI for the Qi35 and 13% tighter dispersion than the Qi10 with the 13 g weight in back. None of those are numbers we can hold against each other. The Qi35 launched at $599.99; PING doesn't publish a G430 MAX price.
Switching brands is mostly a matter of fit and feel, which specs can't settle, so hit both on a launch monitor at a fitting if you're tempted.
Our read: keep the G430 MAX. Half a degree of extra hosel range isn't a reason to change drivers.
Quick answers
4 questions
Should I upgrade from the PING G430 MAX to the TaylorMade Qi35?
Keep the PING G430 MAX. On published specs the TaylorMade Qi35 gives you nothing the PING G430 MAX doesn't already do; the rest is the brand's own claims about speed and feel.
What lofts do the PING G430 MAX and the TaylorMade Qi35 come in?
PING G430 MAX: 9°, 10.5°, 12°. TaylorMade Qi35: 9°, 10.5°, 12°.
How do they adjust?
PING G430 MAX — hosel: yes, ±1.5°; weights: yes, movable weights. TaylorMade Qi35 — hosel: yes, ±2°; weights: yes, movable weights.
What did each one cost new?
The brand doesn't publish a launch price for the PING G430 MAX. The TaylorMade Qi35 launched at $599.99. These are launch prices, not what either sells for today.
Last updated 2026-09-21. The rules behind this verdict: How we rate. A verdict is not a fitting.