TaylorMade Qi Max vs TaylorMade Qi Max HL Irons (2026)

Specs, loft charts and modeled carry for two sets golfers cross-shop. TaylorMade Qi Max and TaylorMade Qi Max HL each have a full page.

At a Glance

Spec	TaylorMade Qi Max	TaylorMade Qi Max HL
Category	Game Improvement	Super Game Improvement
Player type	High Handicap	Senior
Model year	2026	2026
7-iron loft	27°	28.5°
PW loft	41°	42.5°
Set makeup	5-iron to PW	5-iron to PW
MSRP	$1,149	$1,049
Technology	Hollow Body, Stronger Lofts, Perimeter Weighting, AI Designed Face	Hollow Body, Stronger Lofts, High Launch, Wide Sole, AI Designed Face
Editorial recognition	Golf Digest	-

Key Differences

•The Qi Max is 1.5 degrees stronger at the 7-iron than the Qi Max HL (27° vs 28.5°), so expect roughly 4 yards more carry at the same swing speed, and check your wedge gapping accordingly.
•They sit in different categories: the Qi Max is a game improvement iron, the Qi Max HL a super game improvement iron, so forgiveness and head size will differ.
•At list price the Qi Max HL is $100 cheaper than the Qi Max ($1,049 vs $1,149 MSRP).
•Only the Qi Max is tagged Perimeter Weighting.
•Only the Qi Max HL is tagged High Launch and Wide Sole.
•TaylorMade Qi Max carries editorial recognition from Golf Digest; we have none on file for the Qi Max HL.

Loft Chart

TaylorMade Qi Max vs TaylorMade Qi Max HL loft by club
Club	TaylorMade Qi Max	TaylorMade Qi Max HL	Loft delta
5i	20°	22°	-2°
6i	23.5°	25°	-1.5°
7i	27°	28.5°	-1.5°
8i	31°	32.5°	-1.5°
9i	36°	37.5°	-1.5°
PW	41°	42.5°	-1.5°

Carry by Swing Speed

Modeled from TrackMan-based norms scaled to each set's lofts, not measured for these models.

Club	Moderate swing		Average swing		Faster swing
	Qi Max	Qi Max HL	Qi Max	Qi Max HL	Qi Max	Qi Max HL
5i	166 y	162 y	183 y	179 y	199 y	195 y
6i	157 y	153 y	173 y	169 y	188 y	184 y
7i	147 y	143 y	162 y	158 y	176 y	172 y
8i	137 y	133 y	151 y	147 y	164 y	160 y
9i	125 y	122 y	138 y	135 y	150 y	147 y
PW	115 y	112 y	127 y	124 y	138 y	135 y

Try your own 7-iron carry

Your 7-iron carry

Club	TaylorMade Qi Max	TaylorMade Qi Max HL	Δ carry
5i	168 yd	166 yd	-1
6i	159 yd	159 yd	0
7i(anchor)	150 yd	150 yd	0
8i	140 yd	140 yd	0
9i	128 yd	128 yd	0
PW	115 yd	115 yd	0
Estimated from loft specs · ±5 yd accuracy			avg -0.2 yd

Verdict

The TaylorMade Qi Max and the TaylorMade Qi Max HL share a 5-iron to PW makeup, an AI designed face and a hollow body, so the split comes down to loft, category and sole. The Qi Max is a game improvement iron with perimeter weighting and a 27° 7-iron. The Qi Max HL is a super game improvement iron with a wide sole, a high launch design and a 28.5° 7-iron. That 1.5 degree gap works out to roughly 4 yards more carry for the Qi Max at the same swing speed, and it shifts your wedge gapping too. The Qi Max suits players who want the most distance from this design in a smaller head. The Qi Max HL suits golfers who need help getting the ball up, or who want the added forgiveness of a bigger head and a wide sole.

Choose the Qi Max if distance matters most, and if the Golf Digest 78/100 rating gives you confidence. Choose the Qi Max HL if launch and forgiveness are your priorities. It lists at $1,049 against $1,149 for the Qi Max, a $100 saving. For golfers already shopping in the super game improvement bracket, the Qi Max HL is the better value. Only pay extra for the Qi Max if you can use the stronger lofts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is longer, the Qi Max or the Qi Max HL?

On loft alone the Qi Max is the longer set: its 7-iron is 27° against 28.5°. At an average swing that models to about 162 yards for the Qi Max and 158 for the Qi Max HL. Loft is not the whole story, but it is the biggest single input, and your own carry numbers will vary with strike and shaft.

Which costs more, the Qi Max or the Qi Max HL?

At list price the Qi Max HL is the cheaper set: $1,049 against $1,149 MSRP. The older of the two usually carries the bigger discount.

Are the Qi Max and Qi Max HL in the same category?

No. The Qi Max is a game improvement iron and the Qi Max HL a super game improvement iron, so expect a real difference in forgiveness, sole width and head size.

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