Scottie Scheffler introduced the TaylorMade Qi4D driver to his bag for the first time in a PGA Tour event at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, marking a shift after two years with the Qi10 model. In his opening round at Bay Hill, he posted a 2-under 70 while showing improved ball speed despite a slightly slower swing. The change highlights ongoing equipment tweaks among top players as the Florida Swing begins.
Scottie Scheffler had tested the TaylorMade Qi4D driver since December at the Hero World Challenge but waited until the Arnold Palmer Invitational to debut it in competition. On Thursday at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida, Scheffler ended a three-event streak of not breaking par in opening rounds with his 2-under 70. His overall off-the-tee stats appeared average, gaining 0.522 strokes on the field (tied for 22nd), hitting 8 of 14 fairways, and averaging 303.4 yards per drive.
Deeper analysis of the 11 drives with the Qi4D revealed stronger performance. He hit 6 of 11 fairways, with most misses landing just off the edges. His clubhead speed measured 119.67 mph, below his season average of 120.5 mph, yet ball speed reached 180.895 mph—2.6 mph above his 178.32 mph season mark. This boost contributed to a carry efficiency of 2.53, which would rank fifth on Tour this season, up from his prior tied-126th position. Total distance efficiency was 2.62, placing him tied for 63rd.
Scheffler attributed the gains to consistent spin numbers from the driver's tighter roll radius. "I feel like what we have seen is more consistent spin numbers," he said. "So that will help it be a little bit more accurate off the tee. Directionally, I struggled a little bit with it at the start of the year, but I got to what I thought was a really good spot last week, and I liked what I saw today."
The Qi4D specs include a 9.0-degree head, Fujikura Ventus Black 7-X shaft, front weights of 8g heel and 13g toe, back weights of 8g each, and FCT sleeve set to 1 toward higher.
Other players also adjusted drivers at the event. Cameron Young switched to an 11-degree Titleist GT3 for better launch, gaining 2.277 strokes off the tee. Lucas Glover and Wyndham Clark adopted Qi4D models, while Harry Hall moved to the core version and Denny McCarthy added a Ping G440K. Fujikura Tour Rep Marshall Thompson noted the competitive field of driver heads this year, with non-contracted players testing multiple options.
At the same tournament, Vokey Wedge Tour Director Aaron Dill worked extensively on short-game clubs. With nearly 20 years on Tour, Dill customized grinds and builds in the Titleist Tour Truck, collaborating with players like Ryan Gerard, Ludvig Åberg, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Cameron Young, and Sungjae Im. "There’s an advantage here or there, more than half a shot, by exploring the different grind opportunities," Dill said. Gerard praised Dill's insight: "He knows what I’m thinking before I have even said it... He can hear the ball almost better than he can see the ball." Dill emphasized adapting to Bay Hill's Bermuda grass and aggressive grain, contributing to Vokey's status as the most-played wedge on Tour.