Until the late 1970s, drivers were made primarily from persimmon wood.
TaylorMade is widely known for pioneering the “metalwood” driver in 1979. This marked a shift to all-metal drivers, for optimal distance and durability.
My first driver was a 2003 TaylorMade R510, which I inherited. It served me well when I first picked up the game — and it still works over 20 years later!
In this article, you’ll find a comprehensive list of TaylorMade drivers by year.
TaylorMade Drivers By Year
The TaylorMade driver history begins in 1979, with the Pittsburgh Persimmon. This club was revolutionary as it was the first “metalwood” ever produced. Since then, the golf equipment manufacturer has remained at the forefront of driver technology. Most recently, it launched the Qi10 line of drivers.
Here is a full list of every TaylorMade driver release:
| Image | TaylorMade Driver Model | Release Year | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
TaylorMade Qi10 Driver | 2024 | Buy on WGS | |
TaylorMade Qi10 LS Driver | 2024 | Buy on WGS | |
TaylorMade Qi10 Max Driver | 2024 | Buy on WGS | |
TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver | 2023 | Buy on WGS | |
 | TaylorMade Stealth 2 Driver | 2023 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus Driver | 2023 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade Stealth 2 HD Driver | 2023 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade Stealth Driver | 2022 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade Stealth Plus Driver | 2022 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade Stealth HD Driver | 2022 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade SIM2 Driver | 2021 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade SIM2 MAX Driver | 2021 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade SIM2 MAX D Driver | 2021 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade SIM Driver | 2020 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade SIM MAX | 2020 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade SIM MAX D | 2020 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade M6 Driver | 2019 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade M6 D-Type Driver | 2019 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade M5 Driver | 2019 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade M5 Tour Driver | 2019 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade M2 2019 Driver | 2019 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade M-Gloire Driver | 2019 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade M4 Driver | 2018 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade M4 D-Type Driver | 2018 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade M3 Driver | 2018 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade M3 440 Driver | 2018 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade M2 2017 Driver | 2017 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade M2 D-Type Driver | 2017 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade M1 460 2017 Driver | 2017 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade M1 440 2017 Driver | 2017 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade M2 Driver | 2016 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade M1 430 Driver | 2016 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade AeroBurner Driver | 2015 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade AeroBurner TP Driver | 2015 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade R15 Driver | 2015 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade SLDR Driver | 2014 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade SLDR 430 Driver | 2014 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade SLDR S | 2014 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade JetSpeed Driver | 2014 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade R1 Driver | 2013 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Driver | 2013 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Tour | 2013 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade R11 S Driver | 2012 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade RocketBallz Driver | 2012 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade RocketBallz Bonded Driver | 2012 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade RocketBallz Tour Driver | 2012 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade R11 Driver | 2011 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade Burner Superfast 2.0 Driver | 2011 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade R9 SuperDeep TP | 2010 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade Burner SuperFast Driver | 2010 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade R9 460 Driver | 2009 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade R9 460 TP Driver | 2009 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade Burner Driver | 2008 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade Tour Burner Driver | 2008 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade r7 CGB MAX Driver | 2007 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade r7 SuperQuad Driver | 2021 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade r7 Draw Driver | 2006 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade r7 425 Driver | 2005 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade r7 425 TP Driver | 2005 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade r7 quad Driver | 2005 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade r5 Dual Driver | 2004 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade R510 TP Driver | 2003 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade R360 XD Driver | 2003 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade Burner 420 Driver | 2002 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade 300 Series Driver | 2001 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade Firesole Driver | 1999 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade Titanium Bubble Shaft 2 Driver | 1997 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade Titanium Bubble Shaft Driver | 1995 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade System 2 MidSize Driver | 1991 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade Burner Plus Driver | 1988 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade Burner Driver | 1983 | Buy on Global Golf |
 | TaylorMade Pittsburgh Persimmon Driver | 1979 | Buy on Global Golf |
TaylorMade Drivers: 1979-1989
In the early months of 1979, golf equipment salesman Gary Adams took out a $24,000 loan and formed the TaylorMade Golf Company.
Their first product? The Pittsburgh Persimmon Driver. Named after the notorious steel-making city in the United States, this all-metal driver was a revolutionary departure from the wooden construction used until this point.
Hence, the term “metalwood” was born.
Not only did this innovative metalwood look and sound different from a traditional persimmon driver, but it performed significantly better. According to research by MyGolfSpy, metal drivers “allow for lighter and longer shafts and larger, more forgiving heads.” This translates to more ball speed and distance on course.
Also, perimeter weighting in the head allowed for greater forgiveness on off-center hits, while a lower center of gravity made it far easier to launch off the tee.
Check out this pioneering driver in the video below, by The Vintage Golfer:
Despite immediate success, TaylorMade wasn’t one to rest on its laurels.
1983 saw the launch of the TaylorMade Burner Driver. Ingeniously designed with dimpling on the side, it promised significantly faster club head speed. The Burner was such a hit that an iteration was added in 1988 — the Burner Plus Driver.
Alongside this, TaylorMade irons were becoming increasingly popular. As a result, the brand was becoming established among the top manufacturers in the game.
TaylorMade Drivers: 1990-1999
Next, TaylorMade kicked off the 1990s with the System 2 MidSize Driver. This driver boasted a foam-filled club head for improved weighting and sound.
Midway through the decade, in 1995, the Titanium Bubble Shaft Driver was introduced. This was TaylorMade’s first titanium driver and it came with a unique feature: a shaft wider from the bubble to the tip. This design made the clubhead more stable at impact while generating faster clubhead speeds.
By 1997, the Titanium Bubble Shaft 2 Driver was launched, featuring a K-shaped sole design. This lowered the CG, making it easier to launch shots higher.
TaylorMade closed out the ’90s with the Firesole Driver in 1999. Produced with a tungsten sole plate, this design improved weighting and increased launch.
TaylorMade Drivers: 2000-2009
The turn of the millennium marked a new era for TaylorMade drivers.
In 2001, they launched the 300 Series Driver. These were the first TaylorMade drivers to meet or exceed the USGA COR limit. Each model in this series was designed with a unique head size, shape, weight distribution, lie angle, and shaft length to optimize performance according to individual swing types.
Just a year later, TaylorMade introduced the Burner 420 Driver. This model had a high-volume 420cc head and a larger club face, maximizing the sweet spot.
The mid-2000s saw the introduction of the revolutionary R series. The R7 Quad, launched in 2004, brought moveable weight technology. This allowed golfers to reposition weights in the clubhead to optimize their launch conditions.
The R7 Quad was followed by the R7 425, R7 460, and R7 Superquad. Each model offered golfers an even greater scope for adjustability and customization.
The decade closed on a high note with the R9 Driver in 2009. This iteration allowed golfers to change the face angle, lie, and loft of the club via an adjustable hosel.
TaylorMade Drivers: 2010-2019
The 2010s began with the R9 SuperTri, a driver that took the adjustability of the R9 and kicked it up another notch. This driver allowed golfers to change the center of gravity and the face angle, giving them more control over their launch conditions.
In 2011 and 2012, the R11 and R11S Drivers were launched, respectively. These drivers continued the adjustability trend. The R1 Driver, introduced in 2013, marked the end of the R series and the beginning of a new era of innovation.
The mid-2010s saw the introduction of the SLDR Driver in 2014, which was followed by the R15 in 2015. Both of these drivers offered innovative features and designs, further establishing TaylorMade as a leader in driver technology.
The M1 and M2 Drivers made their debut in 2016. The following year, they were reintroduced and incorporated a multi-material combination of titanium, carbon toe panel, and a six-layer carbon composite crown.
The M3 & M4 Drivers of 2018 brought “Twist Face” technology, aiming for more consistent spin and straighter ball flight. This face technology has been a staple in TaylorMade’s driver lineup ever since.
The decade concluded with the M5 and M6 Drivers in 2019, which were designed to maximize ball speed and distance to the edge of legal limits.
TaylorMade Drivers: 2020-Present
The 2020s began with the introduction of the SIM and SIM Max Drivers, which emphasized reshaping for improved aerodynamics, speed, and forgiveness. A number of tour pros continue to use these highly successful models.
In 2021, the focus shifted to the SIM2 and SIM2 Max Drivers. With this version, each component of the club head was upgraded to enhance performance, including the introduction of “Forged Ring Construction'”.
The Stealth and Stealth Plus Drivers were introduced in 2022. These models were a first in the industry with their carbon wood construction, signified by the bright red clubface design. This optimizes energy transfer, for better ball speeds.
The following year, TaylorMade tweaked the successful Stealth lineup with the Stealth 2 and Stealth 2 Plus. This time, it utilized even more carbon than the previous model.
TaylorMade Qi10 Driver
In 2024, TaylorMade launched the Qi10 driver. This latest iteration had a strong focus on forgiveness, with the “10” in the name indicating 10,000 g/cm MOI of inertia.
Essentially, this means the club head remains very stable through impact. This is demonstrated by Nelly Korda in the slow-mo clip below:
Check out the TaylorMade Qi10 Max Driver at Worldwide Golf Shops:
PROS
+ Very forgiving head
+ Carbon face delivers great ball speeds
+ Modern and appealing head shape
CONS
– Pretty expensive!
