The Callaway Quantum Max D arrives as the dedicated draw-biased option in the new Quantum family, built to tackle the amateur golfer's most common enemy: the slice.
While it shares the same high-tech DNA as its siblings - including the new Tri-Force Face - it is specifically engineered for easy launch and maximum forgiveness. I’ve been testing this new slice-killer to see if it can deliver the powerful, corrective performance of the best golf drivers that many golfers desperately need without sacrificing too much speed.
The Quantum Max D is designed for easy launch and maximum forgiveness, pairing the Tri-Force Face with Callaway’s next-generation A.i.-Optimized Face Mapping. This tech is crucial, as it aims to optimize speed and spin based on real impact patterns, which for this player profile often means heel and toe strikes.
Internal heel-side weighting has also been strategically added to promote a slight draw bias for slice reduction or draw enhancement, depending on which way you’d like to phrase it!
Despite the unoriginality of the playing position (it is essentially a re-packaged Ai Smoke Max-D from that angle), the overall aesthetic package is a solid one. The graphics and branding all look very premium, utilizing the dark carbon textures well.
However, I would have steered away from adding the grey accents to the sole. The Triple Diamond models don't have the grey, and they look all the more premium for it; the grey just cheapens the look slightly in my opinion. That said, the confidence-inspiring shape sits nicely behind the ball, looking friendly and eager to launch.
The feel at impact is powerful and 'thuddy'. It doesn't have the hollow, tinny sound that some draw-biased drivers suffer from. Instead, it offers a solid, deep acoustic that feels substantial at impact, letting you know you've moved the ball with force.
For whatever reason, many drivers that sit in the draw bias category often somehow feel a little weaker than other members of the same brand family - almost like the "junior" partner in terms of raw power. Truthfully, the Quantum Max D was no exception in that regard, although it got a lot closer to keeping its speed than most other anti-slice drivers.
In my testing on my Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor, it was only 2 mph behind the Triple Diamond model in terms of ball speed. When coupled with the fact that it produced over 500 rpm more spin, this equated to an 11-yard distance gap for me, although for slower speed players, the additional spin may be welcome and have the reverse effect on carry.
However, speed isn't the primary purpose of this model. Its main task is to fight the slice, and it does that admirably. The internal weighting and face design work together to help close the face, and this produced a substantial amount of left curvature for me.
The ease of launch is another standout feature here and will certainly help maximize carry for players with moderate swing speeds who struggle to keep the ball in the air.
Overall, I really like the Callaway Quantum Max D. It is one of the more powerful drivers of its type, offering genuine help for the slicer without looking or feeling like a training aid in any way.
It’s a serious piece of equipment that brings the speed of the Quantum line (almost) to the most forgiving, draw-biased chassis. If you battle a right miss but still want a premium, powerful feel, this is a top contender.
The Callaway Quantum Max-D driver will be retailing at £599/649.99
