Taylormade Mini?

[Crashhays]

So I just picked up one of the 12*. Spent about 2 hours in Golfsmith hitting this and a 12* SLDR 430. ( I'm sure people will kill me for using their monitors to see stats on the ball). First thing first, my miss is a pull hook when I try to make every swing a push draw. I started with the 430 first. Nice easy swings, but 30 yards left of my target line. So I'm wayyyyy off. Hit maybe 30 shots and shots were all well left of my target line. So now on to the mini....this is what I came for Golfsmith for. I don't currently have a driver in the bag because I just don't want to spend the cash and I use my buddies when we play every Sunday. So first shot with the mini....8 yards to left of my target line and 5 yards shorter than the avg drives with the 430. Ok, got lucky I'm thinking....well same goes for the next shot, and then the next shot same thing. I hit maybe 25 balls with the mini. Nothing more than 12 yards to the left of the target line. I will take that. Needless to say, I walked out with the mini and can't wait until Sunday morning to see what this does on the course!

[Rebel420]

[quote name='Crashhays' timestamp='1399077812' post='9221369']
So I just picked up one of the 12*. Spent about 2 hours in Golfsmith hitting this and a 12* SLDR 430. ( I'm sure people will kill me for using their monitors to see stats on the ball). First thing first, my miss is a pull hook when I try to make every swing a push draw. I started with the 430 first. Nice easy swings, but 30 yards left of my target line. So I'm wayyyyy off. Hit maybe 30 shots and shots were all well left of my target line. So now on to the mini....this is what I came for Golfsmith for. I don't currently have a driver in the bag because I just don't want to spend the cash and I use my buddies when we play every Sunday. So first shot with the mini....8 yards to left of my target line and 5 yards shorter than the avg drives with the 430. Ok, got lucky I'm thinking....well same goes for the next shot, and then the next shot same thing. I hit maybe 25 balls with the mini. Nothing more than 12 yards to the left of the target line. I will take that. Needless to say, I walked out with the mini and can't wait until Sunday morning to see what this does on the course!
[/quote]
I wouldn't trust store monitors to tell me accurate, absolute distance, but for what you did, they are perfect. It gave you a comparison between 2 clubs.

I wonder if the distance between the 2 is strictly due to club head speed, or it's tighter due to making better contact that offsets the club head speed. I know, at the end of the day, it's a moot point, as the end result is what matters... The analytical side of me just likes to know the "why"...
Do you remember what the monitors clocked your club speed at and your smash factor at?

[V-twin]

Tour Exotic 11.5 degree XCG 6 both tee and turf if you can find one cheap very expensive club but if you keep at it you can find one in expensive.

[Scratchtastic]

[quote name='Rebel420' timestamp='1399061291' post='9219937']
[quote name='Scratchtastic' timestamp='1399059021' post='9219693']
I hit a set of shots on Trackman this morning with one, 12 deg.

Was able to put it out consistently 275+ off the deck with pretty low launch/spin (around 9 deg launch/high 2000s spin) but had a pretty marked increase in spin/launch when I got it on a tee without any distance gains vs off the deck.

Liked the look/concept but will wait to get my hands on a 10 deg.
[/quote]
For comparison, how far do you hit your driver?
[/quote]

Off the tee around 285-300 (ss with driver is around 110-115).... Off the deck about 275. Current gamer is x hot pro 9.5/GD BB7x.

I'll be the first to say I would gladly trade some distance for fairways. Currently driver comes out of the bag a couple times a round and most of my tee shots are with 3 wood.

[Pinger89]

I hit it yesterday once after a customer got done demo'ing some clubs. It was taped up, so I thought, "what the heck?" I gave it a whack and hit a ball with a nice drawing ball-flight. Launch wasn't crazy high and it actually had a really nice flight to it on the monitor. It rolled out to about 250 yds. I thought to myself, "eh, I mean it felt nice and everything, but I hit my 2Deep farther." Then I looked into the specs and was actually surprised by what I saw. My spin rate was near 2,000 RPM of backspin, which is incredibly low for a 14* wood. Then I looked at my swing speed. 92 MPH. When I'm warmed up and swinging well I'm right around 99-102 MPH on average. Another 8 MPH would have given me a decent amount of distance gain with that club. Now I'm curious to see how this thing really performs while I'm warmed up and swinging at my normal swing speed. I'd also like to see how it performs with shot shaping because it seemed pretty easy to just step up and hit a draw (coming from a once chronic slicer of the golf ball).

[Crashhays]

[quote name='Rebel420' timestamp='1399098417' post='9222849'][quote name='Crashhays' timestamp='1399077812' post='9221369']
So I just picked up one of the 12*. Spent about 2 hours in Golfsmith hitting this and a 12* SLDR 430. ( I'm sure people will kill me for using their monitors to see stats on the ball). First thing first, my miss is a pull hook when I try to make every swing a push draw. I started with the 430 first. Nice easy swings, but 30 yards left of my target line. So I'm wayyyyy off. Hit maybe 30 shots and shots were all well left of my target line. So now on to the mini....this is what I came for Golfsmith for. I don't currently have a driver in the bag because I just don't want to spend the cash and I use my buddies when we play every Sunday. So first shot with the mini....8 yards to left of my target line and 5 yards shorter than the avg drives with the 430. Ok, got lucky I'm thinking....well same goes for the next shot, and then the next shot same thing. I hit maybe 25 balls with the mini. Nothing more than 12 yards to the left of the target line. I will take that. Needless to say, I walked out with the mini and can't wait until Sunday morning to see what this does on the course!
[/quote]
I wouldn't trust store monitors to tell me accurate, absolute distance, but for what you did, they are perfect. It gave you a comparison between 2 clubs.

I wonder if the distance between the 2 is strictly due to club head speed, or it's tighter due to making better contact that offsets the club head speed. I know, at the end of the day, it's a moot point, as the end result is what matters... The analytical side of me just likes to know the "why"...
Do you remember what the monitors clocked your club speed at and your smash factor at?[/quote]
Sorry, but I do not. I actually meant to take a picture of everything but got caught up with it all and just left.

[bladehunter]

[quote name='SoCalTitleist' timestamp='1399042504' post='9217947']
[quote name='Rebel420' timestamp='1399041059' post='9217799']
Other than forgiveness of a 460cc driver, is there really any advantage?

And if they could get same forgiveness at max COR in a smaller size club, would there really be any advantage to the 400cc+ club? (You could argue the extra forgiveness/size allows longer shaft)

And as another question, how much club head speed increase does the extra 1.5" shaft length really give (and yds?)
[/quote]

I dont see much advantage if its only used as a driver.

Why not just cut down a driver to 3 wood length.
[/quote]


because half the attraction for most is the smaller heavier head.....if you cut a driver down to this length you end up with a huge light blob on the end of a short shaft...swing weight would be down in the D0 C7 range...which sucks!

[t4t3r]

Head feels great and sets up very nicely. Hit my friends on a couple holes today it was the second time he had put it in play. He struggles with inconsistency with his R1 and he hit pretty nice medium draws with the mini most of the day except for a few bad swings. Definitely worth a look for some people.

[Killer Goat]

Picked up a 12 yesterday to see if it would fit between my driver and 4 wood off of the tee. Reshafted it last night with a Motore Speeder VC 8.2 X tipped 1 inch and set up at 43". Ran up to GS today just to see some numbers on the LM and after about the 40th ball it made a storage sound. I looked at the face and the face cracked right above the sweet spot . Looks like I'll have to see if they will replace it. It is a sweet feeling, sounding, very consistant club FWIW and does fit nice between my 4W and driver with an average total distance of 282. I can't wait to get a replacement.

[bladehunter]

I have a similar setup driver wise to you...can you tell me how much longer your 430 is than the mini? Im trying to find a mini in person I can hit...Found one tonight at Dicks, but of course as luck would have it , it had an R flex shaft..so didn't even bother....IM curious what your thoughts are on the mini vs 430? sounds like your playing the mini as I hope to..a strong 3 wood (2 wood) .....

[Splitter]

Was checking them out in the shop today. Look nice and feel good.

They are freekin' huge for a 3W but nice for a short driver. Could see it as a driver replacement NP.

But, IMHO, it's going to take some real skill to hit them off the deck. I don't think the average golfer will be able to use anything but the 16 from the fairway. And even the 16 will be a stretch for most.

Still think they are neat to have out there. New options are always a good thing.

[Ezgolfer]

I love SLDR woods...
Here is my conclusion..
430 is the longest driver for me.
I have a 14 degree mini , straight as an arrow but not long. My 15 degree SLDR 3 wood ,appears to have a hotter face, goes further than mini at least by10 yards..
Mini has the least roll out of all the other woods. I found it manageable from the fairway. All clubs have stock speeder with stiff flex...

[msturkie]

[quote name='Killer Goat' timestamp='1399162230' post='9226333']
Picked up a 12 yesterday to see if it would fit between my driver and 4 wood off of the tee. Reshafted it last night with a Motore Speeder VC 8.2 X tipped 1 inch and set up at 43". Ran up to GS today just to see some numbers on the LM and after about the 40th ball it made a storage sound. I looked at the face and the face cracked right above the sweet spot . Looks like I'll have to see if they will replace it. It is a sweet feeling, sounding, very consistant club FWIW and does fit nice between my 4W and driver with an average total distance of 282. I can't wait to get a replacement.
[/quote]

Killer Goat,
What is the tip size? Bought a 12 degree yesterday and took it straight to the course, and I'm not sure I like the stock shaft. Thinking about reshafting it. Thanks.

[TMBob]

[quote name='Ezgolfer' timestamp='1399174292' post='9227495']
I love SLDR woods...
Here is my conclusion..
430 is the longest driver for me.
I have a 14 degree mini , straight as an arrow but not long. My 15 degree SLDR 3 wood ,appears to have a hotter face, goes further than mini at least by10 yards..
Mini has the least roll out of all the other woods. I found it manageable from the fairway. All clubs have stock speeder with stiff flex...
[/quote]


I think the shaft set up will determine how they play based on launch and spin, as I felt the same way as your comments after a demo at TheKingdom.

I ordered mine with a lower launch shaft and spin to combat this and so far it has helped some. I do not have enough swings with my 12 degree to really confirm that mine is producing bullets, mid high, or a straight floater. I hit two out of the rough (winter rules) and they were low hooking bullets and one from the FW that spun a touch to much.

Not 100% sure on tip size. I do have a .335 tip shaft in it, but the hosel could be either .335 or .350 still. One will need a shim and one will not for a .335 shaft.
Guessing that they are .335 for the TP and .350 for non TP as past glued heads have been.

[bladehunter]

hmm..i thought they all claimed to begin with that the regular and TP were same heads....just different shafts? (not size) now the 10 degree may be different but whos seen one of those unicorns (id love one) ?

[Rebel420]

[quote name='Ezgolfer' timestamp='1399174292' post='9227495']
I love SLDR woods...
Here is my conclusion..
430 is the longest driver for me.
I have a 14 degree mini , straight as an arrow but not long. My 15 degree SLDR 3 wood ,appears to have a hotter face, goes further than mini at least by10 yards..
Mini has the least roll out of all the other woods. I found it manageable from the fairway. All clubs have stock speeder with stiff flex...
[/quote]
For me, my 16.5* stg2 3HL (that I have turned down to 16*) was landing at the same spot when hit off the deck as the 14* mini driver off the tee, but the 3w was rolling out a good 10+ yds, where the mini driver landed soft and stopped. I'm sure a combo of my swing and trying a stiffer shaft may get me different results (I really think I was hitting down on this like a hybrid off the tee, when I needed to sweep up on it like a driver)

Definitely want to spend more time and play with different options on these (shaft/loft). Thing was the easiest club I ever hit off of a tee, and was as accurate as any club over 200yds has been for me. If I can get within 10yds of my driver distance with one of these, it will be my driver.

[TMBob]

[quote name='bladehunter' timestamp='1399213794' post='9228951']
hmm..i thought they all claimed to begin with that the regular and TP were same heads....just different shafts? (not size) now the 10 degree may be different but whos seen one of those unicorns (id love one) ?
[/quote]

Again, unsure.....but I have to ask, what if all the heads were only .350? Does this make or break the deal?

Or do you just think that a .335 head and a .350 would be different from each other then hosel size?

Oh, rained out today.....no more info on playability

[mike johnston]

[quote name='TMBob' timestamp='1399041328' post='9217823']
I will be trying this out on the course this weekend.....mainly off the tee first.[attachment=2205023:image.jpg]
[/quote]

What shaft is that?

[TMBob]

[quote name='mike johnston' timestamp='1399231579' post='9230043']
[quote name='TMBob' timestamp='1399041328' post='9217823']
I will be trying this out on the course this weekend.....mainly off the tee first.[attachment=2205023:image.jpg]
[/quote]

What shaft is that?
[/quote]

Kiyoshi Purple 65 S

[methoddan]

Went to Dicks and hit the 14°. The club head size reminded me a lot of the RBZ 3 wood. The mini was money off the tee. Took a little getting used to off the deck and about 10 yards shorter compared to the tee shot . Had about 15 ft of dispersion with 40-50 shots. I'm not a long hitter by any means and I was able to hit it off the tee about 250-255 yards. That's about 20 yards off of my driver and 5 wood both JetSpeed, so a good gap yardage for me. Tight fairways are calling this club. I purchased it and can't wait to game it.

[Killer Goat]

[quote name='msturkie' timestamp='1399204209' post='9228415']
[quote name='Killer Goat' timestamp='1399162230' post='9226333']
Picked up a 12 yesterday to see if it would fit between my driver and 4 wood off of the tee. Reshafted it last night with a Motore Speeder VC 8.2 X tipped 1 inch and set up at 43". Ran up to GS today just to see some numbers on the LM and after about the 40th ball it made a storage sound. I looked at the face and the face cracked right above the sweet spot . Looks like I'll have to see if they will replace it. It is a sweet feeling, sounding, very consistant club FWIW and does fit nice between my 4W and driver with an average total distance of 282. I can't wait to get a replacement.
[/quote]

Killer Goat,
What is the tip size? Bought a 12 degree yesterday and took it straight to the course, and I'm not sure I like the stock shaft. Thinking about reshafting it. Thanks.
[/quote]

It is a .335. And if anybody was curious to mine cracking, Goldsmith replaced it with one from the store inventory

[Rebel420]

[quote name='Killer Goat' timestamp='1399245298' post='9231285']
[quote name='msturkie' timestamp='1399204209' post='9228415']
[quote name='Killer Goat' timestamp='1399162230' post='9226333']
Picked up a 12 yesterday to see if it would fit between my driver and 4 wood off of the tee. Reshafted it last night with a Motore Speeder VC 8.2 X tipped 1 inch and set up at 43". Ran up to GS today just to see some numbers on the LM and after about the 40th ball it made a storage sound. I looked at the face and the face cracked right above the sweet spot . Looks like I'll have to see if they will replace it. It is a sweet feeling, sounding, very consistant club FWIW and does fit nice between my 4W and driver with an average total distance of 282. I can't wait to get a replacement.
[/quote]

Killer Goat,
What is the tip size? Bought a 12 degree yesterday and took it straight to the course, and I'm not sure I like the stock shaft. Thinking about reshafting it. Thanks.
[/quote]

It is a .335. And if anybody was curious to mine cracking, Goldsmith replaced it with one from the store inventory
[/quote]

Glad to hear Golfsmith helped you make it right. Also says something about TaylorMade policies that allows a retailer like GS to do so. There are many high end items these days that the store can't help you other than shop to the OEM for you. Even more impressive that they honored it after you did a DIY reshaft on the club


I hope you got your high end shaft out before you returned it

[msturkie]

[quote name='Killer Goat' timestamp='1399245298' post='9231285']
[quote name='msturkie' timestamp='1399204209' post='9228415']
[quote name='Killer Goat' timestamp='1399162230' post='9226333']
Picked up a 12 yesterday to see if it would fit between my driver and 4 wood off of the tee. Reshafted it last night with a Motore Speeder VC 8.2 X tipped 1 inch and set up at 43". Ran up to GS today just to see some numbers on the LM and after about the 40th ball it made a storage sound. I looked at the face and the face cracked right above the sweet spot . Looks like I'll have to see if they will replace it. It is a sweet feeling, sounding, very consistant club FWIW and does fit nice between my 4W and driver with an average total distance of 282. I can't wait to get a replacement.
[/quote]

Killer Goat,
What is the tip size? Bought a 12 degree yesterday and took it straight to the course, and I'm not sure I like the stock shaft. Thinking about reshafting it. Thanks.
[/quote]

It is a .335. And if anybody was curious to mine cracking, Goldsmith replaced it with one from the store inventory
[/quote]

Thanks! Glad they were able to replace it quickly for you.

[jjl]

I demo'd the 12 and 14* Minis with the stock shafts in R flex... i thought they SUCKED. They felt harsh and flimsy to me, and i could not keep them from going left. Distance was about what i get with my 22* Jetspeed hybrid. Hit about 20 balls with them and stopped. the entire SLDR wood/hybrid line just does not do it for me, and the salesperson at GolfGalaxy agreed... and yes i have a lot of TM products in my bag, and am very interested in the SLDR irons, but no thanks to the woods.

[2zlinks]

I went to see the 16 degree mini today. I couldn't believe how opened it look when I soled the club. That coming from a guy that has my SLDR driver all the way open. Didn't even bother hitting it. On the positive side I saved some money.

[Killer Goat]

[quote name='Rebel420' timestamp='1399264007' post='9233275']
[quote name='Killer Goat' timestamp='1399245298' post='9231285']
[quote name='msturkie' timestamp='1399204209' post='9228415']
[quote name='Killer Goat' timestamp='1399162230' post='9226333']
Picked up a 12 yesterday to see if it would fit between my driver and 4 wood off of the tee. Reshafted it last night with a Motore Speeder VC 8.2 X tipped 1 inch and set up at 43". Ran up to GS today just to see some numbers on the LM and after about the 40th ball it made a storage sound. I looked at the face and the face cracked right above the sweet spot . Looks like I'll have to see if they will replace it. It is a sweet feeling, sounding, very consistant club FWIW and does fit nice between my 4W and driver with an average total distance of 282. I can't wait to get a replacement.
[/quote]

Killer Goat,
What is the tip size? Bought a 12 degree yesterday and took it straight to the course, and I'm not sure I like the stock shaft. Thinking about reshafting it. Thanks.
[/quote]

It is a .335. And if anybody was curious to mine cracking, Goldsmith replaced it with one from the store inventory
[/quote]

Glad to hear Golfsmith helped you make it right. Also says something about TaylorMade policies that allows a retailer like GS to do so. There are many high end items these days that the store can't help you other than shop to the OEM for you. Even more impressive that they honored it after you did a DIY reshaft on the club


I hope you got your high end shaft out before you returned it
[/quote]

Most definitely! It currently resides in the new head. Hopefully this one makes the grade.

[79pheonix]

Just bought one today and gamed it. Really impressed. The yards I lost for the accuracy I gained was well worth it.

[Bill3508]

[quote name='TMBob' timestamp='1399041328' post='9217823']
I will be trying this out on the course this weekend.....mainly off the tee first.[attachment=2205023:image.jpg]
[/quote]

That should be a nice combo.

[cogi59]

I've hit my 14* w/ Elements Fire 8F5 the last couple days and so far so good! Love the controllability of it off the tee, I now feel like I have so many more options off the tee and couldn't be happier with the results thus far!

[hyunsbuns]

Bought this because I've been inconsistent with my driver recently, but my woods are money. Didn't get a chance to hit it on the range before I took it out on my weekend trip. Didn't even take my driver's headcover off. Off the tee it was a thing of beauty (12*) and I probably only lost 10 yards of distance. Its gotta be tough hitting off the turf though, didn't even attempt it. I'm gonna give my driver another week or 2 before you guys see it on the BST section.