Mini drivers the next hot trend???

[PEI_Golfer]

Might work out better if they put in heavier shafts.  I don't want one with a sub 65g stiff shaft, but 80+ I would certainly entertain.

[me05501]

17 minutes ago, PEI_Golfer said:

Might work out better if they put in heavier shafts.  I don't want one with a sub 65g stiff shaft, but 80+ I would certainly entertain.

 

The SLDR version had an optional 70+ gram shaft that really made the club work. 

[PEI_Golfer]

1 minute ago, me05501 said:

 

The SLDR version had an optional 70+ gram shaft that really made the club work. 

 

 

But I don't want "optional", or 70+, 80+ Diamana white Stiff at 43" and off to the races.  It is harder to find shafts of this weight anymore in Stiff where I can tip it a bit more as I please.

[Fairway14]

On 6/29/2021 at 9:30 PM, GatorNate11 said:

If mini drivers are coming back, why not small drivers, too? Is a 380-420cc driver really too much to ask? 

 

I agree that 380 CC to 420 CC is a more sensible driver head size than 460 CC . However OEM club head designers have as the goal "best shot results from a mishit", and the computer modeling always reveals that a larger head produces better shots from a mishit.

If the designers had  "head size that consistently produces the most solid strikes" as a goal,  then head sizes would not be so large, and this includes all clubs, from driver thru the putter.

[RobotDoctor]

1 hour ago, Fairway14 said:

 

I agree that 380 CC to 420 CC is a more sensible driver head size than 460 CC . However OEM club head designers have as the goal "best shot results from a mishit", and the computer modeling always reveals that a larger head produces better shots from a mishit.

If the designers had  "head size that consistently produces the most solid strikes" as a goal,  then head sizes would not be so large, and this includes all clubs, from driver thru the putter.

I would be all over a 380cc-400cc driver.  As it is I game a 440cc driver and prefer that over a 460cc head. 

Edited July 1, 2021 by RobotDoctor

[tungstenplug]

I can see how it may benefit a guy who has driver yips, or has trouble hitting a small headed 3 wood off the tee

Edited February 26, 2023 by tungstenplug

[North Butte]

3 minutes ago, tungstenplug said:

I can see how it may benefit a guy who has driver yips, or has trouble hitting a small headed 3 wood off the tee

 

 

It’ll help until he uses it a dozen times a round for a couple months and develops the mini-driver mini-yips. 
 

lather rinse repeat

[Orange Hog]

I love my TM original one 11.5 degree.  It's not my "everyday" driver in the bag.  I use a SIM/VA Drago set up most of the time.  But when I know I'm playing a shorter or tighter course I'll throw in the Original One and let it go to work.  The thing is a beast.

 

Yes, they are niche.  However, I do believe they have a place in some golf bags.

[chipa]

Seeing the TM Mini driver convinced me something similar withing my budget range would help my driving woes. I ended up trying various clubs and spent about $150 and I finally got it right. Maybe I should have just bought a used TM on ebay, but I'm not complaining I hit my 2 wood great. After seeing Phil win the PGA I'm building a 48" driver for the par 5's at my home course.

[joostin]

6 hours ago, Fairway14 said:

 

I agree that 380 CC to 420 CC is a more sensible driver head size than 460 CC . However OEM club head designers have as the goal "best shot results from a mishit", and the computer modeling always reveals that a larger head produces better shots from a mishit.

If the designers had  "head size that consistently produces the most solid strikes" as a goal,  then head sizes would not be so large, and this includes all clubs, from driver thru the putter.

I wanted to pick up one of the pre-460cc favorites like R510TP (390cc) before finding a 460cc driver I can draw.  Figured I didn't have a problem driving sub 250cc heads in the past, and I'm sure early 2000s drivers are just fine for playing golf today.

 

If R510TP, 983K, Launcher, and others were great drivers back then and still pretty good today, I gotta believe that new designs at 400cc with today's technology would be amazing.  Forget mini driver, let's see 400cc "midsize"!

[Fairway14]

1 hour ago, joostin said:

I wanted to pick up one of the pre-460cc favorites like R510TP (390cc) before finding a 460cc driver I can draw.  Figured I didn't have a problem driving sub 250cc heads in the past, and I'm sure early 2000s drivers are just fine for playing golf today.

 

If R510TP, 983K, Launcher, and others were great drivers back then and still pretty good today, I gotta believe that new designs at 400cc with today's technology would be amazing.  Forget mini driver, let's see 400cc "midsize"!

 

Sadly, in just a few years the golf industry rapidly worked thru 260CC, 300CC, 350CC, 400CC size driver heads. During that era OEM's were determined to best each other by claiming "bigger is better", until the USGA eventually capped head size at 460 CC.  Absolutely it would be sensational if OEM's produced 350CC to 400CC size heads using current high tech materials.

 

[RobotDoctor]

1 hour ago, joostin said:

I wanted to pick up one of the pre-460cc favorites like R510TP (390cc) before finding a 460cc driver I can draw.  Figured I didn't have a problem driving sub 250cc heads in the past, and I'm sure early 2000s drivers are just fine for playing golf today.

 

If R510TP, 983K, Launcher, and others were great drivers back then and still pretty good today, I gotta believe that new designs at 400cc with today's technology would be amazing.  Forget mini driver, let's see 400cc "midsize"!

I absolutely loved the Titleist 905T and 905S.  Both were 400cc and a great traditional pear shape.  Add modern advances to that and I’d go back to Titleist.  Or better yet, Taylormade create a driver that’s 400cc and a classic pear shape with the modern technology and I’ll buy today!

 

 

Edited July 2, 2021 by RobotDoctor

[lefthack]

I found a NOS 360cc driver and had reward points I needed to use. It's older, but looked interesting for $35. Founders Club The Judge. 🤣

[willie991]

Own two of the Callaway Mini 1.5's, 14 degree.  Have had one in the bag for, probably, 3 years.  Love them!  Driver is longer, but if I have to hit a narrow fairway it's the Mini that I can depend on.  Have two holes at our home course that require a tee shot that is almost impossible for me with the driver.  It does serve as a backup driver, not a fairway wood.  Some may think carrying two clubs for tee shots wastes a spot in the bag.  Mickelson will argue that... for certain course setups.  I'll back up his argument.

[Sub_Roc]

On 6/29/2021 at 6:56 PM, Titleist84 said:

I'll stick with my Sim 2 Ti 3 wood for an alternate club to use off the tee.

^^^This.  I've been on a long quest for a proper 3 wood for long/accurate tee shots and still be easy to hit off the deck.  

Found the SIM2 to feel "right" in my hands and hitting it so pure.  Par'd every single par 4 hole teeing off with this club (long and straight) on my last round out.  Have it set to the stock 15° and afraid to mess with it.

[mardukes]

New, hot topic?  Two years ago I told the boys I couldn't swing the 460's anymore.  So I went rummaging around in the garage and found a 2020 TaylorMade Ti320.  Been using it ever since.  And not to shine the light on myself too much, have you guys not seen the RX-7 ads?

 

-mardukes

[jordan_mccomb]

I used to carry a mini driver. Great club. But then I thought why not just go with a second full sized driver. I'm long enough to never need a 3 wood into greens and/or bad enough to not want to go for a green from 270+ anyway, so it's always an off the tee club. Grabbed a 12* PXG Proto driver, added much heavier head weights, went with a 43" 85g shaft and haven't looked back. More forgiving, and plenty long, but not too long. I end up using it on most tee shots unless it's an open hole where I can let my regular driver go. My regular driver I have at 46" and 6*. I find it a great and more productive two clubs instead of using mini driver or regular 3 wood.

[B_of_H]

I like the idea of having a higher lofted, shorter/heavier  (44") driver when I need to turn it over and the other driver being fade biased/ anti-left and an inch longer or so.  I find hitting a consistent draw with modern heads a little more challenging and 3 woods tend to be too easy to turn over for me.  Something in the middle sounds very appealing. 

[AyeAre10]

Haven't seen this posted yet..

 

https://www.taylormadegolf.com/300-Mini-Driver/DW-TA001.html?lang=default&cgid=taylormade-drivers#lang=default&start=5&

 

Same lofts and length as the OO, +32CC head size. Crown looks nice, but I've always hated the face being a "raw" color.

 

I'll probably order one anyway as I have literally no place to go but up with my tee game. Now i use a 19* hybrid or a GI 4-iron to get that job done and hit most fairways. Only a select few courses around home really would even call for a driver, something like this could be useful.

[Bad9]

46 minutes ago, AyeAre10 said:

Haven't seen this posted yet..

 

https://www.taylormadegolf.com/300-Mini-Driver/DW-TA001.html?lang=default&cgid=taylormade-drivers#lang=default&start=5&

 

Same lofts and length as the OO, +32CC head size. Crown looks nice, but I've always hated the face being a "raw" color.

 

I'll probably order one anyway as I have literally no place to go but up with my tee game. Now i use a 19* hybrid or a GI 4-iron to get that job done and hit most fairways. Only a select few courses around home really would even call for a driver, something like this could be useful.

Sounds exactly like what many here on Wrx have been screaming for, 300cc head with modern tech. Lets see how many buy one (I'm guessing not many will).

[lefthack]

2 hours ago, Bad9 said:

Sounds exactly like what many here on Wrx have been screaming for, 300cc head with modern tech. Lets see how many buy one (I'm guessing not many will).

 

I'm interested, but it's over $300 and that's out of my comfort level. Maybe a bunch will be on the BST in 6 months and I can get one on sale.

Edited July 6, 2021 by lefthack

[lefty1978]

3 minutes ago, lefthack said:

 

I'm interested, but I'm sure it's over $300 and that's out of my comfort level. Maybe a bunch will be on the BST in 6 months and I can get one on sale.

The TM Original One Mini, which came out 2 years ago is still selling used for over $300 on ebay in left hand. You can find the SLDR mini cheaper.

[RobotDoctor]

17 minutes ago, lefthack said:

 

I'm interested, but it's over $300 and that's out of my comfort level. Maybe a bunch will be on the BST in 6 months and I can get one on sale.

 

I doubt it is going to take 6 months to start seeing the 300 Mini on the BST.  I would bet within a month there will be several.  This is why I am going to demo one from my course if I am able.  If not then I may just wait for the BST ads.

[Bad9]

Canadian Pre-order at $530.

[lefthack]

20 minutes ago, lefty1978 said:

The TM Original One Mini, which came out 2 years ago is still selling used for over $300 on ebay in left hand. You can find the SLDR mini cheaper.

 

Yeah, I looked at an SLDR for $75 and figured I would wait. The Judge (360cc) was new for $33 shipped with a pretty nice shaft. If the smaller head works out, then I might look more seriously.

 

I've seen Original Ones for under $150. I bet this winter there will be at least a few on ebay.

[Orange Hog]

Nice review by Big Al on YouTube...

 

 

 

I love the look of this thing but I think I'm gonna stick with my Original One 11.5* for now.

[Orange Hog]

Looks like the boys at TXG just launched a review video too...

 

 

[uglande]

3 hours ago, lefthack said:

 

Yeah, I looked at an SLDR for $75 and figured I would wait. The Judge (360cc) was new for $33 shipped with a pretty nice shaft. If the smaller head works out, then I might look more seriously.

 

I've seen Original Ones for under $150. I bet this winter there will be at least a few on ebay.

Original One values soared after Phil put one in play. I expect eBay prices to normalize in another month after the 300s roll out and the O.O. hysteria dies down.

[PDWALKER]

I am not completely sold on these. I would love to hear when real people get them in hand if they like the new one or not.  

[uglande]

On 6/29/2021 at 2:37 PM, elwhippy said:

No chance. A lame marketing ploy. 

Not a ploy. Just filling a niche. These clubs have been around for 20 years. (SLDR, RBZ Mini, Bertha Mini, Rapture, Original One). They're not for everyone, but there is clearly a market 1B drivers/large 3 woods. They wouldn't keep making them if people didn't buy them, and people wouldn't buy them if they didn't serve a purpose.