History of Mini-Drivers

[ChipNRun]

A parallel thread is debating the value of mini-drivers.

 

These shorter-shafted, smaller headed (sometimes) alternatives to drivers are really nothing new. One can trace their history back to the 2 Wood, or Brassie, from classic golf clubs emerging in the 1800s. The Brassie got its name from the brass sole plate which gave it a touch more heft than the driver. It could be used as a control club / fairway finder and as a distance fairway wood for a smooth swinger.

 

So, here's a bit of background on these clubs bearing such names as the Brassie, the minidriver and the Thriver.

 

On 7/6/2021 at 1:18 PM, uglande said:

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

 

A competing golf blog traces the the mini-driver back to TM's Pittsburgh Persimmon metal woods launched circa 1979. Historical play-by-play is sketchy, but supposedly the TM Original One minidriver replicates the original mini-driver, with a few modern enhancements of course.

 

Hireko Golf has been pushing the Thriver variant for about 15 years. {Threewood + Driver} = Thriver. // The idea is to have a smaller, somewhat heavier head than a driver, with more loft. This head is married with a shorter, slightly heavier shaft for control.

 

Thriver XV Video 2011

 

 

 

Another option called the Blast Driveway came from KickX brand of golf clubs. A division of Medicus training clubs, KickX made clubs you could actually play on the course. BD had a 12.5* loft and a proprietary Grafalloy Tour Speed shaft that weighed about 80 grams and was trimmed to 43". The titanium head also had internal compression chambers to enhance ball flight.

 

From the early days of golf we have the Brassie, or 2 Wood. Well into the 1900s, many wood sets contained a 1, 2, 3 or a 1, 2, 3, 4 combination. The Brassie / 2W faded

out as the metal woods appeared, but reemerged circa 2000 from Callaway. The Hawkeye titanium and Warbird models featured The Deuce, with loft of around 12*. I've met players through the years that used a Deuce + 4W as their fairways in the early 2000s. A Deuce could be hit both off the tee and off the fairway.

 

I had a 2 Wood experience during the 1974 golf season. My Wilson Staff persimmon set had a 1, 2, 3, 4 mix. One day when warming up for a round, the head of my driver snapped in two. I remembered that I had a 2W in the trunk of my car which I never used. I retrieved it, hit a few shots, and went out and broke 80 for the first time in my life.

 

I had excellent tee shots that year. But, I got a new driver over winter, and had several seasons of spotty tee shots. In 1976 I located a custom driver in Oceanside, CA. which cured the problem. In retrospect: there's a lot to be said for the control of a 2W / Minidriver / Thriver.

Edited July 9, 2021 by ChipNRun

[Drivingrangehero]

19 minutes ago, ChipNRun said:

A parallel thread is debating the value of mini-drivers.

 

These shorter-shafted, smaller headed (sometimes) alternatives to drivers are really nothing new. One can trace their history back to the 2 Wood, or Brassie, from classic golf clubs emerging in the 1800s. The Brassie got its name from the brass sole plate which gave it a touch more heft than the driver. It could be used as a control club / fairway finder and as a distance fairway wood for a smooth swinger.

 

So, here's a bit of background on these clubs bearing such names as the Brassie, the minidriver and the Thriver.

 

 

A competing golf blog traces the the mini-driver back to TM's Pittsburgh Persimmon metal woods launched circa 1979. Historical play-by-play is sketchy, but supposedly the TM Original One minidriver replicates the original mini-driver, with a few modern enhancements of course.

 

Hireko Golf has been pushing the Thriver variant for about 15 years. {Threewood + Driver} = Thriver. // The idea is to have a smaller, somewhat heavier head than a driver, with more loft. This head is married with a shorter, slightly heavier shaft for control.

 

Thriver XV Video 2011

 

 

 

Another option called the Blast Driveway came from KickX brand of golf clubs. A division of Medicus training clubs, KickX made clubs you could actually play on the course. BD had a 12.5* loft and a proprietary Grafalloy Tour Speed shaft that weighed about 80 grams and was trimmed to 43". The titanium head also had internal compression chambers to enhance ball flight.

 

From the early days of golf we have the Brassie, or 2 Wood. Well into the 1900s, many wood sets contained a 1, 2, 3 or a 1, 2, 3, 4 combination. The Brassie / 2W faded

out as the metal woods appeared, but reemerged circa 2000 from Callaway. The Hawkeye titanium and Warbird models featured The Deuce, with loft of around 12*. I've met players through the years that used a Deuce + 4W as their fairways in the early 2000s. A Deuce could be hit both off the tee and off the fairway.

 

I had a 2 Wood experience during the 1974 golf season. My Wilson Staff persimmon set had a 1, 2, 3, 4 mix. One day when warming up for a round, the head of my driver snapped in two. I remembered that I had a 2W in the trunk of my car which I never used. I retrieved it, hit a few shots, and went out and broke 80 for the first time in my life.

 

I had excellent tee shots that year. But, I got a new driver over winter, and had several seasons of spotty tee shots. In 1976 I located a custom driver in Oceanside, CA. which cured the problem. In retrospect: there's a lot to be said for the control of a 2W / Minidriver / Thriver.

My grandfather carried persimmon 1,2 and 4 wood. 
 

when my Original Big Bertha driver head flew off at the range before a junior golf event, he went to his car and gave me the 2 wood to use. 

 

I think I hit more fairways than ever before. I remember I was having my best round ever (even through 16) till I took a 10 on the 17th par 3 🤦‍♂️ 

 

I remember I was so shook, I doubled the next hole which wasn’t a difficult one and shot 80……. At 15 years old, I’ll admit I cried afterwards, but I hit the 2 wood so well that day, it stayed in my bag for the season. It replaced my Ping Eye wooden 3 wood and I’d use the 2 wood when I got wild off the tee with the Big Bertha, which was often back then. 
 

I ended up ditching the Bertha and went back to wooden fairway woods. I bought a set of Ping IST wooden Woods and played them all the way up until the Cleveland Launcher 400 came out! 

[MountainKing]

Taylormade is the king of the mini drivers.  In the 90's when their midsize driver became a thing they had this thing called the fairway driver, which more or less was that era's version of it, and it carried through into the bubble shaft era.  My old man played both, he needed that extra loft.

 

Callaway, as mentioned, had their 2 wood which goes all the way back to the original Big Bertha series (and probably before).  My instructor from when I was a kid and into my teens played the 2 wood.  

 

It's been interesting to see Taylormade make this a thing every couple years.  People go nuts when they're released and then it just kind of goes away, then it happens again 2 years later where people go nuts, then it just kind of goes away.  Phil winning with it seems to have people going extra nuts over it, much like how everybody thought they needed two drivers when he won with two drivers. Golfers are always looking for some odd magic.  The only real magical thing here when it comes to Phil winning, is the amount of hours he puts in on the practice range, not the equipment he's carrying. 

[TKS]

I've built / fit the Wishon Fairway drivers 919FD and predecessor for more than 10 years. The "odd magic" comes from a purpose built club. 

#1, the clubs primary use is as a control driver for accuracy, not distance reduction - the 919FD is an absolute rocket of a face.

#2, the club should be able to perform off the fairway by better ball strikers, this is where the Wishon design excels, the face height/cg allows for this.

I advise my clients for consider course and conditions, and personally the FD and 60* wedge are the considerations - who stays and who goes (for the round)

 

[ian-500]

Japanese brand Baldo has had a couple of models called Brassy. Both in 12° loft I think. Look good.

[pdxhak]

7 hours ago, TKS said:

I've built / fit the Wishon Fairway drivers 919FD and predecessor for more than 10 years. The "odd magic" comes from a purpose built club. 

#1, the clubs primary use is as a control driver for accuracy, not distance reduction - the 919FD is an absolute rocket of a face.

#2, the club should be able to perform off the fairway by better ball strikers, this is where the Wishon design excels, the face height/cg allows for this.

I advise my clients for consider course and conditions, and personally the FD and 60* wedge are the considerations - who stays and who goes (for the round)

 

 

I played Wishon Irons for several years and currently still have 2 sets (560 MC, Sterling) and the 919THI driver is currently in the bag. IMO Tom should have made the 919 FD 12* or 13* with a titanium face vs 14* and steel face. And a black face 🙂