Mini driver alternatives?

[JungleJimbo]

46 minutes ago, heybrady said:

I have been rolling with two drivers for years now. Found a Hibore XL Super Loft (15*, 460cc) in a used bin for about 40 bucks. 
 

it has the stock gold shaft which is super flexible but all I hit is high spinny bombs with it.  Ss is about 115 with driver and I can squeak between 250-270 with the Hibore. It is not perfect (been trying to find another to put an 83g Blueboard in) but I can’t bring myself to mess with the current one I have.  
 

The full size head makes it easy to find a good spot on the face and the extra spin keeps the ball online.  On shorter par 4 or anything that requires a playable tee shot, the club is money. 
 

now, the ultimate unicorn is the Hibore 2 wood but I haven’t seen one of those on eBay in several years. Great old thread on this site from about 2010 if the archives go back that far. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Drivingrangehero]

I ended up building my own mini driver with a 11° 380cc head from 2009? 

 

I cut the same shaft I use in my driver after tipping it 1/2” to play at 42.5” and added 20g of weight to the 200g head. 
 

I found it out performed the SLDR Mini I purchased and the TM 300 mini that I had demoed at the PGASS

 

if I was looking to do it again, I would probably find a decent condition Cleveland Launcher 400 or a Cobra SZ  350/380 (nostalgia purposes) and just add weight to the head with yarn 

 

 

[NRJyzr]

On 10/20/2023 at 10:50 AM, me05501 said:

I've tried all kinds of options including strong three woods, the Callaway 2 Deep (or is it 3 Deep?), the original SLDR mini and now the BRNR. There's some kind of secret sauce with the TM Minis. They just work. 

 

It's the CG.  It's been learned that the low CG is the key to spin production.  It will also help get the ball in the air. 

 

I don't know that the SLDR, Aeroburner, and possibly the Callaway, were designed the same way.

 

[Maine Golfer]

The RBR 2014ish Tour Spoon head is likely the cheapest thing you can find right now to build a mini driver. Under $100 if you look on ebay, I got just the head for like 40. 

[NRJyzr]

2 hours ago, Drivingrangehero said:

I ended up building my own mini driver with a 11° 380cc head from 2009

 

With apologies for being That Guy...   the "mini" is about the clubhead size, not the club length.  I think what you've got there is closer to the Thriver concept, shorter and higher lofted driver clubhead.

 

Guessing you're not looking to hit your 380cc clubhead off the deck?  🙂
(another aspect of the minis, for those who have the juice to do so)

[Drivingrangehero]

2 minutes ago, NRJyzr said:

 

With apologies for being That Guy...   the "mini" is about the clubhead size, not the club length.  I think what you've got there is closer to the Thriver concept, shorter and higher lofted driver clubhead.

 

Guessing you're not looking to hit your 380cc clubhead off the deck?  🙂
(another aspect of the minis, for those who have the juice to do so)

No interest in hitting a mini off the deck, although I did a few times with the SLDR mini with some success, but I was looking for a 3W replacement since I didn’t often hit my 3W

 

Ive since built a 3W that I like off both the tee and the deck. I picked up a NOS Adams Tight Lies 14° head and threw a 75g Tensei Orange that plays at 42”

 

I have my Mini Driver in my back up bag that I leave in my trunk and bring to the driving range a few days a week

 

I honestly feel that I would do best with Driver, 4w, 7w combo, but don’t get out to play enough to justify buying more clubs with 3 little ones (6,4, and 1yr old) while working 60 hours a week.  
 

I need to focus on my swing rather than clubs right now because I have lost about 12mph ball speed in 2years time with my Driver and I’m down some with the long irons as well, which is odd because my 6,7,8,9,PW is still the same, so I’m doing something to cause loss in the longer clubs that is beyond me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

I’ve went from someone who hit draws and found fading the ball more difficult to control with a driver, but managed well with my irons, to someone who can’t draw the ball right now to save my life, only fades 🤔  I’m going to take a few lessons here shortly, because I am lost at the moment 

 

For now my bag is as follows

Driver

14° 3w

18° 5w

22° 7W

25° 5i-46°PW, 50,54,58° 

 

 

[me05501]

My swing speed is meager...maybe 86-87 with the BRNR...but I have found that it still works for me off the deck. I wouldn't say the ball gets up a lot but it gets out there.

 

Give it a try if you have a good lie. 

[Striker Ace]

A 5 wood. Any 5 wood.

 

Or 3 wood if your swing speed is faster.

[JungleJimbo]

@knudson81  Any plans to follow-through with that "2 wood-ish: 12 degree cranked up to a 14, with some weight added and a short shaft" thought-experiment, with the E723 driver?

 

 

[knudson81]

45 minutes ago, JungleJimbo said:

@knudson81  Any plans to follow-through with that "2 wood-ish: 12 degree cranked up to a 14, with some weight added and a short shaft" thought-experiment, with the E723 driver?

 

 

 

I don't have the 12* head, so I can't try it out! But I think it could be a pretty sweet fairway finder!

[Drivingrangehero]

22 hours ago, knudson81 said:

 

I don't have the 12* head, so I can't try it out! But I think it could be a pretty sweet fairway finder!

I tried with a Callaway XR that was 13.5°, but it didn’t work out as well as expected, mostly because I went with a 90g X flex shaft (ACCRA Tour ZX 485 m5) I’ve since converted it to my wife’s driver and it has a Kuro Kage 50 senior flex shaft that is cut to 42” 

 

I hit it often at the range and it’s made me question my set up since I hit it so well. I could totally use it as a Mini Driver if I loft down to 12°. 
 

It makes me want to try to experiment with going lighter, shorter and much softer in flex. 

[LumpyPockets]

hibore 2 wood is great for this spot.  They should really make that club again.  With new tech a club like that wouldn't give up much to a regular driver.