Ping mini driver 2024??

[nosedive32]

The 2014 Rapture was 13 degree only and around 210-220ccs. It basically was a mini driver.

 

I have owned every TM Mini Driver and a Bertha Mini (so every retail mini driver) except for the Rapture.

 

For those who don't recall retail on the Rapture was $449 in 2014, which is what a new BRNR is now.

 

Ping was way ahead of their time on price with that one so I never got around to trying one. I believe the SLDR S Mini I had in the bag at the time retailed at $279.

[shortgameneedswork]

4 hours ago, nosedive32 said:

The 2014 Rapture was 13 degree only and around 210-220ccs. It basically was a mini driver.

 

I have owned every TM Mini Driver and a Bertha Mini (so every retail mini driver) except for the Rapture.

 

For those who don't recall retail on the Rapture was $449 in 2014, which is what a new BRNR is now.

 

Ping was way ahead of their time on price with that one so I never got around to trying one. I believe the SLDR S Mini I had in the bag at the time retailed at $279.

Which has been your favorite TM mini driver? Have you tried the other options like a TSR2+? Has there been a club length that you've found works best for you?

[nosedive32]

6 hours ago, shortgameneedswork said:

Which has been your favorite TM mini driver? Have you tried the other options like a TSR2+? Has there been a club length that you've found works best for you?

I've always been good with the 43.75 stock length.

 

By personal preference I'd rank them as follows:

 

1) BRNR

2) 300

3) SLDR S

4) Original One

5) Aeroburner 

6) Bertha Mini 

 

SLDR S was stupid easy to hit but retrospectively it falls more in line with 3 Wood ballspeed and launch conditions. 300 is easily the best all around performer from a balanced perspective in my opinion. Really hot but also stupid easy to hit off the deck. Ultimately I find the BRNR to be too hot while still bring playable from the deck to not put it at #1 (I haven't really messed with it but I'm sure with the weight back it plays closer to the 300). The Original One was a rocket launcher but I found it less forgiving than the two later models and it was hard to elevate off the deck without high swing speed (Driver was around 100 MPH when I tried it a few years ago - I'm 5+ mph quicker now)

 

The Callaway Bertha Mini was more 3 wood like in size and shape. Never really got on with it from off the tee or fairway.

 

As far as Deep  Strong lofted 3 Woods I would agree with some others that they aren't really that comparable to mini drivers but I haven't tried a newer option like TSR2+.

 

I did play the G400 Stretch for a bit since that was mentioned earlier and I would say I liked it more than any of the Callaway 3 Deep models of that era by quite a bit and found it a little better than the old Titleist FD series. Gave one a go again a couple of years ago and it didn't hold up as well to the more modern Mini Drivers for numbers as it did to the earlier ones from its era (it was in the window after SLDR S, Aeroburner, and Bertha Mini but before Original One, 300, and BRNR)

 

 

To give an example of what Burner is capable of here are some numbers:

 

I've been working hard on speed recently. I had a rough patch in the last year or two where my average driver ballspeed dipped under 140. When I've played my best golf I've been around 150-152

 

Average with my G430 LST right now after a lot of hard work is around 155 topping out at 161.

 

The BRNR is within 3-4 MPH of the driver and basically produces driver launch conditions. I've seen 158 off the tee and off the mat in the sim with the BRNR. (This is playing the 11.5 weight forward)

 

I was 243 out to a middle pin on a par 5 earlier this week into the wind and hit it through the green. It's more firepower than I can get from a 3 wood.

 

From what I've heard of the driver flight isn't really what you want the 13.5 with the weight back gives more typical 3 wood numbers 

[awtryau89]

Ping will custom make you a mini driver right now. Marty is playing one and Finau played one at the Masters.

 

 

 

[TonyRo]

I immediately started looking around for a 12-degree 430 Max head. 😁

[phizzy30]

13 hours ago, nosedive32 said:

The 2014 Rapture was 13 degree only and around 210-220ccs. It basically was a mini driver.

 

I have owned every TM Mini Driver and a Bertha Mini (so every retail mini driver) except for the Rapture.

 

For those who don't recall retail on the Rapture was $449 in 2014, which is what a new BRNR is now.

 

Ping was way ahead of their time on price with that one so I never got around to trying one. I believe the SLDR S Mini I had in the bag at the time retailed at $279.

Wasn't the Rapture 13* a titanium head as well which was what made it so expensive for it's time? 

[nosedive32]

20 minutes ago, phizzy30 said:

Wasn't the Rapture 13* a titanium head as well which was what made it so expensive for it's time? 

I believe that is correct.

[eric61]

3 hours ago, awtryau89 said:

Ping will custom make you a mini driver right now. Marty is playing one and Finau played one at the Masters.

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, TonyRo said:

I immediately started looking around for a 12-degree 430 Max head. 😁

What would the weight configuration look like? You’d probably have to add an extra 25-30 grams to get it to D4ish at 42.75”. Marty only mentions one weight in his, but Ping doesn’t make weights that heavy. Lots of hot melt?

[awtryau89]

3 minutes ago, eric61 said:

 

What would the weight configuration look like? You’d probably have to add an extra 25-30 grams to get it to D4ish at 42.75”. Marty only mentions one weight in his, but Ping doesn’t make weights that heavy. Lots of hot melt?

I was sorta being sarcastic but if it works it works. Send him a message on X and he will respond. He’s great with his socials. 

[TonyRo]

32 minutes ago, eric61 said:

What would the weight configuration look like?

You can actually use two weights, but you'd have to accept that you can't fade or draw bias it that much. That would be fine for me however. 

[54CW]

Looking for some cheap g410 g425 12° heads now for when I starting driving it over 300yds 😂

 

Mr. Jertybird is already fielding questions on Twitter. Big caveat is this really only makes sense if your tour long w/ driver. 

 

 

[Thrummyfox]

On 4/18/2024 at 2:46 AM, Whatnogarnish said:

A rapture re-release would be sweet. Driving iron and 3 wood. 

I have the DI and still love it 

[hammergolf]

On 4/19/2024 at 9:54 AM, phizzy30 said:

Wasn't the Rapture 13* a titanium head as well which was what made it so expensive for it's time? 

Yeah it was. They performed incredibly, but at that time the $450 price was ridiculously high compared to normal fwy woods so they didn’t sell many because of that.

[Stoc]

hate paying driver prices for a mini, but man that 12* head with some heavy weights and heavy tipping is so tempting

Edited April 21 by Stoc

[J_Tizzle]

I'd like for Ping to explore the market on it, like you said, they're obviously the hotness right now.

 

As for people talking about them not being usable as fairway woods, I kinda think thats the point.  The pros you see using them don't typically hit a 3w into a par 5, its a tee club for them so they don't really care about playability off the ground, thats not really the intended use for it.  You see lots of them going Driver, Mini Driver, 5-7 wood/hybrid as their set up.

[Troutfly]

 

Still in the bag

 

[54CW]

Anyone take the plunge and build one up?