Mini Driver (Burner Mini) Build Ideas

RookieBlue7 · May 2

So I’ve got a burner mini headed my way. Mainly because I’m a tinkerer but in part because I’ve evidently forgotten how to hit my 3 wood.

I used to kill that club now it’s scatter city. In comes the mini’s purpose. I want it for holes that are tighter where I’d hit 3 wood usually (I’ve been hitting a really hard stinger with the 503.i lately that I get out around 235-240. My driver is 280ish with some roll (if the BAC gets right and the back loosens up a little more I can stretch a couple mph from it). That said, my 3 wood was always a weapon… until recently. The handicap is coming down but I want to get a 3 wood I can hit off the tee back in the bag and off the deck on occasion on longer courses. For years I carried a 13.5 sldr 3 wood and pounded it (13.5 there). As tech improved I ended up with a Tsi, which I hit well for like 2 years. Now it’s a headache.

So with all the background, what length are people playing these at? What are you doing as far as tipping? And what weight shafts? They don’t come in X stock so I’ve gotta swap something up (too good a deal and too impatient to wait on an order). I ask because I have a bunch of 3 wood shafts and a couple driver shafts lying around I want to try but I don’t have that many adapters lying around (first world problems). I was thinking of starting with an LAGP Trono 70x that’s tipped an inch for a 3 wood and the shaft straight out of the SLDR (an OG NV green 75x). And play it at the same 42 3/8 my 3 wood has been played at for a decade or so and work backward from there. Are people going for a tweener length between D and 3 wood or straight to one or the other. Got a trip coming up soon and there’s a few courses this would come in handy if I can get it dialed in. Ideally I’d want to toss an OG Blueboard around 85x in it (my favorite 5 wood that goes in the bag at times had a 95 in it). I’ve also toyed with the idea of a p95

so what’s you guys success areas been with these?

Edited May 3 by RookieBlue7

shortgameneedswork · May 2

I have mine playing a little longer than my 3 woods lengths, but using it as a substitute for that 3 wood at those numbers sounds like you're just replacing your 3 wood with a larger, more forgiving head.

I think the build highly depends on your purpose so this seems like an appropriate place to start given your purpose.

Please update us with your results!

Edited May 2 by shortgameneedswork

NRJyzr · May 2

Going for a shorter than driver club, I like your idea of a heavier shaft. I would also suggest thinking about a shorter club length, no longer than 43". I admit to biases in this area.

It might require you adding a bit of weight, depending on the balance point of the shaft you use.

cw1209 · May 2

I would recommend using the same shaft you have in driver, 10 grams heavier. Shaft length, grip to adaptor, should be the same as your other 3 woods. Total length installed will come out about 1/2" longer than your 3 wood since the head is bigger. Add weight as needed. I have a Hzrdus Black Gen 4 60 in driver RDX Black 70 in mini. Did not tip the shaft. Added 5 gm to the head weight.

PNW · May 2

I'm at 43.5" total length with a 70g shaft vs 45" driver at around 60g. I did not tip my mini shaft (pretty sure TM doesn't tip these on standard builds). Playing around with 3 wood shafts you have on hand would be a good idea to test.

Poor Mans Ty Webb · May 2

Head weight on my 13.5* BRNR was 207g with the stock weights. Playing it as a 3w replacement at 43" with the same shaft as my driver (Rogue 130 Silver 70g), tipped an extra 0.5" (driver plays at 45"). Added aftermarket weights (10g+, if I remember), to get SW up. I can't recall, specifically, but I've got something like 16g in the back weight port and 10g in the front one.

Turned down to 12* and am very happy with the performance. Mostly use it off the tee.

I probably could've played it at a shorter length, but I grip down a half to full inch when hitting it off the deck. If I went under 43" I probably would've bumped up to an 80g shaft.

ARSM1932 · May 2

I could never play a mini driver any longer than 43" so I would probably go for a 80+ gram shaft similar to the one in my 3 wood, my 3 wood length has always been 42.5" or 42.25" because that provides much better accuracy than my driver.

RookieBlue7 · May 3

So my normal 3 wood for the last decade plus I’ve been playing at 42 3/8 (fat fingered the OP). 44 3/8” is the driver length I’ve been playing.

Currently driver is a TSR3 with an LAGP Trono 60x.

so I’ve assembled the following with adapters (they’re drying)(they’re spares I had lying around of some of my favorite shafts)

HZRDUS t1100 75x tipped 1/2”

Ozik 60x tipped 3/4”

Aldila NV 75x tipped 1/2”

Trono 70x tipped 1”

Head weight is 207.5g with the weights in it. My last 2 three woods were 209.5 and 210.25 grams.

Planning on going with the same 42 3/8” length and see where I’m at. I may cut one of them at 43” just to see

Nobody2 · May 5

I play a brnr 13.5* at 12.5*, heavy weight in front. Same shaft as driver but 10grams heavier, with std 3 wood tipping. 42” shaft and plays 43.5”. Had to increase one weight by 4g to get it to D3. It carries 15-20 years less than driver.

RookieBlue7 · May 7

I now have an OG Blueboard 73 x5ct in X on the way. I play a 93 in my 5 wood and love the club. Planning on using standard 3 wood tipping (1/2”) for it and cutting it at 43 and working down to find the length. Standard 3 wood length was too short with the LAGP Trono and the T1100 either (also hit them way too low). NV was ok but hoping the Blueboard brings it up (I love those older ion Diamana shafts)