Mini Driver, 3 wood or Something else?

[blipton]

Currently using Ping 430 9 degree driver, G410 3 wood & 5 wood for reference:

 

I am running into the issue of I am not seeing much of a distance difference between my 3 & 5 wood. (240sh) according to arccos. I also don't use my 3 wood a lot off the deck mainly short & narrow Par 4s.

 

Driver is 285 according to arccos. Should I look into a Mini Driver to maybe fill that last choice in the Bag?

 

 

Driver: Ping 9 degree

Fairway Ping 3 & 5 woods

Hybrid: 4 hyrid

irons 5-Gap 

Wedges: 54 & 60

[zstokes]

Given those yardages, you seem like a prime candidate to try the Brnr MINI.  Or Callaway's minidriver offering.  There are rumors Titleist is working on one as well.

[mackepa]

With your yardages and gapping It’s definitely worth testing out. I occasionally will drop my g430 3W and play a BRNR mini 11.5 set to 9.5 for those low bullets I need to hit off certain tees. Three wood doesn’t get a ton of use in my game. Rarely am I going for a Par 5 in two with more than 7 wood. If a par 5 requires a 3 wood into the green there better not be much trouble up there or I’m just not going for it. I do struggle with the Mini off the deck since the loft is so low. YMMV. 

[Tom7]

I think this could be a great addition. I'm assuming you'd swap the mini driver for the 3 wood you're currently carrying, right? I really like the idea of carrying the mini driver as an option for higher pressure tee shots - narrow fairways or hazards close to the fairway. Sometimes I feel like I really have to go after my driver and swing hard. A mini driver would be great for more control when you don't need maximum distance.

 

My only other idea would be maybe adding another wedge for flexibility around greens, but that's personal preference.

[speedeuphoria]

I picked up a cheap Apex UW 17 to try as a tee club as I have Driver>5wood

 

My choices were

 

 

Apex UW 17

Big tour 3 wd

mini driver

Super hybrid

 

UW was cheapest so trying that 1st

 

Edited May 8 by speedeuphoria

[Cameaux]

I've got a similar set up as you.  I go 9* TSR3 driver, 13.5* BRNR mini turned down a click or two (I believe its playing around 12.5*), Ping G430 5 wood turned down to 16.5, then 7 wood, 5-U, 54, 59.  I use the BRNR mainly on tight tee balls (I've hit some decent shots with it off the ground, but it can also lead to disaster), the 5 wood is my primary club into par 5s.  7 wood for longer par 3s and layups.

 

I also kinda subscribe to moving driver only one way (a la Scott Fawcett).  I hit cuts with driver and BRNR is easier to turn over.

[poor_putting]

The mini drivers are great BUT you said you don’t hit a 3 wood off the deck often. Which means you do occasionally. Unless you’re capable of hitting the mini driver type clubs off the deck, I would go with a strong 3 wood. That will help a touch with off the deck shots. I believe cobra has one, callaway OG Paradym TD has a 13.5 (this is what I play for your exact reason) and I am sure there are others. Give them a shot first to see if they work for you. I believe it will give you more versatility. Also, while based on footprint size they may not be AS forgiving as the mini’s off the tee, the will be easier to launch off the deck. 
 

just something to think about.

[B_of_H]

the mini driver has the following advantages: 

- spins less than a 3w

- can be used like a driver off a high tee (high launch/low spin)

- can hit low bullet cuts into the wind without ballooning and you can't get too steep (catch it high in the face)

- is much more forgiving than any 3w on the market on heel/toe strikes relative to center

 

3w advantages 

- easier to launch and spin off the deck

 

that is about it imo.  

[jmac_11]

I love my 3 wood, especially because I can crank it off the deck around 250 dependent on the lie, with confidence. My 5 wood goes about 235-240 and my 4 hybrid goes 225 stock, but I can easily take a little off or step one if needed. Worth noting that my 3 and 5 wood are also 0.5 inches short with a low spin shaft.

 

For the BRNR, I have the 11.5 variant of last years model and could see it replace driver on tight courses, when lofting it down. I'm actually in a weird spot with it possibly replacing my driver for good, but I just love the TSR2. I haven't hit the 13.5 variant, but I can't imagine it replaces my 3 wood as it does inspire as much confidence off the deck as my 3 wood. I would also loft it up, closing the face significantly. The best thing you can do is find someone who has one, or a store to demo one and try it out for yourself. If you want it strictly for off the tee, it's an amazing club.

[Streuner]

I was a MiNi Player since a longer time. I still have a Aeroburner TP mini at home. Also I was using the Mini OO and the Mini 300 for a while.
On the other hand I was tinkering with my driver and now I am using a driver with a full inch shorter shaft. The driver head is having 10gr more mass and with this combination I am more confident and longer than I am with any of the mini offerings. The tall and wide driver face is offering more forgiveness than a Mini driver option. To hit the mini of the deck i am simply not fast enough. But I have a Stealth 2+ fairway wood which is on tee shots nearly as hot and fast as a Mini driver with the more versatility for shots from a good fairway lie. 

[kthomas]

I know this is GolfWRX, but...

 

Do you NEED anything in that slot? A mini-driver is pretty niche. How many times would you realistically pull out a mini-driver on the tee box versus something else?

 

I know we as golfers feel compelled to fill all 14 slots of our golf bags, but that doesn't mean we need to do so.

 

I've become a minimalist golfer. I usually golf with only 5-7 clubs now. Last time I played nine holes, I only brought and used one club - a 5 iron. 

 

I'm not saying you need to become a minimalist, but do you really need something between your driver and 5W? If you want to try something out, by all means. But I almost guarantee adding a mini-driver (or any other club), isn't going to improve your scores.

[Nobody2]

Mini Driver 💯. I have last years brnr 13.5* lofted to 12*, playing 43.5” and driver shaft 10 grams heavier. It gives me a draw shot shape (fade driver) and is 15-18 yards short of driver carry. I’d rather have a few less yards of carry but the face looks too closed. I play this when my driver reaches trouble and I can hit short of it with the MD or the hole is tight and long.  I hit my 3w off the deck 5% of the time so the extra forgiveness is great. 

[blipton]

18 hours ago, kthomas said:

I know this is GolfWRX, but...

 

Do you NEED anything in that slot? A mini-driver is pretty niche. How many times would you realistically pull out a mini-driver on the tee box versus something else?

 

I know we as golfers feel compelled to fill all 14 slots of our golf bags, but that doesn't mean we need to do so.

 

I've become a minimalist golfer. I usually golf with only 5-7 clubs now. Last time I played nine holes, I only brought and used one club - a 5 iron. 

 

I'm not saying you need to become a minimalist, but do you really need something between your driver and 5W? If you want to try something out, by all means. But I almost guarantee adding a mini-driver (or any other club), isn't going to improve your scores.

 

If walking courses was more realistic in my area, I'd be 100% on board with this, ditch a few clubs each round. I'd love to grab a Sunday bag and a few clubs and walk. 

[MelloYello]

On 5/7/2024 at 9:00 AM, blipton said:

Currently using Ping 430 9 degree driver, G410 3 wood & 5 wood for reference:

 

I am running into the issue of I am not seeing much of a distance difference between my 3 & 5 wood. (240sh) according to arccos. I also don't use my 3 wood a lot off the deck mainly short & narrow Par 4s.

 

Driver is 285 according to arccos. Should I look into a Mini Driver to maybe fill that last choice in the Bag?

 

 

Driver: Ping 9 degree

Fairway Ping 3 & 5 woods

Hybrid: 4 hyrid

irons 5-Gap 

Wedges: 54 & 60

 

Keep in mind why 2-woods aren't currently widespread. 

 >> The spin tends to be so low that they aren't that forgiving. 

 

I spent time with a TSR2+ and found that it launched too low for comfort. The distance was what you'd expect but I hated the low ball-flight. The club stood out like a sore thumb. 

 

When I went back to the conventional TSR2 3w it launched nice and high, in the same window as my Driver and 7w. It was FAR easier to be confident with the more compact look and slightly higher spin-rate. 

 

Everyone acts like distance is the only metric but it leads people towards low-spin which isn't practical.

 

Too many people watching guys hit balls in Simulators IMHO. 

 

If you want distance, hit driver. 

[BraxtonFullerton]

1 iron.

[blipton]

51 minutes ago, MelloYello said:

 

Keep in mind why 2-woods aren't currently widespread. 

 >> The spin tends to be so low that they aren't that forgiving. 

 

I spent time with a TSR2+ and found that it launched too low for comfort. The distance was what you'd expect but I hated the low ball-flight. The club stood out like a sore thumb. 

 

When I went back to the conventional TSR2 3w it launched nice and high, in the same window as my Driver and 7w. It was FAR easier to be confident with the more compact look and slightly higher spin-rate. 

 

Everyone acts like distance is the only metric but it leads people towards low-spin which isn't practical.

 

Too many people watching guys hit balls in Simulators IMHO. 

 

If you want distance, hit driver. 

 

Don't disagree with that. Weather is getting nicer to play more & think about the game. All my stats anyway say I should focus on approach play instead LOL