It’s in all probability too quickly to counsel that mini drivers are all the fad however curiosity within the class is rising – if solely as a result of most of us have by no means performed one. They’re like a fusion restaurant that serves sushi burritos. You’re fairly positive you don’t want any a part of it however you’re going to attempt it anyway.
For these simply studying in regards to the mini driver class, it isn’t completely new. TaylorMade launched the SLDR mini in 2014. It adopted that with the surprisingly vowel-rich Aeroburner. Callaway entered (and rapidly exited) the class with the Large Bertha Mini 1.5. That left TaylorMade as the one severe participant within the class for the higher a part of a decade.
Golfers positive do love copper
In 2023, TaylorMade launched the BRNR mini and whereas I can’t clarify precisely why, curiosity within the class elevated exponentially (albeit from virtually nothing to a little bit little bit of one thing). Possibly it was the copper accents and the throwback vibe. Possibly golfers simply love gear with names that sound like courting app usernames. Regardless, golfers had been curious.
That might clarify why, final yr, the variety of massive OEM choices within the mini driver doubled. Granted, that sounds far more spectacular than it’s, on condition that Callaway’s launch of the Paradym Ai Smoke Ti 340 mini gave us two choices to select from, however it suggests producers assume there is likely to be cash to be made within the class.
Mini momentum
On Tour, there’s some momentum behind the mini motion as properly. It’s possible why the PXG Secret Weapon is on the market now, the Titleist GT280 is coming, COBRA may do one thing (or presumably nothing) with its mini (“Deuce” 2-wood) and why we imagine Callaway and TaylorMade will improve their mini driver lineups sooner quite than later.
When the mud settles on 2025, my hunch is golfers could have no less than a half a dozen mini choices to select from. And with that comes the million-dollar (or in all probability $450) query:
Do you want a mini driver?
In my not so humble choice, the unique SLDR remains to be the most effective Mini Driver launched thus far.
Earlier than we reply, it is likely to be useful to know why mini drivers are gaining in recognition on the PGA Tour.
I don’t assume it’s a secret that elite golfers are gaining distance. That’s to not counsel the positive aspects are practically to the extent that the USGA claims as justification for its silly ball rollback however skilled golfers are getting longer.
The trickle-down impact of that’s that use of 3-woods on Tour has diminished considerably. There are more and more fewer conditions that require a 3-wood anyplace however off the tee so the standard 3-wood and, in lots of circumstances, the basic 5-wood have been changed by 4- and 7-woods.
What common golfers could not perceive is that the professionals aren’t selecting the 3-wood for accuracy (knowledge means that even for elite golfers, the 3-wood presents minimal accuracy profit over a driver). It’s sometimes used when the driving force is an excessive amount of membership off the tee. That’s an issue most of us amateurs can relate to – about in addition to we relate to having an excessive amount of cash or being too handsome.
For the professionals, nevertheless, the mini retains a number of the management or “workability” of the 3-wood however presents extra forgiveness with a form and profile that’s way more driver-like – for no matter that’s value.
Off the deck, the bigger mini is extra unwieldy than a fairway wooden however when you by no means hit it from the golf green, what does that matter? After all, if hitting “from the fairway” is extra of an aspirational idea than a daily incidence for you, possibly a mini driver is the reply.
What about the remainder of us?
Coming Quickly …
For many common golfers, I’d wager there are few conditions the place driver is an excessive amount of membership. Reality be informed, most occasions I see common golfers pull lower than driver off the tee, the mathematics says they’re doing it mistaken.
Let that massive canine hunt.
Fifteen-handicap golfers (Shot Scope’s benchmark for outlining the typical golfer) hit barely fewer fairways with their 3-wood off the tee than with their driver. They hit extra balls OB as properly they usually do all of it whereas giving up practically 20 yards of distance.
5-handicap golfers are barely extra correct with their 3-woods (51 p.c of fairways hit in comparison with 49 with the driving force) however the proportion of penalty strokes is similar and the 3-wood is, on common, virtually 15 yards shorter.
The information for scratch golfers is sort of similar.
The purpose is that whereas many golfers imagine a 3-wood is the safer different to the driving force off the tee, the info suggests you’re giving up important distance and never getting a lot of an accuracy profit in return.
Who’s a mini driver for?
The Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini Ti 340 is the largest mini launched thus far.
In some sense, the mini driver motion suggests an expert answer searching for an beginner downside.
The cynic in me says they’re for nobody and but, in need of my premature demise, there isn’t any state of affairs through which a mini isn’t in my bag no less than a number of the time this season. Name me a hypocrite however no less than I’m a hypocrite with an intriguing new membership.
The explanation I’m skeptical (in probably the most hypocritical method attainable) is that the mathematics says that these of you who hit 3-wood off the tee ought to in all probability do it much less typically and for golfers who already wrestle to hit stronger-lofted fairway woods from the golf green, shifting to a much bigger and deeper head isn’t prone to make issues any simpler.
And so, I’m going to counsel that the pattern in the direction of mini drivers represents a Tour answer being retrofitted with an beginner narrative.
With that stated, it’s essential to acknowledge that mini driver knowledge from beginner golfers is someplace between sparse and non-existent. Some golfers completely love their mini drivers as a result of, anecdotally, they’re simpler to hit (or no less than hit straight) than the driving force and are extra forgiving and longer than a fairway wooden.
For common golfers who wrestle to maintain their drivers in play, minis is likely to be the stroke-saving answer to their tee shot woes.
A greater method?
Nonetheless, there’s an argument to be made that the present mini driver execution is completely mistaken for many golfers.
Factoring in all aspects of efficiency – distance, accuracy, forgiveness – most would in all probability be higher served with a full-sized head and a shorter shaft. Consider the perfect as a good shorter model of COBRA’s Tour Size builds.
A few years in the past, an trade buddy of mine had a shorty model of a mainline driver in his bag. The Tour guys loaded it up with scorching soften, reduce the shaft down and someway made what is likely to be probably the most automated driver I’ve ever tried.
Shorter? A bit however method simpler to maintain between the white stakes.
For common golfers, I believe that strategy would make extra sense even when it would take some effort to remain inside USGA MOI limits with the elevated head weight crucial to keep up swing weight with a shorter construct.
However possibly …
Given the place the mini is immediately and never having the complete image of what’s coming, it’s tough to say if a mini driver is completely proper for anybody however right here’s the way in which I take a look at it.
In case you are occupied with including a mini to your bag, choosing the proper one begins with determining what it’s going to switch.
If it’s the driving force that’s popping out of the bag, larger and with decrease loft might be higher. That’s the place the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke TI 340 match final season.
If it’s a fairway wooden substitute, then one thing smaller – BRNR, Secret Weapon (each 300cc) or the upcoming (and smaller nonetheless) Titleist GT280 will possible show extra playable off the golf green whereas supplying you with a second choice off the tee.
Selections, selections …
The excellent news for the mini-curious is that earlier than the yr is over (possible earlier than we hit the guts of summer time), you’re going to have extra choices than ever.
That might not be factor however it’s going to be enjoyable.
The publish Do You Want A Mini Driver? appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
