Driver head size: Big or small?

[Erin B]

Lately I’ve been debating driver head size. I seem to do better with the smaller heads. I think 460cc is just too big. I’d love to hear your thoughts. 

[TSauer]

I'll agree with you. Thinking back on all of the 460cc drivers I've had, I think I've always performed worst with the larger heads.... which is such an odd thing.

Edited May 15 by TSauer

[GolfSpy_APH]

For me it isn't so much size, but shape. There are definitely shapes that i prefer to others and there are ways that 460cc can either look huge or small depending on how the face is and more. 

[Rob Person]

I started out with a 1w driver.  It's less than half the size of today's driver sizes in the last 20 years.  I learned and played with it for my first whole year of playing golf.   It was very hit and miss (no pun intended!)  But when I hit it we'll, it was awesome to watch.

 

[TJ Hall]

I agree with @GolfSpy_APH, it’s more about the shape of it for me.  I’ve picked up a few drivers in the store and just did not like the way they looked.

[THE GOLF GUY]

11 minutes ago, Rob Person said:

I started out with a 1w driver.  It's less than half the size of today's driver sizes in the last 20 years.  I learned and played with it for my first whole year of playing golf.   It was very hit and miss (no pun intended!)  But when I hit it we'll, it was awesome to watch.

 

I grew up playing Ping woods ( real woods ) and most of the older folks understand why everyone can whale away on a driver now . The small head was  a lot more unforgiving . If you didn’t “ hit it on the screws “ you knew it right off the bat . The misses were slicing  dead right or you’d toe it and hit a severe hook . It’s almost like playing blades except you have a wood to hit .  My favorite driver of all time was the Titleist 975 J with the EI 70 shaft . It was a 300 cc head and I loved swinging it . 

Edited May 15 by THE GOLF GUY

[William P]

I don't mind the bigger heads as long as they fit my eye so to speak. I too, remember the days of real woods before TaylorMade introduced the metal woods. 

Seems after that the race was on but not as much as in the past decade of golf. 

Still waiting for the new Titleist offering to be released this summer, however, I really like the look and feel of the current TSR 4 with the smaller 430cc head.

[Josh Parker]

I'm in the shape group. It's more about the look at address than size. Compact head shape.  

[tdroma98]

I've always preferred the smaller driver heads - 425, 440cc heads. I tested the Paradym Triple Diamond 450cc driver, because of the smaller head & lower spin feature.  But did not like the feel & sound of the driver. 

As many above expressed, it's what also fits your eye.  The Paradym X driver head is 460cc, it fit my ear & eye, so I switched. 

[bens197]

3 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

For me it isn't so much size, but shape. There are definitely shapes that i prefer to others and there are ways that 460cc can either look huge or small depending on how the face is and more. 

I came here to say the same.

Put a Cobra, Callaway or TaylorMade head down and I’m lost.

It’s the shape for me.

[Erin B]

2 hours ago, William P said:

I don't mind the bigger heads as long as they fit my eye so to speak. I too, remember the days of real woods before TaylorMade introduced the metal woods. 

Seems after that the race was on but not as much as in the past decade of golf. 

Still waiting for the new Titleist offering to be released this summer, however, I really like the look and feel of the current TSR 4 with the smaller 430cc head.

Yep ditto

[Erin B]

2 hours ago, William P said:

I don't mind the bigger heads as long as they fit my eye so to speak. I too, remember the days of real woods before TaylorMade introduced the metal woods. 

Seems after that the race was on but not as much as in the past decade of golf. 

Still waiting for the new Titleist offering to be released this summer, however, I really like the look and feel of the current TSR 4 with the smaller 430cc head.

Yep ditto

[Erin B]

Love the discussion! I love my mini driver. Just ordered a new shaft and tip to take it to 44”. I love my paradym td. But if forced to choose I’d go with the mini. I was fitted for the Titleist TSI/R 4 and would love to have one. Waiting on their new release though. 

[bens197]

This will always be my favorite look at address. Knowing what we know now about MOI we may never see this shape again but goodness, it sure did instill confidence. 

Edited May 16 by bens197

[Rob Person]

10 hours ago, Erin B said:

Love the discussion! I love my mini driver. Just ordered a new shaft and tip to take it to 44”. I love my paradym td. But if forced to choose I’d go with the mini. I was fitted for the Titleist TSI/R 4 and would love to have one. Waiting on their new release though. 

With the mini driver, would a turned down 3w prove to have the same effect as a mini?

30 minutes ago, bens197 said:

This will always be my favorite look at address. Knowing what we know now about MOI we may never see this shape again but goodness, it sure did instill confidence. 

Very similar size to my 1w. But man was it hard to hit perfectly 

[MCMSR]

Over the years, given the marketing hype & testing data, the 460cc has become the standard (head shape being the personal differentiator). That said, in terms of setup,  I’ve always preferred the appearance of a ‘shallow face, smaller head.’ I’ll be researching/testing the mini-driver offerings. 

[Erin B]

1 hour ago, Rob Person said:

With the mini driver, would a turned down 3w prove to have the same effect as a mini?

Very similar size to my 1w. But man was it hard to hit perfectly 

My mini is 11* but some are 13* so depending on what loft you like I’d think it would be possible. The good thing about the mini is that it has a bigger face so it’s more forgiving on that aspect. I do hit my now retired 3 wood very well but the mini is longer. I also reshafted my hybrids to compensate for losing the 3 wood. 

[RetiredBoomer]

17 hours ago, Erin B said:

Lately I’ve been debating driver head size. I seem to do better with the smaller heads. I think 460cc is just too big. I’d love to hear your thoughts. 

The 460cc driver FORCES the player to position the ball more forward in the stance,
tee the ball up high,
and hit up at it, thus usually resulting in using a stronger lofted driver as well.

This non-regular golf swing seems to work for plenty of people since the 460cc driver is very clearly the standard today.  It has NEVER worked for me.

I use a 300cc driver with 13.5º of loft and a 43½" length.
That allows a more normal golf swing, hitting slightly down at the ball.

That's  if I have wide open spaces into which to drive the ball.
If there's any question, I go to my 20º driving iron,
hit an ugly line drive up the middle,
and at least assure myself of a playable second shot.

[Erin B]

2 minutes ago, RetiredBoomer said:

The 460cc driver FORCES the player to position the ball more forward in the stance,
tee the ball up high,
and hit up at it, thus usually resulting in using a stronger lofted driver as well.

This non-regular golf swing seems to work for plenty of people since the 460cc driver is very clearly the standard today.  It has NEVER worked for me.

I use a 300cc driver with 13.5º of loft and a 43½" length.
That allows a more normal golf swing, hitting slightly down at the ball.

That's  if I have wide open spaces into which to drive the ball.
If there's any question, I go to my 20º driving iron,
hit an ugly line drive up the middle,
and at least assure myself of a playable second shot.

I think the mini is about that size and length from TaylorMade.

[RetiredBoomer]

Just now, Erin B said:

I think the mini is about that size and length from TaylorMade.

BRNR.   That's what I'm playing. 

[Hook DeLoft]

It depends on how small.  I'm attaching a video of Mark Brooks hitting a Callaway Big Bertha that he played in the '90's vs. the new Ping 10k driver.  The interesting thing to me is how the modern driver and ball are made for each other.  The modern ball doesn't spin nearly enough to maximize the results with the Big Bertha.  If the smaller headed driver you're using puts enough spin on the ball then go for it.  I hit a partner's TM BRNR a couple of times and loved it.  However, compared to the drivers I started playing with, it is still large.

 

[RetiredBoomer]

4 minutes ago, Hook DeLoft said:

 I hit a partner's TM BRNR a couple of times and loved it.  However, compared to the drivers I started playing with, it is still large.

 

I play a TM BRNR now, and you're certainly right.

Compared to my first TM driver, an "Original One" 12°, 
300cc looks massive.

The "Original One" was in fact smaller than the wooden driver it replaced.

 

[cnosil]

1 hour ago, RetiredBoomer said:

The 460cc driver FORCES the player to position the ball more forward in the stance,
tee the ball up high,
and hit up at it, thus usually resulting in using a stronger lofted driver as well.

Why does it “force” you? You can tee it down and hit down on the ball and play more middle of stance.  

[Erin B]

I love the BRNR!

[RetiredBoomer]

34 minutes ago, cnosil said:

Why does it “force” you? You can tee it down and hit down on the ball and play more middle of stance.  

I suppose "force" could be the wrong word, cnosil,
but for me personally, I find it unwieldy.

300cc is a comfortable looking size for me. 
I'm sure that they'll keep making the bigger ones for those who like them,
but when they come out with one for me,
I do well to jump on it.

[Iamsecond116]

I love the look and feel of the slightly smaller drivers, typically low spin models, but the forgiving nature of 460cc is too much to pass up imo. 
 

What do you use your mini driver for? Total replacement of “regular” driver?

[RetiredBoomer]

19 minutes ago, Iamsecond116 said:

I love the look and feel of the slightly smaller drivers, typically low spin models, but the forgiving nature of 460cc is too much to pass up imo. 
 

What do you use your mini driver for? Total replacement of “regular” driver?

I don't carry a 460cc driver.  

I carry a new BRNR and a driving iron that share the load, depending on what I'm looking at for a landing area.

I love the driving iron because it has a macho "1" on the sole.
Don't believe it. 
It's cut a tad short, and it's bent a tad weak, but there's that "1" for all to see! 
Never mind that the next iron, which doesn't exactly match, says either "5" or "6!"

The 460cc is very clearly the standard among most players, but I could never get comfortable with it.  I like to tee low and hit down as with a regular golf shot.