Is this Mini a straight driver replacement?

[TBGumby12]

I use the Taylormade Mini 11.5 degree as my primary driver and also replaced my 3 wood with it. I still carry a Ping 425 driver and 2 hybrid as well.  With this setup I have no gaps in distance.  I use the driver on certain holes but normally the mini is enough.

[SteddyGolf]

I have no data to back up this assumption.  The mini driver being a smaller head can produce greater swing speed.  I watched a video of Rory hitting a mini driver and for a guy like that the middle of the head is no challenge. Off center hits is where the larger heads really make a difference.  

[IanCC]

Not a driver replacement but just an alternative tee shot club for me (I don’t carry any fairway woods). Chop and change - Irons go down to a 4 at 21* (‘22-‘24 year Forged Tec), 4/3/2 hybrids at 21*/19*/17* and then the 11.5* TM BRNR from 2023. So five clubs for three 200+ yard spots between 5i and driver that’s usually 4 hybrid, 3 hybrid, mini currently. 
 

Home course has danger left, right and back on all par 5s that aren’t particularly wide to start with, whether it be water, OB, trees and/or thick US Open level rough so unless you hit 3w with laser accuracy it’s a wasted spot so mini just becomes a big 3w for a guider off the tee in the low 150’s ball speed. 
 

I used to carry an Epic Flash 3+ fairway which was an absolute rocket launcher and recommended if you can find one and you’re a 3w player over splashing out on a mini. I think I played it neutral and standard 13.5* loft in the sleeve. Just had a spell of inconsistency with it and traded it away like we do. 
 

I've zero evidence but from the comments I’ve seen the 13.5* mini seems to have been the one people have opted for over the 11.5*. Is that the case? 

[Pfaugh]

I’ve been using a mini driver rather than a regular driver for a few years now, only off the tee. I’m currently using the BRNR 11.5 which is my second TaylorMade and I’m hitting 67% fairways, average carry of 243 yards, and when I do miss, it’s only by a few feet, not into the next fairway or into the trees. I’ve never hit driver consistently well and I’m 62 yrs old, a 13 handicap and play 3 to 4 times a week with a 100 mph swing speed. I hit 3 wood well off the deck, about 225, so for me it works. 

Edited July 8 by Pfaugh

[Josh Parker]

2 hours ago, SteddyGolf said:

I have no data to back up this assumption.  The mini driver being a smaller head can produce greater swing speed.  I watched a video of Rory hitting a mini driver and for a guy like that the middle of the head is no challenge. Off center hits is where the larger heads really make a difference.  

It is a heavier head and shorter shaft length. The speed is about 5mph slower than my driver speed.  I do however hit it more consistent and in the center.  Prob mental as it's a smaller miss so I concentrate more.  Haha. 

2 hours ago, IanCC said:

Not a driver replacement but just an alternative tee shot club for me (I don’t carry any fairway woods). Chop and change - Irons go down to a 4 at 21* (‘22-‘24 year Forged Tec), 4/3/2 hybrids at 21*/19*/17* and then the 11.5* TM BRNR from 2023. So five clubs for three 200+ yard spots between 5i and driver that’s usually 4 hybrid, 3 hybrid, mini currently. 
 

Home course has danger left, right and back on all par 5s that aren’t particularly wide to start with, whether it be water, OB, trees and/or thick US Open level rough so unless you hit 3w with laser accuracy it’s a wasted spot so mini just becomes a big 3w for a guider off the tee in the low 150’s ball speed. 
 

I used to carry an Epic Flash 3+ fairway which was an absolute rocket launcher and recommended if you can find one and you’re a 3w player over splashing out on a mini. I think I played it neutral and standard 13.5* loft in the sleeve. Just had a spell of inconsistency with it and traded it away like we do. 
 

I've zero evidence but from the comments I’ve seen the 13.5* mini seems to have been the one people have opted for over the 11.5*. Is that the case? 

I have the Callaway 13.5 but that's the only option for lefty. I have gone back and forth on finding a used TM because it only comes in an 11.5 for lefties. 

[SteddyGolf]

10 minutes ago, Josh Parker said:

It is a heavier head and shorter shaft length. The speed is about 5mph slower than my driver speed.  I do however hit it more consistent and in the center.  Prob mental as it's a smaller miss so I concentrate more.  Haha. 

I have the Callaway 13.5 but that's the only option for lefty. I have gone back and forth on finding a used TM because it only comes in an 11.5 for lefties. 

Being a little lazy (I could research it) here but is it actually a heavier head or does it just "feel" heavier?  I get that the shaft is shorter but I don't understand how a 305 cc head weighs more than a 460cc head.  

Edited July 8 by SteddyGolf
fix error

[Josh Parker]

1 minute ago, SteddyGolf said:

Being a little lazy (I could research it) here but is it actually a heavier head or does it just "feel" heavier?  I get that the shaft is shorter but I don't understand how a 320 cc head weighs more than a 460cc head.  

It's heavier. It's 9 grams heavier than my tsr3 head. 

[SteddyGolf]

1 minute ago, Josh Parker said:

It's heavier. It's 9 grams heavier than my tsr3 head. 

Got it, thanks

[Erin B]

Looks like I’ll be adding review data soon!!! @zstokes can’t wait! @Josh Parker how was the weekend? 

[zstokes]

8 minutes ago, Erin B said:

Looks like I’ll be adding review data soon!!! @zstokes can’t wait! @Josh Parker how was the weekend? 

I'm heading to the UPS store in 30 minutes or so, you'll have a tracking number shortly after.

[Erin B]

34 minutes ago, zstokes said:

I'm heading to the UPS store in 30 minutes or so, you'll have a tracking number shortly after.

Looking forward!!!

[TheHollow11]

I use mine as a 3 wood. I have the 13.5 mini brnr and I hit it well of a tee and pretty well off the deck. It’s a fantastic club and probably the only one Im not looking at replacements to test

[Cls98]

Not sure exactly the point of a mini driver. the driver is a good club for me most of the time. Would it make sense to carry it AND a driver in order to have a club that goes far but might stay short of trouble on some holes? Does it really reduce dispersion that large of an amount to make it worth losing distance?

[Josh Parker]

35 minutes ago, Cls98 said:

Not sure exactly the point of a mini driver. the driver is a good club for me most of the time. Would it make sense to carry it AND a driver in order to have a club that goes far but might stay short of trouble on some holes? Does it really reduce dispersion that large of an amount to make it worth losing distance?

I think there are two kinds of people that benefit from mini drivers personally.

1. The pros who don't typically hit 3 wood off the ground and only use it off the tee to back off distance and gain accuracy.

2. Those of us that have struggled with driver but hit woods well.  

I have a mental block with driver but hit my 4w great and got the mini and have improved a ton on accuracy.  I don't lose any distance at the end of the day and probably gain distance on an overhead view.  I hit a consistent 250ish shot that is controlled and I have a great flight path.  The driver could go 215 or 300 depending on how I was swinging that day.

Of course you can hit the mini off the deck, but for me, I use it off the tee.

[Tim The tool man]

I use as a driver on tight fairways. I look at it as a 2 wood

[GolferXY]

I've only seen one of these in play and the guy using it was striping rising bombs off the tee and turf alike. Lots of spin, and lots of control in his hands. Not for me though.  I'll stick to my three wood and driver. 

[BigBurghy]

i've never been a callaway guy.  always felt they were too plastic-y, if that's a word.  cheap looking and feeling.  but then i had to lend my son my sim 3w for his school golf tryouts.  i needed something quick for a golf trip, expecting to get my sim back wheni returned.  bought a mavrik 3w.  i hit it so well.  i have to admit i was way wrong about callaway.  

that being said, the callaway mini looks like a great club.  love the looks.  i gotta believe, based on my experience with the mavrik, that this has got to be one solid club and would be well suited to me.  i'd buy it in an instant if i wasn't hitting my cobra so well.   i tried hard to like the mini brnr but when i hit it, i just wasn't comfortable with the shaft.  i am not a fan of the color either.  i'd go for the callaway without hesitation if the need arose, no doubt.  

[GolferXY]

On 6/25/2024 at 1:27 PM, Shrek74 said:

No packing in the box at all. NONE!

Did you order from a reputable site? Could it be a knock-off? I find it hard to believe they'd send that through customs without packaging it properly. Of course, of it went past the TSA folks they probably  treated it like the biggest box under the tree on Christmas morning.

[Shinnman]

I used to bag a mini 300 as my driver 11.5* dialed down to as low as I can get it.  Sometimes I wish I kept the thing. I hit that great.  However, I was chasing distance so I went to full size driver.  Not sure decision was right or wrong right now. 

[IanCC]

I’ll be interested to see how many players trial a mini driver at the Scottish Open this week ahead of who bags one at The Open the week after. I’d guess accuracy will be at a premium, avoiding the no fun fescue and pot bunkers off the tee. Then there’s the question of what do you hit off the tee back into the wind? Do you bag a 2 iron for that worm burner or go for a two driver set up with a mini (and your stock driver) that you can just hit rather than manufacturing something with the big stick? Sure, a lot of players will go with a change in bounce for their wedges, some maybe won’t change their bag set up at all, but we’ll see what guys do with the top end. Someone might even be brave enough to leave their driver on the truck again. 

[Erin B]

Game on!!! @zstokes thank you sir!!!

Hitting the range in the morning!!!

Edited July 12 by Erin B

[Josh Parker]

14 minutes ago, Erin B said:

Game on!!! @zstokes thank you sir!!!

Hitting the range in the morning!!!

Enjoy!  Still loving mine. 

[Erin B]

7 minutes ago, Josh Parker said:

Enjoy!  Still loving mine. 

[Erin B]

Hi spies, got to hit the mini at the range this morning before caddy duty. The shaft in it is a tad too long but I’m going to continue with it for the moment. It’s a Tensi black 1k TX and if I tee it up on my big toe it is straight as an arrow. I tried draws and fades and hit them both. It’s feeling like it’s longer than the TaylorMade mini. I have it set to draw +1 so it’s at 12 1/2 degrees. I like it there. I do have other shafts I will be trying and I may move the tensi to my paradym TD. Too early to tell but I’ll m liking the club….a lot!

[Josh Parker]

1 hour ago, Erin B said:

Hi spies, got to hit the mini at the range this morning before caddy duty. The shaft in it is a tad too long but I’m going to continue with it for the moment. It’s a Tensi black 1k TX and if I tee it up on my big toe it is straight as an arrow. I tried draws and fades and hit them both. It’s feeling like it’s longer than the TaylorMade mini. I have it set to draw +1 so it’s at 12 1/2 degrees. I like it there. I do have other shafts I will be trying and I may move the tensi to my paradym TD. Too early to tell but I’ll m liking the club….a lot!

Why do you say it's too long if you are hitting it well?  What length is it at?  The 43.75?  Somehow I have mine at my driver length and still loving it.  44.75

[Erin B]

1 hour ago, Josh Parker said:

Why do you say it's too long if you are hitting it well?  What length is it at?  The 43.75?  Somehow I have mine at my driver length and still loving it.  44.75

It’s the same length as my driver as well. I’ll have to remember to measure and post. It’s longer than the TM mini.

[Erin B]

10 minutes ago, Erin B said:

It’s the same length as my driver as well. I’ll have to remember to measure and post. It’s longer than the TM mini.

It’s 44.75

[Josh Parker]

31 minutes ago, Erin B said:

It’s 44.75

That's what mine is. I tee it slightly higher.

[Erin B]

1 hour ago, Josh Parker said:

That's what mine is. I tee it slightly higher.

Same

[Shrek74]

Mine's currently slightly over 44", shorter than driver, but a bit longer than the original shaft.

The BRNR is slightly under 44", about 1/4" shorter than the Ti.