Minnie Driver was great in Grosse Pointe Blank

@nataliedeyton6829

Ай бұрын

Minnie driver - mini driver the first time I heard that I 😂also

I played high school and college golf in the 1980s. Balata, persimmon, etc. I’m now 61 and play off a 4 index recreationally and do local senior am and club events. I had a long break from the game of 20 years and when I came back I was shocked at how big and long the drivers were. I adapted and hit my Epic speed ok but visually I don’t like and also the big drivers are all fade bias and it is hard to turn them over. I still swing around 102 meaning I drive the ball about 265 and hit my 4 wood about 235. I am not accurate or confident with the driver tho. The TM Mini has been a godsend. It looks more like a proper club to my old eyes and I hit it straighter and only 5-10 yards shorter than my Driver. I play my mini at 44” so .25 over and moved the loft to 10.75. So for me I basically replaced my driver with it. I hit it in the center of the face way more often. 300cc is perfect. (For me)

It's just a fancy term for 2 Wood. Which was common in the Persimmon era

Upcoming mygolfspy test - distance / accuracy stats with normal length driver vs shorter shafted driver (let's say 1.5" shorter) vs mini drivers. How many golfers would benefit from a shorter shafted driver or swapping out driver for a mini? I grew up playing a 3 wood instead of a driver so i'm uncomfortable without a 3 wood in my bag. The big change for me was adding a 21* Callaway Apex UW a few years ago. Essentially a 7 wood but more versatile due to the shorter shaft and head design. What would I like to see for a US Open finish? A Scottie Scheffler / Bryson Dechambeau Sunday final pairing with Rory / Tommy and Xander / Collin in the groups just ahead.

@GolfSpyC

Ай бұрын

Love the test idea!

Callaway X2 Hot pro 2 deep FW. 12.5 loft Smoke rdx red 7-x. Hit it better than any Mini I've tested.

The mini driver for me is not only more accurate off the tee but is a multi-purpose tool. It has allowed me to carry an extra club in the bag to cover a certain gap when I take the full size driver out of the bag. My setup is Mini Driver to 16.5* 4W to 20* 5w or sometime hybrid. The mini that I have is the Taylormade 300 black and I am amzazed at how well I hit it off the deck. Not high but I can control it. Great for holes where the front of the green is somewhat open and you can run something up.

Component industry best for almost 10 years running is the Acer XV Thriver Mini: 13°, small adjustable weight screw, 230cc volume, on the shallow side of face height, titanium. Chef's kiss.

I have the 13.5 burner cranked up to 15 degrees. Great replacement for 3 wood. Easy to hit off deck when needed and perfect for tight shots. Titleist has developed a Mini Driver. Max Homa had it in play 2 tournaments now.

I play the newer TM Mini as a 3 wood replacement. I use to hit 3 wood off the tee on most tee shots, playing the driver 1-4 times a round depending on the course. So pulled the driver and the 3 wood and now bag the TM Mini and TM QI tour 5 wood turned down to 16.5 so more like a 4 wood. I am more confident hitting the 4/5 wood off the deck then the 3 wood and my fairway’s hit and GIR’s are up 10-15% per round of golf. For me that’s a big difference!

How about a test,where you put a 44.5” shaft in the Callaway Minnie. Swing weight it to the same specs.Would the forgiveness be better than a regular driver? Would the distance be better ?

My home course has OB on almost every tee shot so I use a BRNR mini driver for any hole under 400 yards. It's surprisingly easy to hit off the deck too, if it wasn't I wouldn't have it in the bag

A lot of drivers have triple weight ports these days. I would cut down a 12 degree, load up the eBay weights to D9 or E1 or whatever and it would be three times as forgiving as any mini driver at half the cost.

My mini driver is a direct replacement for driver. My bad tee shots with mini are less punishing than a bad shot with my normal driver. Hardly any shorter of the tee and still carry a three and five wood.

If this goes almost as far as my driver, but hits more fairways, then, yeah, I’m in.

Scott faucett does a good job explaining why he likes the mini driver. One reason is that most tour pro’s have a power fade shot for driver and that’s the only shape they should do just one shot shape. At Augusta only time 3 wood is used is on the dog leg left where a mini driver is the better club to play bc it’s easier to draw.

@Sirbobbles

Ай бұрын

Exactly! This is the actual reason… 100%

@Kevin-qy9wf

Ай бұрын

That is the only reason for having a mini driver personally

I agree on the driver head with a much shorter shaft. I have the Callaway Mini only played with it once but really like it for short Par4s and tighter holes. Really is a fairway finder. I never used my 3 wood except for off the tee. I am not a on in 2 guy. I can but not often. For me as a 14 handicap, fairway is key to score. I like it so far.

Fairway metals have been built way too long for way too long (avg. playing length off the rack, and is almost never deviated from, is 43") so something I did for myself that a lot of my clients really love is installing steel shafts in them and build a 3-wood, for example, to only about 41-41.5". It's a great long iron replacement in both performance and feel.

I play the new TM BRNR - it's a weapon. Fantastic off the tee for accuracy and distance. I would recommend everyone try one. And i can hit it well off the deck on par 5s with a decent size fairway. I then play a 5 wood and hybrid.

I like the idea of a mini driver to replace a hot 3 wood as a second tee club. If I can get my hands on one I’ll try it

I think what gets lost here is that there is a market, albeit very small, but there is a market for a high lofted driver for steep swings that hit down on the ball. I am in this category after a recent swing change, and my miss is a hook. I can’t play a 460CC head as the most loft available is 12 degrees as I need 13.5 without closing the face. To me, 460 CC drivers are missing the point in their game improvement models by not offering a 13.5 degree driver for people who need the loft without closing the face.

I’ve played a mini since the 300. I wish everyone would make a 270/300/330 head but with 3 weight ports basically like the cobra dark speed LS (cobra if your listening do that) with lots of weight options to adjust different length shafts and range from 9-14* if that happened I would possibly never even buy a 460 head again. More forward cg makes shaping so much easier and potentially so much more versatile.

I love my burner mini. I’m way more consistent with it, so I straight up sold my driver. The only other driver I still have now is my old 580xd from like 2003.

I think at this point, the Mini-Driver is a proven commodity. It isn’t for everybody. But, there are a bunch of established use cases when combined, is enough of a market. For the better player, it’s a second tee club for another shot shape (ex. Driver for fade, Mini for Draws). For the player who struggles with hitting up on Driver, it’s an option to get longer more consistently off the tee than 3 wood. For the player who hits it super long, it’s an option for shorter courses. For the minimalist, it’s an option to serve both Driver and 3 Wood with 1 club.

Is there any information out there on swing speeds for mini drivers as far as below a certain speed I think they would benefit people?

@GolfSpyC

Ай бұрын

Great question! - Yes and no....but stick with me. In general, the less you use your 3-wood off the fairway (let's say you're 75/25), the more benefit you're likely to see from a mini-driver. That said, faster players tend to use the 3-wood less off the fairway than slower-speed players - This is why Tony Finau carried two drivers at The Masters this year. If you're a 90/10 player (90% of the time you hit your 3-wood it's off the tee), then the thinking is you might as well get the added benefits of more forgiveness with a mini-driver... All that said, slower players will tend to hit fairway woods more often as second shots into par 4s or par 5s...So, if you're a faster player who hits fairway wood more than 2/3 of the time off the tee, I'd strongly consider it.

I love my 3 wood (Ping G430 Max), but I need more wedges at my club. I turned it up to 16.5 degrees so I have 3wood shaft length but 4 wood loft. I’ve really never had much trouble hitting fairway woods off the deck, except for a 7 wood. Finally I own about 12 pairs of shoes and only 2 are Boas. IMO lace shoes are far superior. To each their own.

Loooooong time subscriber here. Maybe even day 1 … I have to agree with Tony the triple boa is kinda gawdy looking But the concept I like. I’d wear them ( for 6am solo rounds 😂) As for the mini driver, I don’t know. I can choke up on my driver or Deloft my five wood probably. I’d rather have an extra wedge in the bag. Great show as always. My only gripe…. It’s not often nor long enough! But thanks just the same.

And just like that, the Callaway Ai Smoke Mini is not available. That was crazy fast. Bummed I missed out on the preorder. EDIT: they reopen the preorder a couple hours later. 🎉

Ping Rapture 3-wood for the win!Great club, reliably 225 yrs shot for those holes you can’t hit driver. Had to buy mine off eBay cause it’s not in production any more.

I quit hitting a driver, sort of? I have a 14 handicap. Most of my problems were with the driver. I found an old titanium Ping G2 driver, 400cc, and 12 degrees. I reshafted it with a senior shaft. I made the shaft 42 inches. This is a simple club to plink down the fairway. My previous 460cc, 10 degree, 46 inch driver was not getting me anywhere I wanted to be (rough, trees, water etc). I found it USELESS. Now, I am hitting an easy 230 yard distance (with roll out). I will take that. I have a 5W, 7W, 9W, and they work fine for me. My game these days is plink it into the short grass, chip and putt. My opinion is that more people using a shorter driver might benefit via greater accuracy and reduced dispersion. Many of my golfing group of old guys don't carry a driver at all. They are using the 5W or 7W on the tee. Driver is the hardest club in the bag to hit for most people!

play w 13 clubs and need a tee only club for short 4s/lay ups/dog legs but need more loft, why dont they offer 14-16*? (have my shallow g425 5wood for off deck)

I was using a sldr mini driver years ago… now everybody wants one 😂

Love my triple diamond 3W

Mini driver as driver replacement is purely psychological for me. I can swing it as hard as I can and still hit the center of the face. Driver, every shot is somewhere different.....

Forget mini driver , why not just two drivers full stop. I've tried using one of these mini drivers off the deck and as a 7 handicapper I might as well have used a shovel it was that hard to hit. I've got a Epic LS driver set up as for a fade and the a shorter Mavrik Max set for a draw. Best of both.

@GolfSpyC

Ай бұрын

If you never use a 3-wood off the turf, then I see a lot of merit in the two driver approach

U.S. Open: 1. Why no mention of Aberg, gents: his numbers and the seasoned, unflappable poise?!; 2. Dean Burmester flying under the radar, along with Ryan Fox, Matt Fitzpatrick, Mark Hubbard & Lucas Glover IMHO

the boa shoes look better than the malbon shirt!

Supposedly the Taylormade Tour 10k 3 wood is the solution to the mini driver/3 wood dilemma.

I think the mini driver would give us guys that are getting older more club head speed than a 460cc

Bryson / Max / Viktor is a great grouping

Regarding US Open, remember the score is not really an indication of how tough the course is, or how much of a challenge it is.

@GolfSpyC

Ай бұрын

Isn't that kinda the entire point of keeping score?

@craigvn1

Ай бұрын

Score doesn't really indicate challenge. Image a course that was 15000 yds long, but no rough, flat greens. Scores would be high, but challenge low.

@GolfSpyC

Ай бұрын

@@craigvn1 Seems like an odd, if not extreme, example. Tougher course, more challenging = higher scores. Valhalla? Lower scores. Pinehurst? Higher scores. Scores travel with difficulty/challenge. It's just kinda how the calculus works.

Uh…Scottie is ranked #1 and picked to win every time he tees it up. No…he’s not underrated.

Mini driver is easier to hit off the fairway than a 3 wood

@ILoveGreatThings

Ай бұрын

I would think driver

@armike234

Ай бұрын

@ILoveGreatThings you would think. All my buddies like it off the deck and say it's easier than a 3 wood. Go figure. I thought the same until I got mine. I think it is spin. I get 4500 spin with the mini and the 3 wood is 3200.

its Equally Unfair so its chill

13:43 John Barba FTW!! = The Most Correct Comment.

Players are already claiming the greens are gone.

I've never been a fan of deep faced clubs in general. Mini drivers are just don't make sense for me as a utility club. If I wanted a smaller CC driver esque club, I'd get a 15yr old driver around the same size at a fraction of the price

Mini, no thanks. Need the length of the tee. Not hitting a mini off the deck.

You guys got flack cause DJ outperformed Wyndham Clark the last few majors. So yeah it's a little silly to act like DJ just will NEVER do anything when he's outperforming the defending US Open Champion.

@GolfSpyC

Ай бұрын

And yet DJ is +4 after round 1 and barely inside the top 100....he'll need something special to play the weekend. My $$ is on another trunk slam.

@GolfSpyC

Ай бұрын

And there ya have it. MC again.

@RyanBellGolf

Ай бұрын

@@GolfSpyC Wild that you think that proves your point in the least. I liked you guys a lot more when you weren't arrogant.

@RyanBellGolf

Ай бұрын

@@GolfSpyC Scheffler made it on the cut. Proves nothing. Almost like you have to take into consideration more than one tournament. Which is what I did in my OP. Which you got the opportunity to wait it out and respond ONLY if things went at all your way. Hilarious.

@GolfSpyC

Ай бұрын

@@RyanBellGolf DJ is proving my point at every opportunity. I wish he were in better form, but likely for a variety of reasons it appears his best competitive golfing days are behind him....and most importantly it kinda seems like he's okay with that.

The Honda civic comparison is easily EASILY the worst take I’ve heard this year. If you’re comparing him to a car it’s Rolls Royce, put some respect on that man’s name lol. They compare him to a Honda civic then say he’s their top pick to win the US Open…

@GolfSpyC

Ай бұрын

Depends what your criteria are. He's not flashy (I mean he drove a decade-old Suburban with 175K miles on it while winning the 2022 Masters) and in terms of aesthetics, his swing isn't going to conjure up images of Adam Scott or Tiger. Clearly, it's remarkably efficient, powerful when it needs to be and you never feel bad about owning one...particularly if you care about long-term value. I actually kinda like the analogy.

@dandinii

Ай бұрын

@@GolfSpyC ok, so I understand what you’re saying. It’s still a bad take. Because he drove an old suburban he’s not flashy? Does he play golf out of his car? His feet barely make contact with the earth when he stripes drives down the middle of every fairway and they quite possibly don’t even touch the earth when he walks down the middle. When he shows up everyone is playing for second, and they openly admit it lol. If that’s not flash then idk what is. Also, the RR Cullinan isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing car, but I bet if it pulls up to a car show it’ll have everyone stop by for a look.

@darylkariniemi1627

Ай бұрын

I agree with golf spy on this one. It was a good analogy I thought!

@lawbinson

Ай бұрын

Idk, makes sense to me given the criteria.

Still such clowns on the rollback issue. 🤡🤡🤡

Spoiler, scheffler wins the travelers championship