Great video as always. It did seem like you had a predetermined bias from the get go towards the Taylormade. Both clubs suit a purpose and can be very useful if you use them as they are designed to be used. Anything to keep the ball playable and keep players from spending too much time in the woods from errant tee shots is always a welcomed thing.
Have the TM MD left hand 11.5 turned to 13.5 in the bag as my 3 wood replacement old SIM Ti (which I loved and didn’t think would ever leave my bag). This TM MD is a game changer. Super long, forgiving and actually can hit it better off the turf than my old 3 wood. BUY ONE!!!
I think they might be a hair bigger in the head than fairway woods, so that, along with all the modern driver tech for forgiveness, makes it a little better than a typical 2W, but yes, it seems like it's just that, a slightly bigger and modern 2W.
I have a better option than a mini-driver. Picked up a Cleveland Haywood 17 degree 3+. It can be long off the tee, be a long hybrid and is way better than a 3 or 4 fairway and any mini-driver. It won’t be as long as a mini-driver but it is plenty for long par 4’s and any par 5 you don’t build up a big dream about hitting in two. Controllable left to right, powerful club and it can honestly open up your bag when you have a club than you can tee off with and hit as a 220-240 hybrid or 3/5 wood. Just an amazing club all around.
I went the same way, initially because it is IMPOSSIBLE to get either of the mini drivers with an A flex light weight shaft (shame on the manufacturers) and I got the 3+ Hy-wood. Absolutely brilliant! I now also have the 4+, I use the 3+ off the tee and the 4+ from the fairway. Love them.
As long as it’s built right - adding more weight to the head and properly tipping the shaft. Most people don’t do either and just lop off 3” off the shaft.
I bought the mini Callaway. Dialed it down to 12.5. Love it! Use it all the time for both driving, and, fairway shots, it's a breeze to use. The 3 metal is in the closet now. I'm getting older so the yardage drop from the driver isn't much at all. The driver could be in the closet next.
I would like to try a mini driver. But I really have no reason to as I’m hitting driver really well. Maybe a 3w off the tee replacement? I don’t hit 3w off the deck unless it’s a 540+ par 5. Maybe I should just strength the lift on the 3w 🤷🏽♂️
I honestly think most amateurs will buy this to replace their drivers...most amateurs can't hit a 3 wood off the deck (consistently) so they will be worse trying to hit 1 of these off the deck. This will be for short par 4's or narrow fairways for most buyers and i would rather spend the money on a few driver lessons than these clubs. Plus my 3 wood is adjustable and i can knock it down to 13 degrees....would i hit these further than my 3 wood....no not much if i did so not for my bag as i am consistent with my driver as well
I think most people buying these will keep them at 13.5 I'd like to see someone on RU-vid test them both at 13.5 Hopefully James can test those for us. Cheers!
I think that's because the TSR2+ is about 190 cc which is much closer to the fairway wood category (QI10 Max 3 wood is 200 cc) than the Mini Driver category that's 300+ cc. Titleist does have a TSR 2 wood that's only used on tour and not available in retail that would be much more comparable to the Ai Smoke Ti 340 and BRNR.
They are just fairway woods. Which for past 2-3 years before these came out, the RU-vid “experts” were telling us to drop from our bags. What’s up with that?
I bought the TM mini copper 11.5 lifted to 12.25 and it’s a monster. Still get 300 and way more consistent than my driver. I’ll hit it into the wind off the deck no tee and it’s a bullet
James The Callaway is actually 10% bigger than the TaylorMade (340cc vs 304cc) with I think gives more confidence off a tee shot but less on a fairway shot. Callaway also has the same AI face as its larger driver which should make it more forgiving than the TM version. Callaway state that its dispersion is better than its mini driver competitor (obviously the TM) which you also seem to have seen indoors.
The Callaway has it's AI face, but the TM has that brand's twist face, so face vs fave is probably a tie. It is a little bigger, though, so might be more forgiving off the tee. My take (without having had an opportunity to hit the Callaway) is that the Callaway is more driver replacement and the TM is a bit driver and a bit fairway.
I have been using a Taylor mini driver since they first came out. It’s still in my bag use it on short par fours and on par fives. Great for keeping it straight.
I bought the Callaway. Been struggling with the shaft length of modern drivers for ages. This gives me confidence to stand on the tee and spank it! Goes an easy 230-240 and in play. You can play any course doing that. My scores are coming down, which is what we all want.
I’d def go Callaway, the loft sleeve is way smarter, hues it only goes down 1° but you can get an align grip and it stays in the same place (good work cogs!) and you can change the lie angle as well, Taylor made only goes up and down in loft - no lie angle change and it turns the shaft - no good if you like an align grip 🙈
Hey James, I have not seen the Cali mini driver, but could you use a left handed clubs collar to give you 2.deg down and 1.5 deg up on a right hand club.? Just thinking out of the box! Thanks for all you do. Pat USA Southern California 👍🇺🇸
I bought the TM BRNR and it serves as a weapon when teeing off. It also works well on the fairway when there is a lot of space. I also got the AI Smoke Triple Diamond Max driver. It would be convenient if companies released all their new items simultaneously, allowing you to compare clubs and create a uniform set.
I play it as a driver in 11.5 because I am 5’9” and don’t like the 460cc driver heads and 45” shafts. Perfect driver for weekend golfers. TM is very low spinning so lofting up is ideal and distance is absolutely fine
"One of the tightest driving holes..." ..any course in NE Pennsylvania has at least 3 holes that make that par 4 look like an airport runway lol And that's why I'm buying a mini driver - plus I quit using tees to stay more consistent anyway
I just don't understand the point. I hit driver and 3 wood just fine, play on a "normal" length course, and don't see the point of filling a gap between driver and 3 wood, or replacing my 3 wood
I’ve been using a TM Mini Driver for 2 yrs now and absolutely love the consistency and distance. I’m usually the longest drive and i get asked all the time, “what are you using?”
I would have loved to be able to hit these and test side by side, but the TMs are nearly out of stock before the Callaway has hit the stores. What's worse is that there are rumors that Titleist and maybe PXG are also coming out with mini drivers at some point and, when they do, I'm sure both the TM and Callaway will be sold out. With either of these clubs, it seems a lower tee is the way to go, between fairway and driver height, as they are between those two clubs.
Surprised you didn’t test them with both set to the same loft. Least in the studio to see differences (if any). On course I suppose you’d set them up for how you’d want them to play on that particular day.
@@MrMatthew262 I was fit into the 11.5° model. The Titleist TSR2 was longer, but the dispersion on the Mini was only 19 yards. I hit it well off the deck, so I replaced my regular 3 wood with the 13.5° and lofted it up a little.
Taylormade should over better shafts. The one I have is stiff but still too soft my balls stays out to the right all the time. Needs a $600 upgrade to a ventus shaft
At age 65, my driver is just too long on shorter courses so hitting the mini driver instead at about 250-270 yards and 13.5*. I don’t bother with a 3 w anymore.
I tested the Mini TM last year before getting the Paradym Triple 💎 at the PGA Superstore and it just didn’t feel right in my hand. They look nice but it depends on the golfer.
Taylormade all day I have a ping g430 10k driver and I am only 10 yards back from my driver but 90% off time straight down the middle my driver left and right 25% on fairway so going to sell driver just feel better hitting mini driver always have doubt and lack off confidence with driver another great video 👍
I use last year's Taylormade turned up to 15*. I am a slow swinger so 3 woods don't work for me. This gives me 3 wood like performance off the tee and off the fairway and the speed slot makes even the worm burners go over 100 yrds. Perfect for my high handicap, old man swing!
Both are pointless, 2 woods are not required with modern equipment. The various incarnations of max drivers are easy to hit, 3 woods come in so many lofts and are easier off the deck, so leaves the 2 wood irrelevant
