Mini Driver Vs Standard Driver

[harpo_72]

I always used a strong 3 wood and the driver was very rarely used. The smaller head of the 3 wood was better to manipulate… the thing is if you can resolve an issue by just setting up for the opposite shape I found I could get around. So yes the mini drivers appeal but the lofts are too high .. I love the TM stuff because they are fun but other stuff I am only looking from a reduced head perspective

 

[Beezerk]

For me it’s a driver replacement, a 3 wood doesn’t even come into the equation

 

[IanM]

Why would I not just jack up the loft of my driver to that of the mini?
Smaller head more versatile?

 

[Lord Tyrion]

For me it’s a driver replacement, a 3 wood doesn’t even come into the equation

People seem fixated on hitting it off the deck, I don't get that. As you say it's a driver replacement not a 3 wood alternative.

 

[Voyager EMH]

The last driver I had that I could hit from the fairway (never tried it off any deck) was a Taylormade R360.
I imagine that would qualify as a mini driver today.

Are mini drivers merely retro drivers?

 

[harpo_72]

I don’t see the benefit of playing a driver off the fairway.. it’s pretty desperate stuff. Why not just take 2 shots and be done.

 

[Backache]

I don’t see the benefit of playing a driver off the fairway.. it’s pretty desperate stuff. Why not just take 2 shots and be done.

For those who have the talent it can save a shot.
I don't but some do.
It's a bit like saying why play over a bunker when you can go round it in two.

 

[Springveldt]

Didnt titliest (other brands I'm sure do aswell) do a 3 plus wood that was very low loft last year? Which is pretty much same thing?

Yes, my Callaway Rogue ST 3 wood is only 13.5 degrees. I got it as I wanted to keep the 3 wood low and running when hitting into the wind.

I’ve also got an extra stiff shaft in it, can barely get it above 60 feet, so does the job I want. I’ve started hitting it off the tee on a few holes as well as driver was bringing some trouble into play.

 

[PJ87]

Yes, my Callaway Rogue ST 3 wood is only 13.5 degrees. I got it as I wanted to keep the 3 wood low and running when hitting into the wind.

I’ve also got an extra stiff shaft in it, can barely get it above 60 feet, so does the job I want. I’ve started hitting it off the tee on a few holes as well as driver was bringing some trouble into play.

That's definitely something I need to work on off the tee is the 4 wood I have .. there is a couple of times I think it could come in handy

 

[Springveldt]

That's definitely something I need to work on off the tee is the 4 wood I have .. there is a couple of times I think it could come in handy

It’s a confidence thing for me, a miss hit driver still goes a decent way, a miss hit 3 wood is basically a shot thrown away.

There is another hole I should be hitting it at but you need to make sure you carry it 190 to make the fairway and I’ve duffed a couple of shots with the 3 wood and 3 hybrid at that hole and lost all confidence so still hit driver even although it brings trouble into play as it can leave an impossible approach at times.

 

[Burnsey]

I've only recently started to 'bond' with my woods.

I tried a mini driver, but only off the tee and had mixed results, but after a fitting my driver is my best friend now at 12 degrees and I still hit a low stinger as a standard shot, which I really don't mind and it works for me every time. The mini driver has been retired.

I live by the principle I will only carry a wood if I can hit it off the deck too, so my next club is 18 degrees and it works well off both the tee and the deck. I also have a 23 degree fairway, which filled a gap, useful for longish par 3's and easy off the deck too, but between the 4 and 5 hybrids, there's too many clubs doing virtually the same job and I'm about to order a 15 degree fairway to fill the gap from driver.

Love experimenting!

 

[PJ87]

It’s a confidence thing for me, a miss hit driver still goes a decent way, a miss hit 3 wood is basically a shot thrown away.

There is another hole I should be hitting it at but you need to make sure you carry it 190 to make the fairway and I’ve duffed a couple of shots with the 3 wood and 3 hybrid at that hole and lost all confidence so still hit driver even although it brings trouble into play as it can leave an impossible approach at times.

I was on the verge of changing my 4 wood, until I had a fitting booked in and then suddenly it started behaving, or more accurately I started to swing it properly and get good connection

 

[garyinderry]

With mini drivers you have to think about driver dispersion as being cone shaped. The longer you hit it the wider it will be.

The mini driver can bring in this dispersion a touch but also give up a little length.

This isn't an issue for pros on tight tracks. Some dropped driver for the mini at the RBC.

No matter how long they make courses you very rarely see pros taking on par 5s with a 3 wood anymore. Obviously there's the odd exception. It's a real shame. That shot is still very much a part of the amateur game.
The mini off the ground will be much more rare than using a mini off the tee in the pro game.

 

[harpo_72]

What kind of distance are you thinking a par 5 is in range ? If there hole was flat and it was standard conditions.. no miraculous roll outs etc .. I would be looking at 480 yards as a possible 2 shotter.. unless of course the green is narrow and small with a whole load of nastiness dotted around it (which most par 5s should be from 450 to 520 etc..)
I just think a MD off the fairway would be a bit wayward especially if you cannot hit a super forgiving driver off a tee ..

 

[nickjdavis]

I just think a MD off the fairway would be a bit wayward especially if you cannot hit a super forgiving driver off a tee ..

This.

The modern mini-driver with its large head and relatively deep face is simply not suitable for the vast majority of club golfers to hit off the deck. Unless you are skilled enough to find the meat of the face consistently it is a waste of time trying for most golfers.

Manufacturers are in my opinion, missing a trick by making the mini-drivers literally just that...shrunken versions of 460cc clubs. Make them oversized 3 woods at around 220-250cc with a shallower face and they retain their accuracy off the tee due to the loft and can be teed higher or lower as desired. But the club would also have the added versatility of being a club that is much easier to hit off the ground (of course if you struggle with a standard 3 wood off the ground then a smaller mini driver still wont be a suitable club for you) and the shallower smaller clubface would bring a lot of versatility to a lot of golfers up to the high single figure handicap range (maybe even low teens) who sometimes would like a slightly more accurate option off the tee, but would also like something that they can pick off the turf and hit low shots with a lot of roll out.

Such a club would not necessarily then be a 3-wood alternative/replacement, it would complement the 3-wood, as well as complementing the driver.

 

[Imurg]

I remember one of Iona's videos.
She was playing with Georgia Hall, possibly on the Old Course...
On one hole Iona hit a 3 wood and Georgia hit driver off the deck.
Iona tried one and managed to get past her 3 wood...by inches....
I think, for the majority of amateurs a decent, forgiving driver followed by a 4 or 5 wood should cover pretty much everything from the tee

 

[Oddsocks]

I don’t get the obsession with wanting to hit it off the deck, but there’s lots in golf that makes no sense to me.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I don’t get the obsession with wanting to hit it off the deck, but there’s lots in golf that makes no sense to me.

Not just me then. It is a high risk, low return shot, How many actually even practice it off the ground before suddenly reaching for it on the course. I'd rather hit a 3 wood as I now I have a better chance of success. However sometimes you have to let the lie, not the distance left, dictate the shot ands o if I need a hybrid and a longer next then I'll do that and try to ensure it is on the short stuff

 

[harpo_72]

I remember one of Iona's videos.
She was playing with Georgia Hall, possibly on the Old Course...
On one hole Iona hit a 3 wood and Georgia hit driver off the deck.
Iona tried one and managed to get past her 3 wood...by inches....
I think, for the majority of amateurs a decent, forgiving driver followed by a 4 or 5 wood should cover pretty much everything from the tee

That’s my bag .. driver , 5wood or 7wood

 

[garyinderry]

What kind of distance are you thinking a par 5 is in range ? If there hole was flat and it was standard conditions.. no miraculous roll outs etc .. I would be looking at 480 yards as a possible 2 shotter.. unless of course the green is narrow and small with a whole load of nastiness dotted around it (which most par 5s should be from 450 to 520 etc..)
I just think a MD off the fairway would be a bit wayward especially if you cannot hit a super forgiving driver off a tee ..

We have two par 5s that play parallel to each other. 529 and 505 which is very much in range for lots of people. Obviously wind dependent and ground conditions play a part.

People hitting 3 wood to get it on to or near these is a common shot.

A 3 wood into a par 4 is also a common shot in our game. A very very rare occurrence in the pro game.