May 8, 2025
EP 44: Quick Question, What Is a Mini Driver and Who Should Play One
Send us a text Episode Description: In this episode of The Golf Intervention, Eric and Rob dive into one of the hottest topics in gear right now: the new wave of minidrivers. What are they? Who are they for? And do you actually need one in your bag? We answer listener-submitted questions and break down the performance, design, and strategy behind minidrivers from Titleist, TaylorMade, and Callaway. Whether you're a competitive player, a weekend warrior, or just a gear junkie, this epis...
Episode Description:
In this episode of The Golf Intervention , Eric and Rob dive into one of the hottest topics in gear right now: the new wave of minidrivers . What are they? Who are they for? And do you actually need one in your bag? We answer listener-submitted questions and break down the performance, design, and strategy behind minidrivers from Titleist, TaylorMade, and Callaway.
Whether you're a competitive player, a weekend warrior, or just a gear junkie, this episode will help you understand if a minidriver can actually make a difference in your game—or if it's just hype.
In This Episode:
- 🛠 What exactly is a minidriver?
- 📏 How it compares to your 3-wood and driver
- 🎯 Who benefits most from using one
- 🧠 How it fits into modern scoring strategy
- 🧪 The data and testing we’ve seen so far
WEBVTT
00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:06.089
On today's quick question episode, we take on this question.
00:00:06.299 --> 00:00:08.730
Eric, what's the deal with the mini driver?
00:00:09.599 --> 00:00:10.859
Well, that's a good question.
00:00:11.369 --> 00:00:16.440
The mini driver seems to be the latest trend in equipment.
00:00:16.949 --> 00:00:25.379
So I say the mini drivers really bringing back an old, you know, um, piece of equipment that that was around before.
00:00:25.379 --> 00:00:29.039
It's not a brand new thing, but I think that the data.
00:00:30.449 --> 00:00:54.539
That we're seeing from players, especially longer hitters, is sort of lending to the fact that driver, at times we know the dispersion is too wide to hit on certain holes and so then players are going, okay, if I can't hit driver,'cause it won't fit in between some width that they like, a lot of times it's 50 or 60 yards between issues, um, out of bounds or loss balls or hazards or whatever.
00:00:55.049 --> 00:00:55.560
So.
00:00:55.935 --> 00:00:57.284
What these longer players are doing.
00:00:57.284 --> 00:01:06.075
Let's say I hit a, a club that, that carries 300 yards and I got this width and dispersion, I come onto a hole and it's shorter than that.
00:01:06.375 --> 00:01:13.215
Um, the problem is if they go fairway wood, the fairway wood goes shorter, but it's actually not more accurate.
00:01:13.215 --> 00:01:14.980
And the problem with the fairway wood up the t.
00:01:15.870 --> 00:01:21.900
Is that the head is so small, it tends to be unforgiving less, much less forgiving, we'll say, than the driver.
00:01:22.019 --> 00:01:24.450
And so that dispersion kind of widens out.
00:01:24.450 --> 00:01:27.390
So it's not like it's going straighter, it's just going shorter.
00:01:27.959 --> 00:01:41.819
So those players instinctively have gone like to a utility club, like a utility, three iron or two iron, a four iron, and then they might be hitting that club, 250 yards, maybe even a hybrid, um, to gain some.
00:01:42.614 --> 00:01:46.995
You know, consistency in dispersion, but they're giving up so much distance.
00:01:46.995 --> 00:01:48.165
So what is mini driver?
00:01:48.165 --> 00:01:53.144
Mini driver is essentially like combining the forgiveness of a driver.
00:01:53.144 --> 00:02:00.944
So the head is a little bit smaller than a driver with the length of a shaft of a, of a fairway would, so you, you can hit it a little bit more in the middle of the face and.
00:02:02.055 --> 00:02:08.865
Then you can, you know, just hit a club that's a little shorter than the driver, but still have almost the same amount of forgiveness and accuracy.
00:02:08.865 --> 00:02:14.085
Now, the tailor made in Callaway mini drivers play like a driver.
00:02:14.085 --> 00:02:19.664
They're just a little bit smaller and they play a lot like a driver faces hot, big head.
00:02:19.664 --> 00:02:24.794
And I don't really think most players are gonna be able to hit those clubs off the fairway.
00:02:25.125 --> 00:02:27.014
Pretty much all of'em, I think are 13 degrees.
00:02:27.014 --> 00:02:28.245
Mine might be 12 and a half.
00:02:28.275 --> 00:02:28.664
Um.
00:02:29.175 --> 00:02:35.414
Definitely an adjustable Zel on the Callaway and the, and the, and the talus, which is 13 degrees.
00:02:35.895 --> 00:02:40.754
So the Talus GT Mini is.
00:02:41.655 --> 00:02:43.275
Really usable off the fairway.
00:02:43.275 --> 00:02:51.794
It's a slightly smaller head, but what I've seen, and this is the one that every single player that I fit has gotten the Titleist, is it's a, it's a shorter shaft.
00:02:51.794 --> 00:02:55.544
Obviously the head is a little bit smaller and is absolutely usable off the fairway.
00:02:55.544 --> 00:03:04.814
So the players are giving up, this is what I'm seeing, you know, if they were hitting three 10 with their driver, they're hitting two 80 with the mini driver, 2 75 with the mini driver.
00:03:04.905 --> 00:03:10.125
And that's really been helpful, um, because they hit it in a much tighter dispersion, maybe call it.
00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:18.129
40 yards width right to left as opposed to maybe 60 or 70 or 80 with their driver at 300 carry plus.
00:03:18.189 --> 00:03:30.460
So that tends to be the player that uses mini driver tends to be a longer hitter looking for something a little more accurate, but doesn't wanna go all the way down to like an iron off the team, lose all that distance.
00:03:30.849 --> 00:03:31.389
So.
00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:33.599
The Titleist is backorder.
00:03:33.870 --> 00:03:34.830
I just ordered one yesterday.
00:03:34.830 --> 00:03:36.000
It's Backorder till July.
00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:40.080
So I think the demand for these clubs has been way higher than they anticipated.
00:03:40.620 --> 00:03:48.270
I think that the other person that could really use a mini driver might be someone that just doesn't feel comfortable hitting a driver with that big, long shaft.
00:03:48.599 --> 00:03:56.550
So if I go down to something that's more like five wood length shaft with a nice forgiving head, like, like maybe the Callaway and the tailor made offer, um.
00:03:57.344 --> 00:04:04.064
That could be a club that might be just a little easier to, to swing essentially and hit the middle of the face and with slightly more loft.
00:04:04.064 --> 00:04:09.104
You know, that back spin of the ball is really helps a lot of times make the ball fly straighter.
00:04:09.104 --> 00:04:18.375
It's not as aerodynamic for distance, but that little bit more back spin that the added loft puts on it will help the ball fly straighter and less offline.
00:04:18.375 --> 00:04:23.654
So if you're someone that either doesn't feel like they can hit a full length driver.
00:04:24.014 --> 00:04:25.574
Solidly enough to use it.
00:04:25.725 --> 00:04:36.644
Or you're one of those longer hitters that's going back to like a utility or an, or a long iron and giving up tons of distance off the t many driver could be for you.
00:04:36.644 --> 00:04:38.175
So test them out.
00:04:38.444 --> 00:04:39.555
Uh, we have all three.
00:04:39.555 --> 00:04:41.654
We don't have tons of shaft options at this point.
00:04:41.654 --> 00:04:43.845
I think it's kinda like they put'em out there.
00:04:44.204 --> 00:04:45.165
Um, it's interesting.
00:04:45.165 --> 00:04:48.524
They all kind of came out the same week, which was I thought, very interesting.
00:04:48.975 --> 00:04:50.264
Uh, they all feel good.
00:04:50.295 --> 00:04:51.225
I've hit all of'em.
00:04:51.225 --> 00:04:52.365
I have to say I'm impressed.
00:04:52.634 --> 00:05:00.584
But the Titleist definitely could be hit off the fairway, and that, in my opinion, gives a slight edge to that longer hitter.
00:05:00.975 --> 00:05:09.074
Um, and then the other two with the bigger heads might give the slight edge to the person looking for a a club they can just hit a little bit more easily.
00:05:09.074 --> 00:05:09.915
So check it out.
00:05:10.214 --> 00:05:14.324
Many drivers get fit today by a certified club fitter.
00:05:14.475 --> 00:05:18.795
And thank you again for tuning into this quick question episode of the Golf Intervention Podcast.
00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:06.089
On today's quick question episode, we take on this question.
00:00:06.299 --> 00:00:08.730
Eric, what's the deal with the mini driver?
00:00:09.599 --> 00:00:10.859
Well, that's a good question.
00:00:11.369 --> 00:00:16.440
The mini driver seems to be the latest trend in equipment.
00:00:16.949 --> 00:00:25.379
So I say the mini drivers really bringing back an old, you know, um, piece of equipment that that was around before.
00:00:25.379 --> 00:00:29.039
It's not a brand new thing, but I think that the data.
00:00:30.449 --> 00:00:54.539
That we're seeing from players, especially longer hitters, is sort of lending to the fact that driver, at times we know the dispersion is too wide to hit on certain holes and so then players are going, okay, if I can't hit driver,'cause it won't fit in between some width that they like, a lot of times it's 50 or 60 yards between issues, um, out of bounds or loss balls or hazards or whatever.
00:00:55.049 --> 00:00:55.560
So.
00:00:55.935 --> 00:00:57.284
What these longer players are doing.
00:00:57.284 --> 00:01:06.075
Let's say I hit a, a club that, that carries 300 yards and I got this width and dispersion, I come onto a hole and it's shorter than that.
00:01:06.375 --> 00:01:13.215
Um, the problem is if they go fairway wood, the fairway wood goes shorter, but it's actually not more accurate.
00:01:13.215 --> 00:01:14.980
And the problem with the fairway wood up the t.
00:01:15.870 --> 00:01:21.900
Is that the head is so small, it tends to be unforgiving less, much less forgiving, we'll say, than the driver.
00:01:22.019 --> 00:01:24.450
And so that dispersion kind of widens out.
00:01:24.450 --> 00:01:27.390
So it's not like it's going straighter, it's just going shorter.
00:01:27.959 --> 00:01:41.819
So those players instinctively have gone like to a utility club, like a utility, three iron or two iron, a four iron, and then they might be hitting that club, 250 yards, maybe even a hybrid, um, to gain some.
00:01:42.614 --> 00:01:46.995
You know, consistency in dispersion, but they're giving up so much distance.
00:01:46.995 --> 00:01:48.165
So what is mini driver?
00:01:48.165 --> 00:01:53.144
Mini driver is essentially like combining the forgiveness of a driver.
00:01:53.144 --> 00:02:00.944
So the head is a little bit smaller than a driver with the length of a shaft of a, of a fairway would, so you, you can hit it a little bit more in the middle of the face and.
00:02:02.055 --> 00:02:08.865
Then you can, you know, just hit a club that's a little shorter than the driver, but still have almost the same amount of forgiveness and accuracy.
00:02:08.865 --> 00:02:14.085
Now, the tailor made in Callaway mini drivers play like a driver.
00:02:14.085 --> 00:02:19.664
They're just a little bit smaller and they play a lot like a driver faces hot, big head.
00:02:19.664 --> 00:02:24.794
And I don't really think most players are gonna be able to hit those clubs off the fairway.
00:02:25.125 --> 00:02:27.014
Pretty much all of'em, I think are 13 degrees.
00:02:27.014 --> 00:02:28.245
Mine might be 12 and a half.
00:02:28.275 --> 00:02:28.664
Um.
00:02:29.175 --> 00:02:35.414
Definitely an adjustable Zel on the Callaway and the, and the, and the talus, which is 13 degrees.
00:02:35.895 --> 00:02:40.754
So the Talus GT Mini is.
00:02:41.655 --> 00:02:43.275
Really usable off the fairway.
00:02:43.275 --> 00:02:51.794
It's a slightly smaller head, but what I've seen, and this is the one that every single player that I fit has gotten the Titleist, is it's a, it's a shorter shaft.
00:02:51.794 --> 00:02:55.544
Obviously the head is a little bit smaller and is absolutely usable off the fairway.
00:02:55.544 --> 00:03:04.814
So the players are giving up, this is what I'm seeing, you know, if they were hitting three 10 with their driver, they're hitting two 80 with the mini driver, 2 75 with the mini driver.
00:03:04.905 --> 00:03:10.125
And that's really been helpful, um, because they hit it in a much tighter dispersion, maybe call it.
00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:18.129
40 yards width right to left as opposed to maybe 60 or 70 or 80 with their driver at 300 carry plus.
00:03:18.189 --> 00:03:30.460
So that tends to be the player that uses mini driver tends to be a longer hitter looking for something a little more accurate, but doesn't wanna go all the way down to like an iron off the team, lose all that distance.
00:03:30.849 --> 00:03:31.389
So.
00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:33.599
The Titleist is backorder.
00:03:33.870 --> 00:03:34.830
I just ordered one yesterday.
00:03:34.830 --> 00:03:36.000
It's Backorder till July.
00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:40.080
So I think the demand for these clubs has been way higher than they anticipated.
00:03:40.620 --> 00:03:48.270
I think that the other person that could really use a mini driver might be someone that just doesn't feel comfortable hitting a driver with that big, long shaft.
00:03:48.599 --> 00:03:56.550
So if I go down to something that's more like five wood length shaft with a nice forgiving head, like, like maybe the Callaway and the tailor made offer, um.
00:03:57.344 --> 00:04:04.064
That could be a club that might be just a little easier to, to swing essentially and hit the middle of the face and with slightly more loft.
00:04:04.064 --> 00:04:09.104
You know, that back spin of the ball is really helps a lot of times make the ball fly straighter.
00:04:09.104 --> 00:04:18.375
It's not as aerodynamic for distance, but that little bit more back spin that the added loft puts on it will help the ball fly straighter and less offline.
00:04:18.375 --> 00:04:23.654
So if you're someone that either doesn't feel like they can hit a full length driver.
00:04:24.014 --> 00:04:25.574
Solidly enough to use it.
00:04:25.725 --> 00:04:36.644
Or you're one of those longer hitters that's going back to like a utility or an, or a long iron and giving up tons of distance off the t many driver could be for you.
00:04:36.644 --> 00:04:38.175
So test them out.
00:04:38.444 --> 00:04:39.555
Uh, we have all three.
00:04:39.555 --> 00:04:41.654
We don't have tons of shaft options at this point.
00:04:41.654 --> 00:04:43.845
I think it's kinda like they put'em out there.
00:04:44.204 --> 00:04:45.165
Um, it's interesting.
00:04:45.165 --> 00:04:48.524
They all kind of came out the same week, which was I thought, very interesting.
00:04:48.975 --> 00:04:50.264
Uh, they all feel good.
00:04:50.295 --> 00:04:51.225
I've hit all of'em.
00:04:51.225 --> 00:04:52.365
I have to say I'm impressed.
00:04:52.634 --> 00:05:00.584
But the Titleist definitely could be hit off the fairway, and that, in my opinion, gives a slight edge to that longer hitter.
00:05:00.975 --> 00:05:09.074
Um, and then the other two with the bigger heads might give the slight edge to the person looking for a a club they can just hit a little bit more easily.
00:05:09.074 --> 00:05:09.915
So check it out.
00:05:10.214 --> 00:05:14.324
Many drivers get fit today by a certified club fitter.
00:05:14.475 --> 00:05:18.795
And thank you again for tuning into this quick question episode of the Golf Intervention Podcast.
