Equipment
Are Mini Drivers the next hot trend? – GolfWRXers discuss
In our forums, our members have been discussing the potential boom in Mini Drivers in the game. With Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson both using a Mini driver recently, WRXer ‘Tsecor’ asks if the use of the club is about to become the norm, and our members have been sharing their thoughts in our forum.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- uglande: “I love mini-drivers but not as a driver replacement. I like them as a second option off the tee. My 425 LST 3-wood is a rocket, so I’m happy with that at the moment, but I really liked the Ping Rapture, the TaylorMade Original One (but not the SLDR Mini) and will definitely be testing the TaylorMade 300 that is rolling out soon.”
- tjwilliams31: “I basically tried the Phil setup. I have a TaylorMade aeroburner mini that’s a missile then built a bomber driver set up works well so far.”
- lefthack: “I’ve considered it as a 2 wood like Phil. Maybe for tight tees, but mostly long and/or low off the deck.”
- kthomas: “I personally don’t see the point. Doesn’t offer anything over a regular-sized driver, and having a second dedicated tee club makes no sense. I’d rather have that spot with something more versatile, such as a 3/4 wood.”
- GatorNate11: “If mini drivers are coming back, why not small drivers, too? Is a 380-420cc driver really too much to ask?”
Equipment
Putters that never made it: Check out some of the best tour builds that didn’t make the cut
Arguably, the best perk of being a professional golfer on the PGA Tour is the ability to request or even just be handed pretty much any club you could think of. It happens more often than you think, usually with putters around the practice green from one event to the next. Come Wednesday, the Tour bags lining the edge of the putting surface become resting places for fallen flatsticks that never made the cut.
So let’s take a look at some of the best we’ve seen out on Tour this year that never made it to the competition. (You may notice none of Hideki Matsuyama’s custom Scotty Cameron putters made this list. There are too many.)
Let’s start with this custom Damascus Milled Odyssey Rossie made for Ryo Hisatsune. Featuring a single line and the short-slant hossel, we’ve seen plenty of Number 7 and jailbird heads featuring the Damascus Milled insert, but this is the first and only one we’ve spotted in a Rossie. Hisatsune primarily putts with an Odyssey Black Series iX #9, but we have seen him recently with a TaylorMade TP Collection SOTO, so there could be potential that the Damascus Milled Rossie could end up in the bag.
Everyone wants to be Cameron Young right now. We’ve had Justin Thomas and Tom Hoge both game the Scotty Cameron 9.5R prototype. Well, for the PGA Championship, Brooks Koepka nearly joined that list after requesting the same style of putter, with the full-length alignment line. But the Scotty Cameron reps took the request a step further and made one specially for Koepka with a Teryllium insert, similar to one in his previous Newport 2 gamers. The reason why this one didn’t go into play, though? Because it was too heavy.
Harry Hall was the third-best putter on Tour last year, so when Bettinardi made him a custom proto, you know it was going to be good. The custom BB28 blade features VDF face milling, a custom-welded single-bend shaft, and the owner’s initials – HH – on the sole of the putter. Hall, who usually games an Odyssey O-Works #7 W, has dabbled with a TaylorMade Spider Tour X already this year. Maybe there’s a chance this Bettinardi might make his bag.
Honestly, this one doesn’t need a description. It’s Kieth Mitchell’s custom Scotty Cameron Napa. One Scotty Cameron face stamp, two Scotty Dogs, two Scotty Cameron 7-Point Crowns and one Circle T. That is all. Oh, except for the Cashmere Cameron headcover.
Finally, and just for fun, how about we pour one out for this TaylorMade Spider Tour X made for Scottie Scheffler in its new torched finish. It’s unlikely we’ll see a putter change anytime soon from the best golfer in the world. In fact, he hit just two putts with it on the Harbour Town practice before going back to his trusty gamer.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (9 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 130 M.S.I. 70 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X
7-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Irons: Grindworks PR-202 (4), Grindworks PR-101A (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 Tour Rack (52-10 Mid), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-08M), SM11 (60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Tour Rat 1.5 Tour Prototype
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
In our forums, our members have been discussing their favorite major winning irons used by Tiger Woods. WRXer ‘golferdude54’ kicks off the thread saying:
“Mizuno MP 14/29. Titleist 681T. Nike Forged Blades. TaylorMade P7TW.
Among these irons that helped Tiger win 15 majors, which is your favorite in terms of looks?”
And our members have been naming their favorites and why in response.
Here are a couple of posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- SwingBlade: “I prefer the early blades he played and the more recent TM TW’s especially because after Tiger had his major behavioral setbacks, part of Nikes support payback was making Tiger play a Nike putter and cease using his beloved uniquely customized Scotty putter.”
- ProjectX: “This (Nike Forged Blades) and there’s not even a close second.”
Entire Thread: “Which of Tiger’s major winning irons are your favorite? – GolfWRXers discuss”
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Driver: Titleist GT3 (9 degrees) Buy here. Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 130 M.S.I. 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (15 degrees)...
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Driver: TaylorMade M6 (9 degrees) Shaft: Aldilda Synergy Blue 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
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Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black VeloCore+ 5 X 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees @14.25) Shaft: Mitsubishi...
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Driver: Krank Formula Fire Pro (6 degrees) Shaft: Project X Prototype 3-wood: Krank Formula Fire (10 degrees) Shaft: LA Golf BAD...
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geohogan
Jul 20, 2021 at 8:12 pm
Larger CC driver is more forgiving and higher COR, than any mini heads.
To get the advantage of so called Mini Drivers, shorten shaft length on 360 to match
the shaft length on the Mini. Now the only advantage of the Mini is it may be easier to hit off
the turf.
Rich Douglas
Jul 8, 2021 at 1:43 am
I’ve had them in my bag for years. I started with the TM SLDR version, then switched to the TM Original one. They’re great for hitting long tee shots on tight fairways, yet skilled players can still hit them off the deck.
I’m still waiting to see why I should go to this one, though. I don’t see a real advantage. The twist face seems like a gimmick. (Otherwise, other manufacturers would have found ways to mimic it by now.) Mine already has the speed pocket. Plus, mine has a lightweight composite head. I don’t see any advantage to switching, but I do love playing it vice the 3-wood.
Euan Hardman
Jul 6, 2021 at 7:28 am
When were Mini-Drivers last in fashion??
It didn’t last then and it won’t this time.
Another 10 years and it’ll be back I suppose.
Clowns
Jul 3, 2021 at 6:03 pm
Matt Kuchar is A bozo
Jason
Jul 3, 2021 at 6:24 am
It’s all about marketing. Companies can’t make the driver any bigger and they need to keep bringing out something new to sell, so why not go smaller making golfers think that this will help their game. They’ll keep making smaller drivers for a while, then, they’ll come with a new 460cc driver saying it’s new technology and bigger is better. They’ll reintroduce the white head to. It’s a vicious cycle. Just buy a good 3 wood.
JW
Jul 3, 2021 at 7:30 am
Not true.
Jason
Jul 3, 2021 at 8:19 am
Explain.
mr doctor
Jul 2, 2021 at 6:50 pm
just swing harder