Equipment

TaylorMade launches Ti Bubble 2-inspired BRNR Mini Driver

Published

3 years ago

Apr 17, 2023

Nostalgia is a sweet elixir for golf equipment junkies, and TaylorMade is leaning in even further to this phenomenon with its latest release.

The 2023 installment of TaylorMade’s Mini Driver’s franchise — which, in recent years, has included the nostalgic nods of the Original One and 300 Mini Drivers — is the 304cc BRNR Mini Driver.

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Golfers of a certain age remember well the Ti Bubble 2 driver of the mid-90s and Mark O’Meara gaming one en route to his 1998 Masters win — if you’re too young to know what a “Bubble shaft” looks like, learn your history (in short, the bulging/bubble section beyond the bottom of the grip moved weight toward the middle of the shaft for increased stability. The shaft was also significantly lighter than what was on the market at the time).

A look at the Ti Bubble 2 driver, below.

From an appearance standpoint, the throwback elements first: the BRNR Mini Driver features the copper and black tones of the Ti Bubble 2 as well as the mid-’90s TaylorMade logo. Even the UST ProForce 65 shaft is black and copper in a nod to the original Burner Bubble.

Oh, and the headcover is retro!

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“BRNR has been very popular in testing with tour players, especially at the first major of the year as a potential fairway finder on demanding tee shots and on approach shots on par fives. Players are always looking for a club that can be versatile and reliable off the tee and BRNR checks both of those boxes. Being able to adjust the weights to match the ball flight the player is looking for allows this club to be something that provides distance and shot shaping ability that can be crucial at narrower courses.” — Keith Sbarbaro, Vice President, Tour Operations

2023 TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver: Key technology

Ti Bubble 2-inspired K-sole for smooth turf interaction and “driver off the deck” possibilities.

A 13-gram weight in the back of the club and a 1.5-gram weight in the front can be adjusted to fine-tune launch and spin. Placing the heavier weight forward reduces spin by approximately 200 RPMs, according to the company.

Why play a mini driver?

In general, TaylorMade finds two types of golfers gravitate toward a mini driver. In the first case, it’s an addition to a standard driver: Players looking for a “fairway finder” driver without giving up too much distance that can also be hit off the deck. Second, TaylorMade recommends giving a mini a go to golfers who struggle to hit 460 cc drivers, particularly choppers. It’s a better alternative than a 3-wood off the tee.

Pricing, specs, and availability

At retail: April 21
Price: $449.99 USD
Lofts: 11.5, 13.5 degrees
Stock shaft: The UST Mamiya ProForce 65 Retro Burner Edition 65 (X,S,R)
Stock grip: SuperStroke S-Tech 50g (black/copper)

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Equipment

Putters that never made it: Check out some of the best tour builds that didn’t make the cut

Published

2 weeks ago

May 18, 2026

Alistair Cameron

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.

Whats in the Bag

Patrick Reed WITB 2026 (May)

Published

2 weeks ago

May 18, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

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

See more photos of Patrick Reed’s clubs here.

Equipment

Which of Tiger’s major winning irons are your favorite? – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

2 weeks ago

May 18, 2026

Gianni Magliocco

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”