After a steady increase in the size of driver heads, the golf industry is finally showing interest in the reverse. The trade off? A scaling back of size for a lift in accuracy and consistency.
From this, we are starting to see a rise in the mini golf driver, which for most golfers supplements, not replaces their driver.
The name may be a bit misleading, but the only thing smaller is the head. Typically, they fit somewhere between your traditional 460cc driver and a fairway wood. Unsurprisingly, these designs toe the line between the two types of clubs in terms of loft and shot shape, with a lean towards your average driver.
The best mini driver 2024 has to offer is the one in your bag, or at least will be soon. The benefits are that obvious. If you ever find yourself pulling wood off the tee due to the tightness of the fairway or struggle with confidence off the tee, you’re going to want to keep reading.
You may also be interested in: 5 Best Small Head Drivers in 2024
At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks for Mini Driver On The Market In 2024
- Best Overall: TaylorMade Mini Driver
- Best Runner Up: Honma Golf TR20
- Best Premium: Ping G425 LST
- Best For Lower Handicapper: Titleist TSi 4 Golf Driver
- Best Cheap: Autopilot A14
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | TaylorMade Mini Driver
| CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON → |
Best Runner Up  | Honma Golf TR20
| CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON → |
Best Premium  | Ping G425 LST
| CLICK TO CHECK PRICE → |
Best For Lower Handicapper  | Titleist TSi 4 Golf Driver
| CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON → |
Best Cheap  | Autopilot A14
| CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON → |
Best Overall: Taylormade BRNR Mini Driver
Key Features:
- 304cc golf club head
- 11.5 or 13.5-degrees of loft
- UST Mamiya Shaft
PROS
- Smaller head than other choices, option most similar to wood
- Twist face offsets traditional pushes and cuts of drivers used away from the tee
CONS
- Low ball flight when used from tee or fairway
One of the closer golf mini driver models you will see to a three wood, the TaylorMade BRNR is the ideal choice for a golfer looking to sneak a little more distance out of the club they take off the tee when faced with a must-hit-fairway.
Featuring the classic TaylorMade Bubble Burner colors that filled countless bags for years, the headshape and colorway is something golfers feel comfortable over while addressing the ball. By offering slightly higher lofts than many other of the best mini driver 2024 has seen, it is a versatile tool for those comfortable enough to play it from the fairway and first cut of rough.
After all, if it’s good enough for Tommy Fleetwood to trust while contending on Sunday’s, isn’t it worth a close look for you?
What customers are saying about the Taylormade BRNR Mini Driver
While golfers tend to applaud the accuracy of any mini golf driver, the reviews for the BRNR highlight the lack of side spin and ease of launch. Additionally, golfers are very happy about a nice combination of carry distance and roll, making this a great choice when carry is not the only objective.
Best Second Runner Up: TaylorMade Mini Driver
Key Features
- 13.5 degrees
- Mitsubishi premium golf shaft
- Regular flex shaft
PROS
- It gives golfers more consistency
- Easier to launch for golfers that struggle with speed
- Made by one of the best driver manufacturers in the game
CONS
- Not the best choice for golfers that need ultimate forgiveness
The TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver is the best overall option on the market. After years of creating some of the largest and fastest drivers in the game, TaylorMade decided that they wanted to take part in creating a more accurate and reliable mini golf driver. Of course, you can’t expect the same performance from this club that you would find from a 460cc driver, but some golfers find it to be quite good.
With the TaylorMade 300 Mini driver, you will get a Mitsubishi Chemical MiDr Proto 65 Regular Flex golf shaft. This club head is designed to help golfers that are looking for more accuracy and ease of distance. With the TaylorMade golf products, you can always count on ball speeds being high.
What customers are saying about the TaylorMade Mini Driver
For many senior golfers, the TaylorMade Mini Driver was a revelation. Bringing them back to their younger playing days where small-headed drivers reigned supreme, the introduction of this club type was a major throwback. The added control and increased launch angle compared to traditional drivers has them worrying less about forced carries. Instead, they can hit the same club from the tee and fairway on longer par 4’s stress free (or with as little amount of stress possible on a golf course.)
Best Runner Up: Honma Golf TR20
Key Features
- 440 cc Golf Club Head
- Lightweight and strong club head
- Very fast ball speeds
PROS
- It helps players transfer more energy from club to ball
- Higher ball speed than previous models
- Carbon body construction
- Sakata Japan Honma Vizard premium shaft
CONS
- Higher price point
The Honma Golf TR20 is the runner up for the best mini golf driver on the market. This comes in a 440 CC club head that has exceptional speed and a high COR titanium frame. Golfers that are looking for really fast speed will like what this club has to offer.
Sometimes when switching to a smaller clubhead size, the speed becomes a concern, but with the TR20, this is not the case. Players that have slightly slower swing speeds will also be able to see an increase in speed by putting the Honma Golf TR20 in play.
This is not an adjustable golf shaft, and the hosel and shaft will be perfectly aligned prior to purchase.
What customers are saying about the Honma Golf TR20
While this club has a smaller head, the face is similar enough to a driver that golfers using this club are not having much trouble with mishits. Though always a reason for concern, the overall shape makes this an easy mini golf driver to transition with for first time users.
Best Premium Mini Golf Driver: Ping G425 LST
Key Features
- 445 cc head
- Lower spin
- 17 gram shift in the center of gravity
PROS
- Pear shaped club head to promote lower spin
- It comes in three different settings
- Reduced drag
CONS
- Not truly a “mini” driver, some would consider more of a smaller head option
The Ping G425 LST golf driver is the best premium option for a mini golf driver. Although many would consider this more of a small head driver as opposed to a mini, it will do a great job of helping golfers that are looking for lower spin and more control on their shots.
With the Ping G425 LST, you will benefit from the face being created with the T9S+ Forged technology. This golf club increases the acceleration for better distance and gives golfers the feel they need coming from the club head.
Overall, premium golf drivers are a great option in that they will help improve overall ball flight and let players swing in a way that works best for them. This club has some great launch characteristics, and the technology will be relevant for years to come.
What customers are saying about the Ping G425 LST
With a slightly shorter stock shaft and only marginally smaller head, golfers carrying the Ping G425 might even forget it’s a mini driver. Unlike most of the best mini drivers, this club is closer to a driver replacement than a club to carry alongside it. Also, because the design promotes control, many claim an increase in distance because of improved and consistent center contact.
Also Read: Ping g20 Driver Review 2024
Best For Lower Handicapper Player: Titleist TSi 4 Golf Driver
Key Features
- Lower spin than other models
- Long distance driver
- 430 cc club head
PROS
- Smaller, more compact club head
- Forward center of gravity
- Higher spin and longer drives
CONS
- Premium pricing
The Titleist golf drivers are always a hit among the lowest handicap players. These drivers tend to have some of the best feels on the market and stand out from a playability standpoint. The golfers that struggle with accuracy will find the TSI 4 golf driver to be the best option.
Even the lowest handicap players can struggle with accuracy simply because of how much speed they have. In addition, the Titleist TSi 4 can help the golfer that is trying to play with ball flight and get the ball to fly higher or lower.
What customers are saying about the Titleist TSi 4 Golf Driver
Much like the G425, golfers do not choose the TSi 4 for its ability to be used away from the tee. Instead, they gravitate towards this club for the lower launch angle and reduced spin. Many reviews also come from golfers who were losing distance due to hitting the ball too high and have now corrected their launch angle woes without changing their swing.
Best Cheap Mini Driver: Autopilot A14
Key Features
- Clubface can easily be squared up at impact
- Forgiving on miss hits
- Legal for tournament play
PROS
- Smaller than the standard driver
- Easy to keep the clubface square, no rotating
- High MOI
CONS
- The unique shape takes some time to get used to
The Autopilot A14 is a new release to the market that is smaller than a standard size driver but provides plenty of distance and accuracy for the average golfer. The weight in the Autopilot A14 is positioned further forward from the club’s center of gravity, making it a bit more accurate and easy to launch.
This driver may look unique and like nothing else on the market, but it is fully legal with the USGA, and you can use it in a golf tournament. The Autopilot A14 comes with a one year manufacturer warranty that will help golfers determine if it is a great golf club for them or if there are some issues with the performance.
We can tell you that the overall feel of the Autopilot A14 is a bit different than other drivers on the market, but if you can get used to it, the performance is quite good.
What customers are saying about the Autopilot A14
Golfers use the Autopilot A14 to see if they’ll like using a golf mini driver. At an attractive price, many have remarked they purchased this club because they wanted to give this category of clubs a shot. And not so shockingly, they have shared an overall positive experience.
What’s the Point of a Mini Driver?
Now that we have covered the best mini driver options on the market, you may be wondering why a golfer would not want to take advantage of a traditional golf club head with 460cc. There are some benefits to the 460cc that can stand out, helping this become one of the best golf drivers on the market.
The mini drivers are typically going to be a bit more accurate than a traditional 460cc golf driver. This has everything to do with the size being a little smaller and the ability to control the club a bit more. Some players also felt that with this smaller size club head, they could actually swing it a little faster.
In addition, many players found that the smaller clubhead allowed for a higher launch and increased the overall ball flight that you can get with the golf driver.
The mini driver helps players that are a bit more traditional and don’t want to play with a golf driver that is as large as the current equipment on the market. When the push was made to the 460cc club head size, players were forced to make major adjustments to their golf game and start using golf equipment that may look large or bulky. The mini driver helps to fix that.
Also Read: 7 Best Illegal Golf Drivers in 2024
Are Mini Drivers Any Good?
Mini drivers are good; however, it does make sense for golfers to first try standard size golf drivers and see how it can impact their game. There is really nothing wrong with the 460cc golf club head, as long as you can learn how to adjust to it and use it correctly.
The truth is that if you are inaccurate with your larger head golf driver, chances are you will still have some inaccuracy with the mini driver. The key is to find a golf driver that you feel confident in.
Golfers will also sometimes use a 3 wood or a utility iron off the tee instead of the mini driver to help ensure that it is a golf club that they can handle and perform with. Overall mini golf drivers are good, but they have to be the right fit for your needs as a player; not every golfer needs it.
Are Mini Drivers Easier to Hit?
Mini drivers are easier to hit than standard drivers, but you won’t always get the same performance. The distance you can get with a mini driver in play is sometimes compromised by the size of the club head.
When you have a clubhead that is 460cc, you will be able to get plenty of distance, and the large sweet spot can help create more roll and overall accuracy. With a mini driver, expect that the smaller sweet spot can sometimes be harder to make contact with, but when you do, the shot will likely be a good one.
We don’t recommend the mini driver for a player who has had success with the standard driver. Instead, save this for a time when you are really struggling with a regular driver and need the mini to help you try something outside the box.
How to Choose the right Best Mini Driver that fits your need?
The good thing about choosing a mini driver is that there are not too many of them to choose from. However, there are enough on the market that there will need to be a few key features to make sure that you are getting the proper one for your home. Here are a few of the things to consider when choosing a great mini driver.
Shaft
The golf shaft length tends to sometimes be a little shorter with the mini driver. Make sure that you are aware of this, so you are not surprised when it comes to your home. In addition, with the mini driver, you may also have limited options when it comes to the flex of the shaft.
Make sure that you choose a golf shaft that is a flex that will work for your swing speed. High swing speed players need a stiff shaft, while low swing speed players need a more flexible golf shaft.
Loft
The loft on the mini golf drivers may not be quite the same as the loft on the traditional lofted driver. A higher loft is going to allow for more forgiveness and a higher patten in the air. The more time the ball spends in the air, the further that it can end up going.
Lower lofted drivers tend to be a better fit for the golfers with the highest swing speeds that need some help controlling the launch angle of their golf clubs.
Club Head Size
As you noticed from our reviews of the best mini driver on the market, these golf clubs come in a variety of sizes. The larger golf club head size can take some time for players to get used to, and many will switch to these mini club head sizes for that reason.
The maximum size that a golf driver can be right now is 460cc. If you find a golf driver that is less than 460cc, chances are it is not a standard club head size, and it will be considered in the small size or even the mini driver range.
The clubhead size is important for golfers to consider as some will want a true mini club head that is less than 400cc, and others will want something just slightly smaller than standard.
Pricing
The good news for many golfers is that the pricing of a mini golf driver is usually considerably better than that of a premium 460cc driver. With this lower pricing, expect that you are going to have a bit of a different level of performance, but overall the functionality of the club should be quite good.
The pricing is higher for the golfers that want the brand-name products, but these products do provide some great benefits for players. Try to find a club that matches your budget but will still hold up for years to come.
If you can do this, at least the money you spent will have been well worth it.
Also Read: Most Forgiving Golf Clubs in 2024
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now feel ready to choose the best mini driver for your game. Although the mini driver is a unique concept and not something that every golfer truly needs, there is enough about this driver that will make it a good choice for many players. The TaylorMade Mini is the best mini driver on the market because it was designed by one of the top manufacturers with some of the best technology and features in mind. The TaylorMade Mini driver will not cause you to lose any clubhead speed or distance, and the overall performance is quite impressive. When this driver was first released, it sold out quickly, and TaylorMade had to produce more.
