Replacement for mini driver

[bjh1]

Cracked the face of my TM 300 mini driver today.

The good news, it's still under warranty.  The bad news, they don't sell minis anymore!

 

Assuming they offer me to replace the club, I'm supposing I'll either have to go with a strong 3-wood, or move up to a big boy driver.

I've always liked minis, don't like the look of giant 460 heads, and don't like hitting up on the ball.  That's why I really liked the mini option, it's basically a giant 3-wood.   

 

Fellow mini users -- what would you do in this situation?

 

I supposed I could look for a used one too.

[cg0rd0noo7]

I would take the most expensive thing they offer as a replacement. Then I would sell it as you seem to really want a mini driver and then find one used with the profit. 

Edited March 5, 2023 by cg0rd0noo7

[st1800e]

5 minutes ago, cg0rd0noo7 said:

I would take the most expensive thing they offer as a replacement. Then I would sell it as you seem to really want a mini driver and then find one used with the profit. 

Yes, do that and buy this one, looks new.  
 

https://www.2ndswing.com/golf-clubs/drivers/taylormade-original-one-mini-driver/right-handed-regular-graphite-43dot0in-d-12328476783

[pgheaja]

Mini user. I just bought a tour length (44.5") LTDX driver and am now putting the mini away.  The shorter shaft length has given me the same control/ feel and confidence as the mini driver but I'm getting more distance.   Give a shorter length driver a try, you might like the results.  

[Drivingrangehero]

I tried the Taylormade SLDR mini and it has become a failed 3W replacement experiment for me. 
 

At 14* and a shaft that is 2” longer at 43.5”, I barely hit it past my 18* 5W (too high of launch and spin) so I’m moving on to an old school deep faced  driver that I’ll add weight to the head, and play at 43-43.5 inches 

 

If you are looking for a deep faced, classic tear drop looking driver under 400cc, the Japanese market has plenty for short money
 

A good start would be to go on eBay and look for Royal Collection Drivers,  Yonex, or even Cobra SZ350/380, Cleveland Launcher 330. 
 

I placed a Cleveland Launcher 400 down beside a Ping G410 SFT and was shocked how much smaller the launcher looked in comparison. 

 

I recently bought an old school Royal Collection 22* fairway wood that I like so much, that I bought a driver head that’s being shipped as of yesterday. 
 

The other route is a deep faced or large footprint 3W like a Callaway 3Deep or a 2014 Ping Rapture. 
 

 

Edited March 6, 2023 by Drivingrangehero
.

[RCGA]

Mini user for all of half of 2021 and most of 2022. 

 

It was a failed experiment and if I had to do it again, I'd carry two drivers with two wildly different setups: 10.5* head with high high launch for downwind and a 8* head for low launch for into the wind. 

 

At the end of the day, I didn't find 43.75" was any easier to hit than 45" and I was giving up a solid 10-15y over a "real" driver for absolutely no reason.  

[driveandputtmachine]

Get the most expensive option and sell it.  As someone that has played a mini for over a year and it is great.  I rarely hit 3 wood off the deck, but can with the mini, but the biggest thing is to have a longish club that I can draw reliably, and hit a specific distance for doglegs and the like.  If that is what you are using it for, do not substitute, get the real deal and be happy.

 

So a 300cc head is typically more forgiving than a 170cc head, it just is.

 

The ONLY thing I would EVER contemplate would be a TSR2+.  However considering at my driver fitting the fitter noticed I had a Mini and hit it great he begged me to try the TSR2+, I refused, because, Titleist.

 

I am not a fan, but I will say I now have 4 of their clubs in the bag.  I also have 7 PXG clubs in my bag.  Two companies I said I would never own, I still will never put a Scotty in my bag, but Titleist snuck in with a wedge grind I liked in a 60.  Then a 4 iron in the T200.  Then a TSR3 driver, and now a TSR2 18* hybrid.  So they have to be good if I would put them in my bag.

[PNWSlinger]

Two “driver” user here anxiously awaiting the day my mini gives out. 

 

i think taking the expensive replacement and selling for another mini is what I would do. 
 

Mine is a fixed hosel version and I think it would be sweet to have an adjustable one to experiment with shafts and lofts but they dont come for sale often. It seems like they either dont make many or everyone keeps them. 

[NRJyzr]

21 hours ago, driveandputtmachine said:

not a fan, but I will say I now have 4 of their clubs in the bag

 

There's still time to save yourself!!

 

[driveandputtmachine]

45 minutes ago, NRJyzr said:

 

There's still time to save yourself!!

 

I will say I do feel dirty.....

However when I hit the 60* with a perfect grind for, I feel like I get some clean water

When I hit the T200, that water is warm

When I hit the driver it is coming out of the fixture at a good speed

Hoping when I hit the hybrid, soap will show up and I will be able to get clean.

Hybrid has only been hit indoors with a trackman, and I know that is far away from a great way to know if it will perform on course.

 

[bjh1]

Kudos to Taylormade customer service!   i have a Stealth 2 on the way as a replacement.

Even got to customize the shaft and grip, wasn't expecting that level of service.  

Going to give it a try.  If it doesn't work out, I can always look for a used mini.  Although doing some preliminary searching, I am shocked at the prices people are asking.  Selling for just about as much a new one cost.

[bjh1]

Of course, now that I've got a new driver, this news comes out:

 

https://golf.com/gear/taylormade-teases-new-driver-masters/

 

[fairway_bandit]

2 hours ago, bjh1 said:

Of course, now that I've got a new driver, this news comes out:

 

https://golf.com/gear/taylormade-teases-new-driver-masters/

 

 

Edited March 21, 2023 by fairway_bandit