Equipment
TaylorMade extends AeroBurner line with Mini Driver
TaylorMade’s AeroBurner Mini Driver exists in the space between the company’s drivers and fairway woods, and that’s the beauty of it.
Buzz around the Mini Driver category reached new heights after the 2015 Honda Classic, where it earned its first PGA Tour win. Padraig Harrington used TaylorMade’s original Mini Driver — a 12-degree SLDR S — as a driver alternative in route to his first PGA Tour victory since 2008.
[quote_box_center]”It’s too soon to tell, but it could be a category that becomes as popular as our rescue clubs,” said TaylorMade’s Senior Director of Product Creation Brian Bazzel. “Demand [for the SLDR S Mini Driver] was greater than we expected.” [/quote_box_center]
The new Mini Driver has a marginally smaller head size — 253 cubic centimeters, which is 9 cubic centimeters less than the original. That makes it substantially bigger than a fairway wood, for more forgiveness from the tee, but small enough that golfers can hit it off the ground if necessary.
The biggest changes to the club, however, revolve not around its size, but its sole and its shape.
Like the AeroBurner metal woods, the AeroBurner Mini Driver uses the company’s latest Speed Pocket, a deep slot that extends across the entirety of its sole. According to Bazzel, the Speed Pocket increases the AeroBurner’s sweet spot, allowing it to launch the ball with slightly more ball speed and a little less spin (about 100-to-200 rpm) than the SLDR Mini Driver.
The sole of the club is also flatter, a change that will make the Mini Driver easier to use from the fairway and light rough, and it borrows the more aerodynamic shape of the AeroBurner metal woods. Its crown has a raised center that gently slopes from the front of the club to the back, and a “fin” on its hosel are both said to improve aerodynamics.
Related: Click here to learn about TaylorMade’s AeroBurner irons.
Golfers comparing the AeroBurner Mini Driver to the SLDR S Mini Driver will notice that the AeroBurner shape at address is more symmetrical, whereas the SLDR S was more elongated in its back toe section.
As for the results? Our internal testing has seen some golfers hit the Mini Driver just as far and much straighter than their regular driver, but there are a lot of different variables at play. They include:
- The Mini Driver’s 43.5-inch length, which is roughly 2-inches shorter than a driver.
- Its smaller head size, which is easier for many golfers to square at impact.
- The increased loft, relative to a driver, which helps many golfers launch the ball higher and with less spin — one of the keys to more distance.
The bottom line is this: If you find yourself using your lowest-lofted fairway wood primarily from the tee, why wouldn’t you want its head to be bigger, and thus more forgiving?
The AeroBurner Mini Driver ($279) is available in lofts of 12, 14 and 16 degrees (RH only) and comes stock with Matrix’s Speed RUL-Z 60 shaft.
A TP version ($349), which has a flatter lie angle and more open face angle for more fade bias, is also available in lofts of 12 and 14 degrees (both RH only). It comes stock with a Matrix White Tie MSS 70X4 shaft.
They’ll be in stores March 27.
Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about the AeroBurner Mini Drivers in our forum.
Specs
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Whats in the Bag
Taylor Pendrith’s winning WITB: 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: Ping G430 LST (9 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Accra TZ Six ST
3-wood: Ping G430 Max (15 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green 80 6.5 TX
7-wood: Ping G425 Max (20.5 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green 90 6.5 TX
Irons: Srixon ZX (2, 3) Buy here, Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-9) Buy here.
Shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 6.5 90, 6.5 100 (2-3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX 6 Tour Rack (46-10 Mid, 52-10 Mid, 56-10 Mid, 60-9 Full) Buy here.
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: Odyssey Jailbird Versa Buy here.
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Flatso 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
The winning WITB is presented by 2nd Swing Golf. 2nd Swing has more than 100,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
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Whats in the Bag
Ben Kohles WITB 2024 (May)
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Hybrid: Titleist TSR3 (19 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 9 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (4, 5), Titleist 620 CB (6-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.0
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 50-12F, 54-12D, 60)
Shafts: Project X 6.0
Putter: Scotty Cameron P5 prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Ben Kohles’ clubs in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Kris Kim WITB 2024 (May)
- Kris Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.
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RG
Mar 12, 2015 at 3:44 pm
I have an old school Callaway Big bertha 11 degree club. It was considered a ladies driver. I put a neww shaft in it and let me tell u off the deck or of the tee I’ll put it against any of these new “mini drivers.” It is hot and very accurate. This is not a new concept and there are clubs out there that are better and 1/3 the cost.
james
Mar 11, 2015 at 1:31 pm
cant wait to get one of these! oh wait I cant as I’m a leftie
Justin
Mar 11, 2015 at 12:09 pm
It’s really frustrating that it seems for this year, TaylorMade feels that there are no lefties who want TP clubs. As a lefty whose miss is a draw, I need the square to open face of a TP model.
Leon
Mar 11, 2015 at 11:49 am
Cut your driver shaft to 43 inches, your driver will be much more forgiving than the mini ones. It will hit the ball much longer too, not only because of the lower loft of the driver, but also due to the higher COR from the Titanium face than the steel face.
Plus, it will not cost you a stupid $300, but rather a reasonable $20 for a new grip and some lead tapes to bring the swing weight back to your comfort zone.
GW
Mar 11, 2015 at 11:45 am
My favorite “mini driver” of all time is the original R7 line. I don’t see a point in buying a brand new driver that is smaller just so I can fill a gap between a driver and a 3 wood. Now, if I hit it as far as my current driver, or close to it, and kept it in the fairway more often then I might be interested in that.
gwillis7
Mar 11, 2015 at 11:31 am
I always struggle from the tee….use a jetspeed and it has given me my best results (I only slice 3 out of 10 times from the tee now lol). But I will give this a try, if I can keep most my shots straight and only lose 15 yards or so I would jump on board. Not a TM guy, I am a Ping fan by far, but don’t mind their product cycle and I think a lot of their stuff looks good (not all, but a lot).
gwillis7
Mar 11, 2015 at 3:44 pm
Ok I just saw on TM website that they are gonna make aeroburner irons….The loft of the 4 iron is 19 degrees…19!!
The PW is 43 and the AW is 49….
I don’t care about them coming out with new stuff every 6 months, I don’t have to buy it. But I don’t like the fact that lofts have gotten absolutely crazy….4 iron that is 19 degrees, that’s just stupid
Chad
Mar 11, 2015 at 10:49 am
I bet this thing is stupid long.
Cally
Mar 11, 2015 at 10:46 am
Stop this product cycle comments….if you don’t like it don’t buy it, easy as that.
marty
Mar 11, 2015 at 11:03 am
Those are guys who are cheap and can’t afford new clubs.
Josh
Mar 11, 2015 at 10:07 am
That didn’t take long.
Looks like the market cycle is getting even faster.