Equipment
GolfWRX Spotted: TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver on conforming list
TaylorMade’s “300 Mini Driver” has landed on the USGA’s conforming list as the rise in mini driver popularity continues.
TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver
Like all recent TM drivers, the new addition from TaylorMade includes Twist Face technology and a Speed Pocket that bids to aid lower face strikes. An adjustable hosel will allow players to adjust the head by two degrees up and down (from the standard 11.5 degrees), allowing for a driver head to range from 9.5 up to 13.5 degrees. A 13.5-degree model will be available as well, per the conforming list.
In addition, the mini driver contains a multi-material which appears to include a carbon crown, titanium body, and heavy steel sole plate. A T logo alignment mark features on the crown of the club, and per the conforming list details, a left-handed version will arrive in 11.5 degrees.
What our members are saying:
- chrism: “I didn’t dislike the looks of the previous mini drivers, but I love this look. At 300cc, I am VERY interested to try it out. Will it be a versatile half-set driver/fw, or will it be a 2 wood type club in the main bag!? Can’t wait to hit both lofts and see!”
- Breezy-3-: “I dig the return to the 300 series look. I played a 360Ti in high school, loved that club. A buddy of mine broke it attempting an ill-fated Happy Gilmore swing at the range the night before the high school state tournament. That was the origins of my golf club hoing.”
- ASN21: “I am a little curious to try a 13.5 head.”
Join the discussion here.
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Equipment
A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic
Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.
Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.
We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.
Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).
See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here
Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge
Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.
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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.
See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here
Turning Back the clock
Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.
But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.
For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.
Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.
The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.
The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.
Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter
Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.
Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.
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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.
If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.
Brilliant.
See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here
Stricker’s unrecognizable putter
Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.
Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.
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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates
Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.
Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.
It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.
Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines
Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.
Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.
FitzMagic teams back up
Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.
See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here
And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.
We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!
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Whats in the Bag
Alejandro Tosti WITB 2024 (April)
- Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 80 TX
Hybrid: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue (22 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 6.5 100
Irons: Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack (50-10 MID, 54-10 MID, 58-10 MID, 60-06 LOW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100, S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
Check out more in-hand photos of Alejandro Tosti’s WITB in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Drew Brees WITB 2024 (April)
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Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper (13.5 degrees)
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (19 degrees)
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (4-8, PW), TaylorMade P760 (9)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09, 56-10, 60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2 Prototype
Check out more in-hand photos of Drew Brees’ clubs here.
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Pingback: Dustin Johnson using a mini-driver at the 2021 U.S. Open?, Mickelson spotted with new TaylorMade mini-driver – GolfWRX
Discount Immediately
Jun 3, 2021 at 5:23 am
Just print “Chicken Stick” on it.
TL
Jun 2, 2021 at 10:15 am
either there’s information missing here, or there’s an error
the pictures show an 11.5* loft head. if that’s adjustable +/- 2*, that would mean 9.5* to 13.5* range. the article states it can be weakened up to 15.5*
is there also a 13.5* head coming out? or is there a typo above?
Dugan
Jun 2, 2021 at 11:02 am
Come on guy. They do at least 2 head models of mini drivers.
Benny
Jun 4, 2021 at 8:37 pm
Yeah guy!!
Jason
Jun 2, 2021 at 9:12 am
Why not just buy a driver from 20 years ago off of ebay?
Donn Rutkoff
Jun 2, 2021 at 2:59 pm
The shaft. Hopefully Taylor will offer a bunch of shaft choices. I think shafts are more improved than heads. I would put a new shaft on a 10 or 20 yr old head, but not vice versa.
Brandon
Jun 2, 2021 at 7:39 pm
I have a ProForce V2 in a M2 head that is my backup driver. Still a beast.
Morgan
Jun 2, 2021 at 8:20 pm
Which driver from 20 years ago has this sort of technology exactly?
Jason
Jun 5, 2021 at 7:52 pm
What advances in technology does this throwback to twenty years ago have exactly?
Jason
Jun 6, 2021 at 4:44 pm
What technological advancements does this throwback to a driver from 20 years ago possess that would make a player better, exaclty?
jima9426
Jun 19, 2021 at 10:54 pm
Let’s see. MOI. CG. Shaft. Adjustability