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Dustin Johnson using a mini-driver at the 2021 U.S. Open?, Mickelson spotted with new TaylorMade mini-driver

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In our forums, our members have been commenting on a potentially significant change to Dustin Johnson’s equipment setup at the 2021 U.S. Open.

Per TaylorMade Rep Chris Trott’s Instagram, included in DJ’s build sheet for this week is a mini driver with an LA Golf shaft, as well as a 15.5 degree Sim Max HL driver.

@trottiegolf

Phil Mickelson’s TaylorMade Original One mini-driver has received plenty of attention recently, as the 50-year-old utilized the club so effectively on his way to winning the 2021 PGA Championship.

In a twist, however, Lefty was spotted on Monday at Torrey Pines using TaylorMade’s latest 300 Series Mini driver which hit the USGA conforming list last month. 

Speaking to media on Monday about the utilization of a mini-driver this week, Mickelson said

“Just a 2-wood. I call it a 2-wood but it’s a mini driver. Just a 2-wood. I think at least half, if not a fraction more, of tee shots will be with that club just because the way the fairways are a little bit firmer than Farmers.

The ball runs out and it gets down there to a pretty good spot. There’s a lot of holes where it kind of turns or tightens, and I don’t really want to get to that spot. If you look at 4, you get it down too far and it starts to pinch in by the canyon. You look at the contour on 7, how much that fairway pitches. I really don’t want to get it down there.

That 2-wood, I’ll call it, seems to fit the right yardage on a lot of those holes for me.”

Our members have been speculating on the potential use of a mini-driver for DJ at Torrey and whether the move could be inspired by Phil, as the World Number One goes in search of his second U.S. Open title.

  • CCUgolfer23: “Would be interesting to see this combo since his driving last week wasn’t great.”
  • bladehunter: “Doesn’t look like a driver. Or it’s a secondary driver. Like Phil, 44 inches is a 3 wood these days.”
  • Valtiel: “DJ quite notably uses a pretty short 3-wood though, especially for his height. 42.75″ I believe. Also almost always higher lofted, 16-17*. I wonder if this is maybe something for him to turn over and goes further than his 3w?”

Check out the full discussion here.

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Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected].

4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. ND Hickman

    Jun 16, 2021 at 7:44 am

    Any news on a release date?

  2. CrashTestDummy

    Jun 15, 2021 at 10:20 am

    Not a mini-driver, it is a 2-wood. Lol.

    • Dustins Wigglestick

      Jun 15, 2021 at 11:00 pm

      2 wood doesn’t have the same marketing luster as “Mini-Driver”. I was getting worried since its been 2 or 3 years since they kicked the dust off this old gimmick.

  3. dave

    Jun 15, 2021 at 6:58 am

    Doesn’t that spec sheet say 11.5*? I think Phil’s was a 11.5* Original One set to 10.5*.

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Equipment

Spotted: Tony Finau’s driver shaft change at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open

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Tony Finau has always been known as one of the longest players on the PGA Tour, but he has recently been working on adding a little more distance. Last year, Finau averaged 118.3 mph club head speed and 178.08 mph ball speed, all while playing a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX driver shaft. This year, he has increased his club head speed to 123.93 mph and his ball speed to 183.32 mph.

However, Finau’s overall distance has decreased by two yards in that time. From a fitting perspective, something was amiss. We asked Tony about the shaft change at the Texas Children’s Hospital Open.

“[I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin. My driver’s been a little high spin for me over the last month or so, and so I just figured it was time to probably check out the equipment,” Finau said. “And it definitely showed me that I was using a shaft that’s maybe a little too tip-stiff for me, the way I load the club now. [I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin.”

Finau switched from the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX into the Diamana GT 70 TX. The newer Diamana GT has a slightly different profile than the D+ Limited with the stiffest handle section in the Diamana lineup. The mid sections between the two are similar stiffness but the tip is just slightly stiffer in the Diamana GT. Both shafts are within one gram of each other in the 70 TX. The torque rating on the GT is 0.1 higher than the D+Limited’s 2.7 measurement.

Mitsubishi lists the Diamana GT as a shaft between the mid-launching Diamana TB and the new low-launch Diamana WB shafts. For most players, it would be considered a mid/low launch and low-spin shaft option. Mitsubishi’s Xlink Tech Resin System makes sure the maximum carbon fiber content is there for smooth feel without reducing the strength of the shaft. MR70 carbon fiber is used for reinforcing the shaft and boron is used in the tip for its high strength and compression properties.

Finau is still using his trusty Ping G430 LST driver in 9 degrees and has the adjustable hosel set to -1 degree of loft (standard lie angle). Finau’s long-time favorite Lamkin UTX Green grip is installed. He definitely has a few extra wraps of tape under that grip as you can see the bulge down where the grip meets the shaft.

One final note: Per Ping’s PGA Tour rep Kenton Oates, Finau’s driver is also adjusted to play with an additional degree of loft to help dial in his desired launch.

We’ll see how he fares with the new setup this week in Houston!

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Whats in the Bag

Zac Blair WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 6 X

3-wood: TaylorMade M5 Rocket 3 (14 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution V1 X

Utility: Titleist U510 (3)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Blue 85 X

Irons: Ping i210 (4-6), Miura MB-001 (7-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 58-08M @57, 60 @61), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (52-M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 X

Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

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Whats in the Bag

Martin Trainer WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Wilson Staff Staff Model (6.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kai’li Blue 70 TX

3-wood: Wilson Staff WLabs Prototype (13 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 80 TX

Irons: Wilson Staff Staff Model (2, 4-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Wilson Staff Staff Model (52, 56, 60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Putter: Bobby Grace Greg Chalmers Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

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