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Jake Knapp discusses why he opts for a mini driver instead of a 3-wood

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The following is an excerpt from a piece we filed for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head on over there for the full story, which also includes the Mexico Open winner discussing how he configures his PXG irons set up. 

Knapp may be a Tour rookie, but he’s experienced enough to know what works for him. And it’s not a 3-wood.

“I put in a 3-wood every once in a while, but I was just never able to find one that I loved,” Knapp told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday. “Three woods, in general, I just hit on the bottom of the face. They spin a lot and don’t go anywhere.”

Rather than using a fairway wood, Knapp goes with a TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver that has 13.5 degrees of loft. The club complements his 9-degree Ping G425 LST driver.

During a fitting session in Oklahoma last year, Knapp told his fitter he was looking for a club that goes 286 yards, and his first three shots with the mini driver went between 285 and 290.

“It’s just an easier club to hit than a 3-wood,” Knapp explained. “It spins more off the ground, but I don’t need it off the ground too often. And from 270+ yards away, you’re not really trying to be too precise. You’re just trying to get it up around the green most of the time. So, for me, it’s really just a tee club and kind of a fairway finder for me.”

Read more here and check out Jake Knapp’s full WITB below.

Driver: Ping G425 LST (9 degrees @7.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5

Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver (13.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 95 6.5

Irons: Srixon ZU85 (2), PXG 0311 X (4), PXG 0211 ST (5-PW) 
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei White Hybrid 100 TX (2), KBS Tour C-Taper 130 X (4-PW)

Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II (52-10), Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (56.5-10S), WedgeWorks (60-T @61)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper 130 X (52, 56), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour Double Bend
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour SGP 1.0

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1 Left Dot

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5 Comments

5 Comments

  1. Brandon

    Feb 28, 2024 at 8:13 pm

    Same reason I carry a cobra big tour 3 wood. I almost never hit it off the turf. Feel much more confident with a hybrid than I do with any 3 wood I’ve ever owned, and if I can’t reach a long par 5 in 2,so be it.

  2. Brian

    Feb 28, 2024 at 5:13 pm

    Wonder why he didn’t hit this off the tee when he was missing just about every fairway on Sunday with his driver?

  3. Chuck

    Feb 28, 2024 at 3:14 pm

    286.
    With “3”-wood.
    In the late 1990’s, the longest hitter on Tour was John Daly. He was the Tour driving distance leader for 11 out of 12 years. 1991-2002. And before the advent of the Pro-V1 and multilayer urethane balls, Daly’s Tour-leading driving distance averages were between 288 and 299.
    And now the Tour distance leaders are in the 320’s.

    • eastpointe

      Feb 29, 2024 at 8:40 am

      Imagine how far he would have hit the ball if he followed a fraction of the fitness regiment that the vast majority of players today do.

      • Chuck

        Feb 29, 2024 at 10:06 am

        There is of course an argument to be made that the ultra-low-spin technologies of the 21st century naturally (and even rightly?!) encourage and reward more fitness, more aggressive athleticism (less golfer technical skill in controlling spin) because spin is so well controlled on long shots by the urethane balls and high tech composite shafts and multimaterial alloy heads. That’s fine.

        It doesn’t answer the question of why not keep that multilayer urethane ball technology, but just roll back the overall distance significantly. Which is what the ruling bodies are beginning to attempt.

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Equipment

Mitsubishi launches Diamana BB shaft

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Mitsubishi has today launched the second in the latest generation of the brand’s Diamana Series, the smooth-feeling, mid-launching BB profile.

We originally spotted the BB at the U.S. Open in June where Phil Mickelson was seen testing the shaft.

Like its lower-launching counterpart, WB, the Diamana BB features the latest proprietary material and structural technologies – including Consistent Feel Design for greater fitting efficacy and Xlink Tech Resin System in design to enhance structural strength – all wrapped in the flower and surf iconography synonymous with the brand since the original launch in 2004.

As with all “blue” color-coded Mitsubishi shafts, Diamana BB – the ‘BB’ designation stands for “Blue Board” – is a mid-launch, mid-spin profile most suitable for golfers looking to increase the launch trajectory off the tee while also maximizing speed and distance.

To ensure the “pure feel” distinction, Mitsubishi has utilized its proprietary Xlink Tech Resin System to increase overall strength and durability of the shaft while also driving carbon fiber volume up. That carbon fiber – both 80-ton Dialead pitch fiber in the handle and 46-ton throughout the angle plies – not only increases energy transfer, but also lowers torque for greater stability.

“We are humbled by the level of excitement we’ve seen from consumers and industry partners alike for this new generation of Diamana. Though people do really love the new look, this new shaft series goes beyond just its retro cosmetic, said Mark Gunther, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing at Mitsubishi Chemical Sporting Goods Division. “Golfers who try DiamanaTM BB will immediately recognize the performance characteristics and feel so often associated with the Diamana Blue Board franchise. The Diamana brand originally started with a mid-launch blue board profile back in 2005 and we believe this new BB profile to be a worthy modern-day, successor.” 

The all-new Diamana BB will be available for pre-order at select retailers beginning in mid-July and at authorized online retailers and club fitters worldwide beginning September 6, 2024 with an MSRP of $400.

Additional specs below. 

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Equipment

Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (7/1/24): Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Ti 340 Mini-Driver

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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Ti 340 Mini-Driver.

From the seller: (@tigercolt77): “Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Ti 340 Mini Driver 13.5 right handed, new still in plastic head only plus headcover. Asking $410 obo shipped.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Ti 340 Mini-Driver 

This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules

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Whats in the Bag

Cam Davis’ winning WITB: 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic

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Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, B3 SureFit setting) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X

3-wood: Titleist TSR3 (15 degrees, B2 SureFit setting) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X

Irons: Titleist T100 (3) Buy here, Titleist 620 CB (4-PW) Buy here.
Shafts: KBS Tour V 120 X

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F) Buy here, WedgeWorks (60-04L) Buy here.
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron TourType Special Select Masterful Prototype Buy here. 

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

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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