Taylormade BRNR Mini Driver: Is It Right For You?
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- Опубликовано: 25 июл 2024
- The TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver is for golfers who want help hitting more fairways, but without sacrificing distance. Learn all about it and see how the TaylorMade BRNR Mini stacks up against a TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus driver and Stealth 2 Plus 3-wood.
00:00 Introduction
00:31 Specifications
01:52 Compared to Driver
02:36 Compared to 3-Wood
02:57 Who It's For
04:21 Mini vs. Driver Numbers
06:52 Mini vs. 3-Wood Numbers
07:55 Takeaways 
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Best BRNR review by far so well done and thank you. I agree that teeing like a 3 wood will require hitting it descending. However I would like to see it teed up like a driver - so 50% ball above driver at address, and off the deck as well. You have certainly given me enough info to demo it myself as it seems to be an interesting club and results will of course vary. I am an old timer and still have my original Burners with bubble shaft in the garage. I would love a smaller CC head on a driver as I just can’t wrap my head around the huge driver heads that are common these days. Feels like I am swinging a VW.
Diddo!
Nicholas,
I think skilled players will be able to tee the ball higher and hit a BRNR Mini with an upward strike, and I did hit a few good shots like that, but my thinking is that you reach for a club like this for consistency. I mini driver should be a fairway finder, and for me, I saw better results with the ball teed lower. I HIGHLY recommend finding a good fitter who will use a launch monitor during your fitting to ensure you get numbers and data. If you can find one that will let you demo the BRNR Mini on the course, even better. You need to find the setup that matches your swing and needs the best.
Thanks for the comment and I hope you will consider subscribing to my channel. I'm just getting started with this and there are some cool things in the works. - DD
You are really good at this. Very refreshing to hear someone speak so clearly and explain things so thoroughly.
Thanks, that really nice of you to say. I'm new at this, so hopefully future videos will be even better. I hope you will consider subscribing to my channel as there's a lot more coming soon. - DD
You can change ball position in feet, tee up slightly, and hit up on it without compromising 3 wood. Got an 11.5, turned down to 9.5. Replaced my old burner driver with this which I carried 275. With the 9.5 setting I carry 285 with this and I like the shorter shaft, helps me keep a consistent feel when going to my fairway woods. I only drop this comment because I was worried about distance but if you’re someone like me whose been using a 10 yr old driver (which I preferred teeing low already because I have no problem with loft), averages about 85, and loves their fairway woods, this is a very unique option. Most of your golf buds will give you sh!t but when your in the fairway twice as often and even out drive them with your “baby” driver (as they like to call it) it’ll all be worth it.
Dante,
If you were hitting a 10-year-old driver 275, then obviously you've got some nice speed in your swing, so the option of teeing the ball up slightly and going with mini driver can certainly work for you. For most golfers, players that don't have your speed but who are intrigued by what a mini driver can do, I think a sweeping-style swing will be the easiest way to get consistent results.
Your point on distance is worth noting for other readers. A shorter shaft will, all things being equal, lead to a slightly slower swing, but if you hit the ball more solidly, can make up for the loss of speed with better efficiency. I play a slightly shorter drive for this exact reason. I'm faster at 45 1/2", but I hit the ball more solidly -- and my dispersion is tighter with a 45" driver -- so that's what I use.
Thanks for the comment and I hope you will subscribe to my channel. - DD
You don't have to have a descending blow to hit this. I got mine today, teed it up just like a driver, half the ball above the crown, and hit it high and long.
Yea exactly, I'm surprised he never dove into teeing it up, it works a treat. Mini driver not mini 3 wood
Just got the 11.5 brnr hitting roughly the same distance as my tsr3 but getting better dispersion very happy with it 😊and great video david as always very professional and clear information 👏👍👏
I just got the BRNR and tested it in my backyard (tomorrow is the range and in 2 days on course). 100% agree with your assessment on hitting it downward. I tried to driver launch and failed miserably. Once I hit it like a fairway wood, it took off albeit with a fairly low trajectory. (I am one of these people who slice the driver to the fairway next to the one I am aiming at and prefer a 3W off the tee - this option seems quite interesting)> Also I got the 11.5 .. maybe I will increase loft and see how it behaves..
Having a 300mini myself this is a good explanation of some of the differences/benefits of a mini vs a 3 wood. Alot of people don't really understand this club and who it may benefit.
I appreciate the comment and hope you will subscribe to my channel. There's a lot more coming soon. - DD
Excellent review thank you. You are the first reviewer I have heard that has identified that you need to hit the BRNR like a 3 wood - downward and not upward like a driver. I always hit 3 wood off the deck on the tee and fairway as my driver is wayward so I think this may be the club for me.
Thanks for the comment. It sounds like this club is definitely worth looking into for you. Be sure to work with a good custom fitter who has access to a launch monitor so you can dial in the ideal loft and shaft.
Again, thanks for the comment, and I hope you will consider subscribing to my channel. I’m new at this, but there’s some cool stuff coming in the weeks ahead.
@@DavidDusek Thanks David. Will definitely try this club as I think it is what I am after. Great review so I will subscribe to see more content.
Very nice video and explanations
Dude, you just explained exactly what I was questioning. Great video!
Awesome, thank you! The TaylorMade BRNR is a very interesting club and could be very useful for a lot of golfers. Be sure to work with a custom fitter to get the ideal loft, moveable weights and shaft combination.
Again, thanks for the comment and I hope you will subscribe to my channel. - DD
I bought this club immediately when it came out because it was so old school Taylormade, I had to have it. It has been the most significant club purchase I have ever made! It's given me absolute control with reliable distance. it's not driver long, but it's easy mode 3 wood distance with mid iron control. It's by far my favorite club.
forgot to mention! excellent review!
Thanks Eric. That’s very kind of you to write. I think your impression of the BRNR Mini driver is a common one … improved accuracy off the tee thanks to a slightly shorter shaft and extra loft, with more length than a typical 3-wood. It’s a sweet combination.
I hope you’ll subscribe to my channel. I’m still new at this, but there are some very cool things planned for this summer. - DD
No worries, hit the subscribe button 15 seconds in. Like your review style.
Excellent video! Thank you for your time and effort.
Thanks, that’s very nice of you to say. I hope you consider subscribing to my channel. There’s lots of really cool stuff coming this spring and summer.
@@DavidDusek great point! I have subscribed! I am looking forward to future content.
Update: Today I demo'd the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver (11.5* / Stiff stock shaft). It didn't outperform my 3w (13.5* / Stiff) enough for the price point of $449 +tx.
You deserve more subs. Great video
Thanks! I am new to this, so I think it will take a while to build up some numbers, but making content like this is fun, so more is on the way. I hope that you'll subscribe. - DD
Just got a 13.5, lofted up one notch to 14.25. Clubface is now closed 2 degrees. This is perfect for me to hit draws of the tee, which is hard with modern drivers. Will hit a driver for fades.
I've tried it off the deck, harder than a 3 wood but not impossible.
Hitting a high draw with a driver is tough, even for tour pros, which is why you see a lot of them going to a 3-wood when they really want to bend one from right to left. Drivers are "fade clubs" for a lot of players, so if you worked with a fitter and found a club and setting that can give you a draw off the tee, you're set. TaylorMade told me designers worked on the turf interaction with the BRNR Mini, but with that little loft, most players won't generate the spin they need to generate a lot of lift, so the ball flight will be very low.
Thanks for the comment and hope you will subscribe to my channel. There's a lot more coming soon. - DD
Small sample, but you and I have similar numbers. I hit my 3 wood really well and the driver not so much. I need to get into a golf shop and try the Mini Driver. Very good review.
Thanks for the kind words. You hit the nail on the head ... you have to try it, ideally with the help of a fitter and a launch monitor.
It would be great if you would subscribe to my channel. There's some very cool stuff coming, including videos and Shorts from the PGA Championship next week at Oak Hill. I'll be there all week. - DD
I have a 300 Mini and it was a great 3 wood replacement since I only ever hit 3 wood off the tee. But, I ended up being able to grip down on my actual driver and simulate a 3 wood distance. So, I end up not really ever using my Mini Driver. But that would also have been the case with a 3 wood.
Note, it did work for me tee’d up more like a driver. I had 2-3 AoA with it off the tee and it worked really well.
Rob,
There is no way for me to know for sure, but if you are more successful hitting a driver after you grip down on it, maybe you should consider getting fit for a driver that has a shorter overall length. Like a mini driver or a 3-wood, you will typically create less clubhead speed with shorter driver, but if you strike the ball more solidly and feel more confident with it, you could gain accuracy without sacrificing much distance. Just a thought.
Thanks for the comment and I hope you will subscribe to my channel. - DD
You CAN hit it like a driver. Those of us who've been in the game for awhile remember when steel-shafted drivers were the same length as this Mini. Tee it up properly and hit it like a driver.
Tee it higher like a driver to hit up on it. I disagree with you that you have to hit down on it.
I get it, but my own experience was that I got better results teeing it lower and sweeping it. I imagine that better players will be able to hit up into the ball with a mini driver, but anyone who doesn’t find the center of the face consistently might find that hard to do.
Regardless, thanks for the comment and I hope you’ll consider subscribing to my channel. I’ve got some cool stuff on the way. - DD
I've played 4 generations of the mini driver from TM, including this variation. This one is the best so far, by far. It is a 3-wood replacement for me, but I'm long enough that I seldom hit it off the turf. So I have the 13.5 version so I can hit it off the turf, but it really is a driver substitute. It is my fairway finder! I drive the ball about 275 (total) with my Titleist, and 255 with the TM Mini. It's a great option for those tighter holes. The last 3-wood I played was the Rocketballz. I've been using the mini ever since. And again, this one is far superior to all prior versions.
Can't say I get 275 from my Mini but @ 63yo I am hitting this up like a driver and seeing 230-250 with an easy swing. I could never hit a driver but I can smash this down the middle, its a fun club to hit.
"I crushed it!" ball carried 219 yard LOL!
Great video! I just want to try one because I never really liked the big headed driver! I hit too much up on the big drivers and my contact is low on the face.
The best way to know if it’s for you is to try one with a fitter who can put you on a launch monitor. Hit your driver, then your 3-wood, then try the mini driver and see what the best combination of clubs might be. - DD
Great video. Curious about your swing speeds with the MB. I'm that person that often gets too steep with my driver and flair off the slice. When I nut it I'm get 260-280 but those are 2, maybe 3 a round. The rest are all over the place. 3 wood off the tee is more consistently in play but I can loose a lot of distance. I picked up an old SLDR Mini, in 16 degree, because it was the cheapest way for me to try out a mini driver outside of a store. I also figured that at 16 degrees it might make a great 3 wood replacement even if it didn't replace the driver. It took two rounds but I'm getting 242 average overall with about 4 out of 5 fairways hit on average. The first few didn't go well since I was still thinking driver swing, but when I got into a mindset of fairway wood of tee it flies. So now I've got an 11.5 MB coming in tomorrow. Don't know if I'll keep two mini drivers in the bag, probably go to a 3 wood knocked up or a 5 wood to gap with my favorite club in the bag, outside my putter, the 7 wood.
Bill,
My typical clubhead speed with a driver is around 104, and as you saw in the video, my carry is around 245 or 250. I did not measure my clubhead speed with the BRNR Mini, but I suspect that with the shorter shaft and not getting into a rhythm (hit a few shots, move the camera, hit two more, move the camera, etc.) I was swinging around 95-97 mph with it.
It sounds like you have a good plan, but be mindful of the distance gaps between your clubs. At the top of your bag, 15-18 yards is OK, but as you transition from your last wood to your first hybrid or iron, you want the gaps to tighten to around 10-12 yards. Don't get hung up on lofts, just thinnk of your clubs as tools to produce distances and ball flights. Thanks again for the comment and good luck. - DD
Great video. What’s baffling for me is that TaylorMade decided to make the 11.5 for lefties but not the 13.5. Obviously they know the sales numbers on previous mini drivers and I don’t … but if they were only going to give lefties one option, I would have thought the 13.5 would be more versatile for a lot of people. I’d have strongly considered one in between my 8 degree driver and 18 degree 5 wood as a secondary tee club. Oh well, hopefully next time!
Eric,
I suspect that you answered your own question. I have been told by several brands that they lose money by offering left-handed versions of better-player irons, which is the smallest segment of the iron business. The market for mini drivers is very small, so I assume the market for left-handed mini drivers is VERY small, so TaylorMade opted to make only one loft available. The 11.5-degree version makes it a true mini driver, capable of going down to 9.5 degrees or up to 13.5 degrees thanks to the adjustable hosel. The companies sales data must have indicated this would cover the majority of players ... I assume. If you wind up trying one, let me know what you think.
Thanks for the comment and I hope you'll consider subscribing to my channel. - DD
@@DavidDusek That’s a bummer to hear about sales on better-player irons being so weak. As someone who loved the 2021 model of the P7MCs, that’s bad news!
But, it makes sense. Also helps to explain why Mizuno typically only offers one or two options for lefties in their iron releases. (I liked the JPX 921 SEL set-up, giving us a combo set.) And it makes me appreciate brands that do offer their entire lineup for lefties. Ping is great about this, and Titleist expanding its fairway wood offerings for lefties a couple months ago was terrific (I bought the 7W in the first week it was available to us).
I hear ya on the adjustability of the 11.5. It would be a nightmare for me to loft something up and close the face, but I do understand the majority of golfers struggle with slices and are probably looking to do exactly that. Also makes sense that a lot of buyers will see it as a true driver replacement, rather than a limited-use secondary tee club.
I’ll try it out anyway though! I have a few holes on my home course where I need to hit a little less than driver, so it’s worth the experiment.
I’ve subscribed, and am looking forward to more videos like this one. Thanks for taking the time to respond! Hope you have a good one.
Thanks for subscribing. BTW ... my son is a lefty, so I feel your pain. - DD
DD: Great review. I have 3 mini-drivers and love 2 of them. As a 70+ year old golfer I'm less into distance and more into consistent fairways. BTW, one of my minis is the Original One which I have never been able to hit. I must not have been the only one because it was not around long. The SLDR and Aeroburner minis are MUCH easier for me to hit.
EB and DD: I don't see a left hand option on the site. The only choice listed for "Dexterity" is RH. Where'd you guys see the left handed info?
There is a left-hand version available in the 11.5-degree option. It may be temporarily unavailable, but that’s going to be the only lefty model. I just went to taylormadegolf.com and it was available.
If you hit it, let me know your thoughts, and thanks for the comment. I hope you will consider subscribing to my channel. - DD
Great review. I’d like to know how the mini driver worked off the deck. Distance and dispersion compared with the 3 wood
I wanted to keep the video below 10 minutes, so I opted not to hit shots off the turf with the BRNR Mini. I think the vast majority of players will use this club off the tee, so that's was my focus. For what it's worth, I teed the ball all the way down using both the BRNR Mini and the Stealth 2 3-wood, so what you saw was off identical lies.
Thanks for the comment. I hope you'll consider subscribing to my channel and keep the feedback coming. - DD
David, what’s in your bag? We need a rundown with clubs, shafts and specs!
Gotta save a few things for later this summer.
great review ....i am wanting one of these MINI BRNR drivers but am having a hard time deciding which one...13.5 or the 11.5 degree....wanna be able to hit off of fairway and use as a driver also from time to time....am 58 and swing the driver 90-95 mph..... which degrees would you think would most suit me for my needs ?.....thx....cheers from Vulcan Canada
It is impossible for me to tell you exactly which loft offering will best suit your needs, but both the 11.5-degree and the 13.5-degree heads have an adjustable hosel that allows you to increase or decrease the loft by up to 2 degrees. With your club head speed, I would suspect the the 13.5-degree option could be best, because you might benefit from a loft range of 11.5 to 15.5 degrees, but working with a good custom fitter and hitting balls on a launch monitor is the best way to discover your ideal option.
Thanks for the question and subscription to my channel. - DD
Would like to have seen how it hits off the deck compared to a 3-wood. I would consider this club off the tee if the shot requires more shape than I'm comfortable attempting with my driver. But it's not going to replace my driver. If it replaces anything, it's my 3-wood. I would use it mostly for the second shot on par 5s, or the second shot on a par 4 to rescue a weak drive. If it's not any harder to hit off the deck than a 3-wood, I'd go driver, mini driver, and 4-wood. I think that would give me more versatility and more length at the long end of my set, which could result in shorter shots into the green, which is the goal here. The question remains whether it's not any harder to hit off the deck than a 3-wood.
The BRNR Mini driver is a little harder to hit off the deck, for most golfers, because it has a deeper face. Yes, it has a very low and deep center of gravity, which should help to get the ball airborne, but from the fairway, you need a lot of speed to generate spin and lift. I think most recreational golfers will struggle with that. Most 3-woods, with a loft of 15 degrees, will be easier to hit consistently, but the only way for you to really know how your swing and game match up with the BRNR Mini driver is to try one with a club fitter watching and using a launch monitor. - DD
Interesting results for you. I actually use a 43” shaft in my 300 mini driver and I play it anywhere from 9.5 to the 12d setting, depending on what I am using it for. Am I using it like a driver off the tee that day or as a 3 wood off the tee. I don’t what to disagree with you, but you can absolutely set up and hit it like a driver off the tee. My mini numbers at 9.5 are around 275-280 with 12 launch and 2000-2400 spin.
Those are some unreal numbers for a mini driver, so obviously you are making very solid contact and probably pummel your driver. You're an outlier. My goal with the video was to talk about how the BRNR Mini might react for most players. As you saw on the video, my typical driver shots goes about 245-250 in the air, and most golfers are shorter than that. With your speed and smash factor, the dynamics of the club could work differently. Most golfers can't get a 460cc driver to give them your numbers!
I appreciate the comment and hope you will subscribe to my channel. There's a lot more coming soon. - DD
Yes. I do understand that, but was trying to point out if you tee it up and hit up on it like a driver you can get similar numbers, assuming all launch conditions are the same. I play a Paradigm TD at 9d, with a Ventus Black however due to the shorter shaft in the Mini I am much more consistent with it. I’ve dabbled with a shorter shaft but cringe at cutting down a $400 shaft..perhaps I will have the Kai’li White it came with cut down.
Btw like your presentation. I will sub and I also use the same launch monitor as you.
@@jasonpritchard5081 Thanks. Ventus Black is serious lumber.
I play off a 15 and hit driver relatively well however I tend to lose it here and there and those shots go OB quickly for me.
Distance isn’t an issue for me as I hit my 3 hybrid 230.
That said I hit a 3 wood poorly.
I’m interested in testing this out purely as a back up to my driver when things can get out of sorts.
Being the high handicapper when things get weird they typically stay that way until I can sleep on it..
My best rounds have come from hybrid off every tee and the driver/3wood stay at home. Club speed with driver 110 but usually not very efficient. 270 carry regular.
I’ll update when mine arrives. But I will be testing it with the stock stuff shaft in 13.5
Also you gained a sub being clear and concise. The fact you don’t have your level club speed or “build” also makes this content very relatable and easier to digest.
Thanks for the kind words Connor. I'm new at RUclips, but have been writing about golf and golf equipment since 2002, so I feel comfortable talking about gear. I just need to develop a style and get used to the technology. - DD
The resurrection of the 2 wood??
The BRBR Mini is certainly not for everyone, but it is an interesting club to hit.
@@DavidDusek I'm in the process of revamping my whole set of clubs. A new set of irons arrive tomorrow. I plan to be fitted for a possible new driver. I am using the TM Sim2 Max right now. It will be hard to find a better replacement but I need to dial in the right shaft. The BRNR might be a good option since I cannot reach the par 5's in 2 on my course with a driver and my 3-wood. I think a driver, the BRNR, and a 3 and 5 wood would provide me with good gaping.
Thanks for the review, very helpful.
Descending blow with a high tee, you're going to sky the ball.
210-ish carry numbers sound extremely low.
What can I tell you, I'm getting old. At 52, my speed is down a little, but over the last month I've played a few rounds with the BRNR Mini and the overall distance for me is around 225 to 235 yards. Now that courses in my area (New England) are firming up, that's about 25 yards less than my total driver distance. However, I hit the BRNR Mini straighter. It sounds amazing too. Depending on the course, I think this could take the place of my standard 3-wood, give me about 12-15 more yards of distance and not create an unmanageable gap to my 7-wood. - DD
I disagree with this. I have had it for a week, and I tee it up and it performs well. I’ve been hitting at about 270 off the tee. David just doesn’t have the swing speed need to really take advantage of this club. He’s probably a good golfer but this thing can be much longer and straighter than a badly struck driver
Kev,
Great to hear you are getting good performance out of your new BRNR Mini. It's possible that you're right, with my clubhead speed with a driver being around 103-105 mph, I may not have the juice to maximize this club as a driver in the way that you could. That said, I respectfully disagree with your last point, that the BRNR Mini "can be much longer and straighter than a badly struck driver."
A typical driver, with a 460cc volume, will have a bigger face and a center of gravity that is lower and deeper than a BRNR Mini driver. That means ball speed on badly-struck shots is protected more by drivers than by the BRNR Mini. Drivers will also have a higher moment of inertia, which means a driver will resist twisting on off-center hits more effectively than a BRNR Mini, so mis-hit shots should fly straighter. If you meant to write that a BRNR Mini can be much longer and straighter than a badly struck 3-wood, I would agree with you because the BRNR Mini's bigger face, lower CG and higher MOI will compensate for a poor strike better than a 3-wood.
I appreciate your comment and wish you nothing but success and lower scores with your BRNR Mini ... unless you're playing against me. Hope you will subscribe to my channel. - DD
I think your swing monitor is broken, there is no way you are carrying the ball over 200 yds.
Who the hell would ever hit up on ball teed low?
Stop calling it a mini driver, it's a 2 wood.
like all mini drivers it's pointless.