Mini drivers are in every single place proper now.
They’re one of many hottest tools traits, each on the skilled excursions and with membership golfers, however are removed from a one-size-fits all sort of membership.
A hybrid mixture of a standard driver and a fairway wooden, they’re primarily designed to be as correct as a three-wood and so long as a driver. On the opening, mini drivers are constructed to strike that good steadiness between management and distance.
Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose are simply a few the world’s prime 10 golfers to have one within the bag. In actual fact their recognition is kind of astounding.
One in 4 professionals on the 2025 BMW Championship selected to have a mini driver in play. While, 25 to 30% of the sphere on the 2026 Masters additionally utilised one.
It’s truthful to say then, that the mini driver has carved out a novel area out there. But there nonetheless appears to be a little bit of confusion as to who ought to use them.
In keeping with PGA certified golf coach Jack Backhouse, there are a number of forms of golfers who stand to profit most from placing one in play.
Talking on the Your Golf by NCG podcast, he defined that they serve totally different functions relying on the participant and their potential.
Are mini drivers best for you?
“There’s two forms of folks I feel use them,” mentioned Backhouse.
“There’s somebody who hits the ball a very good distance. They’re truly utilizing a mini driver, as a result of a driver goes inappropriately far for a number of the holes that they find yourself enjoying.
“So if there’s a hazard at 280 (yards) the motive force can’t fly it, however can go in it, mini driver would possibly lay wanting it, for instance.
“Equally they’re not utilizing a 3 wooden as a result of it’s a much bigger head, so it’s extra forgiving. While you hit the ball a very good distance, you don’t truly hit many three woods off the bottom.”
This strategic strategy might go an extended technique to explaining why some lots of the prime gamers have adopted one and why current main championships have featured a rising variety of them.
For membership golfers, although, Backhouse feels the attraction could be very totally different. He notes they will supply a lifeline to gamers who battle to regulate a traditional driver.
“The opposite particular person that may use a mini driver is somebody who’s simply actually, actually dangerous at utilizing a driver” he added.
“There’s a small inhabitants of golfers who, as a result of a driver has low loft and an extended shaft, they sometimes hit loopy slices of the ball, and simply can’t get something from a driver.
“The place, as a result of a mini driver has a smaller head, extra loft, shorter shaft, it’s a bit bit simpler to hit, and a bit bit simpler to maintain straight.
“In order that membership truly actually works for them. Beforehand they had been both hacking about within the timber with a driver, or utilizing a 3 wooden, and even hybrid, off the tee.”
Do good drivers of the ball want one?
Skilled golfer and fellow co-host of the podcast, agreed that mini drivers seem to fill a spot between the motive force and fairway wooden for a sure class of golfer.
But, she questioned whether or not there was a necessity in any respect for them for sturdy drivers of the golf ball.
“I do truly discover mini drivers actually fascinating, as a result of for somebody who hits my driver very well and will by no means see a mini driver getting in my setup, it’s form of fairly a distinct segment product in that sense” she defined.
“I virtually have a look at many drivers and go, I don’t actually see a spot for them in the event you’re a superb driver of the ball. However you then have a look at how a lot it’s getting used on tour, and also you have a look at who makes use of it on tour, and also you go, properly, they’re clearly utilizing it for a cause.”
Nevertheless, Backhouse identified: “I personally really feel like I would hit a mini driver straighter than a driver, and generally that feeling is sufficient.
“I discover that having extra spin helps me hit it straighter, and I feel we’re deep right into a world of excessive launch, low spin.
“However there are some individuals who virtually can’t spin it sufficient anymore, the place placing a mini driver within the bag helps maintain the ball up within the air a bit bit extra.”
