Tony Finau was in the headlines at the Masters for his decision to put a second Ping G430 LST driver in the bag. But unlike Phil Mickelson, who put the double-driver setup on the map during his 2006 triumph at Augusta National, Finau wasn’t looking for different shot shapes off the tee.
In search of a club that carried 285-290 yards off the tee, Finau quickly realized his 3-wood couldn’t get the job done, so he had Ping’s Tour team build a shorter 10.5-degree G430 LST driver at 44.5 inches. That was in addition to the 7.75-degree G430 LST gamer (45.25 inches) already in the bag.
The unconventional setup likely caused some golfers to question if they’d be better off dabbling in the world of dual drivers. After all, a shorter-length driver with a 460cc head sounds like a great option if you can’t hit a 3-wood — even if you struggle to hit it off the deck. Every golfer needs a secondary option that’s reliable, forgiving and consistent.
If you’re inclined to give two drivers a shot, Kris McCormack, True Spec’s VP of Tour and Education, says you’d be better off pumping the brakes and trying a more versatile option that could fill the carry void.
“I’d be inclined to point someone in the direction of a mini driver over a shorter conventional driver,” McCormack said on GOLF’s Fully Equipped podcast. “As we’ve talked about several times before, spin keeps the ball in the air and in play.
“The mini driver is going to be shorter, more compact and easier to hit than a conventional driver for some people. For whatever reason, a lot of players in the amateur realm get driver in their hands and lose facial awareness, the shaft gets long and the angles they create become a lot more inconsistent than what you see when they’re swinging within themselves with a fairway wood or hybrid.”
TaylorMade’s BRNR Mini has been a bag staple for Tommy Fleetwood and Adam Scott and recently earned a spot in Rory McIlroy’s setup. While the head is only 304cc (versus 460cc), the strong loft, shorter length shaft (43.75 inches) and deeper face make it a good option if you need more distance and constantly struggle with making consistent impact with a fairway wood.
“The mini is a great option for the player who may have good success with the fairway wood but tends to be a little more shallow with their angle of attack,” McCormack continued. “Or even somebody who has a positive angle of attack with their fairway woods. It gives them a better option off the tee than the oversized 460cc head at 44 inches.”
A shorter driver might appear to be an equipment cheat code, but you’d likely be better off spending your time testing more reliable options. In many cases, it could wind up being a mini product that helps get your tee game back on track.
Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.
