TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver vs Driver vs 3 wood and other FAQs...
Is the TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver just a 3 wood? Is it harder to hit than a driver? Is it a beginners' driver? All your questions answered.
So, after we tested the TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver on the course, we’ve been getting a lot of enquiries on it.
And most of them are about how different it is from the SIM2 Max or any other “normal” driver, and whether there’s any difference from a 3 wood.
Let’s dive right in.
“Normal” Driver vs Taylor Made 300 Mini Driver
First, the specs.
A “normal” driver typically has a shaft between 45” and 45.5”, with some going up to 46” which is the limit for USGA conforming clubs. The 300 Mini Driver on the other hand, has a 43.5” shaft. The one we tested on the course was built to 44”.
The 300 Mini Driver also has a little more loft than a “normal” driver, with options for 11.5 or 13.5 degrees, and normal drivers typically have lofts between around 8-12 degrees.
Both the shorter shaft and having more loft, make the 300 Mini Driver a lot easier to control than a “normal” driver.
It does have a smaller head than a “normal” driver’s 460cc head (this is 300cc), but it is surprisingly forgiving.
In our on course test, the 300 Mini Driver did not miss a fairway all day!
Also after rigorous testing, we know that it has a much tighter dispersion than “normal” drivers.
It does carry a little shorter than a driver, if you’re hitting your driver well. So far, 8 in 10 amateurs we’ve fitted hit the 300 Mini Driver longer than their own driver before it was properly fitted.
So, if you’re struggling with your driver, you owe it to yourself to give the 300 Mini Driver a try.
👉 Click here to book your club Demo (15 mins, Free)
👉 Click here to book your fitting session with All Bonuses (includes 1 hour, $125 fitting fee waived upon purchase of any club, and Free 3 Session 12 month Smashing Fits Guarantee) (This link is to our Whatsapp, we will get back to you within a day.)
Is the TaylorMade 300 Mini a beginners’ driver?
Phil Mickelson who’s not endorsed by TaylorMade carries one Mini Driver in his bag, plus spares.
Dustin Johnson also carries one, but he’s endorsed by TaylorMade.
If you’d like the details check out our main review of the TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver.
Why not just use a 3 wood instead of the TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver?
The main difference is the head size, in particular the height.
This makes the 300 Mini Driver much easier to hit off a tee than a 3 wood.
From a specification perspective, a typical 3 wood is 43” to 43.25”, and the 300 Mini Driver we already know is 43.5”, marginally longer, and with less loft than a 15 degree 3 wood.
All this makes it easier to hit, and to launch longer off the tee than a 3 wood.
However, the tall face height makes the CG higher than a 3 wood.
This, together with having less loft, and a longer shaft makes this harder to hit off the deck than a 3 wood.
Not impossible, because we did hit it off the deck in our on course test, but it certainly isn’t as easy as a 3 wood off the deck.
👉 Click here to book your club Demo (15 mins, Free)
👉 Click here to book your fitting session with All Bonuses (includes 1 hour, $125 fitting fee waived upon purchase of any club, and Free 3 Session 12 month Smashing Fits Guarantee) (This link is to our Whatsapp, we will get back to you within a day.)
Would you use the TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver as your main driver or spare driver?
Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson both use them as spare drivers.
Personally, we think that it’s a great club to have when the course that you’re playing needs a club that that’s length and where you need the control off the tee, since it does carry a little shorter, but with a much tighter dispersion pattern.
Alternatively, come in and see if this hits it longer than your main driver. Many customers have found that it does, and then they have the option of fitting their main driver, or fitting this and seeing what does better.
👉 Click here to book your club Demo (15 mins, Free)
👉 Click here to book your fitting session with All Bonuses (includes 1 hour, $125 fitting fee waived upon purchase of any club, and Free 3 Session 12 month Smashing Fits Guarantee) (This link is to our Whatsapp, we will get back to you within a day.)
What would be your next club if you carried the TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver as your main driver?
Let’s say you found that the TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver should be your main driver, your next club should be or 4 or 5 wood, something between 16.5 and 17 degrees.
Don’t worry, we can help you sort that out so that you have proper gaps between all your clubs. We cover this in our Distance & Direction Guarantee (Terms & Conditions Apply).
👉 Click here to book your club Demo (15 mins, Free)
👉 Click here to book your fitting session with All Bonuses (includes 1 hour, $125 fitting fee waived upon purchase of any club, and Free 3 Session 12 month Smashing Fits Guarantee) (This link is to our Whatsapp, we will get back to you within a day.)
If the main advantage of the TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver is the head size and shorter shaft, can I build my full size driver head to 44” and have a club that’s even easier to hit than the 300 Mini Driver?
Well, technically, yes you can.
However, or most mainstream or big brand drivers (TaylorMade, Titleist, Callaway, etc), the club will not feel right, because the head will be too light, even if we changed the removable weights to heavier weights, which will then change the head’s launch characteristics.
We have however had success with doing that with a Krank driver head.
Since we're also the custom shop for Krank Golf, we can arrange for you to try together with the TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver or any other TaylorMade, Titleist, Mizuno, Srixon driver heads as these have all appointed us as their custom shop.
👉 Click here to book your club Demo (15 mins, Free)
👉 Click here to book your fitting session with All Bonuses (includes 1 hour, $125 fitting fee waived upon purchase of any club, and Free 3 Session 12 month Smashing Fits Guarantee) (This link is to our Whatsapp, we will get back to you within a day.)
Never go out and get any club or shaft without first trying them out.
At Smashing Drives' Custom Shop, you'll be able to try out any club with any shaft, at our golf simulation room, as well as our full length driving range.
We’re also the Custom Shop for TaylorMade, Titleist, Mizuno, Srixon, and numerous other brands including a wide range of shafts.
Plus, our Smashing Fits system enables you to try any head with any shaft, so you can find the perfect clubs, perfectly fitted for you
Our Master Fitter, Jef, has fitted Tour Professionals and thousands of amateurs.
We stand by our fitting with our 12 month Distance & Direction Guarantee.
We will never try to sell you something you don't need.
When you purchase from us, you get a 12 month Distance & Direction Guarantee. Over 3 sessions, we will tune your distance and direction for you. Pushing you products is counter productive for us.
All clubs purchased from us will enjoy a full fitting reimbursement plus the 12 month Distance & Direction Guarantee free.
👉 Click here to book your club Demo (15 mins, Free)
👉 Click here to book your fitting session with All Bonuses (includes 1 hour, $125 fitting fee waived upon purchase of any club, and Free 3 Session 12 month Smashing Fits Guarantee) (This link is to our Whatsapp, we will get back to you within a day.)