I was a mini-driver skeptic. Now, this model has replaced my favorite club | I tried it

Welcome to I Tried It, a GOLF.com series about golf items — apparel, gear, accessories, etc. — that we’ve recently taken out for a spin. We’re here to give our honest, no-frills takes on the latest and greatest golf or golf-adjacent items. So, scroll down to read about what we love about golf’s newest (or new to us) products.

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Putters have been described as “emotional” clubs — in that you forge bonds with them — but, in my case, my 3-wood and I have had a special connection.

For the better part of the last five years, I have gamed a TaylorMade SIM Ti Rocket 3-wood that I picked up at the beginning of the 2020 Covid lockdowns and only got to use once for the first two months I owned it.

But it quickly became my favorite club thanks to its forgiving size, V Steel sole and low spin performance. It’s a club that also has been popular on the PGA Tour with Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland, among others, still gaming the model.

I’ve been through several full-bag fittings in my role as a gear editor, but the SIM has stayed with me. I even re-shafted it this year with a Fujikura Ventus TR Blue to help time it up better with my swing and saw even better results.

But finally, this spring, my venerable 3-wood met its match when I received the R7 Quad Mini driver.

Here is what I found using the R7 Quad Mini driver and why, for the first time, I am formally declaring that it has a permanent home in my bag.

The mini gap

Admittedly, I didn’t quite understand the purpose of a mini driver until this year. I knew it would fit into my game as more of a 3-wood replacement than a driver replacement, but my feeling was that my 3-wood was basically a mini driver already.

I could fly my 3-wood around 280 yards at a 164 mph ball speed and get it to peak around 118 feet. My ideal trajectory is around 120 to 125 so that is nearly right on the money. But here’s the issue: In the five shots I took in the test, the club spun only around 2,600 rpm on average.

Drivers

That’s nearly a perfect driver spin number, but with a 3-wood, it can lead to some inconsistency, with mishits falling out of the air, or shots going unexpectedly far. Sure, being able to hit a 3-wood 280 and roll out to 295 or 300 is great, but I’m not often faced with that shot on the course. More often than not, I’m using a 3-wood because I need to hit it less than 300 or 290 yards.

If I have to hit less than driver, I don’t want to give up 50 yards and hit a hybrid because my 3-wood goes too far, too.

When I tested the R7 — and other mini drivers (the Quad is just the one I like the best, you might find you like another one better!) — I got similar ball speed numbers (164 mph), but higher spin (3,200) and higher peak height (125). Moreover, I was getting far more ball speed consistency, owing to the larger clubface and higher MOI.

Spin is your friend and it’s going to help you hit straighter shots. So if I can get more of it and still retain the speed, that’s a great thing.

The ball was also flying about 10 yards shorter (270) and rolling out to 290, a much more useful number for me. The mini driver just simply gapped better for me than the 3-wood right now.

A 3-wood you can swing like a driver

Here’s where I realized the benefits of a mini driver over a 3-wood. With the larger head size and deeper face, you can tee a mini driver higher and swing it more like a driver than a 3-wood.

Drivers

Trackman says I hit up on both a 3-wood on a tee and a mini driver on a tee, but I’m teeing a mini driver roughly an inch higher than a 3-wood, which results in me striking a mini driver about a degree higher.

Because the head is larger and more forgiving on the mini, I feel like I can just swing more easily and freely — more like a driver — because I don’t worry as much about how I’m going to hit it compared to the 3-wood.

I get that benefit off the tee, while still surprisingly getting good performance off the deck, although 80 percent of the time, I’m using the mini off the tee.

Adjustability has endless potential

The R7 Quad really separates itself from other mini drivers thanks to the four-port adjustable weighting system. The system is modeled after the original TaylorMade R7 driver, which is 20 years old, but it provides an awesome fitting tool that is almost unmatched.

When I first put the R7 in the bag, I felt it drew just a little too much. Mini drivers are shorter heel-to-toe than standard drivers, so the face squares more easily.

I typically play with some weight in the toe because I tend to hit shots out of the toe, it keeps my shots from over-drawing and allows me to hit a fade. So I wanted to move a little weight toward the toe, but I loved the performance of the club with both of the 13-gram weights in the rear.

Drivers

Luckily, TaylorMade sells more than just the two 4-gram and two 13-gram weights that come standard in the R7 Quad. Through testing, the first combination I tried turned out to be the best where I put a 7-gram weight in the front toe, 4-gram in the right toe and 13-gram and 10-gram weights in the back ports. Now, I have a club that naturally draws for me, but I can work the other way if needed.

I’m also able to set the adjustable sleeve to one click lower to get a slightly open club face, my preferred look that also helps me with a right start line.

Tommy Fleetwood and his fitter, TaylorMade Senior Tour Manager Adrian Rietveld, utilized the adjustability to match the look and ball flight of the R7 Quad to Fleetwood’s BRNR Mini, and Fleetwood just put in the new mini this week at the Travelers Championship.

Bottom Line

TaylorMade R7 Quad Custom Mini Driver

PERFORMANCE FOR THE MODERN PLAYER Inspired by one of the most iconic models in TaylorMade history, the R7 Quad Mini Driver pays homage to what’s come before, while creating its own modern identity in the same breath. It’s that very modern design that incorporates proven TaylorMade technologies to give golfers versatility and playability. R7 QUAD WEIGHTING SYSTEM The new quad weighting system features four movable weights (13g x2, 4g x2) that provide the ultimate in spin management and shot shape control. Forward CG creates a penetrating flight best suited for maximizing distance whereas rear CG helps prioritize control and ease of use from the deck. Shot shape can also be fine-tuned helping create the most optimal flight. Additional weights can be purchased for a wider range of adjustability. INFINITY CARBON CROWN A new satin Infinity Carbon Crown has been added to the R7 Quad Mini Driver chassis creating a stunning look while saving weight for better mass optimization. The cosmetic package is clean, elegant, and confidence-inspiring.

$479.99 from Fairway Jockey

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ALSO AVAILABLE ON: PGA Tour Superstore, TaylorMade

At a recent fitting, I hit three balls with the Quad before we decided it wasn’t worth the swings to try and beat it.

I never thought I would end up in a mini driver, but here we are, and I completely understand why it works so well for me. I’m not proclaiming a mini driver is for everyone, but what I am saying is that if you’ve been a skeptic, it might be time to reconsider.

And if you’re looking for a mini driver with the most tools of adjustability, you need to try the TaylorMade R7 Quad.

Want to find the best mini driver for your game? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.