Is Callaway AI Smoke Mini Driver Worth the Money?

[@ednawroski6916]

I bought the TM mini last year and it was just as long as my driver and more accurate! Bought the Callaway mini and took it out today for the first time and I'm just as impressed with it. It suits my eye more so than any driver has to date and it's just as long as my driver and again more accurate. I'm averaging 237 with my driver (Callaway ai smoke max) and averaging 252 with my mini drivers. Longest of the year has been 275 with driver ans 274 with the mini! They will be a fixture in my bag over the driver long term.

[@groovingrover32]

I'm curious as to what length you play your usual driver? I can't help but notice swing speed seems roughly on par (although I don't know exactly your Driver swing speed), which makes me wonder what would happen if you were fit into a reduced length shaft driver.

[@michaelrood2751]

Good review prob should have mentioned the “Ventus” is actually the new Ventus Velocore plus which is a $350 upcharge

[@DylanInAlbuquerque]

when you do the head to head, you should see what happens to the callaway when you adjust the loft down to 12.5 like you did, but then switch the weights and put the 12g up front.

[@supersoup5509]

Good,video. What launch monitor you using?

[@spencersecord3073]

I picked one up the other week after struggling with my driver. So much straighter, forgiving and for my swing speed around 97-100 I’m not noticing much if any distance loss because my efficiency is much better cause I make better contact. Sure my best driver hits were longer by a few yards but over the course of 18 holes I’m sure total driving distance is similar and less lost balls or penalty strokes.

[@jimhowell4282]

Gabe, with all do respect. Would have loved to see the first shaft brought down a degree. As I watched. I saw your club head speed and ball speed higher than the ventus. Would love to know the numbers and how your feels were? Different or the same?

[@LetsPlayThru]

Well, I thought I couldn’t control that shaft as well. I was especially missing to the right too much. I do plan on doing some further testing so I may try your suggestion though. Thanks. 2018.

[@jimhowell4282]

@@LetsPlayThru Gabe, Your the one hitting the club so I have no true idea how they feel and the tracers are good but they dont always end up where people actually hit the ball. Loving your content and cant wait to watch you try the Vice Irons. Both models

[@JimmyHamAnp]

I upgraded my TM mini to the new BRNR. They perform about the same in my hands but happy and I use them both as my main driver! I am now using a driver length senior shaft, which improved my distance!

[@coreygraham796]

The legatto balls are awesome by the way super impressive especially around the greens

[@LetsPlayThru]

Happy to hear you’re enjoying them!

[@EdKrisiak]

Yep I bought them and love the Legatto balls

[@jl9752]

I just got the 2024 TM mini driver, and I have mixed feelings about it. I carry my driver around 250 and carry my 3 wood 220. With the mini driver I’m getting maybe 230 carry at best. I could perhaps need to get more used to it, and yes the dispersion is a little better than that of my driver, but not sure whether it warrants replacing either the driver or the three wood. I could see how I may have had more use for it in my earlier years when I was struggling with my driver.

[@waywardwest]

Aren't these the equivalent of a strong 3 wood (3+)? I remember people back in the day carrying 3+ woods and I even carried a 4+ when I stopped carrying 2 fairway woods to make room for an extra wedge. Just wondering what's the thinking behind carrying one of these. Is it mainly a driver replacement or is it a specialty club that you can hit anywhere? I think the last driver I could really hit off the fairway was the Great Big Bertha. I do like these new clubs as I've never been a fan of the 460cc driver heads. I hit my best drives using a clubhead with ~400cc.

[@Jindsing]

You're absolutely right. Mini driver is a marketing gimmick. They are essentially 3 woods/hybrids

[@johnkokott8570]

Love my TaylorMade mini. 12 degree weight forward. Fairway machine. Gave up 10-20 in distance, but lost balls are a rarely now.

[@timayris3375]

Makes sense to have 'mini drivers'. Those of us old enough remember when one and a half woods were preferred over one woods by the average golfer. Surprised it has taken so long.

[@jermdawgg]

So instead of a “Brassie” can call these new 2 woods “CarbonTungsties?” Lol

[@LetsPlayThru]

Haha, yeah I’m down

[@home4ya]

Gabe. Need a 3 wood replacement for tee shots on short 4s, have u found anything u can set at 15/16* w neitral or even slightly open face (im a hard draw player so cant do closed faces), cheers f AZ, ex Tampa kid!

[@LetsPlayThru]

I play the Takomo and love it. My miss was always yanking them left. I don’t do it with these.

[@hectormartinez5901]

Nice video , I prefer a 3 wood but hey anything that helps someone….. the only thing I was hoping you changed the weights to see the flight and distance 👍🏽

[@almaralmar86]

I love that you think a normal size driver from a few years ago is called a mini driver

[@JoseRuiz-gv6qv]

I purchased the 11 degree and thing is a rocket off the tee

[@Spillaz]

What tee height do you use?

[@kyleprodzinski]

I would like to see how it performs off the deck in the fairway for long par 5s vs a typical 3w. That would be more what I would use this club for, more so than off of the tee.

[@LetsPlayThru]

I plan to put it head to head with the TaylorMade mini, so I will make sure to do this. Thanks.

[@beyoncehadoneofthebest]

would love it if someone actually pulled out the 11.5 version

[@GreggGiblin-sy5og]

Unless one uses it as a fairway wood too, I just don't understand the mini-driver logic. If you want more control, pull your shaft, cut it down appropriately, then add appropriately head weight. I've done that for years.

[@stevenyoung6371]

Callaway mini driver is actually a mini driver, taylor made mini driver is just an oversized 3 wood!!

[@barrygoodson4952]

Exactly what is the difference ? They are all effectively a 2 wood. You are just as well ofc to play a normal head driver with. 44 or 43.5 shaft and 12* loft. I see it all as a marking gimmick to sell more clubs but I don't blame companies for doing this. It's there business.

[@GH-ru9kk]

If you need more accuracy, why not just grab a shorter shaft for your normal driver and save a ton of money so you can golf more?

[@johnmagnell8902]

I don’t see it as a small driver. Rather a big 3wood.

[@TheBlade20046]

Cool clubs but… I think for us amateurs getting a proper driver (more forgiveness) with a 44” shaft is a better option than mini drivers

[@LetsPlayThru]

I think you may be onto something there

[@TheBlade20046]

@@LetsPlayThru could be a good idea for a video ;)

[@spencersecord3073]

Club champion formerly TXG just did this test if you care to watch.

[@mikescott8894]

@@spencersecord3073and? What did they say?

[@socalgolf9978]

@@mikescott8894the cut down driver was better

[@gilbertgoldsmith1158]

Doesn’t matter they are sold out.

[@briansh242]

Buying a Mini Driver is the equivalent of purchasing a special putter for "mid-range" puts. You already own a club that does that...

[@LetsPlayThru]

That’s a good analogy

[@cpri555]

Not always the case I play a smaller driver head already with the 430cc but cranking down the TM burner and moving the weight forward I only lose 2 yards on average but my dispersion was much tighter.

[@loutennant99]

I think that sums it up well

[@GaryDougherty-g2g]

Very short sighted and narrow minded opinion on the golfer who hits a mini better than driver.

[@Cats3141]

You assume everyone is the same, & like you.