Earlier this year, TaylorMade quietly added a new loft option to it R7 Quad Mini Driver: 15.5 degrees.
This was significant because modern mini drivers it was set in both 11.5˚ and 13.5˚ options, with 13˚-13.5˚ being the most common for golfers to find a suitable club for. replace their 3-wood and give themselves a true secondary option off the tee.
And if the modern 3-wood sits between 14˚ and 16.5˚, what’s the point of a 15.5˚ mini driver? On this week’s episode of GOLF’s Fully Equipped, co-hosts Johnny Wunder and Jake Morrow discussed the topic.
In the episode, as Morrow and Wunder explained the recent changes they’ve made to their bags in recent months, Morrow noted that he was playing a TaylorMade R7 Quad 15.5˚ Mini driver.
“I don’t understand it,” Wunder said. “I don’t know what the universe has benefits for anyone.”
But Morrow explained that the 15.5˚ loft solves a simple problem.
TaylorMade R7 Quad Mini Custom Driver
PERFORMANCE FOR THE MODERN PLAYER Inspired by one of the most iconic designs in TaylorMade’s history, the R7 Quad Mini Driver pays homage to what has come before while creating its own modern identity in the same spirit. It’s that very modern design that incorporates proven TaylorMade technologies to give players versatility and playability. R7 QUAD WEIGHING SYSTEM The new quad weighting system features four movable weights (13g x2, 4g x2) that provide spin management and stroke shape control. The forward CG creates a penetrating flight more suited to maximizing distance, while the aft CG helps prioritize control and ease of use from the deck. The shot shape can also be fine-tuned helping to create the most optimal flight. Additional weights can be purchased for a wider range of adjustment. 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 inspires confidence.
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Many players agree that the R7 Quad sits a little closed at address, and many players lowered the club to help solve this. But then you’re playing with less loft than you want just for the sake of optics.
With a 15.5˚ mini, you can drive the club all the way up with TaylorMade’s FCT 2˚ adapter and play the club into a 13.5˚ loft with a square or even open face angle.
“It’s literally built so you can put the adapter in the down position and have a square face,” Morrow said. “It’s a square-faced, 13-and-a-half-degree mini driver. That’s what it really is.”
This setup works well for Morrow because if he’s going to play his mini driver, he doesn’t want it to go more than 260 yards. While you may want to position a driver to go as far as possible, the mini driver is more of a positional club. That’s also why Morrow’s mini driver is just over 42 inches long.
