TaylorMade Golf has announced the launch of the Original One Mini Driver, a new metalwood that pays homage to the brand’s history and features many of the most important product technologies in the company’s long line of metalwood performance.
Tomo Bystedt, TaylorMade’s Senior Director of Product Creation, said: “In 1979, golf was changed forever with the introduction of the Pittsburgh Persimmon – the original metalwood. For the past 40 years, TaylorMade has continued that legacy of innovation with game-changing technologies, engineered to help golfers perform at their best. The Original One Mini Driver incorporates that heritage of innovation with key performance technologies, packed into a confidence-inspiring shape that delivers on distance, forgiveness and accuracy.”
TaylorMade first entered the ‘mini driver’ category with the introduction of SLDR Mini in 2014, and enhanced the product the following year with the faster, higher-launching AeroBurner Mini – both utilising predominantly steel in their construction. While both offered the company’s Speed Pocket technology, Original One Mini Driver is designed to deliver a new level of speed, forgiveness and visual appeal never-before seen in this category.
With Original One Mini Driver, engineers have utilised key product technologies found in many of the company’s most notable metalwood offerings intended to deliver a faster, more forgiving and adjustable product. It all starts with a revolutionary tri-material construction, comprised of a titanium body, 50g steel sole plate and a carbon composite crown. The combination of these three materials creates an ultra-low centre of gravity for distance and playability.
Additional features include a loft sleeve with +/- 2° loft adjustability; Twist Face Technology to provide the ultimate path to straight distance; and Inverted Cone Technology to promote ball speed on off-centre hits.
Like its predecessors, the Original One Mini Driver is targeted at golfers of all skill levels. It has been engineered to provide an option off the tee that delivers the accuracy and control of a fairway wood but with more distance and forgiveness. Faster swing speed players may additionally benefit from ease of use off the turf with Original One Mini Drivers’ combination of a medium face depth with ultra-low centre of gravity location for extreme distance and excellent playability from fairway lies.
From a performance perspective, the Original One Mini Driver, with its 275cc head (9% larger than AeroBurner Mini), will fit directly between a driver and a fairway wood. Some golfers will opt to play the club in addition to their current fairway woods, while others may choose to replace a longer fairway wood that was mainly being used off the tee. Most golfers will keep the regular driver in the bag as the club that ultimately delivers the most distance.
Available for pre-order from April 16, and at retail from May 1, the Original One Mini Driver has an RRP of £369 will only be offered in 13.5° loft and only come equipped with Mitsubishi’s Diamana F Limited shaft in 55g (R), or 65g (S) flexes at 43.75”. The stock grip is Golf Pride MCC Decade grip in blackout with a blood orange end-cap.