NEW TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver - First Look!

TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver: a modern take on one of the most classic golf clubs of all time.

17 Apr 2023

NEW TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver - First Look!

TaylorMade has today announced the BRNR Mini Driver, paying homage to the iconic Ti Bubble 2 that dominated professional tours in the mid-1990s.

This model combines retro aesthetics with modern technology and performance, continuing TaylorMade's throwback theme among the Mini Driver franchise.

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The 304cc BRNR Mini features a modern twist with a reimagined K-sole resembling the Ti Bubble 2. The K-sole helps the club glide smoothly through the turf while reducing resistance and promoting a consistent strike. This enables golfers to have "driver off the deck" distance with the consistency of higher lofted fairway woods.

Two movable weights on the sole – a 13g weight in the back and a 1.5g weight in the front – can be modified to create dynamically different results and ball flights. In the standard setting with the 13g weight in the back, it provides the optimal blend of long distance, forgiveness and versatility. Moving the 13g weight to the front produces a low spin setting for longer distance with a piercing trajectory and increased roll out. This setting reduces spin by approximately 200 RPM.

Who is the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver for?

While the BRNR Mini Driver can benefit a wide range of golfers, it best fits two use cases. First, better players seeking a club they can play off the tee with enhanced accuracy while still maximising distance. Select Tour professionals opt for Mini Driver for this reason – because it tightens dispersion for powerful players with ultra-fast ball speeds without sacrificing too much distance. Players in this category also like hitting it off the deck, making it a valuable weapon on second shots into long par 5s.

The second common use case is for golfers who struggle with the driver – making it an ideal option for players who find 460cc drivers challenging to hit, especially those who hit down on the ball and fail to optimise launch with larger heads. For these players, the BRNR Mini Driver provides an advantage over 3-wood because of its larger face, which adds forgiveness and more face area for contact.

Overall, it is a versatile club that can be used by a wide range of golfers, from fast swing-speed players looking for accuracy off the tee to average golfers looking for a more forgiving and easier-to-launch alternative to fairway woods.

TaylorMade Vice President of Tour Operations, Keith Sbarbaro, said:

"BRNR has been very popular in testing with tour players, especially at the first major of the year as a potential fairway finder on demanding tee shots and on approach shots on par fives.

"Players are always looking for a club that can be versatile and reliable off the tee and BRNR checks both of those boxes.

"Being able to adjust the weights to match the ball flight the player is looking for allows this club to be something that provides distance and shot shaping ability that can be crucial at narrower courses."

A nod to the past

Revitalising the Mini Driver franchise as a homage to the past began in 2019 with the reinvention of the Original One, celebrating the club's 40th anniversary and the launch of the first metalwood driver. The 300 Mini Driver further elevated the franchise in 2021. Following that success, BRNR continues the legacy of bringing back iconic 300cc-sized drivers that have defined the brand over the years.

Drawing inspiration from the Ti Bubble 2 driver, which was in the winners’ bag at the 1998 Masters, the BRNR Mini features the original design's unmistakable copper and black hues. It maintains critical stylistic elements such as the mid-'90s TaylorMade logo while possessing advanced technology and material usage.

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Every component was designed to create a nostalgic experience. The popular UST ProForce 65 shaft is revitalised and dressed in black and copper to resemble the original Burner Bubble®. A SuperStroke S-Tech grip (50g) adds to the aesthetic, while a retro-inspired barrel headcover completes the package.

TaylorMade Senior Director of Product Creation of Metalwoods & Carbonwood, Tomo Bystedt, said:

"The BRNR Mini Driver is a modern interpretation of a classic driver, showcasing our longstanding heritage in the sport. While it has retro aesthetics, it's no showpiece to hang in your office.

"It has the horsepower to attack golf courses and can be a major asset in the hands of the right golfer. We aimed to balance throwback elements with modern looks, technology and performance."