TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Review: "You can send this absolutely miles!"

Name: TaylorMade
Item: TaylorMade TaylorMade BRNR Mini Dirver
Rating: 9
Author: Johnny Percival

GolfMagic takes TaylorMade's new BRNR Mini Driver for a spin.

Johnny Percival

13 Jun 2023

Brand

TaylorMade

Price

£379.00

Pros

More forgiveness than a standard driver; fantastic versatility for skilled golfers; cool retro design head cover; oozes 90s nostalgia

Cons

Limited shaft options; not an ideal driver replacement for shorter hitters

TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Key Features

Twist Face: Uniquely shaped club face to limit dispersion from off-centre hits, particularly high off the toe and low off the heel
Thru-Slot Speed Pocket: Designed to maximise ball speed and add forgiveness to low face strikes
K-SOLE: Helps the club glide easily through turf aiding "driver off the deck" distance much like a higher lofted fairway wood
Moveable weight technology: Two interchangeable weights allow golfers to increase wight at the front of the head for a more piercing ball flights, or move the weight back for increased forgiveness
Four-degree loft sleeve: Allows golfers to fine tune the loft and face angle for optimum ball flight

One of the most iconic products in golf equipment history has been updated for 2023 with the introduction of the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver, writes GolfMagic Reviews Editor Johnny Percival. Inspired by the TaylorMade Burner driver from the late 90s that received critical acclaim and PGA Tour success, the new updated version has proved just as popular with the team at GolfMagic.

We love the BRNR Mini Driver so much it's gone straight into out Best Golf Drivers 2023 as the best mini driver on the market.

The BRNR, tested out by our Equipment Editor Alex Lodge, offers a reduced head size driver (304cc) for more versatility and forgiveness off the tee and the fairway.

Aimed at golfers who may be happy with their distance but struggle to keep the ball in the short grass, the BRNR Mini has shown excellent results in testing, and quickly become Alex's "favourite club in the bag".

In this review, we tested the BRNR Mini Driver at 11.5 degrees but it is also available in 13.5.

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WATCH OUR BRNR MINI DRIVER REVIEW:

Player Level

The TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver could be a perfect fit for two different groups of golfers for two very different reasons. The first of these groups is the low handicap golfer who doesn't struggle to hit the ball far but perhaps doesn't find as many fairways as they may like.

Due to the smaller head and Twist Face technology, this mini driver produced excellent dispersion numbers with a fairly limited drop off in distance. If you are a skilled golfer who relies heavily on hitting 3-wood for safety but wants something that packs a bit more of a punch, then this could be the perfect club for you.

The second group of golfers that could benefit from using this mini driver is senior golfers who want a versatile club that provides excellent turf interaction and performance from the fairway and the tee. Driver off the deck has always been more of a hit and hope than a tactical master stroke for the majority of golfers, but the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver makes it a much more considered approach than it has been before.

Thanks to the specifically designed K-SOLE, the BRNR offers excellent turf interaction leading to more consistent strikes from the fairway that could benefit senior golfers who may need a little help reaching the green on longer holes.

TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver - Looks and Feel

In terms of looks, TaylorMade has smashed it out of the park with its new design for the BRNR Mini Driver. If you were a fan of the original Burner products that appeared on Tour in the 80s and 90s with their iconic orange and silver design, then we think you will enjoy the subtle nods to the clubs heritage without it being a complete carbon copy.

Related: How we test golf equipment

Looking down at the club at address you will notice the carbon crown has a subtle copper underlay, which when paired with the retro TaylorMade logo really oozes class. We are a massive fan of the copper detailing, which is continued on the sole of the club with the design kept relatively understated compared to what we have come to expect from TaylorMade in recent years.

Rarely does a head cover deserve a paragraph of its own, but we would be doing TaylorMade a disservice if we didn't mention the effortlessly cool retro head cover that comes with the BRNR Mini Driver. Made from soft black leather, it invokes memories of yesteryear thanks to its old school shape, colour and logo.

The feel of the driver, much like its performance is very solid.

There was no huge drop off in feel on off-centre hits and it made a satisfying crack when struck out of the middle.

Sat behind the ball, the head is confidence-inspiring and that inspiration is continued once you feel the ball leave the club face.

With the performance numbers we've seen, there is no wonder PGA Tour stars like Tommy Fleetwood have been so quick to put the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver straight in the bag ahead of the US Open.

GolfMagic also tried something a bit radical with the BRNR Mini Driver...

TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver - Forgiveness and Performance

We were really pleased with the numbers we saw from the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver in terms of both distance and dispersion.

Naturally a long hitter, our Equipment Editor Alex was able to achieve total distances upwards of 300 yards and ball speeds of 170 mph, only 10 mph less than he would typically hope for with his current driver. It should come as no surprise the BRNR Mini Driver can produce good ball speeds, but Alex was blown away by the club's ability to hit the ball "absolutely miles".

While mishits are unavoidable, we did notice that thanks to its smaller head size and TaylorMade's TwistFace Technology, our misses were not quite as exaggerated as we would expect from a standard-sized driver but also with better dispersion.

We also noted that the disparity in spin rates you can achieve with the BRNR Mini would be an excellent tool for more skilful golfers. Thanks to its interchangeable weights and shallower profile, this golf driver can produce a low bullet ball flight just as effectively as it can produce a higher flight with more spin and a higher descent angle. That's the beauty of this golf club. It gives you options to hit lots of different shots.

All in all, the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver performed outstandingly and could be an ideal fairway finder for those golfers who are slightly lacking in confidence off the tee.

As we've seen, there is no shortage of distance to be had with this club, and in the right hands it could very well prove the perfect weapon for winning your next club championship.

Should you buy the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver?

If you are a golfer that struggles for accuracy but not distance, then yes, you should absolutely go and try out the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver.

The increase in accuracy this club can offer will undoubtedly outweigh the marginal drop in distance, and as everyone knows, golf is a much easier game played from the fairway.

When you consider both the versatility and stylish design on offer, this mini driver could be a great fit for those looking to regain a bit of confidence off the tee without having to make any big sacrifices elsewhere. Much like TaylorMade's 300 Mini Driver we tested out in 2021, the BRNR Mini Driver could be an ideal remedy for players who struggle with a straight ball flight.

While not the cheapest club you will ever purchase, when you compare it to the price of a standard driver in 2023, you will feel like you've got yourself a great deal.

For more information about TaylorMade drivers, head to their website.

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