TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Review

The TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver is a modern take on a classic.

TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver pays 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.

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 RPMs. 

TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver: Who is it 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 maximizing 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 optimize 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 BRNR Mini Driver: A Nod to the Past 

Revitalizing 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. 

Every component was designed to create a nostalgic experience. The popular UST ProForce 65 shaft is revitalized 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 BRN Mini Driver: The Tech

Movable weights

The BRNR Mini Driver is the first of its kind to feature Movable Weight Technology. It provides distance, control and playability, making it ideal for golfers who prioritize accuracy off the tee or struggle with traditional drivers.

Multi-material

The combination of carbon fiber, titanium and steel provides the foundation for incredible sound, feel and flight with striking cosmetics. The split weights allow golfers to switch between the standard setting (13g in the back) for balanced performance and the low spin setting (13g in the front) for a piercing trajectory and increased rollout.

K-Sole

The sole design features a unique “K” shape, which 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 often found in higher lofted fairway woods.

Tour-proven tech

Twist Face, Thru-Slot Speed Pocket and the 4° loft sleeve provide the ultimate suite of technologies. Twist Face helps golfers overcome inherent mis-hit tendencies for straighter shots, while the Speed Pocket is engineered to maximize ball speeds and add forgiveness on low-face strikes. The 4° Loft Sleeve allows golfers to fine-tune loft and face angle for optimum flight.

What TaylorMade say about the BRNR Mini

Keith Sbarbaro, Vice President, Tour Operations

“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 5s.”

“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.” 

Tomo Bystedt, Senior Director of Product Creation, Metalwoods & Carbonwood

“The BRNR Mini Driver is a modern interpretation of a classic driver, showcasing our long-standing 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.” 

TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver test: Our verdict

We put a 13.5° BRNR (there’s also a 11.5° loft, so you can choose whether you want one for tee or fairway use) in the hands of Today’s Golfer test pro Neil Wain. The driver is the strongest part of his game, so it’s not an area he’s particularly looking to change.

He hit the BRNR (with its heaviest – 13.5g – weight in the back port to maximize launch and forgiveness) and his own driver from a tee, along with the BRNR and a Ping G430 Max fairway wood from the turf.

We like the BRNR’s look, feel, and sound, and with its retro shaft not being the strongest or stoutest, there’s extra help here for players attempting to launch shots from the turf.

From the tee, it gave up 7.3mph of ball speed and 12 yards of carry against our test pro’s driver, his favorite club.

From the deck, though the strong-lofted BRNR didn’t carry as far as the 15° Ping fairway, it did outrun it for total distance, while shots launched and flew lower, and span less. Surprisingly, the lower loft also hit shots into a 23% tighter shot area than the Ping.

So is it worth buying one? If driving is a strength, probably not. But if you struggle to control a driver, the smaller but powerful head of the BRNR could be an absolute godsend. And if you’re a golfer who hits 3-wood a lot from the tee, the BRNR is a bigger, more forgiving, and powerful option.

Club	Loft	Ball Speed	Launch Angle	Backspin	Height	Descent Angle	Carry Distance	Shot Area
From the tee
TaylorMade BRNR Mini driver	13.5º	155.2mph	10.5º	2,613rpm	29yds	36.1º	260yds	750yds2
Ping G430 Max driver	10.5º	162.2mph	11º	2,249rpm	31yds	35.6º	282yds	656yds2
From the turf
TaylorMade BRNR Mini driver	13.5º	152.7º	8º	2,702rpm	22yds	30.6º	244yds	911.2yds2
Ping G430 Max fairway wood	15º	152.5mph	9.4º	3,043rpm	27yds	36.3º	257yds	1,183.2yds2

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About the Author

Rob Jerram – Digital Editor

Rob specializes in the DP World Tour, PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the Ryder Cup, spending large chunks of his days reading about, writing about, and watching the tours each month.

He’s passionate about the equipment used by professional golfers and is also a font of knowledge when it comes to golf balls, golf trolleys, and golf bags, testing thousands down the years.

During his 13 years in the golf industry, Rob has interviewed and played golf with some of the biggest names in the game, including Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie, and Rick Shiels. He’s traveled the world attending product launches and golf events and reported at a host of tour events, along with The Open and Ryder Cup.

He has been playing golf for almost three decades and is a member at Greetham Valley in Rutland and Spalding Golf Club in Lincolnshire, playing off a 9.7 handicap.

Rob uses a Callaway Paradym driver, TaylorMade M5 5-wood, TaylorMade P790 driving iron, Callaway Paradym irons (4-AW), TaylorMade MG3 wedges (52º, 58º), Odyssey Tri-Hot 5k Double Wide putter, and Callaway Chrome Soft X golf ball.

You can email Rob or get in touch with him on Twitter.

TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver

RRP £379 / $449.99

Launched April 2023

Lofts 11.5º, 13.5º

Adjustable hosel? Yes (+/- 2º)

Length 43.75"

Left-handed? 11.5º only

Stock shafts UST Mamiya ProForce 65 - Retro Burner Edition 65 (S,R)

Stock grip SuperStroke S-Tech 50g Grip (Black/Copper)