Win! – A TaylorMade AeroBurner Mini Driver

Written By: Tony Covey

Last year when TaylorMade announced the SLDR S Mini Driver, I mocked the release. I called it the club you didn’t know you need, and probably don’t. I dismissed it as a shameless TaylorMade money grab of near zero practical value to the average golfer.

Then I took it out on the golf course.

Sorry, TaylorMade. My bad.

I haven’t played a single round without it since. It is, in a word, indispensable. As a driver replacement, as a 3-wood replacement, or a combination of both, it’s a club that just works better than I ever imagined it could. And this is coming from a guy who’s never been a particular fan of fairway woods. Even as a self-confessed gearwhore I can’t even bring myself to try a different shaft in the Mini.

Why mess with a good thing?

Alone In the Category

While there are other slightly larger fairway woods on the market (Callaway’s 2-Deep and PING’s Rapture) nobody else in the industry has, to date, decided to challenge TaylorMade in the grossly oversized fairway wood market. One by one other manufacturers have told me that they don’t have any immediate plans for anything similar, and one by one I’ve rolled my eyes at all of them.

Speaking of eye rolling, now is a great time to mention that the AeroBurner Mini, like everything else AeroBurner, is #MadeOfSpeed…and also steel. Mostly steel, I think.

Maybe the grossly undersized driver market is a niche one, but it’s one I happen to love, so as we wait for the rest of the industry to make the re-imagination of the 2-wood a trend,  I’m probably more excited than the average guy to check out the latest incarnation of TaylorMade’s Mini franchise.

What’s New

Other than that thing about being Made of Speed, the AeroBurner features a slightly smaller (253cc instead of 260cc) and more aerodynamic head. The AeroBurner Mini has the largest Speed Pocket of any TaylorMade metalwood, and like most everything else in TaylorMade’s metalwood arsenal has a low/forward CG for…wait for it…more speed.

The TP model, which comes stock with the new Matrix White Tie 70X4 shaft, features a flatter lie angle and a more open face. Call it fade bias, call it hook avoidence. The point is it should setup and play a bit differently than the standard model.

Performance Data to Come

We’re waiting for our Mini Driver samples to arrive. Once they do, we’re going to see if it can hold its own against my favorite club in the bag. We’ll post the Foresight launch monitor data as soon as we have it.

Win A TaylorMade AeroBurner Mini Driver

Because I think you really need to try one of these Mini Drivers for yourself (instead of dismissing it like I originally did), we’re giving one away.

To Enter:

• Leave a comment telling us if there is any brand or club that you would absolutely never play.
• If you haven’t done so already, subscribe the MyGolfSpy Newsletter (you can’t win if you’re not a subscriber).

*Sorry, Open to US Residents Only. Winner selected at random on 3/20/2015 at 8:00 PM Eastern. Void where prohibited.

Bonus Entry: Retweet the following (use the button that looks like this: ) to receive a 2nd entry in the giveaway.

Pricing, Options, and Availability

Available at retail on March 27, the AeroBurner Mini Driver will be available in two models; standard and TP.

Available in three loft options (12°, 14° & 16°) the standard model retails for $279 and is equipped with a lightweight Matrix Speed RUL-Z 60 shaft.

Available in two lofts, (12° & 14°) The TP model retails for $349 and is equipped with Matrix’ new Ozik White Tie 70X4 shaft