About this Review: This review is my own honest opinion of the golf club, which I bought with my own money in March 2022.

My take

I love the TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver in my bag and think it is an amazing, must-own club for anyone who doesn’t hit fairway woods well or wants a better fairway finder than their current driver. I replaced my 3 wood with this club as I love playing strategic, target golf to really manage my way to better scores. I am also of the opinion that for some golfers it might even be a better option than a traditional driver.

About the club I own/tested

• Model: 2021 TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver
• Loft setting: 13.5 (set to 11.5 for me)
• Shaft type: Mitsubishi MiDr Proto 65
• Shaft flex: Stiff

About me

• Average score: 87
• Handicap: 12
• Experience: 32
• Right/Left-Handed: Right
• Typical ball flight: High
• Golf ball used: TaylorMade TP5x
• Club swing speed: 100mph (driver)

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: March 2022
• Days tested: 10
• Where I’ve used it: Range and golf course
• Weather and wind conditions: Cool spring, cloudy with wind, sunny light wind

How it performs

What I was looking for

I’ve been hunting for a fairway wood I could hit more consistently, primarily off of the tee on tough tight holes or shorter par 4s. I wanted something like my favorite fairway wood of all time, the original Callaway Big Bertha War Bird. I remember having so much confidence in that club. I actually tested the TaylorMade SLDR Mini Driver and hit it great, but mentally talked myself into a traditional 3 wood, assuming it would be better off of the fairway. I’ve regretted that decision ever since and have struggled with the 3 wood off of the fairway and the tee.

Why I chose this club

I tested this club after watching many review videos and instantly hit it great. I was surprised at how easy it was to hit. I hit the ball really high, so even off of the fairway I could hit it as well as my old fairway wood and maybe even better. I think the big head and wider face width just give me more forgiveness. Even my dropkick miss went much farther, and I didn’t get that topped ball that goes 10 yards. I decided on the 13.5 degree option so I could lower the loft to 11.5 and the face would be a little open, which I prefer. I found this setting to be the best for me for distance, ball flight, appearance, and direction.

In the last two years, I’ve tested most every fairway wood that I could get my hands on, from the Stealth and Stealth Plus, to PING, Callaway, and Cleveland. None of these gave me the confidence and consistency that I was looking for, except for the TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver, which has replaced my TaylorMade SIM Max 3 wood.

What I love about it

• Distance: I am hitting it the distance I want. My driver is in the 250-265yd range on optimal hits. The Mini Driver is going from 200-230yd for me depending on how hard I want to go after it. This is exactly what I was looking for on those short par 4s with trouble, or even a par 5 where I know I am not going to reach in two shots.
• Forgiveness: I found this club very forgiving. If I get flat and inside on it, it has a nice draw to it. If I pull over the top, I get a nice fade. I just don’t see the snap hook pull or the slice that I do with my driver. The biggest miss that I had with my old 3 wood was the top/duff. With the large head, I tee it higher and feel I can miss high or low and take away that bad hole.
• Feel: The feel is great. It has that solid 3-wood contact to it.
• Sound: The sound is great, with a more old-school driver feel that isn’t hollow or loud like modern drivers.
• Adjustability: The adjustability is great with TaylorMade’s hosel system. I play it in a lower-loft 11.5 setting and that also opens up the face.
• Shaft Feel: Initially I thought the shaft felt a little on the soft side when you pick it up and waggle it, but the performance has been killer.
• Shaft Performance: I don’t overswing with this club like I do with the driver so I get a little baby draw with this shaft. If I get over the top, I get a nice fade right back into the middle.
• Aesthetic Appeal: I love the looks of this club, with its dark glossy black and graphite with a touch of red accents. The silver titanium face is a bit bright, so it could have been all blacked out, but overall I think it looks great.
• Grip Feel: The stock grip is one step above the bargain clubs and consistent with the TaylorMade Golf Pride Z600. I don’t have any complaints, but I did replace it to match my other clubs with a Winn Dri-Tac.
• Launch Angle: I didn’t test on a launch monitor, but this club has a more medium-high launch and works well into the wind.
• Spin: I didn’t test on a launch monitor, but the distance has been great without too much spin.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Workability: I rated it 4 out of 5 in workability because I don’t feel like this club is super workable when it comes to hitting a 15yd draw. It is designed more as a control club, which is what I wanted.
• Other: The headcover is made of fabric, not the newer leather-type designs that most clubs come with. But it looks great and does the job.

Best shot with this club

I play a very nice, local course, Northville Hills, designed by Arnold Palmer. On at least four holes on this course, the Mini Driver is a game changer. One is a shorter par 4 with a lake about 230-260yd off of the tee with trouble left and right. It’s not advised to hit an iron because the second shot is a long carry off over a lake. A 220 shot is perfect, and with the Mini Driver, it takes the pull hook and slice away and makes the hole much easier. I look forward to playing this hole now.

Value for the money vs. other options

I think the only downside of this club is that it is more expensive than some fairway woods, and it is a limited-release model so it can be hard to find. I’d pay full price all day for this club as it is something I will tee off with for at least four holes on most courses.

I’d say I am shooting two to four shots lower since I have added this to the bag. It takes away the double bogey on the holes where the driver has to be perfect, and if missed, I’d have to go into recovery mode. I only hit it off of the deck if it is a very high reward, low penalty shot. I’d say I connect on it just as much as my old fairway wood from the fairway.

On a launch monitor, you might bomb a juiced-up Stealth Plus 3 wood, but I think the versatility and forgiveness of this club make it the clear winner. I hope TaylorMade continues the Mini Driver lineup, but if you are having trouble finding it, let us Golf Experts help you find the right option!

Final verdict

My final verdict is the TaylorMade® 300 Mini Driver is a must-buy club. This needs to be in one’s golf bag, as it can be pulled out frequently when needed to hit the fairway! Overall this club has stayed in great condition, and I think it will be hard to replace.