TaylorMade’s New Mini Driver Is a Long-Game Weapon

Am I once again writing about a mini driver? Yes. Do I think mini drivers are going away anytime soon? No. Are some golfers still afraid mini drivers are too hard to hit off the deck? Yes. Is there a solution to this? I think so, which is exactly why I can't stop talking about the 15.5° R7 Mini Driver from TaylorMade.

Yep, you read that right. TaylorMade recently added two new lofts to its R7 mini driver series, including a 13.5° in left-handed (it was previously a right-hand only loft option), and a 15.5° for righties, which, for the purpose of this little discussion, deserves a lot of attention.

But before we get to that, lets do a quick refresher...

RELATED: The 2026 Skratch New Golf Gear Tour

TaylorMade R7 Mini Driver Key Features

Adjustable weighting for flight and spin control - Just like the original, the R7 mini driver has 4 adjustable weights around the sole of the club to help golfers create shot shape bias and correction.

Infinity Carbon crown - By covering the largest area possible with carbon fiber, engineers are able to create more discretionary weight to increase forgiveness and maximize adjustability.

Proven TaylorMade Technologies - Other key features include TaylorMade's adjustable hosel for lie and loft, TwistFace for reduced spin variation for shots hit around the face, and a speed pocket on the sole to help maintain ball speeds on shots hit towards the bottom of the face.

"The R7 Quad Mini Driver is the perfect canvas for innovation and style. Featuring four movable TAS (Trajectory Adjustment System) weights, our newest Mini Driver gives golfers the ability to adjust shot shape and maximize performance off the tee and from the deck. It also features our most trusted technologies like the Infinity Carbon Crown and Twist Face, providing the ultimate suite of playability and versatility in a single package."

Chandler Carr - TaylorMade Product Manager, Product Creation

RELATED: Mini Drivers 101: Comparing Every 2025 Mini Driver on the Market

Why I Love This New Option

As a golfer who has fully embraced mini drivers for myself and has helped others find the right fit for them, this newest loft option now makes the R7 mini one of, if not the easiest, mini drivers to hit off the deck (off the ground without a tee), while still being a great second tee club.

The added loft instantly helps to generate extra spin, and thanks to the +- 2° loft sleeve, the R7 can go as low as 13.5° or as high as 17.5°, making it play close to 5-wood loft. Personally, I tested the 15.5° in both the standard setting and lofted down to 13.5°, and what I found was a second tee club that could generate equal amounts of launch and spin as a standard 3-wood but with extra forgiveness thanks to the size of the head.

Where I believe this club will really stand out is with golfers who have a driver swing speed under 100mph and want a more forgiving 3 or 4 wood option that can also add forgiveness off the tee. Of course, faster players can benefit too, and use it like a jumbo 4-wood, but considering a lot of mini drivers have skewed lower in loft, this higher loft puts the R7 mini in a stand-alone position in the market, which is exactly why if you've been looking for more height and spin from a mini driver, this could be your ticket!

More TaylorMade Release News:

TaylorMade Goes Hard In the Paint Making TP5 More Consistent

Everything You Need To Know About TaylorMade's New Qi4D Rescues & Qi Max Irons

TaylorMade Qi4D Drivers & Fairway Woods: Fit For Speed