Mini Driver · 2019
TaylorMade Original One Mini Driver
The CaddyIndex™ breakdown: our rating across all six performance dimensions, researched from published expert reviews, online sentiment and our own weighting algorithm.
By the CaddyCompare editorial team · updated 5 June 2026
Performance index
Six researched ratings, lower (blue) through to elite (gold).
Where it wins
- Looks84
- Feel82
- Sound80
Watch
Rated highest for looks and feel; its softest dimension is workability.
You want a compact, controllable top-of-bag club with much tighter dispersion than a driver - and you don't need movable weights or the largest, most forgiving head.
You want a larger, more forgiving and longer modern mini (the BRNR or the 340cc options), or you want movable-weight adjustability.
Pros
- The club that revived the mini-driver category - plenty of distance with much tighter dispersion than a driver (around 4 yards off the centre line)
- Forgiving for a compact head - MOI more than a third higher than a 3-wood, with Twist Face and an inverted-cone face
- Adjustable hosel (+/-2 degrees of loft) and a relatively low-spin, controllable flight
- A clean, classic mini shape with a solid feel
Cons
- A clear step down in distance from a full driver - around 226 yards total
- No movable weights - hosel-only adjustability, behind the modern minis
- The smallest, most 3-wood-like head of the mini line, and a 2019 design
By dimension
Forgiveness
SolidForgiving for the category it revived - a moment of inertia more than a third higher than a typical 3-wood and close to oversized drivers of not long before, Twist Face and an inverted-cone face mitigating ball-speed loss on off-centre hits, extremely forgiving and low-spinning for a 275cc head. Strong forgiveness for its size, if behind the larger modern minis.
Distance
SolidSolid, with a clear step down from a driver - around 226 yards total (versus a driver reaching that in carry alone), with carries over 255 yards in the 13.5-degree loft and a relatively low-spin flight. Good mini-driver distance, a deliberate trade for control.
Workability
FairControllable, if neutral - the compact 275cc head and adjustable hosel give real control off the tee with tight dispersion, though Twist Face is built to straighten rather than encourage shape. Good workability for a mini.
Feel
ExcellentSolid, era-appropriate - a solid impact from the tri-metal titanium, steel and carbon construction, a stable, quality sensation. Good feel for a mini-driver of its era.
Sound
StrongA mid-pitch crack - a moderately loud, mid-pitch crack on centre strikes that turns quieter and slightly hollow toward the toe and heel, giving clear feedback. A controlled, feedback-rich sound for a mini-driver of its era.
Looks at address
ExcellentThe original retro mini - the clean, classic shape that revived the mini-driver category, a confident, compact profile. A tidy, classic mini shape, if the smallest and most 3-wood-like of the line.
Sources
Dig into the independent expert reviews and lab tests that feed into how every club here is rated. Each one is worth reading in full — they carry the launch-monitor data, hands-on testing and detailed photography that paint the complete picture before you buy.
- Read the full review at TaylorMade Original One Mini Driver Review - Plugged In Golf
- Read the full review at TaylorMade Original One Mini Driver Review - Golf Monthly
- Read the full review at TaylorMade unveils Original One Mini Driver - Golf Digest
- Read the full review at The Original One - TaylorMade Revives the Mini Driver Category - MyGolfSpy
- Read the full review at TaylorMade Original One Mini Driver Review - Golfalot
- Read the full review at Original One Mini Driver - TaylorMade (manufacturer spec)
More Mini Driver ratings
Frequently asked questions
Who is the TaylorMade Original One Mini Driver best for?
You want a compact, controllable top-of-bag club with much tighter dispersion than a driver - and you don't need movable weights or the largest, most forgiving head.
Who should avoid the TaylorMade Original One Mini Driver?
You want a larger, more forgiving and longer modern mini (the BRNR or the 340cc options), or you want movable-weight adjustability.
What handicap is the TaylorMade Original One Mini Driver suitable for?
The TaylorMade Original One Mini Driver suits a broad range of abilities, from high-handicap beginners through to scratch and tour players.
What is the TaylorMade Original One Mini Driver best at?
In our research the TaylorMade Original One Mini Driver rates highest for looks at address and feel, and is softest on workability.
Does the TaylorMade Original One Mini Driver have a shot bias?
The TaylorMade Original One Mini Driver is broadly neutral in shot shape (no built-in draw or fade bias), with a mid-high launch and low spin.