This £307 Mini Driver Matches Premium Ball Speeds - But There’s A Major Catch For Slicers
Joe Ferguson takes a look at the latest addition to the rapidly growing mini driver market to see if it can challenge the major brands at a significantly lower price point.
The Tour Edge Exotics mini driver is an incredibly high-performing and cost-effective entry into the space. Offering ball speeds and carry numbers that rival premium models, it provides an explosive feel and great confidence off the tee. However, the flat lie angle means those with a right miss should approach with caution.
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Outstanding value at upwards of £100 cheaper than major rivals
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Fast ball speeds and explosive feel
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Confidence-inspiring footprint from the tee
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Visually and measurably very flat lie angle
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Clunky transition from head to shaft due to missing ferrule
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With the mini driver sector remaining one of the most exciting growth areas in golf equipment, Tour Edge has thrown its hat into the ring with the Exotics Mini Driver. Having extensively tested its direct rivals, I was keen to see how this somewhat more budget-friendly option would stack up.
Aesthetically, there is plenty to admire. At address, I really enjoy the overall shaping of the 280cc head, and the modern, carbon crown frames the ball beautifully. However, as is my recurring gripe with a lot of Tour Edge clubs, the lack of a traditional plastic ferrule above the adjustable adapter creates an unnecessarily clunky transition from the clubhead to the shaft. It’s a minor detailing issue, but one that disrupts an otherwise premium look.
Furthermore, you need to be aware of how the head sits. Visually, it looks very flat, with the toe noticeably falling away from you as you address the ball. If your natural miss is a hook, this anti-left visual will likely look like an absolute dream. But for those of us whose standard miss is an 'over fade', it presents a somewhat scary proposition before you’ve even started your backswing.
From a tech point of view, Tour Edge is utilizing ‘Combo Brazing’ technology - a high-precision bonding process that fuses an ultra-thin titanium face to a heavy stainless steel body. By eliminating the structural gaps found in typical multi-piece designs, it promises maximum energy transfer.
This is paired with its new Pyramid Face Technology to optimize ball speed and forgiveness across the face, while the lightweight carbon fiber crown lowers the CG to maximize stability and MOI.
In terms of performance, I really enjoyed the Exotics Mini. Feel-wise, it is exceptionally good; the acoustic signature is a little more subdued than the PXG Secret Weapon, for example, but the sensation off the face is no less explosive.
More impressively, when tested in the exact same loft configuration as its market rivals, it produced extremely comparable ball speeds and carry numbers - a serious achievement given that it comes in at upwards of £100 cheaper than the competition.
Interestingly, the head somehow felt and looked visually bigger than its stated 280cc size. While this added a welcome dose of confidence when sitting on a tee peg, to my eye it lent itself to slightly easier performance from the tee as opposed to off the fairway, where the footprint felt just a touch bulkier than some alternatives on the market such as the Titleist GT 280.
Out on the course, however, I couldn't entirely get away from a fairly persistent right start line during testing. I managed to straighten the ball flight out somewhat by shifting the adjustable sleeve to the upright setting, but even that adjustment only really got the head looking closer to a standard lie as opposed to truly upright, and threw the shaft graphics into a slightly annoying visual orientation.
Curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to measure the club on a spec gauge. Unsurprisingly, it came in at a very flat measured lie angle of 56°. For context, the TaylorMade r7 Quad mini driver sits at 57°, the Callaway Quantum mini is 57°, and the PXG Secret Weapon sits much more upright at 58°. Just something to bear in mind.
In summary, the Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver represents a really interesting proposition. It is a mini driver coming in upwards of £100 cheaper than everything else on the shelves, yet it refuses to compromise on great feel, ball speed, and raw carry distance.
It is well worth an audit for anyone looking to optimize their long game on a budget - just be fully aware that if your typical miss is to the right, this might not be the one for you.
The Exotics Mini Driver is available for retail at $399 or £307 and is available in either 11.5˚ or 13.5˚ loft options.
