With a smaller head and shorter shaft, Callaway introduces a happy medium between driver and 3-wood with the Paradym Ai-Smoke Ti 340 Mini Driver.
The Ti 340 Mini Driver is designed to help launch higher with more spin and produce a softer landing off the tee. The 340cc titanium head is 26 percent smaller than the limit for a driver but nearly twice the size of a 3-wood. The shaft is 1¾ inches shorter than a standard driver shaft, to give a little more control in the swing.
“At the amateur level you’re going to find that the club is easier to swing and easier to hit straighter, because of that shorter shaft being able to square it up and control it a little bit more,” said Nick Yontz, advanced R&D manager at Callaway. “And then at the same time you might be a player who struggles to hit their 3-wood with such a small head size, whereas the larger 340cc volume on this head does create more forgiveness compared to your current 3-wood off the tee.”
With an adjustable hosel that allows an 11.5-degree loft to go as high as 13.5 degrees, the Ti 340 ($449.99) aims to deliver driver-like action with the launch of a fairway wood. The titanium construction and Ai smart face – which expands the sweet spot across the face – provide higher ball speeds with tight dispersion.
A front/back weight screw design allows players to dial in their optimal launch and spin numbers, with a 4-gram front weight and 12-gram rear weight which can be flipped to lower spin to encourage a more piercing ball flight.
PHOTO COURTESY CALLAWAY