If you’re struggling to consistently hit fairways off the tee, like so many of us have at some point in our golf careers, then a small-head driver might help you find the short grass more often.
Logical thinking might tell you that a bigger club means a bigger sweet spot, but for certain golfers, it can also mean a bigger margin of error. Selecting a club with a smaller head can make a game-changing impact if you’re in search of accuracy off the tee.
Small head drivers are a growing niche, but with many new options out there it’s hard to choose the best one for your game. The last thing anyone wants to do is to make an investment in their golf game that doesn’t pay off.
Luckily, our team tested the twenty most popular small head drivers to determine the best model for different swing types and budgets.
Below you will find our research on the best small-head drivers and some specifications on why small-head drivers work. If you’re ready to start hitting more fairways, let’s jump in.
Best Small Head Golf Drivers
Golfible Picks:
The Best Small Head Driver (Editor’s choice): TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver (click to see)
Best Small Head Golf Driver (450cc): Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS Driver
Best Small Head Golf Driver For Fast Swing Speeds: Titleist Tsi4 Driver
Best Small Head Golf Driver On A Budget: Thomas Golf AT 705 Hybrid Small Head Driver (click to see on eBay)
Best Premium Brand Small Head Driver On A Budget: Srixon Z-745 Golf Driver (click to see on eBay)
Small Head Golf Drivers Specification Table Comparison
| Driver Name | TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver | Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS Driver | Titleist Tsi4 Driver | Thomas Golf AT 705 Hybrid Small Head Driver | Srixon Z-745 Golf Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 8.9/10 The Best Small Head Driver (Editor’s Choice) | 9.1/10 Best Small Head Golf Driver (450cc) | 9.3/10 Best Small Head Golf Driver For Fast Swing Speeds | 8.8/10 Best Small Head Golf Driver On A Budget | 9.0/10 Best Premium Brand Small Head Driver On A Budget |
| Pricing | Jump To Pricing Section | Jump To Pricing Section | Jump To Pricing Section | Jump To Pricing Section | Jump To Pricing Section |
| Head Size | 307cc | 450cc | 425cc | 230cc | 460cc |
| Grip | Mitsubishi MiDr Proto 65 | Callaway Lamkin Crossline | Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 | TG-Pro Grip | Lamkin UTx Full Cord Red |
| Face Angle | Adjustable | Adjustable | Adjustable | Draw Bias (Slight Offset) | Adjustable |
| Loft Angle | Adjustable | Adjustable | Adjustable | 10.5 degrees, 13 degrees | Adjustable |
| Golf Shaft | Z Grip .600 | Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei AV-xlink White | Tensei AV RAW White 65/Project X Smoke Yellow 60 | Thomas Frequency & Flex Matched Tour-Grade Shaft (Graphite & Steel models) | Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Black 60 |
| Shaft Length | 43.75″ | 45.5″ | 45.5″ | 43.5″ (Graphite-Shafted Model), 42.5″ (Steel-Shafted Model) | 45″ |
| Shaft Material | Graphite | Graphite | Graphite | Graphite | Graphite |
| Shaft Flex | Senior/Regular | Stiff/Extra-Stiff | Stiff/Extra-Stiff/Most Stiff | Senior/Regular/Stiff/Extra-Stiff | Extra-Stiff/Stiff/Regular |
| Read Review | Jump To TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver Review | Jump To Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS Driver Review | Jump To Titleist Tsi4 Review | Jump To Thomas Golf AT 705 Hybrid Review | Jump To Srixon Z-745 Review |
TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver
The Best Small Head Driver (editor’s choice)
Rating: 8.9 /10
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Pros
- 307cc head was enlarged from the previous model of 275cc.
- Has a low CG which combined with the small head leads to accurate drives.
- Adjustable loft options allow the golfer to experiment with trajectories.
Cons
- Headcover is not high quality
- Some users said it’s too similar to a 3-wood.
The TaylorMade 300 Mini Driver is an upgraded version of its previous model, the TaylorMade Original One Mini Driver.
TaylorMade gave the club a bigger 307cc head to increase power and distance. The club can be hit off the tee or from the fairway similar to a 3-wood.
There are a plethora of options to this club especially the loft thanks to an adjustable loft sleeve that can be moved two degrees higher than the standard loft.
The adjustable loft is helpful because it allows you to hit the ball high or low in the air increasing or decreasing rollout.
A Thru-Slot Speed Pocket allows the sole to be flexible which increases the ball speed as well as performance on mishits low on the face. This is extremely vital for golfers who enjoy using it from the middle of the fairway or light rough.
The low center of gravity also aids in hitting the sweet spot more consistently which leads to accuracy and distance from the tee.
Instructors like Rick Shiels stated that he was averaging about 250 yards off the tee with this driver. Buyers need to remember that this club is smaller and won’t provide the same distance as a standard driver.
The table below shows the different options and specifications available at purchase.
| Loft | Hand | Lie | Volume | Length | Swing Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11.5 degrees | Right/Left | 56-60 degrees | 307cc | 43.75” | D3 |
| 13.5 degrees | Right/Left | 56-60 degrees | 307cc | 43.75” | D3 |
In our testing we found that it doesn’t travel very far compared to other drivers in this list but is quite accurate.
Titleist Tsi4 driver
Best Small Head Golf Driver For Fast Swing Speeds
Rating: 9.3 /10
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Pros
- At 425cc the size of the head is closer to the standard 460cc so transitioning should be easy for most golfers.
- Has 16 adjustable options on it for lie and loft.
- Titleist reduced the drag by six percent compared to the TS4 making the club feel and sound better.
Cons
- Doesn’t give golfers with slower swing speeds maximum distance compared to 460cc heads.
- One of the more expensive drivers on the golf market.
The product we are writing about is the Titleist TSi4 and is not to be confused with the Titleist TS4. The TSi4 was released in 2021 and has a 425cc head compared to the TS4 which became available in 2019 and contains a larger 430cc head.
The club is considered one of the longest drivers on the market by renowned club reviewer Rick Shiels.
Check out the video below of him reviewing the club. If you’re a high handicapper Shiels shows the impact at 2:30 minutes into the video.
The club is the ultimate customizability driver with 16 options for lie and loft combos which help with golfers wanting lower, mid or high ball flight.
There is also a removable weight on the sole of the club. It was put more forward in the face by Titleist compared to previous models.
It’s MOI design is horizontal and vertical which helps reduce spin leading to longer and straighter shots.
The 425cc head is larger than some of the other models written about in this article.
This might make it more suitable for high-handicappers with higher swing speeds looking for more forgiveness in comparison to a small-headed driver which can be difficult to hit.
The club is available in three loft options: 8, 9 and 10 degrees.
Thomas Golf AT 705 Hybrid Small Head Driver
Best Small Head Golf Driver On A Budget
Rating: 8.8 /10
Pros
- Great alignment aid
- Shorter shaft
- Driver lofts for longer shots
- Easy to use on fairways
Cons
- Unknown brand
- It might be too small for optimal performance
This Thomas Golf AT 705 Hybrid small head driver is pushing the limits offering a driver that is not much larger than some hybrid clubs on the market making it the first and only hybrid driver available at this stage.
At 230cc it is half the size of the maximum allowed. Available in lofts of 10 ½ – and 13-degrees it is aimed at providing driver performance rather than hybrid distance. Now you will be able to hit your driver off the deck much easier for those long approach shots.
The low center of gravity makes this driver as easy to control and strike like any other hybrid while adding distance off the tee.
Thomas’s alignment aid will ensure that you can accurately line up your shot.
Callaway Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS Driver
Best small head driver for low spin (450cc)
Rating: 9.1 /10
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Pros
- Compact low spin option for good ball strikers
- Keeps some ball speed on bad strikes
- Fade bias minimizes hooks
- More forgiving than Titleist TSi4
Cons
- Off center shots will have less forgiveness
- Don’t provide sound feedback on bad shots
To be honest, you do need to be a good ball striker to benefit fully from the Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS driver.
This club’s smaller head is 450cc and it’s CG is further forward to provide a low spin option for faster swingers. That said, it does retain some forgiveness and in testing, it is a more forgiving option than the Titleist TSi4 (also on this list).
Experienced golfers looking to prevent hooks to their drives could also benefit as it has a neutral to-fade bias. It also retained some ball speed when the shot was mishit in testing.
The Rogue ST Triple Diamond LS is targeted at golfers who don’t mishit their shots regularly but anyone using small cavity back irons or blades should be comfortable hitting this golf club.
Srixon Z-745 Golf Driver
Best Premium Brand Small Head Driver On A Budget
Rating: 9.0 /10
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Pros
- Affordability
- Accuracy
- Advanced face construction
- Moveable weights
Cons
- Close to the maximum size for driver heads thus only just qualifies as a small-headed driver
The Srixon Z-745 Golf Driver measuring 430cc is one of the most affordable premium brand small head drivers. At 430cc there is little chance that it will be mistaken for a 3-wood.
It contains all the technologies you expect from a premium brand to make your round as much fun as possible striking long drives down the fairway.
The twelve adjustable loft settings make this club flexible enough to suit any golfer.
Launching the ball into the air is made simpler with the low center of gravity while it offers a large sweet spot for accuracy and forgiveness.
More About The Best Small Head Golf Driver Options
You may wonder why you would want to use a small head driver when you can go for one that is larger. If you are a beginner, a larger head might be of benefit but the better you get and the more playability you want, a smaller head might be the answer.
We look at a few things to think about.
What Are Small Head Drivers?
The maximum clubhead surface area allowed for a driver by the USGA (page 53) and R&A is set at 460cc plus 10cc tolerance. Driver heads ranging from 430cc to 380cc qualifies under the definition of a small head golf driver.
Small Head Driver Benefits
Larger heads offer you a larger face surface and forgiveness thus enabling you to achieve good distance on off-center hits.
However, when you strike the center of your drivers’ clubhead consistently there are some benefits to moving to a smaller driver head,
The benefits of the best small head driver are similar to those of blade irons over larger game improvement irons. The smaller driver clubhead enables you to control your drives better and work the ball to shape to suit the golf course.
The smaller head enables designers to add a longer shaft to create a bigger arc and the smaller head offers less wind resistance resulting in increased speed.
A small headed driver gives you the option to change angles and perform sharper turns for accuracy. Small-headed drivers offer an increase in precision in addition to the extra distance.
Driver head size vs distance
460cc drivers are the standard head size compared to older models or mini drivers with less such as 275cc or 300cc.
A bigger head means the face is going to be a lot larger which provides a bigger sweet spot. Hitting the sweet spot more often will lead to longer drives. You won’t always have to hit the club “on the screws” for a great shot.
Drivers with more CCs will also provide more ball speed on strikes than smaller-headed ones.
Small head driver vs big head driver (Key Differences)
Small head drivers:
- Provide less weight around the perimeter of the face and clubhead which leads to more consistent ball launch when hit correctly.
- Might be preferred by some low handicappers who can hit small sweet spots because they can hit drives straighter with shot shape.
- Can be used off the deck with a low center of gravity easier than larger-headed drivers.
Big head drivers:
- Preferred by high-handicappers because they are more forgiving with larger sweet spots.
- Are manufactured and sold much wider across the golf market than smaller headed drivers so players can test out many different models at the store.
- Have more customizability options since more models are available.
- Are not recommended to hit off the deck.
Pros and Cons of Older drivers with small heads vs new mini drivers
Pros for mini drivers:
- The technology will be improved which helps make the club much more forgiving.
- The weight of the club will match the length better and allow stock options to be simpler to use.
- New mini drivers have adjustable hosels which allow golfers to customize the club to suit their game.
- The sound and feel will be improved and mishits such as thinned shots won’t be as uncomfortable.
- Customizability settings let different golfers change settings so high or low handicaps can use these newer models.
Cons for mini drivers:
- Could see distance reduced due to the smaller shaft.
- If you already have a three-wood in the bag you might have to sell it if you’re trying to play a mini-driver.
-If you already have a three-wood in the bag you might have to sell it if you’re trying to play a mini driver.
Pros for older drivers with smaller heads:
- Offer more control and accuracy off the tee meaning they’re easier to hit straighter.
- Have less spin and more rollout.
- Good for shot shaping.
Cons for older drivers with small heads:
- These drivers will have smaller sweet spots and if hit too high or low as well as closer to the toe or heel they will result in extremely poor results.
- Hitting these off the deck like a three-wood is not recommended because the center of gravity isn’t as low and updated compared to newer technology. The lofts are often lower too.
- The weight on older drivers isn’t close to 3-woods like mini drivers are. This means a lot of lead tape would need to be added in order to play an older driver with a small head at short lengths and keep a consistent swing speed.
How Is The Size Of A Driver Head Measured By The USGA?
Drivers, and other clubheads, can be measured through the Archimedes’ Principle that states that the buoyant force on a submerged object (Page 54) is equal to the weight of the fluid that is displaced by the object.
Water has a gravity of 1.0 and therefore a perfect tool to measure the volume of the driver’s head.
Every 1cc of volume displacement weighs 1 gram. Place the container with water allowing for the clubhead to be submerged without overflowing onto a digital scale that can measure in increments of 1 gram.
Set the scale to zero before testing starts.
Submerge the head into the water and take the weight measurement reading to accurately display the volume of the clubhead.
What Type Of Golfer Is Suited To A Small Head Golf Driver?
Great ball strikers will benefit from using small-headed golf drivers. This is likely to include golfers that use bladed irons, low handicap golfers, and professional golfers.
Small-headed drivers are ideal for golfers require that want a smaller head than that found on large drivers yet larger than a 3-wood yet still offer the latest technology found in large-headed drivers.
If you have difficulty getting both the driver and 3-wood off the tee, a small head golf driver could be your savior.
Golfers with inconsistent impact would be advised to keep playing the larger 460cc driver heads.
Are Bigger Heads Easier To Hit?
Large 460cc driver heads are built to offer forgiveness over speed and accuracy. The larger golf population is playing off a mid or high handicap and therefore requires the larger head.
430cc vs 460cc Driver: What Do These Numbers Mean?
Golf drivers are measured in the surface size of the driver’s head and prescribed by the governing bodies of golf. CC is the abbreviation for cubic centimeters
Manufacturers have increased the size of the driver’s head to provide a bigger clubface for golfers that offer improved forgiveness for off-center strikes.
Larger clubheads promote increased drag thus leading to slower swing speeds. The larger clubhead offers more forgiveness thus the average golfer will generally get more distance from the bigger head.
460cc converts to approximately 28 cubic inches while a 400cc clubhead converts to approximately 24.4 cubic inches.
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Are Mini Drivers Easier To Hit?
Small-headed drivers are easier to swing faster but are not easier to strike the golf ball due to a mini head.
These drivers are also less forgiving than larger heads. Off-center impact on a smaller head is likely to lead to a larger loss in direction and distance than a large-headed driver.
What Is The Smallest Driver Head?
The smallest driver head that is still actively manufactured and sold is the TaylorMade Original One mini driver at 275cc.
Final Thoughts
Small head drivers have a significant advantage for good ball strikers that find the center of the clubface more often than not. You can swing a small head driver faster and generate more accuracy and distance.
Off-center strikes will be less forgiving and exaggerate the mistake. You need to find the right option for your game.
The editors’ choice for the best small head golf driver is the Taylormade 300 mini driver. Although only slightly smaller than the maximum allowed it performed above expectations in our testing.
Any feedback about your experience with smaller head drivers is welcome in the comments section below.
