The Secret Weapon is PXG’s first entry within the quickly rising mini driver class. Given the relative lack of recent competitors, we’re going to have to attend a bit to see the way it compares to 2025’s different minis however PXG has staked an early, and maybe insurmountable, lead within the headcover portion of the competitors.
Huge image: It’s meaningless however, nonetheless, it’s so nicely performed.
As for the stuff that issues, the Secret Weapon mini driver doesn’t look misplaced subsequent to different PXG metalwoods.
Building
The Secret Weapon’s titanium face is paired with a composite crown. Just like the “for now present” Callaway providing, the PXG Secret Weapon presents a moveable weight system for trajectory tuning. On this case, we’re speaking a couple of four-weight system (2×15 and a couple of×2.5 grams) that may be configured for larger MOI or with a draw or fade bias.
Price a point out is that PXG presents weights in 2.5-gram increments from 2.5 to twenty grams so there’s loads of flexibility for individuals who actually need to dial in swing or head weight.
You additionally get PXG’s adjustable hosel and, like different PXG golf equipment, the Secret Weapon mini driver is robotically polished for higher part-to-part consistency.
Secret Weapon: Key Specs
What intrigues me in regards to the mini driver class is the breadth of alternative it presents to membership designers. Given its potential to span every thing from a barely outsized fairway wooden to a barely undersized driver, it’s going to be fascinating to see how manufacturers place their choices.
Lengthy-range fairway bomber?
Management membership off the tee?
A balanced design that seeks to supply the most effective of each worlds (with, little question, various levels of success)?
For its half, PXG makes use of the phrase versatile to explain its Secret Weapon which means that stability is a part of the design intent. We’ll get to what meaning from a efficiency perspective shortly however on this class, maybe greater than another, there’s a case to be made that versatility is pushed by measurement and form.
The PXG Secret Weapon head is 300cc. For reference, that makes it a bit of bit greater than the upcoming Titleist GT280, each so barely smaller than the TaylorMade BRNR (304cc) and fairly a bit smaller nonetheless than the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Ti 340 Mini (which has an insurmountable lead within the longest mini driver identify class)
On measurement alone, I stay partial TaylorMade’s SLDR Mini (260cc) however no small a part of how a mini driver performs is a operate of how the pinnacle quantity is allotted. Shallow-faced like a fairway wooden, deep-faced like a driver or someplace in between?
Some fast measurements recommend the face peak of the PXG Secret Weapon is barely shallower than the BRNR and practically an identical to the Callaway mannequin.
For PXG’s half within the dialog, the Secret Weapon’s versatility comes from a tighter vanguard. The suggestion is that whereas the PXG mini can be utilized as a driver alternative, it’s a succesful possibility off the green as nicely – even when the face is 44 p.c bigger than the Black Ops 3-wood.
Between the comparatively shallow face and compact profile, the PXG Secret Weapon seems, to me, playable off the deck. Whether or not it’s stays a dialog for an additional day.
So far as the opposite stuff goes, the inventory size is 43.75 inches (roughly two inches shorter than a driver) which accounts for a great little bit of the additional management. The headweight is 210 grams and it is available in 13 levels solely (with PXG’s hosel, the useful loft vary is 11.5 to 14 levels).
PXG describes the Secret Weapon as a high-MOI providing however take into account that’s relative. With a smaller footprint inherently a part of the package deal, a mini isn’t going to match the MOI of a full-sized driver however I suppose the important thing level is that the Secret Weapon presents six p.c larger MOI than PXG’s Black Ops 3-wood with most of that coming alongside the x-axis (high to backside).
PXG Secret Weapon efficiency
To place some context to the efficiency, PXG supplied some information evaluating the Secret Weapon to its Black Ops driver and 3-wood.
In inner testing, PXG discovered the Secret Weapon to be three mph quicker than the 3-wood and 5.5 mph slower than the driving force. It launched slightly below one diploma decrease than each regardless of being considerably higher-lofted than the driving force. Spin charges fell between the driving force and the 3-wood with the notable information level being 300 rpm much less spin than the green wooden.
complete distance, with a shaft that’s roughly two inches shorter, the mini can’t contact the driving force for distance. Whereas it was 20 yards shorter than the driving force, it’s 10 yards longer than the green wooden.
The high quality print right here is that that is all robotic testing.
The suggestions from participant testing is that in the actual world, the Secret Weapon compares extra favorably to each driver and 3-wood, particularly on these less-than-perfect swings that aren’t simply replicated on a robotic.
For what it’s price, information from Shot Scope reveals golfers aren’t sometimes any extra correct with a 3-wood than they’re with a driver so if a mini can improve accuracy and tighten dispersion whereas concurrently growing distance (relative to a 3-wood), placing a mini within the bag begins to make sense – particularly if it’s truly playable off the deck.
With all of that mentioned, the promoting level is straightforward. The Secret Weapon presents extra management than a driver and extra distance than a fairway wooden. It’s the “tweener” membership that may most likely profit a number of us.
Watch this house
2025 is shaping as much as be the 12 months of the mini driver insomuch as there can moderately be a “12 months of” a distinct segment class. Regardless, right here we’re.
What I can let you know is that earlier than we get to the enjoyable a part of summer time, you’re going to have extra minis to select from than ever earlier than – though I can’t recall golfers ever having greater than two to select from, in order that’s a low bar.
PXG is first out of the gate with its Secret Weapon. Titleist has GT280 someplace within the pipeline. We’re practically two years into the BRNR cycle and, nicely, Callaway has dabbled earlier than and I think it’ll once more.
And that’s earlier than we speak about a large number of different manufacturers which have a penchant for following the developments.
I’m setting the over/underneath for mini releases in 2025 at 6.5. That is going to be enjoyable.
Specs and availability
The PXG Secret Weapon mini driver is accessible in 13 levels in each right- and left-handed. Retail value is $449.99.
Out there now.
For extra info, go to PXG.com.
The publish The Cat’s Out of the Bag on PXG’s Secret Weapon Mini Driver appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
