Callaway Ai Smoke Mini Driver Up for Preorder

[Rbsiedsc]

19 minutes ago, toddyc said:

Well it’s not like that money is gone…they’ll probably get it all back when the trades hit callaway preowned 

Doubt it. If I were to do the trade in, I would by 2 drivers from CPO, then with 2x their value is pretty close to double what I paid. I know not everyone is doing that

[HarborMike]

On 6/18/2024 at 3:44 PM, HarborMike said:

Ok. I just got off the phone with Callaway and identified the culprit for reason of the delayed (til end of July) shipping. The Denali Blue 60 stiffs are backordered so until the mid-end of July. So, I had them swap out the shaft for a Tensei Blue AV 65 stiff instead (I’ll most likely install one of my exotic shafts instead). Rep said my order should be shipping out within the next couple days 🙂

FML! Just went to check my order status on Callaway’s website. My estimated ship date went from mid-end of July to 8/5-8/12. Looks like I’ll be on the phone again to see what’s going on here. Hopefully it’s not the lack of 11.5 degree heads and some bug in the system. Ugh..

[third-times-a-charm]

9 minutes ago, HarborMike said:

FML! Just went to check my order status on Callaway’s website. My estimated ship date went from mid-end of July to 8/5-8/12. Looks like I’ll be on the phone again to see what’s going on here. Hopefully it’s not the lack of 11.5 degree heads and some bug in the system. Ugh..

Something could have been in stock when you called but went out after. Happens.

 

My order with a 13.5 and KBS TD shaft still says 6/24-6/28

[HarborMike]

5 minutes ago, third-times-a-charm said:

Something could have been in stock when you called but went out after. Happens.

 

My order with a 13.5 and KBS TD shaft still says 6/24-6/28

Yeah, maybe. On hold now. Only thing I changed was to the stock Tensei AV Blue (which I assume is in abundance). Hopefully it’s either just the shaft or the grip as the culprit, which I’ll gladly change.

[HarborMike]

2 hours ago, HarborMike said:

Yeah, maybe. On hold now. Only thing I changed was to the stock Tensei AV Blue (which I assume is in abundance). Hopefully it’s either just the shaft or the grip as the culprit, which I’ll gladly change.

Just received confirmation from Callaway; the 11.5 heads are delayed and expected to arrive 8/5. Will have to wait it out unfortunately. I ordered the same day this was released but in the afternoon. Possible the initial allotment was sold out that morning, but at least they’re getting more heads in for my order.

[EaglesGolf99]

24 minutes ago, HarborMike said:

Just received confirmation from Callaway; the 11.5 heads are delayed and expected to arrive 8/5. Will have to wait it out unfortunately. I ordered the same day this was released but in the afternoon. Possible the initial allotment was sold out that morning, but at least they’re getting more heads in for my order.

Oh boy ..... Better get a second confirmation my 11.5° is filled. 

[zstokes]

32 minutes ago, HarborMike said:

Just received confirmation from Callaway; the 11.5 heads are delayed and expected to arrive 8/5. Will have to wait it out unfortunately. I ordered the same day this was released but in the afternoon. Possible the initial allotment was sold out that morning, but at least they’re getting more heads in for my order.

Was this the 11th or the 12th?  I ordered the morning of the 12th, 11.5 head and my status has not changed.

[Lord Helmet]

I just saw one of these things at my local MoG.  Looks like a real weapon off the T.  Didnt swing it - it was righty.  I dont even know if they make em in lefty.  I have no interest in them tho.  But was a sexy looking stick.

[HarborMike]

22 minutes ago, zstokes said:

Was this the 11th or the 12th?  I ordered the morning of the 12th, 11.5 head and my status has not changed.

I placed the order with Callaway confirmation June 11th at 8:42am PST (received pre-order email on June 11th, 7:20am, only an hour and 22 minutes difference). Even did expedited shipping. 

 

 

Edited June 20, 2024 by HarborMike

[zstokes]

Callaway updated shipping date: 24th - 28th.

Edited June 21, 2024 by zstokes

[SwingBlade]

Supposed to start hitting prime golf shops in 7 to 14 days.  Told they were expecting demand to not be high so started out with limited release.   Pre-release demand is prettyy high.  Now they are likely waiting to see if demand increases or falls off once it is in the hands of amateur golfers.  

[Gareth]

Here in the UK you can order this in any spec you want at no extra cost……as long as it’s std spec and with zero shaft choice that is 🙄

[Gareth]

So I got to try one of these here in the Uk today on the range. The store (Silvermere, which is one of the largest golf stores over here) had 4 new Mini Drivers in from mid last week.

 

All of them were 11.5 degrees with the PX Denali Blue 60g 6.0 shafts.

 

On first look the club is very attractive/easy on the eye and sits well. On the range (with the head all taped up……sure, hardly ideal…..) I really struggled to get it to work for me. First off the height that you tee it up is (for me) pretty critical in terms of the results you can achieve. My best strikes went about 240-243 yards with the Srixon range balls and with a nice, boring flight. I also tried lofting it up to 12.5 and 13 degrees but got the better results back to standard loft at 11.5.
 

However the majority of my efforts were pretty poor with my signature hook making an appearance far too often than I’d hoped for. For sure the taped up head isn’t ideal and the range balls are spinny but for me the PX shaft was the main culprit. It felt loose and devoid of any feel whatsoever and only worked with a very deliberate and slow swing at the ball. I’d tried a PX Denali Black 70 6.0 in my 3 wood last month and ditched it after one round as there is not much good I could say about it so I had higher hopes for the Blue in this new club.

 

So for it to work for me I’d have to probably buy another shaft and at that point this club seems to become less compelling than I thought it would. I actually need a new driver and was sold on a Ping G430 Max 10k to use with my Diamana GT60 shaft (would play at c. 44.5” in a driver head) that played a demo club round last week to good effect. But with the Mini Driver being £399-£449 here (so pretty much dollars for pounds) plus a new shaft it’s gonna cost the same or more than a new driver would……and I already hit my TSR2+ around 230-240 yards off the tee (never use it off the fairway) so don’t see how a Callaway Mini Driver would work for me at all.

 

So I think that I am back to looking at a) a new Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Triple Diamond Max or b) Ping G430 Max 10k with both in 10.5 degree loft and accept that a conventional driver is probably the better fit for me/my bag.

 

Glad I did the trial exercise before pulling the trigger……which mentally I’d already done this week before today 😆

[lil'mike]

I just got mine in today and based on the size, I don't know if I will keep it and hit it or not.  It is definitely looks bigger than i thought it would be so not sure I would use it enough to make it an addition to the bag.

 

I wondered about the size earlier but ordered it anyway so I didn't miss out on getting one!  lol

 

That said, if I decide to setup a minimalist bag with even less clubs this would be a perfect driver replacement.

 

Edited June 22, 2024 by lil'mike

[Kale_m]

My buddy picked up 2 of them today from golf town. Had $1200 to spend in trade in credit. So he got a 11.5 and a 13.5 

[bushwood]

they are technically/officially released retail as of today correct? 

[nearfall152]

Woot! Shipped today!

[ike31197]

6 minutes ago, bushwood said:

they are technically/officially released retail as of today correct? 

Mine was shipped today, so you may be right, but I thought the official release was 6/27 when I preordered.  Could be mis-remembering things though.  

[HarborMike]

Just posted in other thread: 

YES!!! I just received notification my order has shipped with tracking info. Been a roller coaster since I ordered. Here’s a timeline of my story:

 

1. Pre-ordered June 11 with shipping window of 2-3 weeks on pre-order status.

 

2. Tuesday June 18th - my order status changed to July 22-26. I called to see what the hold up was, customer rep stated the Denali Blue 60 stiff shafts are out of stock and wouldn’t be back in stock until mid July. So I had him change it to Tensei Blue 60 stiff to avoid delays.

3. Thursday June 20th, my order status changed from July 22-26 to August 5-12. Customer rep stated the 11.5 heads were sold out and backordered until August. So I had him change my shaft back to Denali Blue 60 S and just accepted I was going to just wait it out.

 

4. A few hours ago, I just received an email from Callaway with UPS tracking info that my driver had shipped!

 

A bit of a headache but at least it shipped 🙂 Sounds like there’s some disconnect in communication between CS, fullfilment, builders, etc.

[Lobber]

On 6/19/2024 at 8:28 AM, Pnwpingi210 said:

Zero.  Heads are sold out.

 

 Restock may happen later in year but doubtful as the new driver fairway wood cycle start to show up on tour in a couple of months and goes is for sale at the first of the year.

Never were allowing 2X Trade in On Mini Driver anyway

[Pnwpingi210]

Just now, Lobber said:

Never were allowing 2X Trade in On Mini Driver anyway

They did. 

[Lobber]

Just now, Pnwpingi210 said:

They did. 

I looked at ordering and the fine print said it was not included. Called Cally directly and clarified that.   Started out that way also with ***Max.  Moot point anyway as they are sold out.  

[Pnwpingi210]

1 minute ago, Lobber said:

I looked at ordering and the fine print said it was not included. Called Cally directly and clarified that.   Started out that way also with ***Max.  Moot point anyway as they are sold out.  

Hmmmm.  The website let me do it and I believed I received the double credit.

[Lobber]

3 minutes ago, Pnwpingi210 said:

Hmmmm.  The website let me do it and I believed I received the double credit.

[Lobber]

Just now, Lobber said:

4 minutes ago, Pnwpingi210 said:

Hmmmm.  The website let me do it and I believed I received the double credit.

Awesome!  Happy for you.  Let us know how it works.  Would love to hear comparisons from those who have the TM Burner Mini

[JohnKHawk]

Was able to order online from TGW after seeing Callaway website was sold out. 13.5 degree left hand. Assuming there may have been a few shipped to online retailers. I guess I'll see if order gets refunded in a few days or actually gets shipped.

[zstokes]

Supposed to arrive tomorrow.  I’ll go to the range once this week and we’ll see if it supplants the BRNR Mini before my round Sunday.

 

A week from this coming Sunday I’m going to play in my first individual tournament.  I’m probably not ready for it but I have a handicap (as gross as it is) so we’ll see.

[JohnKHawk]

10 hours ago, JohnKHawk said:

Was able to order online from TGW after seeing Callaway website was sold out. 13.5 degree left hand. Assuming there may have been a few shipped to online retailers. I guess I'll see if order gets refunded in a few days or actually gets shipped.

Update: received an email saying "your item is on back order" Expected ship date is 7/25/24. Also said not charging card until it ships. I guess I'll see if it actually shows up or not.

[knappabn]

Mine is out for delivery via UPS today. 11.5 degree, Denali Black 6 X. Should be a fun new toy. 

[ilikegolf26]

17 hours ago, Lobber said:

Never were allowing 2X Trade in On Mini Driver anyway

Yes, you were.  I got 2x trade value on the mini direct from Callaway and it arrived today.