By ED TRAVIS
Callaway’s new Paradym Ai Smoke Ti 340 Mini Driver can take the 3-wood bag slot and is in response to the growing trend of tour professionals hitting a 3-wood off the tee as an alternative to the driver.
Fast Facts Paradym Ai Smoke Ti 340 Mini Driver
Better player category
340cc Titanium clubhead
Ai designed face
Sole weight screws: 4g front, 12g rear
Stock lofts: 11.5°, 13.5°
Stock shafts: Men Project X Denali, Women Project X Cypher
Pre-Sale Date: June 11, 2024
At retail: June 27, 2024
$449.99
WYNTK
Better players such as tour professionals rarely need to use 3-woods for fairway shots but instead it as a second driver when distance is less of a consideration than accuracy, being sure to hit the fairway.
Callaway addressed the situation with a so-called mini driver, one with a smaller head than the stock driver 460cc mated with a shorter shaft utilizing less loft, what would be considered a very strong 3-wood loft. The face makes use of their artificial intelligence design, the Ai Smart Face.
The result is a club to be used off the tee that has a higher launch, higher spin and less dispersion than a driver. For those wanting slightly less spin the two sole weights may be switched putting the heavier one in the front.
Stock shafts are 43.75 inches in length or 2 inches shorter than a typical driver length and roughly .75 inches more than a stock 3-wood. The head size at 340cc is 150cc larger than the usual 3-wood but being larger it offers more forgiveness and face flex at impact.
