PXG 2027 Secret Weapon Mini Driver: Golf Monthly Test Review

This report presents the findings of Golf Monthly tester Sam De’Ath. The measurements and on-course impressions below are his.

Sam De’Ath observed that the mini driver trend, which he honestly believed might have cooled off by now, appears to be on a continued upward trajectory. As someone who occasionally struggles with fairway woods, particularly from the tee, he was eager to determine if the newest iteration of the PXG Secret Weapon Mini Driver offered any performance improvements.

PXG Secret Weapon 2027 Mini Driver(Image credit: Future)

Sharing the DNA of the popular Lightning lineup, this club aims to deliver driver-like distance while maintaining the reliable control of a fairway wood through increased loft and a shorter shaft. Adding a mini driver to your bag is typically motivated by slight inconsistency off the tee, difficulty achieving the correct launch with a standard driver, or a desire for additional distance from a 3-wood. As noted earlier, the latter scenario describes Sam De’Ath’s own situation.

From the moment it was unboxed, the club presented a premium appearance, and Sam De’Ath is a strong admirer of the refined aesthetic of this updated model. The 300cc head positions itself beautifully behind the ball and does not appear difficult to launch from the fairway. Its compact design allows for shot shaping while providing the confidence needed by golfers who require it.

(Image credit: Future)

In his view, the lightweight matte carbon fiber crown represents a significant upgrade over the gloss finish of the previous model, substantially enhancing the look at address. This lightweight crown also facilitated weight redistribution, lowering the center of gravity within the head to make launching from the deck exceptionally easy, which was precisely what he hoped for.

The new Secret Weapon is available exclusively in a 13° model, which suits Sam De’Ath’s needs perfectly as he primarily seeks slightly more distance than his 3-wood provides. However, he believes an 11° option would be ideal for players intending to use it mainly from the tee.

(Image credit: Future)

Measured on the ruler, the model Sam De’Ath tested came in at 43.25 inches, matching the length of his TaylorMade Qi4D 3-wood that previously occupied that slot in his bag. Despite the larger head size, he felt highly connected and in control, and the launch monitor data confirmed this sense of stability.

To collect data on the Secret Weapon, Sam De’Ath visited the Golf Monthly Performance Lab and tested it using a Foresight Sports QuadMax launch monitor. Based on a 25-ball average, he recorded a carry distance of 271 yards from the fairway.

He was delighted by this result, as it aligned exactly with his expectations for the Secret Weapon. It offers a slight increase of 10 yards over his 3-wood, without closing the gap to his driver, where he averages approximately 295 yards of carry. While it extends the distance gap between his 5-wood (245 yards carry) and the next club up, he rarely faces situations requiring a shot between 245 and 260 into a green.

He noted that understanding your yardages is critical when making this decision, as you want to avoid creating large gaps, especially if you frequently find yourself playing from those specific distances on the course.

For the tester, this club simply provided an additional option from the tee, although when encountering run-outs further down the hole, the driver feels slightly too much club.

The ball launched off the club at an impressive 162 mph ball speed and an angle of 15.5 degrees. It reached a towering peak height of 148 feet, yet it remained easy enough to bring the flight down when necessary.

PXG Secret Weapon 2027 Mini Driver stats(Image credit: Future)

A major reason the ball feels so hot off this club is the new face, which PXG made over 4 percent thinner than the previous version. Sam De’Ath could genuinely feel a trampoline-like pop and incredible energy transfer, although the feel off the face is definitely firmer compared to the Callaway Quantum Mini Driver.

De’Ath was highly impressed by the forgiveness of the new Secret Weapon. PXG reworked the interior of the club’s sole to support the thinner face and redistributed the saved weight to the edges. During testing, when he hit shots near the toe, the club barely twisted in his hands, and the majority of shots remained surprisingly straight and in play.

The face on the 2027 Secret Weapon(Image credit: Future)

There are four weight ports on the sole (heel, toe, front, and back) that come loaded with two 7.5-gram and two 2.5-gram weights for those who enjoy tinkering with their equipment. Sam De’Ath found this adjustment changed his spin rate by 200/300 rpm depending on the placement of the heavier weights, which could significantly influence the creation of a desired ball flight. Combined with the adjustable hosel, you truly feel you can customize your exact preferred trajectory.

Sam De’Ath testing the PXG Secret Weapon 2027 Mini Driver on the golf course(Image credit: Future)

He concluded that this club is excellent for narrow par-4s where you must find the short grass, but if you usually rely on a 3-wood as your go-to club for longer holes, he believes you will be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to launch the Secret Weapon off the deck and the level of control you feel over the ball flight.