With that said there are still aspects of the Titleist GT280 that will make it the preferred mini driver over the GTS300 for some golfers. We'll also get into why that is below.
As always the same shaft was using comparing the two mini drivers (Graphite Design Tour AD DI 6S), the same ball was used, the lofts and settings were the same (13 degrees with 11g weight in back and 3g weight in front).
Here's an in-depth breakdown on how the Titleist GTS300 compared head-to-head against the Titleist GT280 on near center hits, toe misses, and low misses (both off the tee and off the deck).
On Near Center Hits - Off the Tee
■ GT280 1.2 mph more ball speed than GTS300
■ GTS300 2.6 degrees higher launch than GT280
■ GT280 78 rpm lower spin than GTS300
■ GTS300 2.4 more carry yards than GT280
■ GT280 3.6 more total yards than GTS300
On Near Center Hits - Off the Deck
■ GT280 2.2 mph more ball speed than GTS300
■ GTS300 1.6 degrees higher launch than GT280
■ GTS300 317 rpm lower spin than GT280
■ GTS300 1.9 more carry yards than GT280
■ GTS300 4.3 more total yards than GT280
On Toe Misses - Off the Tee
■ GTS300 2.5 mph more ball speed than GT280
■ GTS300 2.2 degrees higher launch than GT280
■ GTS300 707 rpm lower spin than GT280
■ GTS300 9.6 more carry yards than GT280
■ GTS300 13.4 more total yards than GT280
On Toe Misses - Off the Deck
■ GTS300 2.4 mph more ball speed than GT280
■ GTS300 0.4 degrees higher launch than GT280
■ GTS300 93 rpm lower spin than GT280
■ GTS300 4.6 more carry yards than GT280
■ GTS300 6.4 more total yards than GT280
On Low Misses - Off the Tee
■ GTS300 3.3 mph more ball speed than GT280
■ GTS300 1.1 degrees higher launch than GT280
■ GTS300 127 rpm lower spin than GT280
■ GTS300 6.5 more carry yards than GT280
■ GTS300 9.1 more total yards than GT280
On Low Misses - Off the Deck
■ GTS300 3.7 mph more ball speed than GT280
■ GTS300 1.4 degrees higher launch than GT280
■ GTS300 203 rpm lower spin than GT280
■ GTS300 11.3 more carry yards than GT280
■ GTS300 15.7 more total yards than GT280
Impressions on Near Center Hits
If you're choosing between the new Titleist GTS300 Mini Driver and previous model GT280 purely based on distance (when you're hitting around the center pretty well) it's basically a toss up. GT280 is giving you a handful more yards off the tee, while GTS300 is giving you a handful more yards off the deck.
Off the tee GT280 had tighter downrange dispersion by almost 6 yards. However GTS300 was tighter (closer) to center line than GT280 by about 3 yards overall. There's a greater left bias with GT280 (GT280 was about 8 yards further left of center than GTS300). However there's a greater right bias with GTS300 (GTS300 was about 5 yards further right of center than GT280).
Off the deck GTS300 and GT280 downrange dispersion was nearly identical (GT280 was about 2 yards tighter). However there was a bigger difference in left-right dispersion. GT280 was almost 7 yards closer to center than GTS300 on left misses. And GT280 was almost 12 yards closer to center than GTS300 on right misses.
Impressions on Toe Misses
I mentioned in the beginning of this review that the Titleist GTS300 Mini Driver is more forgiving than the GT280 and this is where GTS300 earns its keep. In a nutshell GTS300 helps maintain ball speed and more consistent spin (backspin and sidespin, preventing drastic drops or spikes) on toe (and low) misses better than the GT280.
Off the tee GTS300 had tighter downrange dispersion by almost 9 yards on toe misses (a very opposite result to the downrange dispersion on near center hits). There's still a greater left bias with GT280 and a greater right bias with GTS300 on toe misses. However with toe misses GTS300 was tighter (closer) to center line than GT280 by about 12 yards overall (compared to only 3 yards closer to center line on near center hits). Right misses with GT280 were about 2 yards closer to center than GTS300. However left misses with GTS300 were almost 15 yards closer to center than with GT280.
Off the deck GTS300 forgiveness on toe misses was even more prominent. GTS300 had tighter downrange dispersion by almost 12 yards. And for the first time in testing GT280 was further from center line than GTS300 both left and right. GTS300 was about 10 yards closer to center than GT280 on left misses. And GTS300 was about 11 yards closer to center on right misses.
Impressions on Low Misses
The low miss penalty with Titleist's new GTS300 Mini Driver is far less severe compared to low misses with GT280.
Off the tee on low misses GTS300 had tighter downrange dispersion than GT280 by almost 12 yards. GTS300 was tighter (closer) to center line than GT280 by about 3 yards overall (similar to near center hit dispersion). And again there was a greater left of center miss bias with GT280 but a greater right of center miss bias with GTS300.
Off the deck on low misses GTS300 had tighter downrange dispersion than GT280 by almost 14 yards. In terms of left-right dispersion however GT280 was again closer to center than GTS300 on both left misses and right misses (as it was on near center hits).
Conclusion
The new Titleist GTS300 makes mini driver more playable for a larger group of golfers primarily because of its added forgiveness. And there's no debate GTS300 performs better than GT280 in retaining distance, maintaining ideal spin rates, and staying closer on line and to target when you miss out towards the toe and down low on the face.
At the same it's also fair to say the GT280 may be Titleist's better performing mini driver for players who stay near center face impact most of the time, don't need the extra forgiveness, or just prefer the most compact shape. GT280 has a smaller footprint front to back and toe to heel (although the face depth/height of both GT280 and GTS300 appear to be almost identical. And I found GT280 easier to square up more often than GTS300.
So if you're wondering which of these two Titleist mini drivers might be better for your game I'd tell you this. If your misses need a cushion go GTS300. If center strikes are your calling card go GT280.
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