Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system can include a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radio frequency (RF) coil, which is or otherwise includes a degenerate birdcage coil (DBC) or a ladder coil. The MRI RF coil includes a row of meshes for operation in a half driving transmit mode. The meshes can include driving meshes and non-driving meshes, where each non-driving mesh is coupled between neighboring driving meshes. Driving meshes are electrically coupled to drivers, whereas non-driving meshes are not. The MRI RF coil may have enhanced transmit power efficiency and magnetic field uniformity with fewer drivers.