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Review: Callaway Mack Daddy 2 Wedges

Return of the Mack
The first time we heard about Mack Daddy grooves from Phil Mickelson was back when grooves were spinning balls like a top and ripping the covers off in the process (pre-USGA groove rule).  The original grooves were some of the sharpest on the market.  Callaway decided to bring back the name of the grooves as the name of their newest wedges by Roger Cleveland. 
He knows what he is doing when it comes to wedges.  His shop at Callaway Headquarters is really cool and his staff can pimp a wedge with the best of them.  The return of the Mack Daddy wedges had some big shoes to fill, but Roger Cleveland nailed it with these.
 
The Mack Daddy 2 Wedges are on the rounder side (more tear drop shaped). The 52* S grind I used has much better lines than some of the previous Callaway models I have looked at.  I think this is a great blend of a slightly round head, but yet clean transitions from hosel to leading edge.  The 58* U grind was inspired by Phil Mickelson doesn’t have as straight of a transition from hosel to leading edge at address, but the sole grind and heel relief are the real deal.  Versatility and consistency with this wedge is amazing.

With the change in non-conforming grooves, there is a difference in spin rates, especially out of the rough.  Pros and amateurs can’t generate as much spin as they could in the past.  For the pro, that really isn’t a big deal, I might even go out on a limb and say it has helped their game; while the amateur couldn’t spin it enough before, certainly doesn’t spin it better now.  The new conforming wedges just don’t have the bite on the ball.  One benefit I have seen is less golf ball cover shredding.  A ball typically lasts longer now because the grooves are gentler on the covers.

While the new Mack Daddy 2 wedges are conforming, you wouldn’t know it by looking at your shredded urethane cover.  I haven’t had this happen with any conforming wedges until these.  While cover shredding isn’t what makes a wedges great, but the ability to generate spin and control shots does.  These have the highest spin of any new wedge I have tried.  For us amateurs, this is certainly a plus.  The grooves and little X-like pattern milled on the face generates great spin numbers even on half or 3/4 shots.  I was still getting close to 10,000 rpms on my Flightscope with a ProV1 X with Mack Daddy 2 grooves.  This was off ideal turf conditions, not rough, but still impressive compared to many of the other wedges out there.

While I have typically played a 54* and 58* with my set often having a 50* gap wedges or something like that, this new set at 52* and 58* worked out well too considering my PW is at 46*.  I ended up with a nice 6* gap in all my wedges.  I made my yardages slightly further apart, but rarely caused me any club confusion.  I did have to rely on touch a little bit more, but never wondering if I grabbed the right club, which seemed to help my wedge game also, since I committed to the club and hit the shot.

The 52* basically was my 100 yard club give or take about 5 yards.  It is really easy to hit and was very consistent from that yardage, which seems to be a common landing spot for me.  The S-grind is fairly thin on the sole so I could hit it really well out of fairways or rough.  It is rounded and blunted enough that I didn’t dig or hit chunky shots either.  This loft doesn’t have quite as aggressive grooves as the 58* which is well thought out as well.  It is more about carry and distance than that little bit of extra spin.

The 58* became everything 85yards and under.  It was used from any lie: fairway, rough, junk, or sand.  The U grind is not the prettiest, I actually nicknamed it the Ugly, but you can’t deny the function and success.  This club became a life saver.  I got up and down from all over the place with this thing.  It clipped, dug, chipped, lobbed; it did everything I asked of it to do, all with consistently high spin.  The slightly thicker sole really helped keep the club from digging, yet the heel relief was enough that I could open it up and hit a clean flop shot too.  The U ground out of the sole helps with bounce so that you have the best turf interaction possible.  There are static and dynamic measurements and this helps make sure both are ideal for any lie or shot.

There is debate between forged and cast.  Which is more important feel or durability?  For me it is always feel.  I like a soft feeling off the face.  I’m willing to put up with a few dings and marks on a wedges if it is forged.  The Callaway Mack Daddy 2 wedges have some of the best forged feel of any wedge you can buy.  They offer two finishes the slate or the chrome.  I really like the slate finish.  It has a kind of raw brushed look to it.  It holds up fairly well, but as expected it wears where it contacts the ground and the ball the most.

I think the Mack Daddy 2 wedges did  the name justice.  They offer the most spin of any conforming wedges I’ve ever hit.  Their shape is a little more rounded or tear dropped than some, but the results are awesome.  High spin, great consistency and excellent feel makes the Return of the Mack complete.  Well done Roger Cleveland.

Check the price online here

For more information: www.callawaygolf.com

Quick Hits:
+Highest conforming spin
+Multiple grinds
+Great forged feel
+Works from any lie

–Round shape

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