Callaway Mack Daddy Forged Wedge Review

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The Callaway Mack Daddy Forged wedge is a tour-caliber club with Callaway’s signature wedge shape.

Introduction

Callaway has had a resurgence in the wedge arena.  The original Mack Daddy wedge started drawing attention from golfers which was all Callaway needed to be off and running.  Fast forward a few years, a couple color scheme changes, some shape evolution, and you have the Mack Daddy Forged wedge.  By combining both customer and Tour feedback, Callaway made a true Tour-caliber product available to the public.

Looks

First and foremost, Callaway is offering the Mack Daddy Forged wedge in two finishes.  For players that prefer a traditional silver look, Callaway offers a standard matte chrome finish.  Players looking for that Tour raw look can go with the slate black option.  Callaway topped off each wedge with a black, silver, and translucent blue color scheme.

The head shape is a tour-preferred “pear” shape with a higher peak at the toe end.  The toe of the wedge isn’t squared off but is somewhat toward the stubby side.  Also, noticeable at address are the mill marks in the face which give the Mack Daddy Forged a cool aesthetic.  To top off the “Tour look,” Callaway used Tour Issue S200 steel shafts with sick blue shaft labels instead of the standard True Temper gold.

Sound & Feel

The biggest difference between the Callaway Mack Daddy Forged wedges and their predecessors is the sound and feel.  Forging is done by smashing or stamping the metal into its shape as opposed to casting which is done by pouring metal into a mold.  The result of forging is a wedge that has a more solid and precise sound and feel.  Through forging, Callaway gave the Mack Daddy wedge more feedback in the hands and more click in tone at impact.  Full-swing shots have a “whack” sound and more accurate response than previous Mack Daddy wedges.  Better feel and the precise response also helps with better control.

The two different finishes do have a slight difference in sound and feel.  The chrome finish is more muted whereas the black slate has more “click” in both sound and feel.

Performance

Success with scoring clubs requires touch, so having extra feel in your hands is a big plus.  By forging these wedges, Callaway has given players better feedback for distance and trajectory control when they need it most.  It is worth noting that the Mack Daddy Forged only comes in Callaway’s R-Grind.  The R-Grind is a very versatile “crescent” sole grind, but if you are particular about your wedge grind, you’re going to want to be aware of this.  Having the right grind could make all the difference for whether or not this wedge is effective for you.

On full swings, I thought the Mack Daddy Forged was excellent.  It was easy to control the trajectory and make aggressive plays into the green.  Spinning the ball was really easy, but this wedge won’t make you miraculously zip the ball back 13 feet on the green if you don’t already.

Mack-Daddy-Forged-Wedge-15

Conclusion

It’s not news that Callaway has stepped their game up in recent years.  The new Mack Daddy Forged wedges are another example that Callaway doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.  Stronger feel leads to better performance not only for Tour players but also for us amateurs looking to shave a few strokes off our game.  If there’s an opportunity for Callaway to improve their equipment, they’re going to figure it out and do it.

Buy the Callaway Mack Daddy Forged Wedges HERE

Callaway Mack Daddy Forged Wedge Price & Specs

Bill Bush
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6 Comments

  1. Steve
    April 13, 2017 at 7:39 am  ·  Reply

    Thanks for the review on these Wedges, Bill. A friend of mine now has a split set of wedges in his bag — 2 Vokeys and 2 Mackdaddies. Since these are forged, it stands to reason they will excel at feel. Then again, Vokeys have been the standard bearer in wedges for years now — and they are cast despite many people’s assumptions to the contrary. In your opinion, how do the Callaways stack up to the Vokeys and does the design of the Mackdaddy demand precision on full shots or is there a hint of forgiveness with them? Thanks.

    • Bill Bush
      April 13, 2017 at 9:11 am  ·  Reply

      I haven’t hit a Vokey in quite some time and I would imagine it’s greatly subjective when comparing the two.

      I wouldn’t say the MD Forged is unforgiving or forgiving for long shots. It’s a pretty standard forged wedge. It’s all going to come down to fit, especially with the grind. For me, it was a great full shot wedge.

  2. Wally
    April 13, 2017 at 11:08 am  ·  Reply

    These are some of the best wedges that I have ever played, really like the straight leading edge. To me a wedge is all about feel and these deliver. This is coming from a guy that has both the SM6 and the RTX wedges.

  3. George Hinds
    July 26, 2018 at 1:56 am  ·  Reply

    Currently playing older Titleist BV Spin Milled wedges, 54/08 and 58/08. Mostly use 54 as full shot wedge like a higher lofted gap wedge, 58 as sand wedge. What should I be looking for in a 54 degree as a gap wedge type club. Currently playing PING i-200 irons 4-Utility (50 degree). Having trouble deciding when researching bounce and grinds for this type of club. Living on Kauai and there is not a club fitter to work with.

    • Matt Saternus
      July 27, 2018 at 10:17 am  ·  Reply

      George,

      My favorite full swing wedge is the PING Glide 2.0. With the standard sole, it’s got great forgiveness and consistency but still offers playability.

      Best,

      Matt

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