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Tech Talk: Callaway Mack Daddy 2 Wedges

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11 years ago

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“Nothing feels better than forged,” says Callaway wedge designer Roger Cleveland, which is why the company’s new Mack Daddy 2 wedges are forged from 1020 carbon steel.

But modern wedge design has become about much more than just the way the ball feels coming off the club face. Today’s wedges have to be able to provide golfers with the spin they need to control the ball from a variety of different lies, and their sole designs have to be adaptable to a range of golfer types and course conditions.

Callaway’s Mack Daddy 2 wedges derive their name from Callaway’s “Mack Daddy Grooves,” which were unveiled on Callaway’s X-Tour wedges in 2006 to allow golfers to put as much spin on their wedge shots as legally possible. The Mack Daddy 2 wedges carry on that tradition — Cleveland says that the new grooves are so good that they restore 85 to 90 percent of the spin golfers received from wedges created before the USGA’s 2010 groove rule, which shrunk the width and depth of the grooves that equipment manufacturers could put on their wedges.

[youtube id=”wptUpDYvg94″ width=”620″ height=”360″]

Click here to see the long-running discussion about the Mack Daddy 2 wedges in the forms.

According to Cleveland, the 56-, 58-, 60- and 64-degree wedges have grooves that are “right up to the legal limit of the USGA.” They have 5-degree sidewalls, and edge radiuses that are manufactured to extremely tight tolerances to ensure that they are conforming. But the lower-loft wedges (47-, 50-, 52- and 54-degree models) were purposely designed to create less spin than the higher-loft models. They have less aggressive 20-degree sidewalls, which Cleveland says gives the lower-lofted wedges more consistent spin rates on full swings.

Mack Daddy 2 forged

The Mack Daddy 2 wedges are shaped much like the company’s “X Forged” wedges, which are still Callaway’s most popular wedge model on the PGA Tour several years after their release date. Cleveland says that many tour players held on to their X Forged wedges despite the release of new models because of their slightly larger size, which was larger than Callaway’s newer “Forged” and “Jaws” lines of wedges.

The Mack Daddy 2 wedges also aim to be more like the X Forged in the wide amount of grind options available. They’re being released in three different grinds, an S Grind, C Grind and U Grind, which are described below.

The “S Grind”

Callaway Mack Daddy 2 S Grind 58Mack Daddy 2 58 Address

This “standard” grind has the straightest leading edge, making it a good fit for golfers who play most of their wedge shots with a square face. It also has some heel relief, and the lowest amount of bounce, 10 degrees, which means it works well in firm conditions. The S Grind is available on all of Callaway’s Mack Daddy 2 wedge models.

Translation: Try the S grind if you have a shallow angle of attack or play firm golf courses. 

The “C Grind”

Callaway Mack Daddy 2 C GrindMack Daddy 2 C Address

A “C Grind” creates a sole shape the resembles the letter C because of the ample relief on the heel and toe sections of the wedge. It also has a more curved leading edge as well, which keeps it sitting lower to the ground to make opened-face shots easier to execute. It has 14 degrees of bounce, which means it works well in soft conditions and for soft sand. The C Grind is available on the 58- and 60-degree models.

Translation: Try the C Grind if you’re a digger, a golfer who takes big divots, or play golf courses with soft terrain. 

The “U Grind”

Callaway Mack Daddy 2 U GrindCallaway Mack Daddy 2 U Grind Address

The U Grind, which is the same grind used by Phil Mickelson, has a concave sole that allows golfers the ultimate in versatility. It’s the most relieved wedge, with the roundest leading edge to help golfers like Mickelson get the club under the ball to hit high, soft shots from almost anywhere. It has 10 degrees of bounce in the square position, but like the C Grind, it’s playable when opened or closed because of its unique sole shape. The U grind is available on the 58- and 60-degree models.

Translation: Try the U Grind if you play a lot of specialty shots with your lob wedge — opened, closed, toe down, etc. Its 10 degrees of bounce and wider sole in the square position also makes it a good choice for golfers with moderate-to-steep angles of attack. 

Mack Daddy 2 Face Texture

One of the most notable features of the new wedges is a lazered pattern on the face that gives the wedge a unique look at address. Cleveland says that the pattern will wear extremely fast with use, so it shouldn’t be counted on to provide extra spin.

“But it looks cool,” Cleveland says. “And it highlights our new grooves.”

The Mack Daddy 2 wedges come stock with True Temper’s Dynamic Gold S300 shafts and Lamkin Crossline grips. The will be available in two finishes, a milky chrome and a “slate,” which was buffed with a Scotch Brite to give it a raw, custom shop look.

The wedges will cost $119, and will be available in retail stores July 12.

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14 Comments

14 Comments

  1. Pingback: Title Versace Square Grid

  2. chris

    Jul 3, 2013 at 10:13 pm

    I like how it says the face will wear down quick. So don’t count on being able to spin the ball??!! Lol Ill stick with the mizuno’s

    Reply Report comment

    • Gary

      Jul 5, 2013 at 12:35 am

      Funny how that works. Not sure why they design the face that way when it will where down very quickly anyway, same probably goes for the Cleveland and Rotex design as well as the Nike VR wedge design. Looks cool but doesn’t add to the performance much evidently anyway. Other than that I like the Mack Daddy wedges though and anticipate trying 3 of them at some point.

      Reply Report comment

    • B

      Jul 17, 2013 at 8:16 am

      Wow your reading comprehension is terrible.

      The article simply states that the face pattern wears down quick, and isn’t meant for spin in the first place. The grooves accomplish that on their own.

      Reply Report comment

      • Gary Lewis

        Aug 3, 2013 at 12:41 pm

        Right. The face pattern will wear down fairly quickly but that isn’t a big deal. The grooves are the most important thing and they should hold up relatively quite well.

        Reply Report comment

        • Nm

          May 16, 2016 at 10:41 pm

          It’s so one you test them at a course or shop they hit like monsters them slowly wear down and become regular clubs. 😉

          Reply Report comment

  3. Max2850

    Jun 30, 2013 at 9:38 pm

    Hi, I am confused. On the Callaway site Roger Cleveland and Randy . Peterson discuss these wedges. They stated that the C grind is made for more versatility in shot making.

    The U grind is what Phil M. uses, as it stated here. It is described as having a wider sole and is for steeper swings.

    That is the opposite of what is stated here.

    Reply Report comment

    • Gary

      Jul 5, 2013 at 12:37 am

      That is the same message I got from the Cally website. Even though the C grind has more bounce it is still considered the most versatile of the 3 sole designs.

      Reply Report comment

  4. TigerEarl

    Jun 29, 2013 at 11:25 am

    Might be worth a try, as long as they feel better than the current line up. Although they are forged, and I liked the shape and versatility of the current wedges, they felt like concrete.
    Hope they got it right this time, thus I can play Callaway from 4-LW 😉

    Reply Report comment

    • Jgolf215

      Jul 20, 2013 at 9:28 pm

      I replaced my Vokey non conforming with 2012 forged recently and loved them. I thought they felt very soft coming from the Vokeys. But with all the hype, I’m going to have to try the MD2 in a 58, just for the new grooves. Also to have a higher bounce option.

      Reply Report comment

  5. cjb

    Jun 28, 2013 at 11:57 am

    BTW
    According to callaway.com the C grind is available in -52 to -64 wedges.

    Reply Report comment

  6. cjb

    Jun 28, 2013 at 11:47 am

    Why limit the C grind to -58 and -60 wedges?
    Would be better to have C grind in all high spin wedeges, I would like to have a -56 with C grind and a -52 with S grind..

    Reply Report comment

  7. Blanco

    Jun 27, 2013 at 7:04 pm

    Will Callaway step up behind this product and give lefties a choice in each loft? Or are we destined for a 52/56/60 standard grind? Hope its the former as these really look good to me. I hope I can buy a 60/U.

    Reply Report comment

    • Adam

      Jun 30, 2013 at 12:43 am

      You can get the U and C grind in 60* for LH. Check the Cally website.

      Reply Report comment

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Whats in the Bag

Cameron Young WITB 2024 (March)

Published

17 hours ago

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Mar 25, 2024

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  • Cameron Young WITB accurate as of the Valspar Championship. 

Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra Tour Z5 65 M5

2-wood: Titleist TSR 2W Prototype (13 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX

Irons: Titleist T200 (3), Titleist T100 (4-5), Titleist 631.CY Prototype (6-9)
Shafts: MMT Utility 105 TX (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 (4-9)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F, 52-12F, 58-08M, 60-04T @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7

Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom 5.5 Tour Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align

Ball: Titleist Pro V1 Left Dot

 

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Equipment

Best hybrids 2024: Expert fitters recommend the hybrids for your game

Published

20 hours ago

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Mar 25, 2024

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At GolfWRX, we believe the best hybrid for your game is going to be the one that gives you the greatest opportunity to both score and save shots during your round of golf.

In 2024, we have seen a continued expansion of hybrid options from every manufacturer with models designed to fit golfers of all skill levels and clubhead speeds. Some manufacturers offer models all the way down to 8-iron-replacement lofts.

That being said, ultimately the best way to find the best hybrid or hybrids for you is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor and gap them accordingly. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders — so at GolfWRX, we have done a lot of the work for you.

We want to give you the tools and information to go out and find what works best for you, and we’re offering recommendations based on exactly what you need from your hybrids.

We have again broken our 2024 best hybrid list into two categories.

  • Best hybrid for golfers seeking forgiveness
  • Best hybrid for golfers seeking versatility

We reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the hybrid club options available to golfers. Forgiveness and versatility were the highest-ranked choices.

Most versatile hybrids of 2024

Titleist TSR2

“Forgiving speed and performance,” is the branding for the TSR2. TSR2 hybrids remain slightly longer with a classical shape. Center of gravity is lower and deeper in the TSR2 for higher launch and maximum forgiveness.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Ping G430

In all of the G430 fairway woods and hybrids, Ping developed Carbonfly Wrap in a bid to deliver more distance by positioning the CG closer to the face line in design to maximize ball speed, resulting in higher, longer carries. The lightweight composite crown wraps into the heel and toe sections of the skirt, creating weight savings of 10 grams, which are reallocated to achieve a lower CG and increase ball speed.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke

Leveraging the company’s new Ai Smart Face, Callaway’s Paradym Ai Smoke hybrid has been reshaped and features a larger profile for greater forgiveness and a refined sole camber for better turf interaction. The Tungsten Speed Cartridge is positioned in the front of the club for lower spin and ease of launch.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

TaylorMade Qi10 Rescue

The Qi10 Rescue is designed with an all-new Carbon Crown that helps free up weight for improved weight distribution in the heads. The club has split internal weighting to achieve more distance and a higher launch.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue

The Qi10 Tour Rescue model features a C300 face with a more compact look and a higher-toe design. It’s designed for better players who seek to combine distance and control with iron-like turf interaction, workability, and precision.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Most forgiving hybrids of 2024

TaylorMade Qi10 Max Rescue

Qi10 Max Rescue clubs are designed with all-new Carbon Crowns that help free up weight for improved weight distribution in the heads. The Qi10 Max has an ultra-low CG (center of gravity) and a shallow face height for even higher launch and greater forgiveness.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke HL

Designed for players with moderate to average swing speeds who are looking to hit the ball higher to maximize carry distance, the Paradym Ai Smoke HL leverages the company’s new Ai Smart Face. It features a larger profile for greater forgiveness and a refined sole camber for better turf interaction. The Tungsten Speed Cartridge is positioned in the front of the club for lower spin and ease of launch.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Ping G430

In all of the G430 fairway woods and hybrids, Ping developed Carbonfly Wrap in a bid to deliver more distance by positioning the CG closer to the face line in design to maximize ball speed, resulting in higher, longer carries. The lightweight composite crown wraps into the heel and toe sections of the skirt, creating weight savings of 10 grams, which are reallocated to achieve a lower CG and increase ball speed.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Fast

The Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max Fast is designed for moderate-swing-speed players. In addition to Ai Smart Face, Max Fast features a larger profile for greater forgiveness and a refined sole camber for better turf interaction. The Tungsten Speed Cartridge is positioned in the front of the club for lower spin and ease of launch.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Titleist TSR1

Titleist’s new TSR1 hybrids are built with a larger, “wood-like” size to help golfers find more speed and forgiveness. They’re also built 0.5 inches longer than standard to provide additional assistance in creating speed.

For more information, check out our launch piece.

Best hybrid of 2024: Meet the fitters

Conclusion

The fitters consulted for this piece have accumulated data from thousands of fittings with golfers just like you. From beginners to tour players, their feedback and information can’t be undervalued.

Join the discussion about the best hybrids of 2024 in the forums.

 

 

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Whats in the Bag

Nelly Korda WITB 2024 (March)

Published

22 hours ago

on

Mar 25, 2024

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  • Nelly Korda’s WITB accurate as of her win at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship.

Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 Max (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana GT 60 S

3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 7 S

5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 S

Hybrid: Ping G425 (26 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue HB 7 S

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (5), TaylorMade P7MC (6-PW)
Shafts: AeroTech SteelFiber i80 cw

Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 54-SB), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (58-T)
Shafts: AeroTech SteelFiber i95 cw

Putter: Scotty Cameron Special Select Squareback 2 Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: TaylorMade TP5x

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