Equipment

Callaway Mack Daddy Forged Wedges: What you need to know

Published

7 years ago

Jan 10, 2017

Callaway’s new Mack Daddy Forged wedges are quite different than the company’s current MD3 Milled wedges, and that’s by design. They’re not meant to replace the MD3 Milled or any other Callaway wedge model, but rather expand the company’s wedge offerings to meet the needs of different golfers.

As their name suggest, the biggest change to the Mack Daddy Forged wedges is that they’re forged from a soft 1025 carbon steel. Here’s what else you need to know about the new Mack Daddy Forged wedges, which will sell for $149.99 each when they hit stores on January 20.

What You Need To Know

Lofts Available: 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60 degrees
Stock Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S200 Tour Issue (Blue Label)
Stock Grip: Lamkin UTX
Finishes: Satin Chrome (silver) and Brushed Slate (black)

The Mack Daddy Forged wedges have a unique shape that resonated instantly with Callaway Staffers Henrik Stenson and Thomas Pieters, who both used the new wedges at the 2016 Ryder Cup. New Callaway signing Daniel Berger is also using the new wedges.

A 52-degree Mack Daddy Forged at address in Nickel Chrome.

Compared to other Callaway wedges, the Mack Daddy Forged have less offset, squarer toes and straighter leading edges. Callaway wedge designer Roger Cleveland says that a straighter leading edge makes a wedge easier to align.

The Mack Daddy Forged have what Callaway calls an •R• Grind. It’s similar to the C Grind used on Callaway’s MD3 Milled wedges, Cleveland says, but it is more relieved in the heel and toe areas to offer more versatility around the greens. Cleveland calls it a “mid-bounce” grind, suitable for everything from open-faced lobs to square-faced bump and runs.

Expect more spin from the Mack Daddy Forged’s new 16-groove design, which adds a groove near the bottom of the wedge face to promote increased stopping power, especially on shots of 10-20 yards.

Like Callaway’s MD3 Milled wedges, the Mack Daddy Forged use Callaway’s Progressive CG Position. As loft goes higher, so does each wedge’s center of gravity to create maximum spin.

MD-forged-slate-60-sole-2017-420560082246930

The wedges are offered in two finishes: Satin Chrome and Brushed Slate. The Satin Chrome wedges have a layer of copper beneath their Satin Chrome plating, which creates a unique feel and improves durability. In the high-wear areas of a wedge, such as the face and sole, the copper layer will become visible with use. Brushed Slate wedges will wear to a raw finish.

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18 Comments

edge of lean

Jan 20, 2017 at 9:55 pm

Any offerings for us lefties? Y’know, being peddled by Mickelson and all.

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Troy Sheaffer

Jan 11, 2017 at 1:28 pm

Used the MD3 Wedges for a bit over a year and they have been great. Looking forward to seeing and testing these wedges to determine if a change would be beneficial.

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Rich

Jan 11, 2017 at 2:09 am

Can’t wait to see/try these, they look great!

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MT

Jan 10, 2017 at 5:32 pm

why Rory Mcilroy doesn’t play them and uses Titlest instead?

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MT

Jan 10, 2017 at 5:29 pm

what you need to know is that their highest ranked player Rory McIlroy is playing Titlest wedges instead of that Callaway wedges and that are the only clubs in his bag that are not Callaway.

Reply Report comment
- booya cornflakes
  
  Jan 13, 2017 at 12:40 pm
  
  Correct. But how does Rory’s preference in wedges relate to whether these will fit my game?
  
  FWIW, I currently play MD3’s, and they kicked my SM6’s out of the bag. I just like the feel better, they’re both good wedges. Stop being such a fanboy.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Scott
  
  Jan 25, 2017 at 4:30 am
  
  What Rory plays with doesn’t mean squat to me or my game.
  
  Reply Report comment
jgpl001

Jan 10, 2017 at 4:37 pm

These look good, very good

I am not a TM fan, but have been playing the TM EF wedges for the past 6 months and they are excellent, perfect head shape and loads of bit, just wish they were a touch softer

Tempted….

Reply Report comment
S Hitty

Jan 10, 2017 at 2:40 pm

He copied the TM EF wedges. Sharper leading edge, squarer toe, 1025 soft carbon. Because the MD3 was so crappy

Reply Report comment
Mark

Jan 10, 2017 at 1:49 pm

Well that is my birthday present sorted. 54 and 58 in slate finish. Marvellous.

Reply Report comment
Joshuaplaysgolf

Jan 10, 2017 at 12:09 pm

Could something pull these Vokeys out of my cold dead hands?? And my wife and I just did our 2017 golf budget last night….I’m highly intrigued to demo these.

Reply Report comment
- Woop
  
  Jan 10, 2017 at 4:30 pm
  
  Should’ve been using the TM EF wedges.
  
  Reply Report comment
Charlie

Jan 10, 2017 at 9:34 am

Dammit Callaway – We need more lofts!!! Was hoping to grab a 46 or 48 from this new lineup and possibly a 64!

Reply Report comment
Cornwall1888

Jan 10, 2017 at 9:12 am

I’d like to use forged wedges but I like to get a few seasons out of a wedge I think forged wedges would wear to fast

Reply Report comment
- The dude
  
  Jan 10, 2017 at 3:21 pm
  
  Jeez….how many rounds you play?…live in FL?
  
  Reply Report comment
- Woop
  
  Jan 10, 2017 at 4:31 pm
  
  Get the TM EF wedges. Those grooves will last you 18 months easily
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Mike
    
    Jan 11, 2017 at 12:42 am
    
    yep my TM EF 60 is still going two years and no difference in performance.. playing all year round
    
    Reply Report comment
C

Jan 10, 2017 at 7:43 am

I like that lowest groove. Sure it is great for chips around the green. But it’s also useful to try and back up my skulled shots that bound across the green.

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

6 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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