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Tech Talk: Callaway Mack Daddy 2 Wedges

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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

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  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

    • 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.

    • 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.

      • 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.

        • 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. 😉

  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.

    • 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.

  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 😉

    • 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.

  5. cjb

    Jun 28, 2013 at 11:57 am

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

  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..

  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.

    • Adam

      Jun 30, 2013 at 12:43 am

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

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Whats in the Bag

Chesson Hadley WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 TX

3-wood: Titleist TSR2+ (14.5 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX

Irons: Titleist T200 (3), Titleist 620 CB (4, 5), Titleist 620 MB (6-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball
Grip: Odyssey

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Check out more in-hand photos Chesson Hadley’s clubs here.

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Whats in the Bag

Gary Woodland WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Cobra Darkspeed X (8 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 70 M5

  • The white circle that appears at the top of the face a removable sticker that’s used for launch monitor tracking, and Woodland removes it for competition!

3-wood: Cobra Darkspeed X (14 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

7-wood: Cobra LTDx LS prototype (20 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

Irons: Wilson Staff (18 degrees), Cobra King MB (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X

Wedges: Cobra SB (48), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-08F, 56-14F), Cobra King (60)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X (48 degrees), KBS Tour V-Ten 125

Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 3.0P

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

See more in-hand photos of Gary Woodland’s WITB in the forums.

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Q&A: Martin Trainer on his Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers” putter, 6.5-degree driver, and “butter knife” 2-iron

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As unbiasedly as I can put it, Martin Trainer has one of the coolest club setups in professional golf. (At some point soon, I’ll put together a top-10 list of “coolest club setups on Tour,” but I know that Trainer will be in the top-10)

What a lineup. He plays a 6.5-degree Wilson prototype driver, a 13-degree Wilson prototype 3-wood, a true blade Wilson Staff Model 2-iron, and a Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers Commemorative” putter!

 

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I mean, look at this 2-iron from address…

To quote the great author R.L. Stine: “Goosebumps.”

On Wednesday at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, I caught up with Trainer to learn more about his bag setup.

Here’s what he had to say:

You have the Internet going crazy over your bag setup, and your putter. Where’d you pick the Bobby Grace-Greg Chalmers putter up? How long have you had it?

MT: This was from when Bobby Grace came to my course in California: Cal Club. And for whatever reason, they just started having them in the shop. So then I took my buddy’s, started using it, and made, like, a million putts in a row, which is how every putter story begins, I guess.

And then, I bought a couple of my own, used it for years, got to the Tour with it, won on Tour with it (the 2019 Puerto Rico Open). Then, about a year later, started using another putter, did that for a couple years, but now it’s back in the bag.

When did it come back in the bag?

MT: December of this past year. So a few months ago.

What year would you say was the first time you threw that in the bag, or, like, when you bought it?

MT: God…Probably, 2016, maybe? 2018?

Do you remember how much you paid for it?

MT: I don’t know, actually. Maybe $100-150 bucks or something. I think that’s the only golf club I’ve bought between high school and now. Well, two, since I bought two of them.

The driver is interesting, too. What went into the prototyping process?

MT: That was a version of the current driver, but it was the prototype that they first came out with for Tour guys to try. And for whatever reason, I just never switched out to the new one.

It’s just 6.5 degrees, right?

MT: Yeah. Very low loft, yeah.

What kind of ball speed do you have with that these days?

MT: Like high 170’s.

Yeah, that’ll work. And then a 2-iron blade? We’re seeing fewer and fewer of those out here.

MT: Yeah. The butter knife.

Very cool thing to have in the bag. Have you done any testing with driving irons? 

MT: Yeah, I used to have a thicker one, but it was a little offset, and I never hit it that well. And then finally, I started messing around with the butter knife. And I remember the first time I looked down at it, I was terrified. And then I ended up getting used to it, putting it in play, and it’s been in place since. It’s a pretty good club for me.

How far do you carry that? 

MT: Like 235.

A good little wind club, I’m sure.

MTL Yeah, exactly. I can hit it very low. It’s great.

I love it. You have people shook looking at that. Thanks for the time, man. 

MT: Absolutely.

To see more photos and discussion of Trainer’s bag, click here.

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