Equipment
Callaway launches new MD3 Milled wedges
What was Callaway’s Mack Daddy 2 line of wedges missing? A wide-sole wedge option.
On Monday, Callaway announced the release of a new milled-wedge line — MD3 Milled — which includes a new W-grind, a new 46-degree wedge option, different shaping and a progressive groove design.
With three wedge-grind options (C, S and W), Callaway wedge-designer Roger Cleveland says this is the biggest line ever from the company.
[quote_center]”There was one grind that we were missing, and that’s the wide sole grind,” Cleveland says.[/quote_center]
Wide-sole wedges are one of golf equipment’s new trends, but there’s a reason they have become so popular — a wider grind helps golfers in soft conditions from digging too much into the turf.
Cleveland says the W-grind adds effective bounce, which is a golfer’s friend in soft conditions, both from the grass and in the sand. Bounce is also great for golfers with steep angles of attack, or shots that require a greater descending blow.
Callaway still offers the familiar C-grind — made slightly wider, or what Cleveland calls “more generous,” than previous lines — and the S-grind (standard grind), which is the most versatile option made for both firm and soft conditions.
MD3 also added a 46-degree wedge option to its lineup, which offers eight lofts ranging from 46-to-60 degrees, and a progressive-groove system for spin control throughout the extensive line.
In the Mack Daddy 2 wedges, Cleveland used very aggressive grooves for maximum spin, great for shots around the green. But based on feedback from Tour players, high-spin grooves aren’t ideal in the lower-lofted wedges, because the ball “rips back” too much on full shots or into back pin positions.
To combat that issue, Callaway uses what it’s calling “progressive groove optimization” to reduce spin as wedge lofts decrease.
Now, the lob wedge has what’s called 5V grooves — a U-shaped groove that’s the widest and sharpest — the sand wedges use slightly narrower 20V grooves and the pitching/gap wedges use 30V grooves — a full V-shaped groove. According to Cleveland, the groove-system is said to better smooth the transition from the wedges into the irons.
The MD3 wedges also have a different head profile, using what Cleveland calls the best of Callaway’s previous X-Tour and Tour Grind wedge lines. The profiles have a higher toe shape and a straighter leading edge, a look that golfers enjoy based on player-feedback.
The new wedges, cast from 8620 stainless steel, undergo a milling process on their faces, which will create more friction for ball control. Also, green weight ports in the back of the wedges — a look similar to Callaway’s PM grind offering — help reposition weight behind the face for shot-making benefits, according to Callaway.
MD3 Milled wedges are set to release on Sept. 4, and will be available for $129.99 each in two different finishes — matte black and satin chrome. Custom shafts and grips will be available, as well.
See what GolfWRX members are saying about the Callaway MD3 Milled wedges in the forums.
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- Daniel Berger what’s in the bag accurate as of the Farmers Insurance Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
6-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC 2011 (4-PW)
Shafts: Project X Denali Blue 105 TX (3), Project X 6.5 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (50-12F), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-14F), Callaway Jaws Raw (60-08C)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (50), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (56, 60)
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Mini DB
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy PistolLock 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Wrap
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Daniel Berger’s clubs in the forums.
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What are the driver and shaft combinations of the best golfers in the world? For gearheads, it’s an endlessly interesting question — even if we can only ever aspire to play LS heads and 7 TX shafts.
At this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, GolfWRX got in-hand looks at the driver setups of a wealth of players.
Check out some of the most interesting combos below, then head to the GolfWRX forums for the rest, as well as the rest of our galleries from New Orleans.
Rory McIlroy
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @8.25)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Alex Fitzpatrick
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Daniel Berger
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees @9)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Wrap
Rasmus Hojgaard
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60 TX
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Alejandro Tosti
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
Grip: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
James Nicholas
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (8 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Kevin Streelman
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Sang-moon Bae
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (9+ @8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Russ Cochran
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke (9 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD TP 6 X
Grip: Golf pride MCC Align 
MJ Daffue
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (10.5 degrees @9.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green RDX 65 TX
Grip: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord Align
Check our more photos from the Zurich Classic here.
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- Rasmus Højgaard what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Prototype (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
Utility: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White 85 TX
Irons: Callaway Apex Pro (3), Callaway X Forged (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 130
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (52-10S, 56-10S, 60-06C)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130 X
Putter: Odyssey Ai One Milled Eight T DB
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Hojgaard in the forums.
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Daniel Berger what’s in the bag accurate as of the Farmers Insurance Open. More photos from the event here. Driver:...
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Pingback: CALLAWAY adds to MD3 wedge line... - Bernard Daily
Moody_D
Jul 9, 2015 at 8:49 am
Also, not sure why you’re all angry about the cast/milled. That’s a much better process for wedges. Forged wedges wear down too quickly.
Gary
Jul 11, 2015 at 9:52 am
Forged wedges don’t necessarily wear down as fast as cast wedges, sometimes the opposite is true, depending on the steel used and etc. Some forged wedge face and grooves will outlast cast wedges. This is one reason why Vokey has hardened the face on the SM4 and SM5 wedges. Cleveland did the same on the Rotex wedges, first version at least. One of the most durable wedges I can remember in fairly recent times was the Callaway X Tour which came out in 2006, was still going strong long after my Vokey Spin Milled lost most of it’s spin.
Moody_D
Jul 9, 2015 at 8:47 am
Love the looks, and think I’ll love the S grind. Extremely disappointed that they’re not making an option that’s fully grooved on the face like the PM wedges. Guess they need to save something for their next product cycle!! So in Callaway cycles, I should be able to order the wedge I want by October! 🙂
BirdieBaron
Jul 9, 2015 at 3:27 am
Even scratch and + Hcps cannot reliably tell the difference between forged, cast, milled stainless etc.
Do not judge a club by its material. At today’s tolerances and manufacturing expertise they are almost indistinguishable in real terms and testing.
If you don’t earn a living playing golf it it really not an area of concern. Don’t let it get into your head or buy into the hype that one is inheirintly better than another. The Pro’s make millions and play what works for them, some play cast, some forged. No worries.
Dave R
Jul 8, 2015 at 8:33 pm
Callaway makes great wedges…I play MD2, picked up a PM 60, fantastic, a little biased as I am a lefty too! Not sure how the MD3 will compare in “feel” , but will definitely give them a look!
Ken
Jul 8, 2015 at 6:39 pm
Not one picture of the face and grooves?
other paul
Jul 7, 2015 at 9:35 pm
Love the Mack daddy 2. Maybe the PM grind will go on sale and I will grab a 56*.
SB
Jul 7, 2015 at 3:39 pm
They look sick but I hope the grooves are not all over the face as the Phil’s one…
ADL
Jul 7, 2015 at 7:37 am
I’ll stick with my FORGED MD2s. Seems like a step back going from forged to milled…
Michael F
Jul 6, 2015 at 9:52 pm
Maybe they will offer these in more than 3 lofts left handed. Can’t take Callaway seriously in the wedge game until they offer the majority of their products left handed. They may want to look at how Vokey and Cleveland properly serve the market.
KK
Jul 6, 2015 at 9:21 pm
Glad Callaway shortened the model name to MD3. Mack Daddy was almost as ridiculous as Rocketballz.
Christosterone
Jul 6, 2015 at 8:47 pm
Does Ping get a commission or a flat fee for use of trademarked clubs?
-Christosterone
txaggieman85
Jul 6, 2015 at 10:42 pm
Does Vokey pay a commission? Does Cameron pay a commission…what goes around comes around.
Arguably Roger Cleveland is one of the best wedge designers ever.
jeff ward
Jul 6, 2015 at 1:47 pm
Are they forged?
Matt
Jul 6, 2015 at 8:19 pm
Nope
James
Jul 7, 2015 at 1:07 am
BOOOOOO!!!
MHendon
Jul 6, 2015 at 12:08 pm
Nice looking wedges, definitely like the wide sole option for the 60.