Callaway Mack Daddy 4 Wedge Review - PGAPappas 12 Days of Christmas Golf Giveaway

Let's get something out of the way right off the bat.  You're never going to hit a full blooded flop shot like Phil Mickelson.  Mickelson wields the lob wedge like it's a magic wand, and those impossible floppers he hits are pretty much genius level stuff. 

 

The good news is you can use the same lob wedge Lefty uses, and the Callaway Mack Daddy 4 wedge will make just about anyone's short game formidable.  And if you have the imagination, it might even turn you into a mini maestro around the greens. 

The biggest change from the last generation of Callaway Mack Daddy wedges is the new groove patterns and additional grind configurations.  There are four different grinds aimed at different kinds of playability, however this review will only focus on the S grind (which in my opinion is the grind that's the most versatile and forgiving).  The MD4 is more compact looking than the MD3, but surprisingly I found it to be more user friendly and forgiving. 

 

 

Mack Daddy 4 wedges feature groove-in-groove technology, which delivers progressive groove formations through the lofts.  The purpose is to deliver greater control on full shots with the lower lofted wedges, and more spin from the rough and around the greens with the higher lofted wedges (like the 60* lob). 

 

You can also see raised micro-ridges extending along the length of the hitting area, with micro-grooves between these ridges.  The purpose of these is to grab more of the balls cover (especially on less than full shots) to increase spin. 

 

So with all that said, how does the 60* actually perform on the course?  Well from just about any lie this is a club that glides through the turf, sand, and rough with ease.  Consistently lay it close from tight lies when there's little room for error?  Check.  Extract yourself from awkward lies in the bunker?  Check again.  Stick it close from nasty rough?  You get the picture.  This is a wedge that's hard to beat for performance and forgiveness anywhere around the green. 

 

 

A quick word about the S Grind - this is a grind that makes the wedge incredibly versatile.  And it's going to be your all-around performer for a variety of shots, from a variety of lies, and in a variety of situations. 

You can hit the Mack Daddy 4 S Grind high and land it soft, just as easily as you can hit it low and running.  It's merely a matter of adjusting your stance and ball position, and letting the bounce, trailing edge, and heel relief do the rest of the work for you. 

 

The MD4 feel is incredibly soft, and the spin it generates is going to turn a lot of your old 20-foot putts into 10-footers.  MD4 was generating more spin for me yes, but it also gave me the feeling I was able to accurately control that spin. 

Overall the MD4 Lob wedge is incredibly fun to play.  Launching your ball sky-high and stopping it in its tracks on the green is a sight to behold.  Callaway also makes it a thing of beauty by allowing you to successfully execute these delicate shots more consistently. 

 

 

 

 

If you relish the difficult chip or pitch shot, the MD4 will continually rise to the challenge.  From the spectacular shot options to routine up-and-downs, this is a wedge that delivers captivating results and will give you the confidence to develop an arsenal of magical shots around the green. 

 

 

 

  

PROS: 

Equally effective on chips that release and pitches that spin hard 
S Grind is versatile from just about any lie around the green 

CONS: 
More compact size could scare some players off