About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the club, which I purchased with my own money in April of 2020.

My take

I love this club because when the driver isn’t working for me, I pull out my 3-wood and just hit that for the rest of the day. I lose maybe 10-15 yards compared to the driver, but it keeps the ball in the fairway, and I tend to score much better! The Mavrik Sub Zero 3-wood has a smaller head and is definitely designed for better players.

About the club I own

• Model: 2020 Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero 3-Wood
• Loft setting: 15 degrees
• Shaft type: Aldila Rogue White 130MSI 80S
• Shaft flex: Stiff

About me

• Average score: 79-85
• Handicap: 7.7 index
• Experience: 25 years playing golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-Handed
• Typical ball flight: Straight and high
• Golf ball used: Callaway Chrome Soft (soccer ball)
• Club swing speed: 105-110mph

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: April 2020
• Days tested: I’ve been playing with this club for 2+ years.
• Where I’ve used it: I’ve played everywhere with this club. I’m currently playing in southern Tennessee at Black Creek Club and Bear Trace at Harrison Bay.
• Weather and wind conditions: I’ve played in all conditions. Pictures in this review were taken during a late afternoon round on a humid day. The course played dry and fast.

How it performs

What I was looking for

I needed a 3-wood that I could crush from the tee box on the days when my driver wasn’t working.

Why I chose this club

In 2020, I bought a whole new set of clubs, and I got a great deal on Callaway clubs, which is why my whole set (besides my putter) is Callaway. I opted for the Sub Zero 3-wood because I wanted the highest performance model available in the Callaway family.

What I love about it

• Distance: I get amazing distance out of this club, only 10-15 yards less than my driver. Even with 15 degrees of loft, this club has a heavy feel to it and is designed for low spin, and the combination results in a piercing ball flight!
• Feel: The clubhead has a nice weight to it, which helps me feel the club face throughout my swing and get it square at impact. When I hit the ball a little on the toe or heel, there’s good feedback in my hands, and I can tell without even looking at the mark on the club.
• Sound: The sound is crisp, metallic, and deep. Solid contact with the ball produces a matching sound. Some clubs produce a hollow sound or a high-pitched ping on contact, but the sound of the Mavrik fairway wood is a nice, full note.
• Workability: This club allows me to work my shots, specifically changing the trajectory. The hardest shot for me to hit is a low, piercing ball flight, especially on a windy day. The forward weight in this club really helps me get that ball flight!
• Adjustability: The Sub Zero has interchangeable weight screws. It comes with a 14g weight in the front and a 2g weight in the back. This helps the club achieve the lowest spin possible. For a more forgiving setting, move the 2g weight closest to the face and the 14g weight to the back of the club.
• Shaft Feel: I love the 80g stiff Aldila Rogue White 130 MSI shaft because it feels sturdy and thick. I know I can commit to my swing, and the shaft will kick at just the right moment of impact.
• Shaft Performance: Without a ton of effort, I feel like I can produce great club speed and an ever-so-slight draw. Also, I love the counterbalanced feel, which means more weight in the butt of the shaft to offset the weight of the head of the club. Again, the result for me is effortless distance.
• Grip Feel: I have the Golf Pride Align Midsize Grip with +2 wrap (1/32in), and I love the feel. It’s a thick grip, which helps reduce some of the “wristiness” in my swing. Plus, I always feel like I have a good grip on the club, even when I’m playing in humid conditions.
• Launch Angle: I struggle with a high ball flight, but with this club, I’m able to achieve a low, piercing ball flight. That means more distance!
• Spin: As I’ve mentioned, the 14g weight towards the face of the club helps reduce spin, which means a lower ball flight and more distance.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Forgiveness: I gave this club a 3-star rating for forgiveness because it doesn’t perform well out of the rough. I know, 3-woods aren’t supposed to be hit from the rough, but if I had to find one flaw, that’s it. This club produces a low, piercing ball flight, which means it comes out too low to get out of the rough effectively.
• Aesthetic Appeal: When addressing the ball, the club looks fine. But, the sole of the club has lots of orange and white coloring. That’s the Callaway style—lots of color on their clubs. I’m not a huge fan, especially on clubs designed for low-handicappers.

Best shot with this club

Imagine teeing off with a 3-wood on a par 5 and knowing there’s a chance for a birdie! The 18th hole at Black Creek Club is a par 5, 523-yard hole with water all along the left side and a creek in front of the green. In order to have a chance of reaching in two, the drive has to be at least 270, and it needs to favor the left side of the fairway. I love my 3-wood because I can consistently hit my first shot in play and set myself up with a chance for a two-putt birdie!

Value for the money vs. other options

This club is definitely worth the money. For those who like hitting it far and straight, this is the club. I think the most similar club to compare it to is the Cobra King Radspeed Tour Fairway. It’s a 17.5-degree 5-wood, but it can be adjusted by as much as 1.5 degrees. The club is designed with heavy weight in the front for an ultra-low spin and extra distance. However, I prefer the Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero because the 2g and 14g weights are interchangeable, and I love that option.

Final verdict

For those who want less spin, a more piercing ball flight, and more distance from the fairway or even the tee box, then the 2020 Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero 15-degree 3-wood is the way to go!