About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the iron, which I purchased with my own money in July of 2021.

My take

The Callaway Mavrik Single Iron is one of the most forgiving irons on the market. Astonishing forgiveness? Check. Good price point? Check. Easy to get the ball up with a nice high launch? Double check. This iron in the game improvement category is crafted perfectly for the mid-to-high handicapper because it’s easy to get the ball up, thanks to its hot face.

About the club I own

• Model: 2020 Callaway Mavrik Single Iron
• Loft setting: 7 Iron (27° loft)
• Shaft type: Regular Steel
• Shaft flex: True Temper Elevate 95 Steel

About me

• Average score: 80s
• Handicap: 9
• Experience: 10 years playing golf and fitting
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-Handed
• Typical ball flight: High ball flight with a little draw
• Golf ball used: Callaway Chrome Soft X
• Club swing speed: Average iron swing speed 80-85mph

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: July 2021
• Days tested: Multiple, but recently, in July 2023, at a range and simulator
• Where I’ve used it: PGA Indoor Golf Simulator, Lakes of Taylor Driving Range
• Weather and wind conditions: Sunny, 2-5mph wind, 80°F, and in an indoor simulator.

How it performs

What I was looking for

I wanted to see if I could find an iron that would let me control my distance while still being forgiving enough to hit straight shots consistently.

Why I chose this club

Luck was on my side about two years ago as I was walking around my neighborhood, and a neighbor was selling Mavriks at a garage sale. I snatched a couple up, including the 7-iron I am reviewing today, and started to test them to get as much info about them as possible. The majestic 7-iron has gotten a lot of use over the last two years. When I bought the club at the garage sale, I knew only the basics about its specs, but once I put it in front of the TrackMan, those numbers were impressive for a game improvement iron.

What I love about it

• Distance: Flash Face Cup Technology is the culprit behind its added distance. Callaway’s use of this artificial intelligence to architect its unique faces on these irons will boost ball speed and optimize spin on every iron shot. One can expect added distance when an easy-to-swing iron has a hot face. Now some players may see that added distance as a positive or negative trait as it could interfere with the feel of the shot, but I am all for it; especially for mid-to-high handicap golfers. I get an average of 20 yards of extra roll when not trying to zip the ball, thanks to the strong loft.
• Forgiveness: “Forgiveness” and “Mavrik” have to be synonyms. The tungsten weights on the back of the face of the club give it a massive sweet spot, and it feels like every shot I hit is a flush. After 10 shots on the simulator, only one went 30 yards offline. Every other shot was within 10 yards of its target. Now that screams consistency, thanks to its forgiveness technology.
• Sound: A nice crisp click at impact.
• Shaft Feel and Performance: The True Temper Elevate 95 is known for helping launch the ball. I think it meshes well with the face of the club, and it works well with what the club is trying to provide to players, which is accuracy, added distance, and a low center of gravity for a high launch. The vibrations on the regular flex True Temper Elevate 95 shaft are absorbed, which helps improve the overall feel of the club.
• Spin: I love that the tungsten energy core and its weights allow the club's center of gravity to do its job. I surprisingly get a great amount of backspin with the RPM average at around 6,500, which lets the balls hold up nicely on greens.
• Other: A couple of days ago, I brought the club back to an indoor range to get numbers and compared it with the Cobra LTDx 7-iron. Off the bat, the Mavrik built up my confidence when standing behind the ball because of the thicker top line. After solid contact, that nice click comes after, and the ball flies off the hot face, which transfers energy very well. Now the 7-iron comes with a strong loft of 27°, so it’s known for having a high launch, but my ball flight is not as high as when I hit the LTDx. I get more roll with the Mavrik, but the carry is longer with the Cobra. I will use the Mavrik over my Ping G30 on the course when I am looking for a club that gives me a couple more yards on the roll off the tee or when I want it to run onto a green.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Feel: The Callaway Mavrik feels a little heavier on the hands compared to other clubs like the Cobra LTDx and Titleist T100. I cannot complain too much about the centered hits. Still, even with the club’s forgiveness, some mishits do not feel great, which can also be seen as a positive as someone is getting feedback on where they are missing.
• Workability: The Mavrik is known for hitting the ball long and straight. Because of its forgiveness technology and thicker face, golfers won’t be able to work the ball as much as they would like with other players’ clubs. If one wants to work the ball a bit more, I would recommend looking at clubs like the Callaway Paradym X or the Mizuno Pro 223 irons.
• Aesthetic Appeal: A simple look that doesn’t catch my eye.
• Launch Angle: Now, getting the ball up with an easy swing is easy, but even though it is known for its high launch, my ball flight is lower than expected. The stronger loft might play a part in that. I got a higher launch from the LTDx and Ping G30 than the Mavrik. My average peak height with the Mavrik is about 21 yards, while with the LTDx is about 29 yards.

Best shot with this club

I am a sucker for mid to low-launching shots that peak late and then hold on to the greens with high backspin. Two weeks ago, on a 188-yard par 3 island green, it is what I was trying to execute. With the Mavrik in hand, I executed it perfectly. I hit a slight draw that bounced once over the cup and then zipped back right past it a couple of feet. I was relieved that I cleared the water and left myself a birdie opportunity from about five feet out. I lipped my birdie opportunity for a par, of course.

Value for the money vs. other options

As I compare the Callaway Mavrik to its similar competitors (Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal High Launch, Cobra LTDx, Callaway Rogue OS) in the game improvement sector, one can see that it is very affordable for players starting their golf lives or mid-to-high handicap players looking for some help on the course. The Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal High Launch has the best feel of the game improvement irons, but it is the most expensive option. The LTDx is the best iron for players looking for added distance and ball speed and is the most affordable of the bunch. However, the Callaway Mavrik is the pick for the best forgiveness iron, and it is a very durable club, so it is 100% great value for its price.

Final verdict

With its simple yet classy aesthetics, the Callaway Mavrik iron is the perfect game improvement club for the mid-to-high handicap golfer looking to hit longer, more consistent shots. With its widely forgiving face thanks to its tungsten-infused head and the hot flash face technology, this is the perfect club to be straight and long.