About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the clubs, which I purchased with my own money in December of 2022.

My take

Purchasing new clubs as a middle-handicap golfer can be confusing. On the one hand, a player will want clubs that they can grow with to become low handicap golfer, but on the other hand, they still need some forgiveness with their set of irons. For this type of golfer, the Callaway Mavriks are an ideal choice.

About the club set I own

• Model: 2020 Callaway Mavrik Iron Set
• Loft setting: 5-AW, PW
• Shaft type: Steel
• Shaft flex: Regular flex

About me

• Average score: 93
• Handicap: 23
• Experience: 6 years of playing golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-Handed
• Typical ball flight: Fade
• Golf ball used: Top Flite
• Club swing speed: N/A

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: December 2022
• Days tested: 30
• Where I’ve used it: Range and course
• Weather and wind conditions: Cloudless, breezy, rain, and rainstorm

How it performs

What I was looking for

As I’ve gotten better at golf, it’s become more clear that I needed a set of irons that I could grow into as my skills evolved. When I finally broke 100 on the scorecard, I decided it was time for a new set of irons. I wanted something forgiving yet still elite. Clubs that I won’t need to replace even when I’m shooting in the 80s and into the 70s.

Why I chose this club set

The Mavriks caught my eye because of their forgiveness and the distance. Power and swing speed are the strength of my game, and the Mavriks amplify those abilities. I also considered the TaylorMade M4 irons but ultimately decided they were too much of a learner set for me.

What I love about it

• Distance: I absolutely love the distance of the Mavriks. Even when I don’t get the ball square, I can get a pretty solid distance on it. However, when I get the ball flush, it explodes off the face of the irons. My 7-iron consistently flies around 170 to 180 yards, and I find myself clubbing down more often so I don’t fly over the green. This massive boost in distance is due to the AI-designed technology implemented in the head of the club.
• Forgiveness: Callaway has developed many technologies to create more forgiveness. One of these is their Flash Face Cup design, which is a thin and flexible clubface that helps maintain ball speed and distance across a larger amount of the face and manipulates differently on each loft in the set. This limits the number of mishits for the golfer.
• Launch: Part of the design of the Mavriks is to help the golfer create a higher and more controlled trajectory. The tungsten core behind each clubface helps optimize the launch and provides more distance on shots hit with less-than-ideal contact.
• Sound: The Mavriks provide a satisfying, metallic whack with each shot. The tungsten core behind the face helps to create solid contact, which ensures a great-sounding shot each time.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Workability: The Mavriks aren’t designed for the upper echelon of golfers, and because of this, they fall behind in shot shaping and control. It is very hard to get spin on the ball, and intentionally fading or drawing is very difficult. When working out of the trees with these clubs, it is better to lay up back onto the fairway than to try and curve on out.
• Grip Feel: My biggest issue while playing the Mavriks is the grip feel. I often find the club spinning in my hand while taking a swing. This has led to some errant shots due to my inability to hold the clubface straight. I’m unsure if this is due to the grip’s design or the size of the grip, but I will have my set regripped soon.

Best shot with this club

Imagine a dead straight hole about 450 yards. It’s a par 4 and I’m teeing off with my driver. Of course, my drive slices way right and my ball flies into the trees. It’s about 250 yards down there but buried underneath the canopy of leaves. I have a two-stroke lead on my buddy and don’t want to give him an easy way back into the round. Grabbing my Mavrik 5-iron, I set up to try and hit a low punch out of the trees. The way the face is designed, this shot should be in the cards for me. Spoiler alert: it definitely was.

After ripping down on the ball and keeping a short follow-through, my ball flew low under the trees and rolled within 50 yards of the green. This became an easy up and down par, and I went on to tie the hole, thanks to my Mavriks.

Value for the money vs. other options

Why are the Mavriks worth the money over other clubs? For me, it is the combination of forgiveness and distance as well as a professional feel and look. Something like the TaylorMade M4 is built for forgiveness and learning, and while they claim it amplifies distance, that was never apparent when I tried them out. If someone is a lower handicapper than I am, say in the 10s or even single digits, the Mavriks likely aren’t for them, and they’ll need to splurge on a Rogue ST or Paradym type of club.

Final verdict

Overall, the Callaway Mavriks are for the golfer looking to unlock their potential distance and continue growing. These irons provide a forgiving face to slam shots down the fairway and keep them controlled along the way.