About this review This review is my own honest opinion of the 5 wood, which I bought with my own money in March 2021.

My take

The Callaway Mavrik Sub-Zero 5 wood is geared for low handicap players. This is a great 5 wood for control, spin, and workability.

About this club:

• Model: 2020 Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero 5 wood
• Loft setting: 18°
• Shaft type: Aldila Rogue White 130 MSI 70g
• Shaft flex: X stiff

About me

• Average score: 70
• Handicap: +3
• Experience: 22 years
• Right/Left-Handed: RH
• Typical ball flight: High draw with 5W
• Golf ball used: Titleist ProV1x
• Club swing speed: 119 mph with driver

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: March 2021
• Days tested: 5 months
• Where I’ve used it: Hillcrest Country Club in Boise, ID
• Weather and wind conditions: Cold, dry, and calm

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was upgrading from the Ping G25 woods and was looking for something with a bit more control. I wasn’t getting the feel that I wanted, plus, the G25s are just old. I also wanted something more forgiving, which the Mavrik Sub Zero claimed to be.

Why I chose this club

I had bought the Mavrik Sub Zero 3 Wood about a month before I decided to get the 5 Wood. I was very thrilled with the Mavrik Sub Zero 3 wood, so I decided to purchase the Mavrik Sub Zero 5 wood. I decided to purchase the Sub Zero model for its workability and control, which it does very well.

What I love about it

• Distance: I get some awesome distance with this wood. I had already hit a 5 Wood pretty far, so I didn’t gain a ton of yardage. However, similar to my 3 Wood, I was not looking for more distance. I like that I can count on this club to be consistent and can also take distance off as needed, allowing me to treat it like a long hybrid.
• Forgiveness: The Jailbreak technology of this club means that I can completely miss the center of the face and still hit it just as far. Like its driver counterpart, it packs a lot of power in the clubface.
• Feel: The solid shots I make with this wood feel like a solid driver - it feels fantastic. I can feel a ton of response in the clubface in that I know exactly where the ball struck the face every time. It really helps when practicing different types of shots.
• Sound: The sound is loud and explosive, and overall the sound makes it a lot easier to tell how well the ball was struck. The sound is not high pitched, but it’s not so low that it sounds odd - similar to the 3 Wood.
• Workability: I was pleasantly surprised by how good the workability is, but I think it could be better. I knew that the Sub Zero models were known for their workability, but I was skeptical at first. However, I find it much easier to work the 3W than the 5W, even though the only difference is the loft.
• Shaft Feel: I love the extra stiff flex because it makes the shaft feels responsive and powerful.
• Shaft Performance: I play this shaft in all my woods, and I love it. It’s responsive and feels great, allowing me to better ascertain the quality of each strike.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Like its driver and 3 wood counterpart, this 5 wood is very sleek and aesthetically appealing. The smaller club head of the Sub Zero can seem intimidating for higher handicap players, but it is extremely powerful.
• Launch Angle: The launch angle is decent. For 5 woods, I like to hit a high ball and the Mavrik Sub Zero allows me to do so.
• Spin: The combination of the shaft and the club ensures that I get more spin than the typical 5 wood. I stick approach shots on the green, and get close to zero rollouts off the tee.
• Other: Like the 3 wood, the adjustable weights on this wood are very helpful. The Sub Zero woods come with weights (a light weight and heavy weight) that you can switch between the leading edge and the back. Positioning the heavy weight nearer front brings the ball flight lower, while a lighter weight results in a higher ball flight.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Forgiveness: I love this wood, but the Max option is much more forgiving. This wood is about control.
• Adjustability: There is no adjustability, but I prefer that. I like that the lack of adjustability means that this wood is consistent and reliable.
• Launch Angle: It launches very high. My high swing speed doesn’t help, but the high shot allows me to hit greens. This may not be suitable for all golfers. I do find, however, that it is difficult to bring the launch down. It is not a club I like to hit into the wind.
• Spin: Its high spin might be tricky for some golfers but I prefer a higher spin and playing with different shaft combinations helps me find the right amount of spin.

Best shot with this club

At Coronado Golf Course in San Diego, I had a long second shot into a par 5. If I wanted to go for the green, I needed to negotiate my way around a massive tree. While it would’ve been much smarter to lay up, I decided to try a massive high slice around the tree. I was able to hit a huge towering slice that stuck about 15 feet from the hole. To this day, I don’t think I’ve hit such a high and precise slice around an obstacle.

Value for the money vs. other options

This is an older model, so it already has great value. I think this is the best 5 wood for low handicappers. I saved some money with this model while still being able to maintain feel and control.

Final verdict

This wood is incredibly long and powerful. Its high flight makes it perfect for attacking greens. I highly recommend this 5 wood to anybody looking for control and consistency.