About this review This review is my own honest opinion of the irons, which I bought with my own money in November 2020.

My take

The Callaway Mavrik Pro Irons are the perfect blend of distance and forgiveness packed into a compact player’s shape. With minimal offset, a thinner topline, and a shorter blade length, the Pro version should appeal to any golfer visually, and due to the artificial intelligence used to create each clubface, the range will perform well for low and mid-handicap golfers. The players irons faces are hot, yet not too “jumpy”, and they provide excellent feedback so I know when I don’t hit them flush, it's a pure feel. The combo of a matte and chrome clubhead with less offset, looks stunning, especially in the sun. Don’t be scared to try these irons because it has “Pro” in its name, and a more compact head shape, they are made for a wide range of players. They’re an excellent example that a small club can pack a mighty punch. Callaway golf has been a reliable company over the years and I think they hit a winner here with the Mavrik line.

About the club I own

• Model: 2020 Callaway Mavrik Pro Irons
• Loft: Standard
• Shaft Type: True Temper Elevate 105, Steel
• Shaft Flex: Stiff

About me

• Average Score: 81
• Experience: 16 years of playing golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-Handed
• Typical Ball Flight: Small fade
• Golf Ball Used: Bridgestone Tour B RXS
• Club Swing Speed: 94mph with my driver

Test conditions

• When I bought the club: November 2020
• Days tested: 1 year
• Where I’ve used it: Golf courses in New Jersey and across the Northeast; Most notably, Captain’s Golf Course (Cape Cod, Mass), Rutgers University GC (Piscataway, NJ), Harker’s Hollow GC (Phillipsburg, NJ), Rolling Greens (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Weather Conditions: Sunny, windy, rainy, hot, humid, and cold

What I was looking for

When searching for a new iron set, my main desire was to find a compact club head with minimal offset and a thinner top line, yet one that still offered forgiveness on off-center hits without unwanted vibration and industry-leading ball speeds.

Why I chose this club

I chose the Mavrik Pro line of clubs over the standard mavrik irons, mavrik max irons or rogue iron because they were the perfect trio of looks, feel, and performance. They have a compact player’s shape and a very soft feel, despite not being forged. Their minimal silver and black design are very sleek and modern. Offering a preferred trajectory and consistent distance, they are beyond just a game-improvement iron. These are not for high handicappers for the most part.

Some main competitors in the Mavrik Pro price range were the PXG 0211s, Mizuno irons, Titleist T200s, Ping irons and Callaway Apex irons. I picked the Mavrik Pro because it had the tightest dispersion.

What I love about it

• Distance: I’ve gained about five extra yards per club compared to my older irons with the optimal launch. The strong lofts are good for my game. I like the incredible ball speed that can be done with these irons.
• Forgiveness: Despite a compact shape, the Mavrik Pro is very forgiving on mis-hits towards both the toe and heel. The urethane microspheres really help with their cushion feel and the wider soles goes through the turf really well.The custom tungsten-infused weights add a nice touch to the clubs.
• Feel: I find the Mavrik Pros to be very soft in the center of the clubface and they firm up on mis-hits. The position of the cg helps keep the irons balanced. I like this feedback because it allows me to know where on the clubface I struck the ball.
• Workability: Even though they’re not a blade, they are still easy to shape and provide better workability with their balanced center of gravity. Fades, draws, cuts, and stingers are all in my repertoire with these irons thanks to the tungsten energy core. Ball speed was very consistent and spin rates were controllable. Turf interaction was effortless.
• Shaft Feel: I’ve found the stock True Temper Elevate Stiff 105 shafts to be very smooth. Plus, since I’m not the biggest or fastest swinger, their 107g shaft weight feels very comfortable and easy to swing. I'm also a fan of the KBS graphite or Project X shafts with these irons.
• Shaft Performance: For a low launching player like myself, I enjoy the extra height these premium shafts have given my shots. They’ve been incredibly consistent.
• Aesthetic Appeal: I love the sleek silver and black colors and the combination of matte silver and chrome.
• Grip Feel: They come with premium Golf Pride grips. I use the Callaway/Golf Pride Z Grip CHEV Black or the Golf Pride tour velvet grips, the stock grip. I love the feel of the grip. It’s soft, yet the textured ribbing provides confidence in wet and humid conditions. Vibrations are at a minimum.
• Launch: Once I found my flatter lie angle, I enjoyed the higher trajectory and optimum launch these irons have enabled me to find. The positioning of the tungsten weighting is a distinct benefit. Along with the incredibly fast ball speeds.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Sound: While the Mavrik Pros are still pretty quiet, they don’t have the same muted “thud” that better players may be looking for in a forged iron or blade.

Best Shot with this Iron

On a par 5 at Flanders Valley GC (Flanders, NJ), I hit my 2nd shot from the left rough about 188 yards with my 5-iron right to about 10 feet, pin high. It was my typical “dart” like trajectory with my long irons and dead on line. It was exactly the significant boost shot I needed early in my round to set the tone and give me confidence for the rest of the day.

Value for the money vs. other options

The Mavrik Pro price point is almost impossible to beat, given its quality. Callaway customer service always seemed focused on the needs of the golfer with no restrictions. The popular set is 4-pw, available in steel or graphite shafts. They run about $50 to $75 cheaper per club than a forged iron or blade, but deliver all the quality and pack tons of tech. Another club to look at would be the Callaway Apex. High handicappers could look at the Callaway Mavrik Max irons or Callaway rogue irons to stay in the family.

Final verdict

The Mavrik Pro Irons have an unprecedented feel from the long irons to the short irons. They allow you to have extraordinary precision and are a gem of a line of Callaway Mavrik irons that should fit all skilled golfers. With dozens of new lines coming out yearly, it’s easy for a consumer to get lost or confused. Callaway has hit the nail on the head when creating the perfect combo of playability and forgiveness. Best of all, they’ve packed them into a compact shape that will fit any golfer’s eye.