About this review This review is my honest opinion of the wedge, which I bought with my own money in February 2022.

My take

I have owned the Callaway MD5 Wedge in 56-degrees for over two months. It’s been everything that I expected it to be. I play on some mini-tour events in Florida and wedges impact my game: the s-grind has allowed me to play in numerous conditions and with plenty of freedom to open my face and get creative. Although I believe anyone can play this wedge, some of its features are better suited for intermediate to better players.

About the club I own

• Model: 2022 Callaway Mack Daddy 5 Jaws Chrome Wedge
• Loft: 56 Degrees
• Bounce: 10 degrees of bounce
• Grind: S-Grind
• Finish: Chrome Finish

About me

• Average Score: 78
• Handicap: 6
• Experience: 19 years
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-handed
• Golf Ball Used: Srixon Z-Star XV
• Angle Of Attack: Normal

Test conditions

• When I bought the wedge: February 2022
• Days tested: More than 2 months
• Where I’ve used it: Golf Courses around Orlando, FL
• Weather Conditions: Sunny, windy, and damp
• Green Conditions: Bermuda, wet and dry, mostly medium-to-fast speed greens

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking to upgrade my Callaway MD4 with another wedge where I didn’t have to think about what I was doing. I didn’t want to fidget with the wedge as I was about to hit the shot. I wanted it to feel easy.

Why I chose this club

I decided to buy the Callaway MD 5 because when I looked down on the club at the ball, I felt confident that I could hit any shot that I wanted. My best golf happens when I’m the least distracted and that’s how I felt when I hit this wedge. Though not the most forgiving club, the MD5 more than makes up for it with the responsiveness and feedback I received, especially on well-struck shots. I also looked at Vokey SM8 but chose the Mack Daddy 5 Jaws at the end because it felt solid when I hit it.

What I love about it

• Launch: The launch is very consistent, I don’t get surprised by the ball going too high or low, depending on my swing; it’s comforting to know the trajectory will be similar every time.
• Forgiveness: There’s just enough forgiveness to give me some confidence that the ball will still reach the green even if I miss-hit it just a bit.
• Feel: I love the feel of the wedges. Not too soft and not too hard for my tastes, I feel that I will get a consistent feel if I hit the ball properly. The ball seems to move up the grooves very smoothly as I swing through.
• Spin: I like the amount of spin that you can get from this wedge. With a premium urethane-cover ball and clean grooves the spin from these is terrific. I try to always have a towel with me for every shot to keep the clubface clean and try to get the best shot I can without dirt or moisture affecting the ball.
• Bounce: For my swing, the bounce is just right at 10 degrees. I found it very easy to hit in soft sand bunkers. There’s a variety of bounces to choose from depending on the course conditions that you play and your swing type.
• Around the Green: My favorite aspect of the wedge is the way I can hit many different shots around the green. I can do just about anything I need within 30 yards of the flag.
• Aesthetic Appeal: The look of these is clean and not too busy. I have the forged satin chrome finish with the blue rounds which minimizes the glare from the sun. The other option is a black matte finish that frames the golf ball nicely.
• Innovation: The grooves are what make this stand out with the latest technology, I can sense the ball moving up the grooves. The grooves are very aggressive making it easier to spin the ball up the clubface.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Full Shots: I don’t tend to use this wedge for full shots, because I don’t usually hit from the full swing yardage for my 56-degree wedge.
• Grip Feel: I prefer to have all my grips the same, therefore I changed these when I bought them. Having the grips, all the same, allow me to be confident and be familiar with all my clubs. The only connection I have to my clubs is through the grips.

Best Shot with this Wedge

I was playing in a two-man alternate ball event in Orlando and my partner and I were in a tight back and forth match against a twosome from Miami. We were playing in the team bracket and we were trying to get our team on the board. On the last hole, the ball was just on the edge of the bunker and I had an awkward lie for a right-hander. I was about 35 yards away with the green running away from me. The only shot I envisioned was a flop shot over the bunker that would softly land so that it wouldn’t roll off the edge and into another bunker. I flattened out the wedge and hit the ball solidly into the air with just enough soft spin to land short of the edge and within 2 feet of the hole. I could not believe how clean the wedge hit the ball, and my partner got the putt in to win the match. What a feeling, as they say, when I saw the ball softly land and stop, the Callaway MD5 was a keeper after that shot.

Value for the money vs. other options

The Callaway Mack Daddy 5 Jaws is in a higher price bracket. However, when I look at the finish, the shaft, and the confidence I get when I look down on this club, the value for me is priceless. The Titleist Vokey’s are a great wedge at a comparable price point, but the Mack Daddy 5 Jaws suits me better.

Final Verdict

The Callaway Mack Daddy 5 Jaws Wedge offers me confidence and versatility. It allows golfers to play in a variety of conditions. The look of these is clean and minimal and the forged satin chrome finish with the blue rounds minimizes the glare from the sun. These wedges are a solid option for the intermediate to advanced player who wants a versatile wedge that will look great behind the ball and in the bag.