Golfstead is reader-supported. When you buy through links on the site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Our affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network and Amazon Associates.
This is a full review of the standard Callaway MAVRIK hybrid, a gold medal winner on the 2020 Golf Digest Hot List.
The MAVRIK hybrid shares the same breakthrough technologies as the rest of Callaway’s MAVRIK line of metalwoods. It’s designed to be high-launching and forgiving while taking distance to a new level with the A.I.-designed Flash Face SS20.
How well does the MAVRIK hybrid live up to its performance claims? Is it worth putting in the bag? What are its strengths and weaknesses?
Read on to find out everything you need to know about it to make an informed decision.
Note: Unless otherwise stated, stock shafts and stock grips are used when evaluating this club. In most cases, the golf clubs reviewed on Golfstead are acquired temporarily for testing purposes and are not purchased. The review that follows is based on the personal experience and research of the author. Because everyone’s swing and body are different, results with a particular club may differ from person to person.
What are the reviews like?
The standard MAVRIK hybrid has been rated very highly by consumers and fairly positively by professional testers.
In particular, the MAVRIK is praised for its high launch, great forgiveness, and hot trajectory. It currently has a 4.7/5 (95% recommended) rating on the official Callaway website and on Callaway Golf Pre-Owned.
What People Like
- super long and forgiving
- easy launch with long carry
- many loft and head shape options are available
- consistent feel
What People Don’t Like
- expensive for a hybrid
- not terribly workable
- some dislike the look
What are the features?
The MAVRIK hybrid builds on a lot of the same concepts as the Rogue from a couple seasons ago. Its main traits are a low CG, high MOI, mid-sized head, and a hot face.
In addition to Jailbreak and the Face Cup, it’s the first hybrid to use artificial intelligence in what Callaway calls the Flash Face SS20, based off the technology first seen in the Epic Flash driver.
Let’s look at the main features in more detail:
Flash Face SS20
The MAVRIK hybrid is the first hybrid to have an A.I.-designed face architecture. Uniquely designed for each loft and model, the Flash Face SS20 is made using a high-strength steel, resulting in maximized ball speed and optimized performance.
The MAVRIK also features Callaway’s Face Cup, which allows the face to flex and produce even more ball speed.
Jailbreak Technology
Jailbreak Technology first made an appearance in the Rogue hybrid. It consists of titanium bars that vertically connect the crown and sole — this places more impact load on the face, increasing ball speeds.
In the MAVRIK hybrid, Jailbreak works together with the Flash Face SS20 and Face Cup to deliver unprecedented ball speeds (or so that’s what the claim is).
Easy Launch
The aerodynamics, weight distribution and CG placement all make for a hybrid that launches high, carries far, and lands relatively softly.
In particular, the CG is located low and back, leading to a higher MOI and stability.
Squared-Off Toe
The MAVRIK hybrid has traditional Callaway profiling, inspiring confidence and allowing for enhanced control in addition to distance.
The toe area is squared off, which makes the hybrid transition easily into an iron set.
Stock Info
The standard MAVRIK hybrid is available from 3H-6H, over a loft range of 18° to 26°. The OptiFit hosel was forgone in order to save weight.
The stock graphite shaft is the Project X Catalyst HL 55/65/75. There are at least 25 custom shaft options and over 100 different grips to choose from, and you can customize the length and lie.
If you’re interested, full information on the hybrid, shafts, grips and customization options can be found on the CGPO website.
Below are the specs of the MAVRIK hybrid. Click to enlarge.
How does the hybrid perform?
Distance
The MAVRIK hybrid is very long: high ball speeds, a high launch, and lots of carry. It definitely ranks up their among the longest hybrids I’ve ever tested, and may just be the longest while still retaining respectable landing angles.
Why is that? Well, firstly, the CG placement promotes a high launch with medium spin, which gives a good balance between length and stopping power into greens.
Then you have the Flash Face SS20, which squeezes out more ball speed at practically every location on the face. Jailbreak and the Face Cup further increase ball speed, translating into distance.
The MAVRIK has an ideal combination of ball-speed maximizing technologies that evidently make a big difference in performance.
Forgiveness
I’m quite pleased with the forgiveness of the MAVRIK hybrid.
Loss of ball speed on off-center hits is minimal to nearly non-existent, thanks in large part to technologies like the Face Cup which increase ball speeds around the perimeter of the face.
Directional forgiveness on mis-hits is above average for a hybrid. I certainly wouldn’t say it’s the most forgiving hybrid that has ever been designed, but there is plenty of forgiveness there for most golfers.
Ball Flight/Playability
Typical ball flights with the MAVRIK hybrid are straight and medium-high with a medium spin rate and, of course, a high launch.
One of the things I like most in a hybrid is consistency: similar swings and similar contact should produce similar results. With the MAVRIK, I was hoping to get a little more consistency than I did in terms of ball speed (there was more variance there than I wanted), but at the same time, shot shapes are very repeatable.
Because of the high launch, it’s easy to use the hybrid out of most lies including rough and fairway bunkers. The head size and shape is such that it doesn’t have many problems with catching and opening in thicker rough.
It’s probably worth noting that shaping the ball with the MAVRIK requires quite a bit more effort than with the Pro hybrid.
What about look, sound & feel?
The Look
What really stands out to me about the standard MAVRIK hybrid is that it has a squarish toe (and face) and tries to look more like an iron. Some will like this and some won’t; it depends on whether you think of your hybrids as extensions of your irons or your woods.
Personally, I lean towards preferring the look since I tend to think of my hybrids as longer irons.
The aesthetic is consistent with the theme of the MAVRIK: mostly black with orange and white accents. I’m fairly indifferent towards it, but I definitely could see myself having it in the bag during a round.
The Sound & Feel
When it comes to hybrids and golf clubs in general, it’s usually a little bit challenging to describe sound & feel.
I’ll first start off by saying that if you’ve played a Callaway hybrid within the past few years, the sound & feel of the MAVRIK should be very familiar to you. It can be described as a light, crisp, solid, and slightly metallic.
In this case, the MAVRIK has a very hot face, so there’s also an element of explosiveness to the feel. Moreover, this feel is remarkably consistent across the face.
Having said that, the exact feel that you’ll experience will be influenced by other factors such as your choice of shaft.
Where should you buy this hybrid online?
The MAVRIK hybrid is now more than a few seasons old, and you can no longer order it custom-made directly from the official Callaway website.
The best you can do now is look for it on Callaway Golf Pre-Owned and eBay. CGPO has a bunch of these hybrids on offer with a 90-day buy-back policy, 12-month warranty, and free headcover included.
The MAVRIK is on the expensive side. If you want to save more money, you can find discounts on eBay.
Alternatively, look at what’s available on Global Golf.
Conclusion
The MAVRIK hybrid is a really solid performer with great forgiveness and arguably the best distance on the market. I would say that it lives up to its performance claims.
Unfortunately, some things knock it down a couple of notches including a high price tag and a “blocky” profile that many will find unappealing.
Ultimately, it’s up to the individual golfer whether they feel the distance and performance gains are worth the cost, or if they should stick with their current gamers.
Have any thoughts or opinions about the MAVRIK hybrid? Feel free to leave a comment below.
