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Today I’ll be reviewing the Callaway MAVRIK Pro hybrid, a gold medal winner on the 2020 Golf Digest Hot List.
With a shallower face, more compact profile, cambered sole, and neutral CG, the Pro takes the MAVRIK hybrid to a new level of versatility that is ideal for better players.
But just how good is the performance of the MAVRIK Pro hybrid? Is it worth putting in the bag and should low handicaps or scratch golfers choose it over other models?
Read on to find out everything you need to know 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 MAVRIK Pro hybrid has been rated very highly by consumers and fairly positively by professional testers.
More specifically, the Pro is praised for having great feel and workability without sacrificing distance. It currently has a 5/5 (100% recommended) rating on the official Callaway website, a 5/5 on Global Golf, and a 4.9/5 on Callaway Golf Pre-Owned.
What People Like
- has the look of a fairway wood yet plays like an iron
- workable but still has MAVRIK length
- excellent turf interaction
- easy to launch the ball
- superb feel
What People Don’t Like
- pretty expensive
- some feel it could have better forgiveness
- some dislike the look
What are the features?
The MAVRIK Pro has most of the same features as the standard MAVRIK hybrid:
- A.I.-Designed Flash Face Architecture: the Flash Face SS20 is made using a high-strength steel and is uniquely designed for each loft and model. It maximizes ball speeds and further optimizes performance.
- Face Cup: allows the face to flex and produce even more ball speed.
- Jailbreak Technology: titanium bars vertically connect the crown and sole, placing more impact load on the face and increasing ball speeds.
- Easy Launch: an optimal CG placement maximizes speed and promotes a high launch with long carry and soft landings.
The key differences lie in the head size and shape, CG location, and sole type.
First, the MAVRIK Pro is more compact, has a shallower face and a smaller profile than the other variants. Most better players find this preferable.
Next, the Pro has a cambered sole and a shape similar to a fairway wood. Related to this is a flatter lie angle, more neutral CG and neutral ball flight.
The design of the MAVRIK Pro hybrid was influenced by feedback from skilled players and Tour pros.
Stock Info
The MAVRIK Pro hybrid is available in 2H, 3H and 4H, over a limited loft range of 18° to 23°.
The stock graphite shaft is the KBS Tour Prototype HYB 70/80 (this shaft has gotten great reviews, by the way). The stock grip is the Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360.
There are at least 25 custom shaft options and over 100 different grips to choose from, and you can also customize the length and lie angle.
Full information on the hybrid, shafts, grips and customization options can be found on the CGPO website.
Below are the specs of the MAVRIK Pro hybrid and stock shaft. Click to enlarge.
How does the hybrid perform?
Distance
In my review of the standard MAVRIK hybrid, I praised its superior combination of launch angle, distance and carry. This was mostly due to Callaway’s latest cutting-edge technologies like the Flash Face SS20.
It turns out that the MAVRIK Pro is just as long if not longer. When you think about it, this isn’t really surprising: the neutral CG leads to slightly lower launch and and a more penetrating ball flight.
In normal circumstances, you will get some more rollout. Because of the workability of the Pro, however, you can hit higher trajectories as needed and get the kind of stopping power that the standard and MAX models provide.
In short, the Pro is super long, but it has the versatility to make that length even more useful.
Playability/Trajectory
The exact ball flight that the MAVRIK Pro hybrid produces will depend on many external factors including the shaft and your swing type. But in general, it tends to be straight and penetrating (less spin), with a medium trajectory.
There is a notable difference in spin rates compared to the standard model. This has many effects that are generally positive for more skilled players who can generate a high enough clubhead speed.
With that said, I was surprised during my testing at how easy it still was to get the ball up in the air out of practically any lie, despite the stronger loft choices and a “lower & longer” CG placement.
The smaller profile of the Pro contributes to excellent playability, versatility and controllability in nearly every situation.
Because the shape and size are so different, higher handicappers may even find that they enjoy hitting the Pro more than the other two MAVRIK models.
Forgiveness
This is where the Pro falls short a little bit. It does have some forgiveness, but it’s noticeably worse than the standard model. In particular, mis-hits see a bigger drop in ball speed and distance, and they can stray pretty far off line too.
I know that it’s completely normal for better-player clubs to have less forgiveness in general, but given the technologies packed into this hybrid like Jailbreak, I was still hoping for more.
If you struggle to find the center of the face, you’re probably not going to get good results with the Pro.
What about look, sound & feel?
The Look
As someone who has looked at and tested all three MAVRIK hybrid models, the first thing about the Pro that stood out to me was its shape.
Of course, the Pro has a smaller, more compact footprint. But in addition, unlike the standard and MAX variants, the Pro has a shallower, softer head (with a cambered sole) that resembles a fairway wood.
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. I’m personally indifferent towards it because while I think it looks great from an objective standpoint, I tend to think of my hybrids as longer irons and prefer an iron-like shape.
The aesthetic is consistent with the theme of the MAVRIK: mostly black with orange and white accents.
Overall, I think it’s a really nice look that will fit perfectly with many golfers’ hybrid preferences.
The Sound & Feel
The feel of the MAVRIK Pro is definitely clearer and more distinct than the standard model. This means that your mis-hits won’t feel so great, which has the upside of giving you clear feedback on where you made contact.
All things considered, the Pro has still has the familiar “Callaway hybrid” sound & feel when you hit the sweet spot: a hot, slightly muted “click” with a side of solidness. Just fantastic.
It seems like the Pro model has even more of a “whack” kind of sound — it certainly isn’t dead. The CG placement is different, so there will undoubtedly be some kind of difference in the sound & feel.
Where should you buy this hybrid online?
The MAVRIK Pro 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 line is on the expensive side. If you want to save more money, you can find discounts on eBay. eBay is also a great source for discounted new clubs.
Alternatively, look at what’s available on Global Golf.
Conclusion
The MAVRIK Pro is a rock-solid hybrid offering for better players.
Not only will its distance blow you away, but it’s workable, has excellent turf interaction, has a great stock shaft, and provides an easy launch even with the lower spin.
It certainly could be more forgiving even for a players club, but players clubs aren’t really designed for forgiveness in the first place, so I can overlook this for the most part.
This is a must-try hybrid for lower handicaps. Even if you’re a higher handicap that doesn’t want to depend so much on forgiveness, consider giving the MAVRIK Pro a try.
Have any thoughts or opinions about the MAVRIK Pro hybrid? Feel free to leave a comment below.
