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This is a review of the Callaway Mack Daddy 3 (MD3) milled wedge.
Available in three sole grinds (W-grind, S-grind and C-grind) and three groove types, the MD3 wedge offers tremendous versatility that can accommodate a wide range of shots, lies and swing types.
It’s one of Callaway’s latest and best offerings for golfers who demand maximum precision and control around the greens.
Are these wedges worth the buy? Do the grinds and grooves serve their claimed purpose? What are the pros and cons?
Read on to find out what you need to know to make an informed purchase.
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?
Not surprisingly, the MD3 wedges have been received wonderfully since their release.
They have average customer ratings 4.8/5 (95% recommended) on the Callaway Golf Pre-Owned website, 4.8/5 on Global Golf, 4.9/5 (100% recommended) on Golfsmith, 4.9/5 on Edwin Watts Golf and 4.9/5 (100% recommended) on the DSG website.
What People Like
- premium nuanced feel
- precise spin and trajectory control
- versatile and effective out of a variety of lies, whether fairway tight, from the rough or from the bunker
What People Don’t Like
There isn’t really much to say in the way of negatives.
- some people have expressed disappointment with distance results in certain situations
- the multitude of grind and groove options can leave some uninformed golfers confused as to what variation they should be using
What are the features?
Callaway developed three different sole grinds for the MD3 wedge; each one suits certain course conditions, shot types and swing types. The grinds are summarized below:
S-Grind
This grind offers the most versatility and is good for virtually any course condition (soft, normal or firm), shot type (bunker, flop, etc.) and swing type (sweeping, moderate or steep attack angle).
W-Grind
This is characterized by a wider sole that’s suitable for softer conditions, bunker shots and steeper swing attack angles.
C-Grind
This grind is characterized by a narrower, more rounded sole that’s suitable for firmer conditions.
The grind offers great versatility around the green, and its heel and toe relief makes opening up the face and keeping the leading edge low easier to pull off.
Also offered are three different precision-milled groove types as part of Callaway’s “Progressive Groove Optimization”. These groove types are:
30V: Narrow Grooves
Featured in the pitching and gap wedges (46°-52°), these grooves promote less spin and are designed for shots that call for a steep attack into the ball.
20V
Featured in the sand wedges (54°-56°), these grooves are designed for bunker shots and full shots.
5V: Wide Grooves
Featured in the lob wedges (58°-60°), these grooves are designed to provide the most spin, maximizing shot control out of the rough and around the green.
The MD3 wedges also feature what Callaway calls “Advanced Shaping and Design”, made a reality by Callaway wedge designer Roger Cleveland.
He blended valuable Tour input with an advanced CAD design to produce a balanced wedge with a semi-straight leading edge and high toe profile. This is discussed in more detail in the look & feel section of the review.
Stock Info
A wide selection of custom shafts, grips and finishes are available for the MD3 wedge, many at no extra cost to the buyer.
The stock shaft is the True Temper Dynamic Gold Steel. Finishing options include Matte Black, Satin Chrome (seen in the review image) and Lucky Clover. Full specifications for the Chrome MD3 wedges are below:
| Loft | Availability | Bounce | Grind | Groove Type | Length | Lie | Swing Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46° | RH | 8° | S-Grind | 30V | 35.75" | 64° | D3 |
| 48° | RH/LH | 8° | S-Grind | 30V | 35.75" | 64° | D3 |
| 50° | RH/LH | 10° | S-Grind | 30V | 35.50" | 64° | D3 |
| 52° | RH/LH | 10° | S-Grind | 30V | 35.50" | 64° | D3 |
| 54° | RH/LH | 10° | S-Grind | 20V | 35.25" | 64° | D4 |
| 54° | RH/LH | 12° | W-Grind | 20V | 35.25" | 64° | D4 |
| 56° | RH/LH | 10° | C-Grind | 20V | 35.25" | 64° | D4 |
| 56° | RH/LH | 10° | S-Grind | 20V | 35.25" | 64° | D4 |
| 56° | RH/LH | 12° | W-Grind | 20V | 35.25" | 64° | D4 |
| 58° | RH/LH | 8° | C-Grind | 5V | 35" | 64° | D4 |
| 58° | RH/LH | 9° | S-Grind | 5V | 35" | 64° | D4 |
| 58° | RH/LH | 11° | W-Grind | 5V | 35" | 64° | D4 |
| 60° | RH/LH | 8° | C-Grind | 5V | 35" | 64° | D4 |
| 60° | RH/LH | 9° | S-Grind | 5V | 35" | 64° | D4 |
| 60° | RH/LH | 11° | W-Grind | 5V | 35" | 64° | D4 |
How do the MD3 wedges perform?
The grinds and grooves of the MD3 wedges more or less deliver on their promises. Overall performance is superb.
Bunker shots are generally very easy with the W-grind, and as you might expect, you can be quite aggressive with your swing in softer conditions without fear of the leading edge digging into the earth.
With the C-grind, it’s quite easy (as easy as it can get, anyway) to make solid contact off tight/firm lies such as on the fairway and fringe.
The all-rounder S-grind, particularly at higher lofts, yields excellent spin and trajectory results that can be easily altered as desired. For example, competent golfers should have little trouble engineering high and soft-landing shots to front pin locations or more penetrating shots that hold their line better in the wind.
As for the grooves, I was very pleased with the results of all three types. The 5V grooves, in particular, produce impressive spin even out of hairier, wetter lies, and this undoubtedly makes a difference when you get yourself into trouble off the green.
What about look, sound & feel?
In addition to what has already been said about the sole structures, groove shapes and available finishes, the MD3 wedge features a very simple and effective back design with green accents and straightforward labeling.
The head is average-sized with a high toe (although not as high as the previous model PM Grind) and a slightly rounded leading edge.
The back is ported with four drilled holes that allow Callaway to move weight upwards away from the sole, raising the center of gravity (CG) for increased spin and a slightly lower launch.
I found the MD3 wedges to sound and feel very good overall; they can definitely compete with some of the current leading wedge models in that respect. Hit feedback is fairly clear, and impact sounds and feels quite soft.
Where should you buy these wedges online?
Because of their age, you can find MD3 wedges at substantially lower prices.
Get new MD3 wedges on Amazon or eBay.
Currently, the best, most trusted places to buy used MD3 wedges in every finish, grind type and loft are CGPO (90-day buy-back policy) and eBay. You can also check out the current stock (check the coupon deals as well) on Global Golf.
Conclusion
Rating: 4.8/5 (Excellent)
Classification: Better-Player
Best suited for: Any golfer who wants to improve their short game efficiency and fine-tune their performance around the green.
Pros
- plenty of grind
- loft and finishing options enable golfers to find a configuration that’s just right for them
- superb modern workability, controllability and playability
Cons
- can be a little difficult and confusing deciding on grind/loft combinations
- some people would prefer the MD3 to be forged rather than cast
- custom engravings, stampings and paint fill are not available
The Mack Daddy 3 (MD3) wedges are a certain improvement over the Mack Daddy 2 and remain one of Callaway’s best wedge offerings.
With the addition of a new grind and new groove structures, they afford golfers of all swing types a tremendous amount of control and flexibility in just about every course condition and lie you can think of.
While most golfers will be successful with the all-purpose S-grind, I would recommend that performance maximizers try the W and C grinds as well to determine what works best in different situations.
If you have any thoughts or opinions about the Mack Daddy 3 wedges, be sure to drop a comment below!
Good review. I carry the 52* in S grind and it responds well to all sort of lies thus far from all around the green and even in the rough for me including the sand. I do like the S grind as it reacts well to opening up the face with that grind permitting playing at the stated loft or moving up a few degrees without changing the characteristics of the shot.
I like your comment about trying another grind such as the C for me in 56* for tighter lies. This is a good time 2022, to purchase one of these quality irons at a reasonable price. I sharpened the grooves on my used one and haven’t looked back.
Thanks. It’s especially important to keep the grooves of your wedges sharp to maintain their performance. At the same time, you can easily play old wedge models as well or better than the latest stuff.