Updated May 23, 2023. This article was thoroughly audited by multiple golf experts and coaches for its accuracy. You can read more about our rigorous testing protocol here.
For golfers looking to improve their short game shots around the green, Roger Cleveland at Callaway has designed a fantastic wedge, the Callaway JAWS Mack Daddy 5. With maximum grip and spin, the wedge is an excellent piece of golf equipment.
Sophisticated enough for low handicappers, the Callaway JAWS MD5 Wedge can be revolutionary for mid and high handicappers. With the aggressive groove system, the Callaway wedge is outstanding around the greens.
With nine loft options, running from 46 degrees to 64 degrees, golfers can build a collection of wedges to handle all shots from inside 125 yards.
In our Callaway JAWS MD5 Wedge Review, we will take a deep dive into what makes this club so well respected by professionals and amateurs alike on the links.
Table of Contents
Callaway JAWS MD5 Wedge Review
Best Wedge for Mid Handicappers
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SPECS
- Loft: 46°-64°
- Lie: 64°
- Weight: D3, D4
- Shaft Length: 35”-35.75”
PROS
- Five different sole grinds offer maximum customization
- JAWS groove design offers high spin rates
- Consistent, reliable short game performance
CONS
- Lower trajectory than comparable wedges
Made with 8620 mild carbon steel, the tour grey or platinum chrome finish of the Mack Daddy 5 wedge makes this one dazzling short game club. Available with the True Temper Tour Issue 115 stock steel shaft, the wedge designer at Callaway, Roger Cleveland, has outdone themselves with the smooth sole, sharp grooves, and high spin of the JAWS MD5 wedges.
There are five different grind choices on the Callaway wedge. A C-grind, low bounce W-grind, S-grind, X-grind, and W-grind are available. All of the grinds offer a specific divot type with a variety of lofts to choose from based upon how you prefer the turf interaction.
Once we got the Mack Daddy 5 wedges on the range and course, we were quite impressed by how the JAWS grooves grabbed the golf ball from all types of lies.
From sand, rough, or the fairway, the new JAWS groove system shined, providing plenty of hop and stop on the green.
Great for any level of golfer, including mid and high handicappers, in this Callaway JAWS MD5 wedge review we found that this club is absolutely marvelous.
For first-rate lofted wedges, the Mack Daddy 5 provides plenty of customizable options, making this a club that will reflect how you like to play the game.
Features & Benefits
Key Feature #1: Looks
While most Callaway clubs offer outstanding performance, not nearly as many look as good as this wedge. With the platinum chrome finish, the MD5 wedges are an absolutely stunning bunch to gaze upon among your other clubs.
The wedges have a wide, bulkier sole that helps move the club through any impediments like sand or heavy grass. While the soles on the Callaway Mack Daddy wedge may appear to be too large at first glance, we can assure you that the wedge is expertly designed.
When evaluating the grind options, you’ll also find that the appearance of the different grind choices offers a clean, compact rounded look. Even on the shallow, thinner grind or bounce choices, the sleek chrome pops in the golf bag.
The hitting area of the wedges also provides a modern look that expands based on the lofts you choose. With the JAWS system at the heart of the sweet spot, you’ll be quite pleased with how the wedge looks from both the front and back.
If you are a fan of Callaway Customs, then you’ll find that the different combinations of grind and bounce options allow you to craft the look and number of Mack Daddy wedges for your collection.
Key Feature #2: Sound
Along with the feel and response, the sound provided by these Callaway wedges is vital to producing confident shots that help reduce the distance of your birdie and par putts. With the grip of the golf ball and the spin produced, each swing of the Callaway wedge offers a well-earned sound that lets you know that you’ve hit a great golf shot.
With the firm stock shaft, the shape of the wedge’s head, specifically the sole and the w-grind, offers a soft, pleasing sound at impact. On the wedges with low bounce, specifically the 58º and 60º lofts, the sound is sharp and vibrant.
Key Feature #3: Feel
When making a judgment on the club’s feel, we had to factor in how the wedge responds on full swings. With the different grinds and bounce options, the shot shape was different with each wedge version.
Regardless of what we used, however, the well-made Callaway Golf grooves offer amazing spin after each hit that translates into a quality feel.
On flop shots with the 60º option that you’ll find in all five different grind choices, Callaway’s Mack Daddy wedge really performs with remarkable proficiency. With the Tour Grey finish, the W-grind and C-grind wedges are standouts offering moderate to large divots that cleanly pop the ball into the air.
We spent plenty of time with the club, putting it through various drills and then situations on the course. Throughout our time with this wedge, we were floored by how much better the MD5 feels over its older brother, the MD4. While that previous version is exceptional, we were impressed with the latest edition of Callaway’s signature wedge.
Key Feature #4: Performance
Regardless of what grind you prefer, whether it be the w-grind that helps a steep swing, or a c-grind that likes a sweeping swing, you’ll find a Mack Daddy wedge that provides the shot shape you want from your short game shots.
From the fairway, the JAWS grooves really shine as we found the wedges have plenty of distance, even more than your favorite short irons. With a soft feel and exceptional response, these wedges deliver crisp contact that boosts confidence and lends itself to producing lower scores.
On open-face shots, with the 60º option, for example, you’ll find heel relief to help get the leading edge underneath the golf ball and let the micro-positive grooves work their magic. The face of each of the JAWS MD5 wedges have 84 different contact points along the hitting area.
No matter the lie, these wedges produce jaw-dropping spin from all types of conditions. Due to the surface roughness on the face of this Callaway wedge, due primarily to the JAWS groove system, golfers will find that consistent shotmaking shape of the golf ball is well within reach on full swings, even for mid and high handicappers.
Alternatives to the Callaway JAWS MD5 Wedge
Cleveland CBX 2 Wedge
Best Wedge for High Handicappers
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SPECS
- Loft: 46°-60°
- Lie: 64°
- Weight: D2, D3, D4
- Shaft Length: 35”-35.5”
PROS
- Hollow-cavity construction provides forgiveness
- Outstanding feel with first-rate spin
- Sharp grooves offer total distance control
CONS
- Bulky shape better for high handicappers
The Cleveland CBX 2 wedge is a great alternative greenside tool for high handicappers and beginners because it is incredibly easy to hit. With a large, inviting sweet spot and hitting area, the CBX 2 wedge produces high rotation rates for stopping power on the greens.
With a bit more energy than the Mack Daddy wedge, the CBX 2 is a monster on full swings, especially around 100 yards in length. The tall arcing shape of shots with this Cleveland wedge lands softly on the greens with precision.
Another benefit of the CBX 2 wedge is the affordable price, a great feature for budget-conscious players.
Mizuno T20 Wedge
Best Wedge for Low Handicappers
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SPECS
- Loft: 45°-62°
- Lie: 63°
- Weight: D3, D4
- Shaft Length: 35.25”
PROS
- All-weather performance with unmatched spin
- Reliable shotmaking with a balanced head
- Machine-milled grooves provide a dynamic feel
CONS
- Heavier, solid construction could limit distance
For advanced players, the Mizuno T20 wedge offers multiple bounce and grinds combinations with the power to burn. Creating sophisticated shots takes a sophisticated wedge, and a T20 is up for the challenge with high rotation rates from the fairway, sand, and rough for more precise shotmaking.
Easily the best feature of the T20 is the microgroove system that grips the outer layer of golf balls to lift and land with a bit more accuracy than the MD5 wedge.
Available in lofts from 46º to 60º, the Mizuno T20 stands apart from its higher-end competitors at a reasonable price.
Verdict
The Callaway Jaws MD 5 Wedge offers a wide array of loft and grind options that produce a tour-level performance that creates soft shots around the course. For a moderately priced wedge, the MD5 offers control and consistency that gets the ball closer to the hole.
On full shots or flop shots, you’ll find that this Callaway wedge doesn’t disappoint, delivering a smooth interaction with the sole and turf for clean contact that gets the grooves to the golf ball on the sweet spot.
Our verdict for these wedges is very positive as we give the JAWS MD5 wedges a high score, especially for mid and high handicappers that want an advanced wedge within their budget.