New for 2020, Callaway has three new iron models: Mavrik Pro irons, Mavrik irons, and Mavrik Max irons.

The Callaway Mavrik irons are taking total iron set performance further than the company ever has before, with the help of Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) and precision engineering.

For at least a half decade, Callaway has been one of the undisputed leaders in introducing new technology into the iron category, starting with the original Apex and Apex Pro. You could even argue that the Apex alone created an entirely new category for irons that produce tremendous ball speeds without sacrificing a player-preferred appearance.

Mavrik Pro Iron (left), Mavrik Iron (center) and Mavrik Max Iron (right)

2020 Callaway Mavrik irons: What’s new

Artificial intelligence has allowed Callaway to go way deeper than the company ever has before when it comes to better understanding what it takes to make golfers more consistent. Heck, they even made a video about it—it’s funny too

Callaway, like other OEMs, also knows that when its comes to irons and iron designs, one size doesn’t fit all—and it doesn’t take a supercomputer to figure that out.

The Technology (behind the faces) of Mavrik Irons

Imagine going through a custom iron fitting, and after checking off all the conventional required specs like length, lie, loft and shaft flex, going through one more final step to get fit for your iron faces based on impact point and common misses.

This is what Callaway is trying to achieve by using A.I. to uniquely design each iron face for every loft in each model in the Mavrik iron lineup from top to bottom—it’s an impressive feat when you consider the total of 29 different clubheads spaced out over three models; the Mavrik, Mavrik Max, and Mavrik Pro.

• See more photos and read the discussion in the forums

360 Face Cup with A.I. developed Flash Face: The 360 face cup is not new to Callaway irons but never before had engineers attempted to bring the Flash Face technology to irons. The Epic Flash driver was the original test subject, and once it was a proven concept, it was time to share the technology love with other products in the line as innovations developed. This technology application, along with actual engineering from the design team, has allowed the Mavrik irons to carry more robust ball speeds over a larger area of the face.

It’s like boosting iron MOI with face technology without having to adjust mass properties, leading to higher peak heights, more carry, and more distance, especially on mishits. Speaking of mass properties…

Tungsten Energy Core with Urethane Microspheres: Precisely locating the Center of Gravity (CG) of any golf club is a vital component to performance. By using materials like tungsten, Callaway, can do a better job condensing more mass into a smaller area to boost MOI and improve launch conditions. This technology was first introduced in the premium Epic line, but as the technology has been refined, it has allowed Callaway to combine this with the new Flash Face in the Mavrik irons to deliver a better performing iron to a new segment of golfers.

And there’s another reason: Historically, golfers have said that nothing feels like a solid forged club, the reason being sound = feel, and clubs that were hollow or had a large cavity felt hard, louder, or literally sounded “hollow.” This is where the urethane holding the suspended tungsten core in place allows the face to remain unsupported but has precisely positioned contact points to keep vibration frequency low to give the irons a powerful muted sound preferred by most golfers—without having any adverse effect on ball speeds.

With each iron having a different face, along with a uniquely tuned suspended tungsten core, manufacturing the Mavrik irons takes much greater precision—but this is a part of the industry where Callaway has pushed the envelope before, including the MD5 wedges that require more tool changes more often to keep wedges right up to the legal limit.

• See more photos and read the discussion in the forums

Meet the models and their specs

Callaway Mavrik

The standard Mavrik iron incorporates all of the new technology into a great-looking, midsized, game-improvement package and is also the longest of the three models.

Like similar irons in the category, it has a healthy amount of offset, but the hosel transitions do a nice job of hiding it as best as possible from address.

The Mavrik irons also feature a progressive sole to help with ground interaction at slower speeds into the turf with shorter irons—just because your irons are hollow doesn’t mean they still can’t finesse inside 150 yards if needed.

• See more photos and read the discussion in the forums

Callaway Mavrik Max

Common thinking would have you believe the Mavrik Max irons would just be Callaway’s way of creating a juiced up, stronger lofted, bigger version of the Mavrik to offer the “longest iron ever” handle in an attempt to get you hitting your 8 iron 200 yards, but stop right there!

The Mavrik Max lofts are weaker than the flagship standard Mavrik—on average 2.5 degrees weaker in loft across the set. They also have no intention of calling it the longest iron in the series—that title belongs to the standard model.

The Max fits a huge growing need in the game improvement category to help golfers at slower swing actually increase spin and launch angle. Spend enough time in iron fittings and it doesn’t take artificial intelligence to have you figure out too many golfers don’t launch the ball high enough or with enough spin to maximize carry distance or hold greens. The biggest reason for this beyond just clubhead speed is the modern low-spinning multi-layer golf ball. Lower spin is great for the driver, but as loft decreases in the mid-irons many players struggle to hold greens. With all the technology packed into the larger profile of the Mavrik Max irons, you can expect for these to be very popular.

• See more photos and read the discussion in the forums

But wait, there’s more…

I know I said The Mavrik offers three new models that was a bit of a lie. There is a line extension within the Max resulting in five total models available…

Mavrik Max Women’s, and Max Women’s Lite

This is not just a new paint job and call it a day set of irons. The Max W (women’s) set is a re-engineered with flatter lie angles a different placement of the tungsten in each iron head to further optimize launch and spin for women players. Just like with many of their male counterparts women with generally slower speeds have even more trouble creating enough spin and launch to improve carry and the ability to stop the ball on greens.

The Mavrik Max Lites are the final set in the lineup. To make these as lite as possible for players that struggle to control heavier clubs, Callaway has taken away the tungsten in favor of making the heads lighter. They still have the urethane microspheres to keep feel inline with the other models but, rely on conventional weight placement to boost MOI.

Callaway Mavrik Pro irons

This is the most self explanatory of models in the Mavrik irons family. The Pro combines every bit of technology as the more game improvement models but in a sleeker package. Callaway engineers picked out little bits of each of the most popular smaller style heads in their entire line up from Apex to Rogue Pro, to create the ultimate package for players that don’t struggle with creating spin or launch.

The Mavrik Pro offers a more compact look with a shorter heel-to-toe blade length. There is also less offset to create a confidence-inspiring look from address. Flip it over, and you’ll also find a thinner sole with a rounder camber for increased playability in various turf conditions.

Greater speed, greater forgiveness in a smaller package is what Mavrik Pro is all about.

Specs, pricing, and availability

Stock Shafts

• Standard Mavrik – Steel: True Temper Elevate 95. Graphite: Project X Catalyst 55g, 65g, and 75g
• Mavrik Max – Steel: KBS Max 80g, Graphite: Project X Catalyst 55g, 65g, and 75g
• Mavrik Pro – Steel: True Temper Elevate 105, Graphite: KBS TGi 90

Pricing

Standard and Max models are $799.99 for steel and $899.99 in graphite in seven-piece configurations.

The Mavrik Pro is $899.99 in seven-piece configuration in steel.

Availability begins January 14 for fitting tools and pre-orders, with product available at retail starting February 6th.

• See more photos and read the discussion in the forums