Callaway MD4 Wedges - What's the Verdict?

It's been a couple of months since I was first able to demo the MD4 wedges. The Callaway rep was visiting our course and had a few demo's to try out. I only had a few minutes to hit, pitch and chip a couple of balls. I was amazed at the feel of these wedges. I thought that they felt amazing. Since I could not get the feel of those wedges out of my head, I ended up ordering a 50, 56 and 60 for the start of the playing season.

Here are my thoughts, I'd love to hear yours as well.

I was using the Cleveland RTX3 wedges last year, and while I liked them, they felt a little "clacky", and through the season I became convinced that I had ordered these with the wrong shaft. (I ordered them with the Modus 120 wedge shafts.) By the end of last year, I had already decided that I was going to upgrade my wedges this year. I am a low single digit handicapper and I'm not a high spin player. On chips and pitches, I am very satisfied to allow the ball to roll toward the target rather than to use spin to throw on the brakes.

Because I liked the demo MD4's that I tried, I ordered them with the stock DG 115g S200 shaft.

The Look

They look great. A little smaller and sleeker than the RTX 3's that I used last year, but very comparable to the MD3 wedges from a couple of years ago. I like the dark finish, although I am aware that the dark look will wear quickly.

The Feel

This is where I am quite surprised. These feel great. I was excited to try the Callaway forged wedges last year, but, in my opinion, they did not feel as great as I had hoped. I know that it is subjective, but these wedges feel better to me than the forged wedges. Hitting a Chromesoft with these clubs is just a very pleasant feeling. It just feels/sounds like the ball is on the face longer. I know that it's just a feeling thing, but they feel sweet as good as anything. I also believe that they have moved the center of gravity more into the center of the club. (Most wedges have a center of gravity more toward the heel.) The club just feels fantastic when you hit the ball in the center of the face.

The Performance

I have not tried these on a launch monitor to get spin numbers. However, I can tell you with certainty that they spin more than my RTX 3 wedges from last year. Quite a bit more. Especially on full swings. In the first couple of times I took them on the course, there were a few shots that really surprised me with more spin than I would have expected. Again, I can not back it up with launch monitor numbers, but I would be fairly certain that these spin as much or more than any wedge that I have ever hit.

On partial swings and pitches, I can control spin by my angle of attack. If I am steep, the ball really stops quickly. When I sweep it a little more, it will run out nicely. I was pleasantly surprised at how well I can control trajectory with my full swings using the MD4. I have certainly noticed that I can hit low shots with a lot of spin easily with these wedges.

The Grind

I chose the S grind on my 50 and 56 and the X grind on my 60. I live in the pacific nw and right now it is very soft. These wedges have enough bounce to keep that leading edge from getting too low to the ground. The X Grind is fantastic. You can open it up and it lays low to the ground, but still presents enough sole to keep it from digging too far in the bunker.

Compared to other wedges

These past few months, I have hit my old Cleveland RTX 3's, Taylormade TP EF Wedges (not milled grind), and Titleist SM7 wedges. The Titleist felt great and I certainly would happily have them in my bag. However, I chose the MD4 wedges because they seriously feel better to me and had that sleek aggressive look to them. I am very pleased with them and am impressed by the DG S200 shaft as well.

My Final Thought

I really don't know how much the technology and the raised grooves impact the performance of this wedge. All I know is that they feel as good or better than anything else out there when you hit them in the center of the face. The sweet spot seems to be more in the center of these clubs rather than by the heel like on most wedges of the past. I would encourage you to try the stock shaft with these and see what you think. before doing an upgrade.They also spin as much or more than any other wedge that I have ever hit.

If you are looking for a new wedge, this is definitely one to try.

I'm very interested the in the X-grind of there. I currently have the 50 & 54 in the Callaway forged wedges and I love the solid but soft feel of them.

For the past 2 seasons I've played the PM grind and it's starting to wear out so time for a change. I'm going to wait a couple of months to see if they release a new PM grind, if not it's between the MD4 and the forged. I like your positive review though.

It's a wedge, pretty much same as last one and one b4 that.....and any other on market

They are all more similar than different

It's a wedge, pretty much same as last one and one b4 that.....and any other on market

 

They are all more similar than different

Ha ha. This is what it would look like if Eyeore from Winnie-the-Pooh did club reviews.

I have hit the MD4 a few times and it does seem to spin a little more(but not a ridiculous amount more), but I love my PM Grind MD 56 so much that I think if I replace my MD3 60, it would be with the PM Grind 60. Now if they made a MD4 PM Grind I would be replacing both wedges.

So grooves are maxed

Texture faces been done

Multiple grinds been done

Headshape is basically same

Magic dust?lol

My buddy has MD4, another MD3, multiple vokeys, mizzys, clevelands in our group

They all very good wedges....user that separates em

I picked up a 52/56/60 all in S grinds. Love the feel. They perform great around the greens. I am struggling a bit with full shots I think primarily due to the lighter shaft. Having played vokeys my whole life the lighter shaft weight is not something I am used to yet. Hoping that changes. Or I will have to sell these and get a different shaft.

I bought the 52 S grind and 60 W grind yesterday. I’ll be heading out to the course in a few hours today. Can’t wait to try these out.

Now that I have a couple more rounds with these in the bag, I am finding that with full swings on these wedges I am spinning the ball more than I can ever remember spinning it.

I am wondering if this is due more to the lighter stock S200 shafts. But wow, I am really getting a ton of spin.

Like the OP, I just went from the RTX wedge to the MD4. I never "loved" the RTX but they were serviceable. I think I am gonna love the MD4, particularly on partial and around the green shots. One thing I find, I hit the MD4 wedges REAL high. I even took a little loft off of them to try and get them to fly a little lower. I am playing the 58/10 X grind and the 54/8 C grind. I might put different shafts in them to see if I can get the flight down a little

Like the OP, I just went from the RTX wedge to the MD4. I never "loved" the RTX but they were serviceable. I think I am gonna love the MD4, particularly on partial and around the green shots. One thing I find, I hit the MD4 wedges REAL high. I even took a little loft off of them to try and get them to fly a little lower. I am playing the 58/10 X grind and the 54/8 C grind. I might put different shafts in them to see if I can get the flight down a little

Did you get them with the stock DG S200 shafts?

I do agree that this shaft does get the ball up high and is very high spin. However, I do feel that I can flight the ball low.

Don't see much improvement over the MD3 and related MD-PM offerings. MD3 series had excellent design and variety.

While I thought the MD4 wedges where good I went back to the X-forged, they are the best feeling wedges I've ever played.

Like the OP, I just went from the RTX wedge to the MD4. I never "loved" the RTX but they were serviceable. I think I am gonna love the MD4, particularly on partial and around the green shots. One thing I find, I hit the MD4 wedges REAL high. I even took a little loft off of them to try and get them to fly a little lower. I am playing the 58/10 X grind and the 54/8 C grind. I might put different shafts in them to see if I can get the flight down a little

Did you get them with the stock DG S200 shafts?

I do agree that this shaft does get the ball up high and is very high spin. However, I do feel that I can flight the ball low.

yes

Now that I have a couple more rounds with these in the bag, I am finding that with full swings on these wedges I am spinning the ball more than I can ever remember spinning it.

I am wondering if this is due more to the lighter stock S200 shafts. But wow, I am really getting a ton of spin.

That above the groove texture and frquent changing of the saw blade helps the quality of the grooves.

Some thoughts about the two finishes?

I personally think the chrome looks better, more premium... or classy

I would love black wedges but it’s hard if the chrome finish looks sooo good...

What do you guys think?

Can the black finish be stripped like the Vokey?

Some thoughts about the two finishes?

 

I personally think the chrome looks better, more premium... or classy

 

I would love black wedges but it’s hard if the chrome finish looks sooo good...

 

What do you guys think?

I agree on the chrome looking better. I've played wedges with darkfinishes for years but my MD4's are both chrome finish because I liked the look.

Some thoughts about the two finishes?

 

I personally think the chrome looks better, more premium... or classy

 

I would love black wedges but it’s hard if the chrome finish looks sooo good...

 

What do you guys think?

 

I agree on the chrome looking better. I've played wedges with darkfinishes for years but my MD4's are both chrome finish because I liked the look.

Absolutely my thoughts...

I never played black ones but wanted to...

But I think I have to order the chrome! They look sooo gorgeous in hand!

The black finish is nice too but for me not as well finished and premium as the chrome!

Can the black finish be stripped like the Vokey?

Great question.

I'm thinking about ordering at set of MD4's for this upcoming season. I've heard a lot of great things about them so far. As far as the finish is concerned, I'm leaning towards black. I think the satin chrome would match my irons, but I like the look of naturally worn wedges and I like for wedges to stand out in the bag. Currently gaming RTX-3s in raw finish.

I love the MD2, MD3 PM grind and MD forged. Can't go wrong with any of those options, and I doubt the MD4 is an improvement (IMO).

I wore out my MD3's so I ordered the 4's today. I hit the clubs and thought they really felt good. We will see. I also looked at the Vokeys and other than a few cosmetics , they look like the same club to me.

To follow up on my post on these, for me they hit the ball too high and spin too much on full shots. I can't pinch them like previous versions and I am not getting my typical yardage out of them. Swing weights are perfect, loft and lie's are perfect. Maybe the shafts? We shall see

Like the OP, I just went from the RTX wedge to the MD4. I never "loved" the RTX but they were serviceable. I think I am gonna love the MD4, particularly on partial and around the green shots. One thing I find, I hit the MD4 wedges REAL high. I even took a little loft off of them to try and get them to fly a little lower. I am playing the 58/10 X grind and the 54/8 C grind. I might put different shafts in them to see if I can get the flight down a little

Did you get them with the stock DG S200 shafts?

I do agree that this shaft does get the ball up high and is very high spin. However, I do feel that I can flight the ball low.

Are you still liking these wedges......Are you still using the stock shaft........What weight shafts do you have in your irons?

I thought the x grind was interesting. I’m still going with the S grind though.

Can the black finish be stripped like the Vokey?

 

Great question.

Anyone try this? I just got 2 new MD4s in black from my girlfriend for my birthday and really wanted a raw finish. I bought some naval jelly and have CLR but haven't attempted to remove the finish yet.

Like the OP, I just went from the RTX wedge to the MD4. I never "loved" the RTX but they were serviceable. I think I am gonna love the MD4, particularly on partial and around the green shots. One thing I find, I hit the MD4 wedges REAL high. I even took a little loft off of them to try and get them to fly a little lower. I am playing the 58/10 X grind and the 54/8 C grind. I might put different shafts in them to see if I can get the flight down a little

Did you get them with the stock DG S200 shafts?

I do agree that this shaft does get the ball up high and is very high spin. However, I do feel that I can flight the ball low.

Are you still liking these wedges......Are you still using the stock shaft........What weight shafts do you have in your irons?

Love them- I replaced the S200 with S300's and they have a better feel for sure. Although the 2 shafts weigh virtually the same, they feel different to me. I play the Modus NS pro MD105 stiff in my irons.

i have two MD4s in the bag for 1 or 2 weeks now!

and i couldnt be more happy

my distance control improved also bunker shots are much more easy... i like the feel of them a lot!

and of course they look outstanding (black finish)

i played the Sm6 before and of course vokeys are always good wedges, but for me it is not even close!

I love the MD2, MD3 PM grind and MD forged. Can't go wrong with any of those options, and I doubt the MD4 is an improvement (IMO).

I have MD2, and like the shape. The MD4's have a changed shape. Based on the info below from the WRX release article, I'm not as likely to like the MD4.

Grooves aren’t the only difference you’ll notice in the new Mack Daddy 4 wedges, however. Based on Tour feedback, Callaway has designed the wedges with a more compact shape, straighter leading edges, tighter leading edge radii, and slightly more offset throughout the line, according to Callaway.