Callaway MAVRIK and MAVRIK Sub Zero Driver review

January 13, 2020 | by AmateurGolf.com Equipment Panel

- AmateurGolf.com photo

Callaway has pushed the limits of artificial intelligence to find a driver design that could not have been conceived by any human.

For 2020 Callaway Golf pushed the limits of A.I. Technology to produce a driver that literally could not have been designed by any human.

It's called the Mavrik, and it's available in three models. For this review, we will compare the Mavrik and Mavrik Sub Zero models, both of which we were able to take to the range and the golf course to put through their paces prior to the official pre-order date, January 14.

Last year’s Epic Flash drivers utilized an A.I.-designed “Flash Face” that quickly became a top played driver on the WorldWide Tours, and became the top-selling driver at retail as well. The Callaway Research & Design team Used AI Technolgy to rapidly create and test 15,000 different designs until they landed on the perfect face design.

But knowing they were only good as their last hit product, the design engineers at Callaway asked for more computing power, and they got in in the form of a new supercomputer. Armed with what they learned designing Epic Flash, these same engineers wondered would happen if they could unleash the massive technology onto other aspects of club design, even thinking about how the ball sounded coming off the face?

For starters, think about the face of the driver. It's where the ball makes contact, and it's the part of the "machine learning" of Artificial Intelligence where Callaway learned the most with Epic Flash last year. This go around, they set out to push the boundaries so far that a new material was required to support the ultra-thin face design the supercomputer came up with. The material, FS2S titanium, is not only stronger, it's 6g lighter than the material in Epic Flash. And rather than just design one face for each driver, the supercomputer came up with a specific design for each model.

What that means is that once you determine the driver type that's right for your swing, you can be assured the face is delivering the most "pop" for that head design.

TUNING SOUND

On the range, you'll not only appreciate the way the Mavrik drivers feel and the ball flight they deliver. You'll definitely notice the sound, which doesn't have as much of a tinny resonance as the Epic Flash models.

Based on player feedback, Callaway "asked" the supercomputer to deliver a significant improvement on the acoustics without requiring a shape redesign or major change in weight or materials. Allowed by the programmers to move just a few grams of weight internally, the supercomputer came up with a precise shape and placement of this weight. And the sound is noticeable -- if you love the sound of a drive being struck perfectly, you're going to love Mavrik.

So now that you know a little more about what Callaway has been keeping under wraps for the past year, let's take a look at the two models that most lower handicap players are likely going to choose between.

MAVRIK DRIVERS

Our testers love the shape of the "standard" MAVRIK driver. The crown is flatter, and shallower from front to back. It just looks sleek. Flip it over, and you'll notice that the sole sweeps up sharply in the rear. Callaway calls this overall shape "Cyclone Aero" and claims it reduces drag. We just go by the look, feel, distance and sound off the face compared to Epic Flash, and our early tests put check marks across the board. And we're guessing that a lot of low handicap golfers are going to fit into this model, even some that used a one of the Sub-Zero drivers in the past. You've got to see and hit both for yourself to decide. After hitting my first three drives with MAVRIK, I joked "I can't think of a single reason why you wouldn't like this driver."

As for features found in previous models of Callaway drivers, the company continues to improve features like "Jailbreak" -- positioning the two internal bars that connect the sole and crown to deliver maximum ball speed across the face.

And speaking of the crown, a lighter carbon crown in MAVRIK allows for even higher MOI. As well, the head’s internal and external weighting includes a single, fixed 5g weight positioned at the sole’s back-center, to promote mid-level spin and a moderate draw bias.

MORE INFORMATION

Callaway's MAVRIK Driver is available in 9, 10.5, and 12 degree lofts
Preorder Date: Jan. 14, 2020
At Retail Date: Jan. 23, 2020
Price: $499

MAVRIK SUB-ZERO DRIVERS

Like all of Callaway’s Sub Zero models from the past five years, MAVRIK Sub Zero offers a rare combination of low spin and high MOI. And also like previous models, it's clearly going to be the choice of high clubhead speed players. But if you're in the 100mph range, there are other variables that might make Sub Zero fit your swing -- we encourage you to hit both and try and number of shaft options to make sure you're maximizing your distance when ordering a MAVRIK driver.

And since look at address has such an important part in the feedback loop that results in your confidence, if you like the shape of the head there is likely a loft and shaft combination to make Sub Zero a potential fit.

The slightly smaller (450cc) head features two interchangeable screws in the front and back, 14g and 2g, to promote changes to launch angle and spin-rate. MAVRIK Sub Zero has a neutral ball flight bias and the lie angle is slightly flatter compared to the Standard and MAX models.

MORE INFORMATION

The MAVRIK Sub Zero is available in 9 and 10.5 degree lofts.
Preorder Date: Jan. 14, 2020
At Retail Date: Jan. 23, 2020
Price: $499

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