Finally! A Perfect Package Set For The Improving Golfer

Package sets seem to get better and better every year. There are some really excellent options for the new golfer looking to get their first full set, and they come in a variety of price ranges. If you are on a budget and don’t want to spend too much, check out our guide to the best cheap package sets.

If money is no object you might want to look at the excellent Callaway XR set I reviewed recently. If you are somewhere in between, the Callaway Mavrik could be just the ticket. This is only available to buy directly from the Callaway website, so how does it compare to the best package sets out there? Let’s dive in and find out.

The Mavrik set consists of 11 clubs (all with graphite shafts), a bag and five head covers. The first thing that jumps out is the high quality on offer. The bag has an understated, classy look and having carried it for 18 holes I can say the performance matches the looks. The stand is sturdy enough, perhaps not quite as solid as some of the best stand bags, but it does the job. It’s lightweight and easy to carry due to the double straps, while the additional back padding further enhances the experience. It can also be used on a cart if that’s your preference.

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The set itself consists of a driver, 3-wood, 4 and 5 hybrids, 6-SW as well as a putter.

The driver turned out to be my favourite club in the bag, but it wasn’t that way immediately. It’s actually a good example of how on course testing is more valuable than sessions on the range. I understand that it isn’t always possible to try new gear out on the course before you buy, but from our own perspective here at Golf Monthly this is exactly why we put all clubs through rigorous testing both on and off the course.

I hit shots on the range with this driver and thought it was fine. It was ok, it did what it was supposed to do. It launched easily and had a high flight, as you’d expect from a 10.5° driver aimed at new golfers. Forgiveness was impressive enough but my distance was considerably less than with my gamer driver. That’s to be expected and it’s more of an observation than a criticism. As far as package set drivers go the sound and feel are fine. There is a difference between the acoustics of package set drivers and the best drivers on the market, but there’s also a massive difference in price too, so again, that’s to be expected.

On the range I found myself focusing too much on the shortcomings in sound and feel, but that can happen when there are no real consequences to the shots you are hitting. On the course it was a completely different story. It’s fair to say I was well and truly won over by this driver. I hit every single fairway until I finally pulled one left on the final hole. And on the course I can’t say I even noticed the sound or feel, I was too busy enjoying the laser straight shots I was hitting with it!

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The 3-wood performed well too, both from the tee and fairway. It has a large footprint and promotes confidence at address. It was easy to launch and I still achieved decent distances even on lesser strikes. I suspect that the hybrids are probably going to be the clubs that will be game changers for anybody who buys this set though.

For newer golfers and high handicap players, mid-long irons are extremely tough to hit with any consistency. Having a 4 and 5 hybrid designed to send the ball sailing into orbit is just what the doctor ordered. These hybrids are very easy to hit and they go straight up in the air. Not many new golfers are achieving that with a 5-iron. The hybrids are perfect for beginners and higher handicap players, especially those with slow/moderate clubhead speed.

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Onto the irons, which run from 6-SW and are very much what you would want in a set aimed at golfers that need as much help as possible. They’re easy to launch and tread the line perfectly between “too chunky” and “confidence inspiring”. I was pleasantly surprised by the feel, which was definitely softer than I would have imagined. Turf interaction was good and they delivered a pleasing flight.

I didn’t love the sand wedge though. It was perfectly fine on full shots, but out of bunkers and around the greens I felt too limited with what I was able to do. I would have liked to have seen a more specialised wedge in there with a bit of versatility to encourage a wider range of shots. That said, the set is aimed at the less skilled golfer who may not have that wider range of shots.

It's also worth pointing out that because the set contains only 11 clubs there is plenty of scope to add another couple of specialist wedges later. Using the sand wedge on full shots and adding a lob wedge for shots from sand or around the green would be a good solution as your short game skills develop.

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I’m somewhat torn on the putter and I’m listing it as a ‘con’ rather than a ‘pro’, but I do feel guilty about that because it is an outstanding product! The Odyssey White Hot Pro 1 is a classic putter and the White Hot insert ensures a lovely feel. So it’s not that I don’t like the putter, I really do, I’m just not sure a blade putter is a good fit for this particular set.

I feel a more forgiving mallet putter would be a better option for the level of golfer that package sets are aimed at. Blade putters don’t offer the same level of forgiveness as mallets, and the golfers using this set are likely to need that. The forgiveness is there in every other club in the bag, so why not the putter?

Maybe I’m overstating this a bit, and I’m sure there are plenty of higher handicap players who enjoy using a blade putter. I just think something similar to the designs you find in the most forgiving putters would make more sense. This is my only real gripe with the set as otherwise it offers everything that you’d want from a package set.

In summary then the Mavrik set for £899 is a superb offering for any golfer looking to get their first set of golf clubs. It’s also a great option for the newish golfer who may have got into the game using a cheap set or maybe some old hand me downs and wants an upgrade. There are many different package sets available at varying prices, but from a value for money perspective you won’t go wrong with this set.

If you decide to buy a Callaway golf set, take a look at our Callaway coupon codes.