At first glance, the MacGregor MacBLK packaged set of golf clubs looks like any other packaged set of golf clubs. It comes, after all, in a package.
The MacBLK set features a driver, 3-wood, hybrid, six irons, a pitching wedge and a CNC precision milled putter. And a bag. Pick up some tees and balls and you are, as they say, golf-ready.
As we stated earlier this week in our look at five other packaged set options, not all packaged sets are created equal. While you can still find ridiculously cheap (in every sense of the word) department store brands, you’re seeing mainstream OEMs and direct-to-consumer brands raising the bar.
The packaged set world is evolving and that, my friends, is a good thing for everyone concerned.
Why packaged sets are important
We avid golfer types have traditionally turned our collective noses up at packaged sets or, as we more derisively call them, boxed sets. The term screams the sporting goods section of a big-box department store. Wilson, despite its history and its long run of solid- to excellent-performing pro-line gear, is still tarred with the boxed set at Walmart brush. We conveniently forget that COBRA, Callaway, TaylorMade and even XXIO offer packaged sets.
“In terms of value, packaging it all up together makes a lot of sense financially,” MacGregor owner Simon Millington tells MyGolfSpy. “A packaged set gives a lot of value to the weekend warrior, the beginner, the improving golfer or anyone who wants to take the next step up in their game.”
Packaged sets are about two things. First, as Millington suggests, it’s a value play. If you’re just starting out and you don’t know much about golf gear, a good packaged set will get you out on the course with a comparatively small initial investment. Second, it’s about convenience. Everything you need is in the package. The only decision you would need to make is which package to buy.
“There are a lot of people who don’t want to think too much,” explains Millington. “A consumer might want to start playing golf but they don’t want to go into a golf shop and look stupid. Some people might be put off by that.”
The MacGregor MacBLK packaged set
As mentioned, the MacGregor MacBLK packaged set has everything one would need to get off and running in style.
“What you don’t usually see in a packaged set at this price (sets start at $449.99) is a 6-4 titanium driver, a stainless steel fairway and hybrid, stainless steel irons with a good shaft and a CNC milled putter,” says Millington. “You’d normally see the fairway, hybrids and irons made from some sort of alloy.”
The MacBLK is all about simplicity. You choose your flex (senior, regular or stiff) and whether you want steel or graphite shafts in your irons. Then you choose club length based on your height: one inch long if you’re over 6’1”, standard if you’re 5’7” to 6’ and one inch short if you’re less than 5’7″.
The 10.5-degree driver is 460cc and made from 6-4 titanium. The 3-wood is 15 degrees while the hybrid is 21. The irons (5-PW) feature weaker lofts than you’d expect in a game-improvement set with a 32-degree 7-iron. However, the recent trend in the game-improvement category is to offer a weaker-lofted, higher-launching option. Considering that the target market for the MacGregor MacBLK packaged set is the beginner and the budget-minded weekend warrior, weaker lofts to gain distance through carry isn’t a bad option.
While the CNC milled putter is a nice touch, the only weakness in the set is the 11-degree gap between the 45-degree pitching wedge and the 56-degree sand wedge. On the one hand, that gap would force golfers to get creative with their shot-making, which is never a bad thing. On the other hand, it’s a gap likely driven by price. If you want to fill that gap, a 50-degree MacGregor milled face Tour Grind wedge will run you $70.00.
The racquetball equivalency
When I was but a lad working the night shift at my local radio station, I spent a lot of time at the YMCA getting into animal shape. The Y had a racquetball court, a sport I had never played. I did, however, notice many attractive young ladies there so I figured this might be the sport for me.
Not knowing a thing about the game, I went to Herman’s World of Sports to get a racquet. Herman’s had racquets in all price ranges but, as a beginner, I went with the cheapest one I could find, for $14.99. After all, I had ulterior motives for taking up the sport and if things worked out as planned, I’d need the extra cash.
Minus the prurient intent, that’s the point of packaged sets. Most retailers will tell you their packaged-set customers are almost always beginners and often women. A recent trip to a Golfers’ Warehouse showed a wide array of packaged sets ranging from $429.99 for a set with low-end alloy woods and irons to sets from Callaway and TaylorMade that ran as high as $1,499.99.
(If you’re so inclined, Golfers’ Warehouse also had a XXIO Prime women’s packaged set for $5,300.)
“The truth is that all golf clubs work,” says Millington. “Some will suit your eye better than others and some will perform better than others. But price and value are things that really matter to people.
“You won’t see the same level of technology as you’d see in our Ben Hogan irons or the MacGregor MT-86 irons. But these are stainless steel game-improvement irons. That quality is going to be the same.”
Why packaged sets are important: The reprise
Unless you get paid to play, golf is a hobby. Some of us take it more seriously than others and invest more in it than others. At the end of the day, however, it’s a hobby. A rather expensive one but still a hobby.
Additionally, golf is a cyclical sport. People come into the game and people leave the game. We saw a huge spike in participation and equipment sales post-COVID. While rounds are still up, we are seeing equipment sales slow.
“We need people to keep coming into the game,” says Millington. “We can’t be in a situation where they can’t afford to buy a set of clubs. When they decide to give it a go, a set like this will do.”
Who should buy this set? If you or someone you know is an athletic beginner or really anyone else from young adult through senior who is just taking up the game and wants something better than a department store set that won’t break the bank, this might be a set to consider.
Given MacGregor’s track record, we do expect the set to perform. The MacGregor MT-86 irons remain marvelous, the MACSPD game-improvement irons performed admirably in last year’s MyGolfSpy testing, and the MT Milled and MT-Pro irons are under-the-radar 1020 forgings that you should at least take a look at before buying something else. Therefore, there’s every reason to expect solid performance given the MacBLK price point.
Just to be on the safe side, we do have a set coming. I’ll be putting them into play once the local nine opens up for the season. Check back here in the coming weeks and we’ll let you know how they do.
MacGregor MacBLK packaged set: Specs, price and availability
The MacGregor MacBLK packaged set is available for right-handed golfers only. The set includes a 10.5-degree driver, 3-wood (15 degrees), 3-hybrid (21 degrees), 5-iron through pitching wedge, a 56-degree sand wedge, a precision milled blade putter and a MacGregor-branded black stand bag.
MacGregor does offer left-handed and women’s packaged sets, just not in the MacBLK at this time.
The set includes what Millington calls “premium” shafts but don’t expect anything branded Ventus, Denali or True Temper. The metalwoods all feature graphite shafts while you can get your irons with steel or graphite shafts. There’s a $40 per set upcharge for graphite iron shafts.
The black finish on the irons and wedge is PVD so you can expect some wear over time.
The MacGregor MacBLK packaged set in all-graphite runs $489.99 while the steel iron shaft option is $449.99.
It’s available now on the MacGregor website.
JayKay
1 year ago
Sounds good but is a 15 degree 3 wood a good fit for a newbie? It may give suitable gapping between it and the 21 Degree Hybrid but they are so different surely something like an 18 or 19 degree wood would work better.