Pros and Cons of the Callaway Apex Irons
You’ve probably heard of Callaway’s 360 Face Cup technology. Well, this is the first face cup in a forged players iron. The Face Cup technology has been precision engineered in the Apex irons, which gives added ball speed and consistency from heel to toe on these irons.
The progressive offset, sole widths, CG height, and notch weighting all contribute to the following; right balance of ball flight, playability, forgiveness, and control for each iron. Offset is calculated to be prevalent where you need it, progressively in the 3 iron through the 7 iron. The shorter irons have a more compact shape with little offset at all, for feel and control.
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This advanced design and construction gives the Apex irons a remarkable combination of distance, feel and control for players of all skill levels. The longer irons (3-7) utilize the 360 Face Cup to increase ball speeds and forgiveness across the face. In the shorter irons (8-AW), Callaway has provided an engineered face plate which enhances feel and distance control.
A unique forging process which is unbelievably precise is paired with an equally precise milling procedure and 1025 mild carbon steel giving the Apex irons incredibly soft feel in this forged iron.
These are the playing features Callaway boasts of in the Apex irons:
- Distance With Playability
- Scoring Performance Through The Set
- Multi-Piece Construction
- Extremely Soft Feel From Advanced Forging
Official Video:
Distance
The main thing that provides the Apex irons with added ball speed is the Cup Face design. The weld line in the past has been a deterrent to face flexing. Now, however, it has been moved behind the front line of the club. More face flex is the result, which adds more ball speed, which adds more distance.
Feel
The forged steel used in the Apex irons may be the softest blend we have ever seen from Callaway. The progressive cavity and offset have even the long irons feeling solid and workable. Quite often an offset design is not a desirable feature for low handicap players, which is who these irons are geared towards, but the off-set is hardly noticeable in the Apex irons.
Forgiveness
The Apex irons are somewhat forgiving, more than an actual blade style iron, but being as it is better ball strikers playing these irons, that should not be that important. Better players are more interested in performance than forgiveness.
Looks
This is where the Apex irons really stand out. Starting with the matte satin finish and finishing with the progressively smaller heads, these irons will make whoever plays them more confident every time he/she looks down at address. The top line of the Callaway Apex irons is far more palatable to me than some of the thick clunky clubs of years past (X-14, X-16). For the loyal Callaway player, this iron is going to make them salivate over its clean lines and sharp look. An optional black head is a stark contrast to the classical look of the satin finish.
Custom Fitting Options
From a custom fitting standpoint, the thing I notice is the newfound ability to offer lie angles that have been considered excessive in the past as far as Callaway is concerned. You would have to check directly with a club fitter, but I believe that these irons could be supplied with a lie angle +/- 4 degrees off standard. Other fitting issues such as shaft material, shaft length, grip style and size, and set composition should be discussed with your fitter as well. If required, changes to the lofts can also be done at the time of order.
Specifications
| Club | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | PW | AW | SW |
| Loft | 19 | 21.5 | 24 | 27 | 31 | 35 | 40 | 45 | 50 | 55 |
| Lie | 60 | 60.5 | 61 | 61.5 | 62 | 62.5 | 63 | 63.5 | 63.5 | 63.5 |
| Length | 39 | 38.5 | 38 | 37.5 | 37 | 36.5 | 36 | 35.75 | 35.5 | 35.25 |
- RH/LH
- Forged steel club head
- Available 3 through SW
- Steel (XP 95 True Temper) Graphite (UST Mamiya Recoil)
- D2 swing weight
Tour Option: Callaway Apex Pro
The Apex Pro irons have an even smaller head, a thinner topline, and less offset than the Apex version. This look and feel should encourage even lower handicap players to give them a try. Available with Project X shafts for higher ball flight.
Pros
Playability: Progressive offset and size facilitate an iron that is both performance oriented and workable at the same time.
Accuracy/Forgiveness: Decent forgiveness, especially for a players club. Definitely a high-performance club.
Distance Control: The consistent distance control is evident with all clubs in this iron set. The offset in the 3-7 irons helps keep them that way.
Look: Supreme players look. Matte satin finish is sharp. Topline is thinner than expected. Sole plays narrower than it looks.
Cons
Not as forgiving as most Callaway irons, but it is a players club, so this is the small sacrifice that comes with it.
Are These Clubs for You
Both the Apex and Apex Pro earned Gold medals in their class for 2016. Not meant for higher handicap players, but definitely an iron to look at if performance is important to you. Loyal Callaway players who are better ball strikers will simply love the Apex irons…it may even sway some others to try them.
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