While we know patience is not one of the strong suits for golfers, Callaway Golf has patience, especially when it comes to Apex.
Believe it or not, it has been 10 years since Apex burst onto the scene and changed the game. You see, there are now many irons that slot into the players distance style iron, but to this day no one does it like Callaway. For a while now, there has been ample anticipation that there would be more to the brands recent Apex classified releases (CB, MB, Pro), and that was always the plan, but it had to be right.
According to Callaway, almost three and a half years after the last standard Apex iron release, they finally have it right, and then some. Time for us all to officially say hello to the new Apex Performance Series and clarify a few things the internet detectives out there didn’t quite nail.
Callaway Apex Performance Series
First off, the wait. The biggest thing you have to respect about Callaway when it comes to anything Apex, is that they will not rush a release just to have one like so many other brands tend to do for the sake of staying on a concrete cycle. Sure, that can be a bit frustrating to some of us golf nerds out here, but it always ends up worth it. The newly titled Apex Performance Series stays true to that, Callaway wanted it to live up to the standard which they set and exceed it. They didn’t have it quite there a year ago, but now, they believe they do.
That brings us to the name. Yes, “Apex Performance Series” is something you are going to see moving forward, along with a move to a more alpha-numeric naming style. In this case, it is the Ai200 and Ai300. Obviously, Ai references the use of the AI learning and the Smart Face innovation. The numbers will represent forgiveness, with the bigger number being the more forgiving option.
Something that isn’t changing is the focus on the player, which is something Apex has always been centered around. Callaway believes that many companies have begun to get the distance part of these kinds of irons correct, but not the focus on what golfers truly want and need beyond that. So, this time they put extra focus on elevating the looks and feel, ensuring premier performance, as well as seeking out superior consistency unlike anyone else in the industry.
In terms of sound/feel, because they know the distance is there for them, there could be more attention paid to this critical design aspect. To improve it, these irons are fully forged, not just face forged like a lot of OEM’s out there. The body of the Ai200 and Ai300 are soft forged 1020 Carbon Steel with a high strength forged 455 Carpenter Steel face. Combined with the internal placement of tungsten and urethane microspheres, this ensures a feel unlike other irons in the category.
That soft body isn’t used by others because it can been a bit hampering when it comes to speed if not adjusted for, that is why the use of 455 in the face with its ability to be thinner and more responsive, especially thanks to AI Smart Face innovation/topography. All that allows for an aspirational look and feel, with superior consistency through healthier ball flights than in any Apex iron before. Distance is there, yes, but so too is more launch with increased spincistency and a massive decrease in variances across the face thanks in large part to the new Face Cup which extends into the heel more now as well.
Make no mistake, these are irons that are optimized for the avid golfer. With that, they are also aimed at the golfer who wants Tour level feel and possesses more consistency in terms of impact location. The Ai200 and Ai300 are absolutely more forgiving than the Apex CB or Pro’s, however, they will not offer the same level of shot shape correction as the Ai Smoke irons which will still serve an important role in the brands iron offerings.
All that said, let’s take a look at each of the models, shall we?
Apex Performance Series – Ai200 Irons
Since we know it will be asked with the new alpha-numeric numbering system, we can tell you right out of the gates that the Ai200 are essentially the tiered equivalent of the Apex 21 irons. That means this is the smaller of the two irons.
With that, there is a new streamlined look which is lest trapezoid shaped than the Apex 21 and its predecessors and much more flowing in its lines. Part of that is thanks to the move to a hollow body design as well as the implementation of the same adjustable weights as the Apex CB, MB, and Pro irons. These are still very much players distance irons aimed at golfers who want more yards without sacrificing feel and consistency.
The profile is more on the compact side than ever after getting these in hand, and it’s a look that truly blurs the lines while offering all the playability you would hope for in Apex. The hollow body has allowed for more weight refinement in tandem with a unique AI Smart Face created for each iron in the set. The topline is on the thin side with a nice bevel and the sole is more trimmed down in the past as well. These play off a 43-degree PW and 30-degree 7i while offering a mid-launch design overall.
The Ai200 are priced at $200 per stick and will come standard with True Temper DG Mid 100 (R, S) or UST Mamiya Recoil HDC Dart 80 (A, R, S) shafts and are paired with a new Golf Pride Z-Grip.
Apex Performance Series – Ai300 Irons
Slotted above the Ai200, are these beauties. The Ai300 are at their core the replacement for the Apex DCB irons in terms of playability and performance, but in a much more svelte package. When we got to see them in hand, it was pretty shocking to the eyes just how well they flow, but it was more telling when they were hit to see just what could be gotten away with.
These are of course the more forgiving of the two irons with slightly more offset, and a thicker topline with a wider sole. That said, thanks to the attention to detail and flow of the overall lines on the shaping alongside that stellar Apex Satin finish, they look much more compact than the DCB did.
In terms of construction, these too are fully forged with the carbon frame and carpenter steel face, just like the Ai200, but they are instead a cavity back design allowing for more weight to be placed lower in the head to help the golfer type who will lean towards an iron like the Ai300. That means more launch without sacrificing speed while still maintaining a spin consistency which other irons in the class cannot touch according to Callaway.
The Ai300 are also priced at $200 per stick and will be paired as standard with True Temper DG Mid 90 (R, S) or UST Mamiya Recoil HDC Dart 70 (A, R, S) and Golf Pride Z-Grips. The Ai300 play off a slightly stronger 42-degree PW and 29-degree 7i than their siblings, but it is still close enough to allow easy blending for those who want to.
Apex Performance Series – Apex Ti Fusion
But wait, there is in fact more, and this one is fun as so many of the internet sleuths out there had a plethora of guesses that were fun, but not quite right. You see, TEN years after the first Apex irons which were truly revolutionary in every way, Callaway wanted to push some boundaries again both as a nod to the past as well as a reminder to the industry that they believe they are still the leaders in iron innovation. That is where Ti Fusion comes in.
You were probably able to infer that the Ti in the name stands for Titanium, however this isn’t just an iron with that material in it. At its most basic, which is where most of the guesses on these have been so far, this is a titanium faced iron design with a forged steel body. Others have done similar, and Ti faces aren’t new, however the bonding methods used in those kill the speed and performance potential due to thickness of the joints or brazing methods. So, Callaway created a proprietary and patented new joint system.
This is an iron design which Callaway is calling an industry first, similar to that of a concept car in the auto industry. The application of titanium via this new method has not only maintained the flexibility and rebound for which the material is loved, but thanks to AI Smart Face, it can also be tamed and toned as the company sees fit. It is a titanium face with topography that is specifically designed for each clubhead in the set. That means in the long irons, it can be all about speed and in the scoring irons it can be tuned to spin robustness and precision shot-making.
If you were to class these according to the new alpha-numeric system, Callaway says that they would be an Ai150. Some of the guess work on these out there was that they were for slower swingers, but that isn’t it at all, these are for the performance enthusiast who wants all the bells and whistles, not to mention they are aimed at the slightly better player.
The testing feedback on these has been stellar, with the sound/feel being a standout. As we got to hit them prior to release, that is backed up by our experience so far as though they have a hot/powerful sensation at impact, they also give the feedback in sound of a classic forged CB, but that feeling is retained across the face.
According to Callaway, these are the most advanced iron that they have ever made, it is a true flexing of innovation muscle by them in being the only iron out there with a Forged Ti face, Forged Steel body, and Ti AI Smart Face. As such, it should be no surprise the price is premium, coming in at $300 per stick. The Apex Ti Fusion play off a 43-degree PW and 30.5-degree 7i while coming in the most sleek black finish you have seen (not to mention a cool club number placement). They will be offered as standard with True Temper DG Mid 115 (S) or 100 (R, S) in gunmetal grey or Mitsubishi MMT (60A, 70R, 80S) and Golf Pride Z-Grips.
The Details
All three of the new Apex iron models are set to hit Pre-Sale on 8/15/24 at www.callawaygolf.com and full retail on 8/23/24, so the wait won’t be as long as many might expect to get them in hands. Be sure to keep a keen eye on the discussion on the THP forums as we will have a lot more coming with these irons that you won’t want to miss.
