By now, you know Apex is back. That fact really hasn’t been much of a well-guarded secret for the internet, but precisely what Callaway has done with the newest version, the sleuth’s out there have not been so accurate about. Fortunately, today we can clear all of that up, as the new Callaway Apex Pro Series lineup of irons is official, and they certainly bring the ‘wow’ factor.
Callaway Apex Pro – Held to the Highest Standard
There are few things as exciting for a golf equipment writer as covering the next Apex release from Callaway. Sure, most of it is because they are batting 1.000 where performance is concerned, but moreover these releases don’t happen all that often.
Frankly, that attention to making sure that each Apex iron release is a dynamic improvement rather than simply dependent on a set schedule is a breath of fresh air. It also makes perfect sense considering the tagline selected this go around in “Held to the Highest Standard”.
This time, there is a definite vision shift. With Apex ‘21 we saw the inclusion of much more forgiving designs like the DCB and taking the Pro, hollow. This time, the 2023 Apex Iron release is titled the Pro Series, and within it are four heads that offer all the precision and possibilities a better ball-striker could dream up. Heavy attention has gone to improving Distance and Control, Turf Interaction, as well as Sound and Feel.
The soles have also been entirely re-done with a new dynamic design. This was done by bringing a lot of new eyes into the fold to get fresh and detailed takes on the minutia it takes to check all the feedback boxes that Callaway had received from their Tour staff over the years. After eight different versions, the final product has a sharper overall leading edge with an added chamfer (bevel) on the trail side. This combo showed dramatic increases in efficiency in and out of the turf faster with less friction.
Shaping is also refined in every single iron head of the new Apex Pro Series. There is much Tour inspiration here mixed with classic designs that have led to looks which are totally different than the previous models. Callaway is calling this a “Modern Tour Look” with straighter leading edges, thinner toplines, and refined hosel transitions.
A new term you will be hearing from Callaway on the release will be “Spin Slope” which pertains to the progressive CG throughout the different sets. While yes, the 3-5 are low, 6-8 mid, and 9-11 have high CG locations, the engineering team at Callaway has actually managed to balance every single iron in a perfect flow throughout. This level of precision is something the company believed no other iron lineups out there achieve, and it has their Tour Staff foaming at the mouth with the harmony it creates as a golfer works throughout the set.
Perhaps most impressive of all is that every single head in the Apex Pro Series has been designed to be blended in any combination a golfer can think of. While every single iron head in every set has a unique A.I. driven face design, they still have an emphasis on precision weighting to blend and add fitting versatility. But to understand that we first need to delve closer into each model of the Apex Pro Series.
Callaway Apex Pro ‘24
This is obviously going to be the most played irons in the release when it comes to the everyday golfer, but there has been some serious feedback taken into consideration from the previous version. The Apex Pro 21 went hollow, and with that it brough speed, a lot of speed, but when talking with their top fitters, Callaway was met with many comments about how the transition of the 6i to 7i was almost too powerful and created some gap issues. That has been a direct area of refinement here.
To create a more consistent iron throughout the set that keeps that explosive dynamic of high speed and distance, there have been material changes as well as a shift in where they transition. This time, the 3-5 irons are using a 455 Face Cup to keep that power and the 6-11 (yes, you read that right and using 10/11 instead of PW/AW is a nod by the design team to their Tour staff) have moved from 17-4 to 1025 Forged Carbon faces for more precision and spin consistency.
An easy way to think of it is the long irons are akin to Paradym but in a smaller package, they are about speed and launch with playable spin rates. Also, the application of magical Urethane Microspheres means feel/sound for days.The mid and scoring irons get a massive boost in feel/sound themselves with the move to 1025.
These will undoubtedly be the biggest seller of the Apex lineup for Callaway, but thanks to the intent of the company to create a whole lineup that plays well with one another, they may also get even more spot play by golfers, specifically in the long irons.
Callaway Apex CB ‘24
The TCB irons are a tough act to follow, especially with the wins and performances they continue to rack up on the PGA Tour, but that doesn’t mean Callaway didn’t have a list of things they wanted to improve. With the Apex CB irons, Callaway is taking aim at creating the ultimate Tour iron.
The CB’s are a one-piece forging of 1025 Carbon Steel which is the pinnacle of ensuring the solid sound/feel which resonates in the best tour cavity back irons ever made, but it also brings a performance benefit with its spin consistency. Another part of the sound/feel equation has been achieved through moving the CG to the center of the iron heads where the TCB’s actually have a heel-ward CG. To achieve this, they carved out some mass from the heel of the new CB and added tungsten in the toe which is entirely concealed within the iron.
These changes mean more feel and, according to Callaway, even a touch more speed while taking shot making to a new level. Like the MB we will discuss in a moment, these irons differ from the Pro’s in that they are typically going to best fit the golfer who already creates speed and puts the biggest emphasis on precision and consistency. Mix all this together with a Tour requested longer blade length than the TCB’s and this should be the top played iron on Tour for Callaway by a sizable margin.
Callaway Apex MB ‘24
For the ’24 Apex Pro Series, Callaway is saying yes to the muscleback, and while a blade iron is a blade iron in the minds of many, that doesn’t mean there aren’t considerable investments being put forth by companies to create the modern MB.
This is at its roots a pure blade design created from solid 1025 Carbon like its Apex CB siblings. What is most interesting though is that this isn’t a rehash, the MB has actually been in design for over three years with 7 variations created from scratch until they got it right. While there isn’t as much weight to move around as the Pro’s or CB’s, the sole is the showcase star of the new MB.
Callaway believes they have created the most dynamic Callaway sole design ever for the Apex MB and for MB designs all-around. With the leading edge combined with trailing chamfer the tri-level like sole is also centralized in its bounce and shape so that interaction is clean even at the highest speeds when something referred to as “toe droop” (the toe digging through impact) occurs with traditional sole shapes.
Like the CB, these are irons for golfers who have speed already and want shot making precision, but with the Apex MB the visual design and playability should appeal to more players than previous Callaway MB’s, especially in combo situations. More fun is that the Apex MB ’24 was the first iron to pick up a professional win by staffer Rasmus Højgaard.
Callaway Apex UT ‘24
Say hello to the bomber of the Apex Pro Series irons, the UT ’24. While the previous Apex UT got a lot pf play by professionals and amateurs alike, there was always a feeling that they could have benefited from some shape refinement as well as more speed. This version seeks to remedy both of those things.
The UT now uses a 455 Face Cup in its build and like the long irons in the Apex Pro ’24 irons which use the same design, it too is backed by the Urethane Microspheres and their absolute wizardry to create a sound/feel that flows with the rest of the new Apex Pro Series while not sacrificing the ability to generate speed.
The 455 Face Cup makes this everything that the higher speed player could ask for in a utility. More spin control with more speed and a drastic visual change from its predecessor. Where the last version had a look at address where the rear seemingly bulged behind the topline, the mass/shape is now parallel to the topline in a much straighter look. Add in a slightly longer blade length and a lower, as well as softer toe, this has a much more “driving iron” look to it in then in the past which should set it apart more from the long irons in the Pro set.
Unlimited Combinations
With the ’21 Apex lineup, Callaway went heavy on the potential to combo the different sets, but this time around with the Apex Pro Series the different design aspects have made it even more possible. The way they have designed the different weight progressions and CG placements in every part of the line up has made them possible to blend at any given point. Add in the decision to use the same MIM Tungsten weights in every iron profile, and Callaway thinks this Apex release gives more flexibility for consumers to have a more tailored fit than other OEM’s can offer. At retail Callaway is offering three pre-designed combinations, if you will.
The Player Combo – Apex Pro 3-7 and Apex CB in 8-11 is aimed at the player seeking speed and distance with high launch in the long irons but more workable options in the mid-to-short side of the bag.
The Elite Combo – Apex CB 3-7 and MB 8-11 is the setup akin to what has been used by Callaway staff on Tour previously, but now because of the way the weight and lofts blend becomes a viable option for even more amateur golfers.
The Triple Play – Apex Pro 3-6, Apex CB 7-9, and Apex MB 10-11 means a little bit of everything for the golfer who wants it all.
Of course, the UT will mix into any setup nicely and anything you can think up is possible thanks to how much attention Callaway put on the lofts. At the very most there is a 1.5 degree difference from one set to another and that is actually the 3i in the Pro’s to the other irons. For those more curious, the 10 (PW) in the Pro’s are 45 degrees and MB/CB is 46. Additionally, the 7i in the Pro is 33 degrees while the MB/CB comes in at 34 degrees.
The Details
As you can see, this is certainly a shift since we last saw Callaway drop the Apex ’21 irons on us. With the dynamic clearly focusing on letting the Apex Pro Series address a specific demographic and allowing the current Paradym irons to address another, this is the most player driven Apex release yet.
The Apex Pro, CB, and MB will be available in 3-11 with a price of $215 per club. They will be paired with True Temper DG Mid for the steel option, and Mitsubishi Chemical MMT as the graphite choice. Grips as standard are the Golf Pride Z-Grip Firm.
For the Apex UT, it will come standard with the Mitsubishi Chemical MMT shaft and the same Golf Pride Z-Grip Firm grips. Price for the UT is $275 per club and it will be available in 18, 20, and 23 degree lofts.
The new irons hit pre-sale on 8/18/23 and retail on 9/8/23.
