Callaway legitimately revolutionized irons when they first introduced the APEX lineup way back in 2014, the blending of forgiveness and all-out performance had never been done like that before. Not only that, but with each subsequent release the accolades have grown as has the amount of tech the company continues to pour into them.
What that has led to is an incredible amount of anticipation each time we edge closer to the unveil of the next iteration. Well, the Callaway Apex 21 lineup is coming, and it’s bringing a new friend with it.
The New Apex Family
Callaway has taken full advantage of the two-year lifecycle of the Apex lineup to not just bring forth two irons worthy of the family name, but they have brought a third to the party as well. Yes, a third.
This go-round the Apex and Apex Pro will be joined by their little-big brother, the DCB (deep cavity blade) which they believe makes their lineup reach more players than any other generation before it. But more on that very soon.
The Apex irons continue to be the crème de la crème of the Callaway iron umbrella, and with that it is no surprise that they continue to feature the best of all their iron technology developed over the years and rolled into each new version. This is after all the iron series that defined forged irons meeting true forgiveness and playability, literally blurring the lines of classification like never before.
This year the goal was to stretch the tech even more to hit an even broader player profile, while also in their minds not just retaining but increasing their hold as the “#1 Irons in Golf”. Performance and consistency of performance is the goal, and by implementing things like Flash Face Cup, Tungsten Energy Core, and Urethane Microspheres in all three irons, they definitely look poised to accomplish that.
Callaway Apex 21 Irons
It’s only right to start with the flagship iron, right? The Apex 21 is being hailed as a “21st Century Forging” by Callaway, and continues to be a shape and size that will fit the eye of a broad range of golfers. The shaping continues to let them put forgiveness into the iron, but without getting too big nor losing the shot-making potential that has endeared the line to so many over each release.
The goal was to further entrench the Apex as offering leading distance, launch, speed, feel, and most importantly consistency in all of those aspects. To do that they have implemented a “Big Three” of tech, if you will.
First, A.I. Flash Face Cup is here, and it is the first time that Callaway has implemented AI into a forged iron. It was a natural progression given the success A.I. has allowed them in the past couple of years, but it took a lot to implement it into these three sets of irons. This means more distance, but also with more forgiveness all while maintaining spin numbers better than previous iterations. It is also worth noting once again, each iron has a unique face design, both loft for loft as well as compared to the other two Apex sets.
Added to that is a “Massive” tungsten core with a unique split application system low in the iron with heel, toe, and center sections. The unique split placement allows for the increased MOI blended with a lower CG. In all, there is 5-times the Tungsten compared to the Apex 19 irons, ranging from 34g to 64g in the 3-9 while only 14 in the PW and AW to tune in the desired flight through the set. Rounding it out, the 1025 Carbon Steel with Urethane Microsphere technology that continues to be revolutionary compared to anything else on the market for performance and feel.
Callaway is claiming higher peak ball speed compared to the Apex 19, but more importantly the “sweet spot” is much larger and more centered as well as lower than previously which matches where most golfers tend to miss much better. The set will play off a 30.5° 7-iron and 43° PW, but Callaway notes that the A.I. design is allowing them to generate and retain more spin loft for loft than previously possible.
The Apex 21 will be available in 3-AW and paired with all new premium shafts in True Temper Elevate ETS 95’s (R, S) for steel and UST Mamiya Recoil Dart 75’s (L, R, S) for graphite. They are rounded out with Golf Pride Z-Grip Soft for the stock grip options.
Callaway Apex Pro 21 Irons
The Apex Pro irons have long thrived on being a unicorn of sorts, making a more players style iron impressively more playable for a wider range of golfers. Since they have been infinitely successful, Callaway did the only natural thing, they totally and completely redesigned them from the ground up. These are not like any Apex Pro before. Truly.
Welcome the Apex lineup to the age of the hollow body design.
The Pro’s are now a forged hollow body design that Callaway calls a player’s performance iron. For golfers from scratch to single digits who want performance mixed with forgiveness, this may be the ticket, fitting between the Apex 21 and the X-Forged CB.
Hollow is popular right now, but Callaway believes they have done it differently. They liked the hollow body design because it affords more stiffness in the rear of the club but allows a lot to be done internally with the application of the aforementioned A.I. Flash Face Cup, 1025 Carbon Steel with Urethane Microspheres, as well as a massiveamount of Tungsten.
The Flash Face cup is unique to this specific set as well as club for club within the set. When blended with the “Tungsten Energy Core” which has placed 53g to 90g in the 3-7 of the set you have an iron design primed for more speed, more forgiveness, and more spin consistency. Callaway also believes that thanks to the huge amount of Urethane Microspheres both low and higher in the club, and their ability to collapse and rebound without sacrificing energy transfer, they have produced a hollow body with feel like a one-piece forging. Now that is something that will perk up some ears.
The Apex Pro 21 will be available in 3-AW and the set plays off of a 33° 7-iron and 45° PW. Additionally, the premium stock shaft offerings are the all-new True Temper Elevate ETS 115 (R, S, X) in steel as well as the Mitsubishi MMT (R – 85, S – 95, TX – 105) in graphite and paired with the Golf Pride Z-Grip.
Callaway Apex DCB Irons
Rounding out the Callaway Apex 21 irons lineup, the new kid on the block, the Apex DCB.
DCB stands for “Deep Cavity Blade” and the name says it all, this is an even more forgiving forged iron that Callaway wanted to create in order to allow golfers who need a wider sole, longer blade length, and a bit more offset a way to still be part of the Apex family.
All of the above traits meet up with the A.I. Flash Face Cup, 1025 Carbon Steel with Urethane Microspheres, and Tungsten Energy Core just like the other two irons in the lineup, simply in a more forgiving and easier launching package. Though they feature a progressively large sole than the rest of the Apex offerings, they look a lot like the Apex 21’s and visually blend well enough to make a golfer happy when looking down at the clubs.
The Apex DCB will be available in 4-AW and playing off of a 30° 7-Iron and a 43° PW with the set being practically the same as the Apex 21 other than the long irons. Premium shaft offerings for the DCB are True Temper Elevate ETS 85 (R, S) as well as UST Mamiya Recoil Dart 65 (L, R, S) and finished with the Golf Pride Z-Grip Soft.
Combo Time!
Some of you were reading along and wondering, so this is for you…
YES, Callaway will be offering a combo sets for the Apex 21 lineup.
The main option will be the same we saw last time around blending the Apex 21 3-7 with Apex Pro 21 8-AW through the use of unique tooling in the Pro’s to make the set flow as seamlessly as possible. However, they are fully anticipating the possibility of other combo’s created by the consumer or during fittings with the “Apex Sweet Spot” having DCB 4-5 and Apex 21 6-AW, the “Apex Triple Play” with DCB 4-5, Apex 21 6-9, and Apex Pro 21 9-AW, as well as the “Apex Player” featuring Apex Pro 21 3-7 and Callaway Apex MB 8-AW.
The Details
The Callaway Apex 21 irons lineup will begin fitting on 1/28/21 and have a retail date of 2/11/21. Pricing will be $185 per club for steel and $200 per club in graphite.
Be sure to keep an eye on THP for a lot more to come on the entire Apex 21 lineup.
This is confirmed ! Thanks @DNevsCG aka BeeeeeeuuuuuummmmPandaCG
This is correct. Any set that combines the Apex and the Apex Pros (Triple Play, Mixed) has predetermined breaking points between the standard and the Pro that can’t be changed when ordering a combo set. People will of course be welcome to buy individual irons and try to make your own set by bending and trying to make their own combos but that avenue isn’t recommended.
However if you’re looking at comboing the DCB and the Apex (Sweet Spot) or the Pros and the MBs (Player) you can buy individual irons to make your own combos. Though the break point is recommended where it is in the Player set because of the Pro Face Cup.
Edit: looks like @HarryPotter beat me to it lol
I understand that, but…. what I actually said was 5-7 Apex and 8-AW Pros. I just won’t use the 3, 4 irons more than likely. Here’s what the Callaway website states: "
Perfectly Blended Combo Set
Now you can combine Apex (3-7) and Apex Pro (8-AW) Irons to build the perfect set for your game. "
I did ask about starting at a different point than the 3i and they said that would be possible so I’m sure you’d be able to start at the 5i. That was what I was thinking of doing myself!
I would assume so. My current ‘19 combo set starts at the 5i.
Which is exactly why I don’t like it. I know I’m not the standard buyer/player, but who is in the pro-mb? And I’ve run the on course numbers with a lot of sets now, and for me, when a manufacturer (or just me) tries to break them there, and break all the tech at the same spot (change faces, grooves, etc AND the big loft switch) it causes problems that in the end affect proximity. You can bend the crap out of them, but that changes turf, flight, and spin windows and the whole thing is just more complicated. I don’t get it. It’s based in forgiveness, not actual playability as far as I’m concerned. It’s like saying lets take away some ball speed, and add some spin, and a whole bunch of other stuff, all at once, just because, and by the way, try to juice an 8i now to make up for it, because that’s absolutely harder than doing it with a 7 thanks to, you know, physics. I’d love to be proven wrong on how that plays out for me on this set or any other really, but until all the changes aren’t made at that spot, I don’t see how it would happen.
Oh and everyone can feel free to ignore this very tiny island I just ranted my way onto. Sail on by.
There just wasn’t enough choices in the standard button.
Oh and ?
I really didn’t see any of those issues in my Smoke Combo set, but I could see that being a mess if someone tries to fashion their own.
Soooooo what irons are you going to end up getting to test lol
Did I post something? Don’t remember that. Weird. I bet if you wait just a little bit you may just see that a bunch of different places.
Haha
And I definitely didn’t download it, so thanks man.
I searched the thread looking for it earlier. Twice.
are you saying you were interested in the pro/mb combo?
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I actually got a LOT last night I’ll have you know!!
It’s actually got me a little spicy today. I’m digging holes all over this island and you just try and stop me.
Yeah I have and really like the MB’s already. Been pairing them with the X Forged, but I might try a round with P7MC into Apex MB while I wait for the Apex awesomeness, just for fun.
This is what I had suggested earlier in the thread also, 6-7 pro, 8-pw mb, I thought it would be a nice combination.
Yeah, but I don’t like the transitions between the 7 & 8 along with all the tech changes. That’s the basis of the madness buried at the bottom of the last page.
To be clear, you can order ANY combination of Apex heads you want… Literally, go to your club or golf store and put a custom order in for what YOU want. All good there.
As for the combo sets being offered, they were based on work with R&D, data from previous custom orders, player testing, feedback from top fitters across the country and small spec tweaks to perfectly dial in performance and gapping. I am confident those who get one of the "stock" combo sets will have a great experience. We are excited about this option for players. I am happy to answer any other questions, though I am limited on time, you know, cause I have to solve the world’s fitting problems.
How far away are we from you drawing faces on your driver and talking to it? Suppose "Wilson" would be replaced with "Titleist."
haha Appreciate that. And the responses. It’s awesome having you take part in all this craziness and speculation. Definitely fuels the obsession and excitement while keeping anyone from getting too deep into what .. isn’t even an actual rabbit hole. I’m sure I’ll love them and work out whatever setup works best for me.
Couple minutes away probably, to be honest. But instead of opening a wound to paint a driver face (although that sounds really badass, and might actually lower spin ), I’m just gonna go mash some Epics instead.
See ya!
How would you rate playability of the new pro model compared to the ‘19? For a players profile iron, I found the 19 Apex Pro very forgiving for the size snd shape. More so in this new model ?
It seems as though “Tungsten” has become such a buzzword that multiple manufacturers feel it necessary to identify it on the iron head. Although they are night a contrasting color, the Cobra Tour MIMs have “tungsten” engraved across the back of the iron, along the toe. I don’t get it, personally.
Its "technology" that isn’t seen, therefore needs to be stated is my view on it.
It’s one thing to have a small plug somewhere. Another to have an iron "chassis" built largely on it.
I view it no differently has something stamped forged, but I know it appears to be pretty polarizing on the internet.
i’m one that doesn’t love it, but it’s not a dealbreaker. "forged" is relevant to a lot of golfers; i’m not sure tungsten existing is something many of us actively seek out.
Same here. I get that Tungsten is tech that is in the clubs. But they didn’t stamp A.I. or Hollow Body or even Forged on the back. And unlike being interested in whether an iron is forged, I have never–not one single time–thought to myself that I’m more or less interested in a club because it has (or doesn’t have) tungsten. I also think that they would be significantly cleaner looking without the Tungsten badging. That said, it’s not even close to being a dealbreaker for me.
Forged is stamped on the hosel.
It feels to me like it is there to advertise it while the clubs are in the store and people are browsing different irons.
As for internet golfers here we know all about the tungsten from reading the preview and this thread and having visited Callaway’s website multiple times now.
Yet somehow I never gave a second thought to my driver sole saying jailbreak on it.
Absolutely, but I think that is because most don’t understand it. The relevant here do, but I bet the general consensus of polled golfers wouldn’t know what clubs are using the weight, and which aren’t. Just as if forged were not stamped they wouldn’t either. In fact most wouldn’t think much of it until they saw it and then assumed one of two things. Forged means soft. Forged means better players. While neither are necessarily accurate, my generic research tells me that golfers want to know what is going on under the hood. I do believe that THPers, specifically those in the players iron category would prefer a very minimal look in terms of words, logos and phrases, almost as much as they care about performance, sound and feel. I respect that take, while I dont necessarily agree with it, I totally get it.
Based on most of the responses to most irons on the internet, I would venture a guess a large amount would like plain, no logos, nearly blank.
i actually love a lot of blanks haha
I didn’t realize they were doing this. So they aren’t bending clubs for combos? Instead they are putting together specific heads for combo sets? If so, that’ freaking amazing!
Apex 19 combo was the same way – specially tooled heads with different lofts and leading edges. They even made the pros in satin to match the cf19 finish !
Yup. Lofts are adjusted in the pros ( 37, 41, 45, 50 ) to the combo set lofts ( 34.5, 39, 44, 49 ) .
Love the Apex 19 combo set. First time I’ve ever done that, and I was blown away. May do it again eventually, but the added forgiveness of the Apex 21 is calling my name…
Honestly? I can’t even believe that the "Tungsten" stamping has gotten that much attention and talk. It’s not something that I ever would have even noticed or considered. I’d liken it to complaining about the font used for the brand name on the butt of a grip.
*Of course I recognize it isn’t me and my swing. Good to see though.
With the forged hollow body construction and the significant tungsten increase, the Apex Pro 21 will play more forgiving than the Apex Pro 19, especially in the long irons. This is due to both a CG (lower) and MOI (higher) improvement, again, most noticeably in the longer irons. I played 4-9,P of the Apex Pro 19 and and very excited the improvement in the 21 version; will play 4-9,P again. Test them. Get fit. Report back. Would love to hear what you think.
Music to my ears! The blade length is a bit longer as well, right?
My plans exactly and is already scheduled.
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Apex Pros. I need them but according to @KEV it will be 2029 before I buy irons but one more season with my Apex 19s before i purchase new irons. Pros are at the top of my list of irons to go in the bag after this season. Who knows I might prove Kev wrong! ???