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.
Yep, it is frustrating, understand the delays but cannot understand the supply systems not talking to each other. A customer should have a reasonable expectation of the "actual" time of delivery. More frustrating is that they are taking people’s money without delivering products. Maybe I’ll reach out to one of their staffers and see if they’ll order it for me.
Congrats man…I hope they workout for you after waiting for so long.
Appreciate it. Sorry yours didn’t work out. The wife talked me off the cliff a few times with these.
How would you compres the Pro 21 Long irons vs the Apex TCB’s? (4i-6i)
It was the best decision for me.
4-5 X Forged UT
6-7 X Forged CB
8-P Apex TCB
Hey @OldandStiff have you tried that?
No, but I’m a big fan of it in theory. BIG. I’ve paired the XFCB long irons and my UTs with a variety of clubs, and the TCB mid-short with a bunch more too. From a visual and feel continuity perspective this setup sounds awesome. Seriously. Some lift and forgiveness in the longs, great feel and flight without too much spin in the mids, and some precision in the shorts … I dig it. I would take that out.
For as much as some people dog him, that sounds like a Crossfield bag. And I like his ideas about going all the way from big forgiveness to precision in the span of 7 irons.
I’m getting used to my new bag this year and loving it so far. The Apex 21 irons work great for me. Wanted the Apex Pros but these just get better results. Glad I didn’t have the delays
Nice. I just doubled checked and unfortunately the UT doesn’t come in a 5i. So it would have to be the 4i UT then 5-6-7 in the Xforged CB
The sole on the XFCB gets a little more player in the long irons than some. Not crazy, but almost gets a little skinnier. So that’s something to be aware of if you need launch help or dig. I tend to want some launch in the 4i, but I still really liked the XFCB longs. I was thinking when I read your post that for me I’d just go with the UT 4, and then XFCB, and switch to tcb at the 8i (maybe 1 strong). I could try a similar setup next time I go out if you want. See how it looks and feels out there.
That Would be cool. But you don’t have to. But if you had some pics you could shoot me a message with it or post it in here. That would be awesome but no need to bust you’re back over it though
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UT21, XFCB 4-6, TCB 7- P
I sent my XFCB 7i to Shane, so this is how I would play it with what I have. For me it’s probably more how I’d play it either way, but I like your way too, and this should give you an idea of soles and how it would flow visually. Hard to get a non-distorted angle on a long row, but it’s close. I think your way the sole and forgiveness progression actually works better. I really like this idea for someone who likes the XFCB and wants a little less offset and size in the scoring clubs.
Man thanks for doing that. Actually looks better than I thought! Aesthetically too, they all match with the plates in the cavity. I think I like this ALOT!! If you do get around to gaming that let me know. Now that the aesthetics all tick the right boxes, the performance/gapping And playability with this setup intrigues me even more
I can’t count how many times I’ve demo’d a set of irons and hit them well, then actually bought the same set and had initial issues. For me, I think it’s the difference between being uber focused upon hitting well post-purchase which caused me to tense up during the swing. When I’m demo’ing, I’m carefree because I haven’t committed to the set just yet. I’m sure they’ll be just fine.
Oh these aren’t new for me. I’ve been using them since February to great results. Just had an off night with them and since I hadn’t posted about them in awhile, I figured I would vent
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Man, already got them in? That was fast. And one of the sexiest combos out there. Nicely done. Those MB’s feel amazing too. You’ll be out there throwing darts.
The way some MBs are built these days makes them far less punishing to hit than their grandfather’s blades from the 60’s, and even more recent blades. While I have not tried the Cally MBs yet, I bet they are nearly identical to hitting the other clubs for 90%+ shots. And any mishit with any other club would have been bad anyway. Who knows. Gotta get my hands on them!!
They shipped them SOOO fast!
Man, I missed that lovely dense feel you get through the ball. A CB just can’t hang there. I also find the launch so easy with a blade. Think my full swing delivery matches up with the small soles. I’m tempted to order the 6 and 5 too….but I think I know better…..
I agree. When my trash swings come out, they tend to be bad enough that no club is going to save me completely.
What I like about the MBs is they demand your attention. I think this helps me show more respect in my pre-shot process and swing.
I’d get 3-PW MBs and extra CBs just in case!
Plus the reward is SO much higher on a great shot.
Those look so clean.
Well. Once you get to the point where you regret taking on blades, I am pretty sure the TCB are still available to order. They’re not quite as dense but there is a good trade off of forgiveness to go with it. And they feel amazing. And they look amazing. And they seem to give MB like flight with CB forgiveness. Just saying…
I’m just gonna give you Sam for that one…
The way I see it, the MB was just a speed bump in your journey to the TCB. I mean, you get the MB like appearance with the CB forgiveness. What’s not to love?
Jeez….give a guy a chance to give up….
Hahaha. And people think I’m bad…
How about some details on all that sexiness?!
Thos look freaking awesome!!
Pro’s 4-P also pictured Jaws 50-10 (S Grind), 54-12 (W Grind), 60-10 (S Grind). MMT 105 TX. Based on my living room swings and my fittings and various demos, I find the TX combined with the slightly softer tip helps me "feel" the loading of the club like I could with my DG X100’s. Yes it is a big (25g weight difference) but I needed to go light (at least lighter than 115g on my elbows).
Wedges are 1* Flat, Irons are 2* Flat (yes I am weird ) Pairing the Irons with my 21* X-Forged UT. Going to post some things tomorrow after a good range sesh.
Paging @JDax
It’s not a surprise that is what pros gravitate towards. To me the Apex Pros aren’t for pros but more targeted at the low-mid handicap who wants a players iron and benefits from some extra help.
I mean more as opposed to the blades. I love the Apex MB, but you get a lot of what’s to love about them in a more forgiving package with these. I’m not entirely sold on the wedges, but the rest are downright dreamy from most any lie or situation. Feel amazing, and don’t punish as much.
Love to hear your thoughts, might pull the pin also ?
I went from the Apex ‘19 to the Apex ‘21 DCB.
The DCBs are about a 1/2 club longer and do a way better job maintaining distance on miss hit (especially on the toe side).
I have also found the DCBs to be way more forgiving…
You and me brother… just dying to take the DCB’s out on the course.