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.
i may have already succeeded haha
You and me both
Oh this makes me giddy.
Pre-order is 1/26…
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All you can do is give them a shot! These definitely deserve the look!
4 in the X Forged UT
5 to 7 in the Apex Pro
8 to PW Apex MB
I need to see the 8 to PW Mbs and Apex Pros though.
Yeah, I don’t agree with this statement. Taylormade’s Rocketbladez irons did it first. Having owned both the Rocketbladez and the 2014 Apex, I think I’m qualified to say that. The Rocketbladez blew me away on both forgiveness and performance, the Apex not so much. However, the Apex did look better and feel better. Your mileage may vary…….
I’ll agree that the TCB (whatever it is – Tour Only maybe?) should be part of the X-forged family, but I disagree with the idea that the Pro 21s are somehow out of place. If they were just a small players forging I would agree that the overlap with XFCB is a bit redundant, but for Callaway to add a sleek, techy, hollow body is a welcome addition IMO.
Being released in the UK only for now. Apparently may release in the US as a special type order in April/May. So if you have a UK hookup, you may be able to nab a set now.
Something for everyone…
It always felt like the Apex Pros and the XForged occupied the same spot isn’t the lineup. This is a good move for them and creates more differentiation between the two lines.
This was my thought also-
6-7 apex pro
8-pw mb
5-AW Pro 21 – MMT TX 105
5 iron – DCB – MMT TX 105 (if shaft is compatible?)
I’d like to mess around with both 5i’s and maybe substitute one for different courses. Could probably play it as a 4i too.
Right?????
Those MMTs are so tempting, for me to go outside the box. I’ve read many good reviews.
You’ll be able to get the MMT in that one
They’re STOUT.
A bit risky for me, going with the lighter weight – but I trust the process. I wonder if the Recoil Proto 125s would maybe be a better fit for me than MMT 105 – but I’m usually too cheap to pay that upcharge anyways. I enjoy X100 or PX6.0 just fine, so I presume the MMT TX would be similar.
Sweet.
Knowing what you like, I think you would enjoy them.
Hold on tight, this is just the beginning of the releases.
I feel like that one is more busy than these Pro’s. There’s more than just big letters going on on the back of that one. These seem smoother.
Definitely in the running…only 2 or 3 are going to get a shot based on looks and all. Have to be similar in shape to the Titleist
from the way it was touched on, these are not the ‘off the rack’ heads. Take the triple play, where Pw and Aw are Pro’s: the pro heads are manufactured to match the set, i.e., the tooling and manufacturing process of those heads is specific to them as opposed to the Pro’s in a non combo set. They are manufactured with the parallel tip, and manufactured at the correct loft; as opposed to bending or having to use shims. These aren’t the same heads even though they are the same model. They are purpose built to match, instead of just being ‘able’ to match the set.
Great explanation Neil!
Yes. First time for everything I suppose, but that break point has never worked for me.
I avoid confusion now and just buy everything
so close — I need SMOKE
i figured it had to be more than just the hosel bore. sounds like there is some sole grind/bounce work as well.
another combo question. we were at the grandaddy and they blew our minds with each mavrik iron having individually ai’d faces. i asked about comboing. it didn’t seem to make sense given the ai on the faces, and @DNevsCG confirmed. so i’m wondering, in the combo sets, are the faces different than an a la carte iron? like, is the triple play pro 21 pw face different than the regular full set pro 21 pw face?
I asked specifically since I was thinking of a break point at a different spot too. But I’m still very much looking forward to trying it out
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With the mention of their shorter blade length, vs the Pros being (from a couple reviews) just a fraction longer than the 19’s, these have my intense interest.
Gotta nab a set from the UK though…at least it seems.
That is a very good mission statement! Don’t make something just to make something!
Recoils 125 F5 to match.
Done.
Don’t sleep on the grip they chose to wrap these bad boys in! It may replace the Tour Velvet for me after 15 years of use.
When you are taking a week off, send them this way because I am in full ponder on this exact set up!
Big question is stick with the PX that I have had in the last few sets or try the Elevate tours.
I’m a believer of the recoils and been playing em in my X Forged for the last 2 years.