2025 Callaway Utility Series – Apex UT

[mikefrench]

I'm pondering it at the 24 degree spot instead of a 5i. I do wonder what the difference really would be vs something like an Ai200 of the same loft. I need to answer this

I can't tell you from experience what the difference would be with the same loft, and I don't know what performance gain, or otherwise, I'll get from the new UT vs the 24 model which I currently game but shotscope tells me that I have a pAVG of:

- 232yds with the 20* UT - pretty much exclusively used off the tee
- 195yds with the Ai200 5i - used about 50:50 off the tee for positional play and off the deck

The UT feels more solid as you would expect and I would think you'll find that you can flight the ball down far easier with the UT than the equivalent iron.

They look great in the bag together - and whilst there is a design change I think they will blend in really well, with the Ai200s

Definitely go check it out - I have high hopes for this one.

 

[WIB081]

Took another lap with the 24 model and I am very much looking forward to comparing it to the new model! Hit a few low on the face and wasn’t punished very much at all. With the construction of the coming model I’m guessing this will be even better. Like @hedley_lamarr08 I’m looking at the 24° but maybe a 22°.

 

[mikefrench]

Still no sign of fitting heads here in the UK. Callaway Europe still has pre-orders shipping on the 7th !

 

[hedley_lamarr]

Took another lap with the 24 model and I am very much looking forward to comparing it to the new model! Hit a few low on the face and wasn’t punished very much at all. With the construction of the coming model I’m guessing this will be even better. Like @hedley_lamarr08 I’m looking at the 24° but maybe a 22°.

I think there could be great value for one of these in the middle of the bag that can still be hit high to a specific number. Very curious but can't say I will go this route over a potential hybrid release

 

[WIB081]

I think there could be great value for one of these in the middle of the bag that can still be hit high to a specific number. Very curious but can't say I will go this route over a potential hybrid release

I have a few spots for one potentially, but like you I do want to see what the hybrid situation this year is gonna be like before fully committing.

 

[mikefrench]

Got the notification this morning that the UT irons are in stock in my local pro centre, and that fitting heads are also in place.

Phoned up and booked in my fitting session for Sunday, my afternoon, and I'll update everyone once I get back from that on how it went, and if the improvement was enough for me to trade up from my 2024 model.

 

[WIB081]

Got the notification this morning that the UT irons are in stock in my local pro centre, and that fitting heads are also in place.

Phoned up and booked in my fitting session for Sunday, my afternoon, and I'll update everyone once I get back from that on how it went, and if the improvement was enough for me to trade up from my 2024 model.

I’m excited to see what you think!

 

[bsbmike]

I'm hoping I can gain enough club head speed in the offseason where I can fit one of these in my bag...gonna be a showdown for that 20-22* degree spot in my bag next year

 

[WIB081]

I'm hoping I can gain enough club head speed in the offseason where I can fit one of these in my bag...gonna be a showdown for that 20-22* degree spot in my bag next year

I’m open to 20-24° if I’m being honest. Gotta find one to demo

 

[bsbmike]

I’m open to 20-24° if I’m being honest. Gotta find one to demo

I'm really excited for this one...early feedback seems like it's a real winner. I used to carry an 18 degree but I really have loved my 5 wood and don't see that going anywhere. I think this or the Apex Utility takes the next spot between 5 wood and 5 iron

Also - depends where new irons may land for me too

 

[WIB081]

I'm really excited for this one...early feedback seems like it's a real winner. I used to carry an 18 degree but I really have loved my 5 wood and don't see that going anywhere. I think this or the Apex Utility takes the next spot between 5 wood and 5 iron

Also - depends where new irons may land for me too

Yeah I’m not of the mindset to give up my 5w either and I really like the UW. The idea I was kicking around was 5w lofted down to 17°, 19 or 21° UW, and then a 22 or 24 UT potentially bent +1/-1° whichever works best!

 

[bsbmike]

Yeah I’m not of the mindset to give up my 5w either and I really like the UW. The idea I was kicking around was 5w lofted down to 17°, 19 or 21° UW, and then a 22 or 24 UT potentially bent +1/-1° whichever works best!

Love that! I just don't have the wedge room at the bottom to make that work...I've always carried 4 from PW down

 

[mikefrench]

Im definitely leaning towards replacing the 20° and not the 18°

I'm super-happy with the 5w which I put in the bag at about the same time and I haven't used the 18° as much as I had thought. The 20° sits nicely between my 5i and my 5w and is a swap out for my 7w depending on the long par3s on the course, the tightness of the fairways and the wind.

Whether I keep the 18° or chop it in really depends on the fitting and any improvements in distance I get, and now much I get in trade-in as well.

 

[WIB081]

Found one today while the wife was at Hobby Lobby. I can say I’m a big fan!

Like the Tri-Hot these look amazing and somehow better in person. They are super slim and you don’t even notice the weight on the back at address.

Feel I would describe as soft and powerful. Middle is obviously the best, but move a little heel or toe and you don’t lose much if anything at all! The MMT 90 X that was in it was pretty solid as well. Would like to try it with a few other options but MMT is viable!

Can’t wait to hit it again so good across the board! 20° was carrying 220 for me and running to 230. I’d still go 22 or 24° for gapping though.

 

[mikefrench]

Found one today while the wife was at Hobby Lobby. I can say I’m a big fan!

Like the Tri-Hot these look amazing and somehow better in person. They are super slim and you don’t even notice the weight on the back at address.

Feel I would describe as soft and powerful. Middle is obviously the best, but move a little heel or toe and you don’t lose much if anything at all! The MMT 90 X that was in it was pretty solid as well. Would like to try it with a few other options but MMT is viable!

Can’t wait to hit it again so good across the board! 20° was carrying 220 for me and running to 230. I’d still go 22 or 24° for gapping though.

Great feedback - thanks - even more excited for tomorrow.

Went to the range today at the pro centre and dropped into the shop to pay for my fitting ready for tomorrow - they didn't have any on display yet but feedback from the staff matches yours - photos don't do them justice - they look better in the flesh.

 

[mikefrench]

OK so I'm back from my fitting. Here are my impressions.

I took my Apex 2024 18° and 20° UT's down for comparison, and we had both the 18° and 20° of the new 2025 model in the fitting studio. After warming up with my 9i we started hitting my 20° which had been my go to for most of the season off the deck, and switched it out to the 18° and then both off the tee to get some baseline data.

Went to the 2025 20° and hit that off the deck and then off the tee and then completed the set with the new 18°.

I typically use the 20° off the tee for narrow fairways or on days when the wind is head-on - it isn't at the moment a club I would naturally draw out of the bag for an approach into a green. I have used the 18° less and only carry one of them at a time - my expectation was to only replace one of them, and to trade-in both going down to just the one UT for 2026.

Initially I wasn't sure about the newer model - I was getting a lot of heel/high strikes and struggled to find the middle. Some of this is likely to have been down to the standard grip on the fitting shaft but I also felt that the head seemed lighter in the newer model. Off centre strikes had a harsh sound as feedback whereas the 2024 model is a dull thud no matter where you seem to hit it on the face. Some of this might be down to the fitting studio I was in, but I got the same noise off the deck or the tee which eliminates the matting and I didn't get it with my 2024 model. Heel to toe less of an issue than low to high on the face - anything on the centre line sounds and flies a lot better.

With a bit of time I started to find closer to centre strikes and the feel and sound really improved. Whilst I didn't notice a massive drop off in distance from the off-centre strikes I certainly heard and felt the feedback.

I didn't get a data dump from the trackman, and I forgot to take photos in the bay (sorry!) the ones below are of the 20° in the shop afterwards - but the summary on the data is positive.

Based on the better strikes I was seeing I was picking up 2-2.5 mph on the 2025 model compared to the 2024 model. Shot of the day was a 145.7mph ball speed 233yd carry, 256yd total with the 18° off the tee - probably 14-18yds less with the 20°. Spin of good strikes lived in the low to mid 3000s. Launch and landing angle in the window I would expect and want. Gutted I didn't get more data but was too busy hitting and discussing the session with my fitter. Dispersion I was less worried about given that I know this improves dramatically once I get into the MCC +4 Midsize grip - but grouping was much improved on the newer models and especially the 18°. On balance I'd say that I found it easier to hit the 2025 18° than the 2024 18°, it's marginal but there.

Given my propensity to use the club off the tee, and because I had no issues launching the 18° off the deck the recommendation was to select the 18° rather than the 20° - with a view to getting maximum distance off the tee with the confidence of an iron for those tighter fairways or higher risk of penalty, and the more penetrating flight. Not what I expected going in but definitely the right decision.

Club is ordered, MMT 80 UT graphite shaft, MCC +4 Midsize grip in Grey/Grey. Should be with me in 5-7 working days.

 

[WIB081]

OK so I'm back from my fitting. Here are my impressions.

I took my Apex 2024 18° and 20° UT's down for comparison, and we had both the 18° and 20° of the new 2025 model in the fitting studio. After warming up with my 9i we started hitting my 20° which had been my go to for most of the season off the deck, and switched it out to the 18° and then both off the tee to get some baseline data.

Went to the 2025 20° and hit that off the deck and then off the tee and then completed the set with the new 18°.

I typically use the 20° off the tee for narrow fairways or on days when the wind is head-on - it isn't at the moment a club I would naturally draw out of the bag for an approach into a green. I have used the 18° less and only carry one of them at a time - my expectation was to only replace one of them, and to trade-in both going down to just the one UT for 2026.

Initially I wasn't sure about the newer model - I was getting a lot of heel/high strikes and struggled to find the middle. Some of this is likely to have been down to the standard grip on the fitting shaft but I also felt that the head seemed lighter in the newer model. Off centre strikes had a harsh sound as feedback whereas the 2024 model is a dull thud no matter where you seem to hit it on the face. Some of this might be down to the fitting studio I was in, but I got the same noise off the deck or the tee which eliminates the matting and I didn't get it with my 2024 model. Heel to toe less of an issue than low to high on the face - anything on the centre line sounds and flies a lot better.

With a bit of time I started to find closer to centre strikes and the feel and sound really improved. Whilst I didn't notice a massive drop off in distance from the off-centre strikes I certainly heard and felt the feedback.

I didn't get a data dump from the trackman, and I forgot to take photos in the bay (sorry!) the ones below are of the 20° in the shop afterwards - but the summary on the data is positive.

Based on the better strikes I was seeing I was picking up 2-2.5 mph on the 2025 model compared to the 2024 model. Shot of the day was a 145.7mph ball speed 233yd carry, 256yd total with the 18° off the tee - probably 14-18yds less with the 20°. Spin of good strikes lived in the low to mid 3000s. Launch and landing angle in the window I would expect and want. Gutted I didn't get more data but was too busy hitting and discussing the session with my fitter. Dispersion I was less worried about given that I know this improves dramatically once I get into the MCC +4 Midsize grip - but grouping was much improved on the newer models and especially the 18°. On balance I'd say that I found it easier to hit the 2025 18° than the 2024 18°, it's marginal but there.

Given my propensity to use the club off the tee, and because I had no issues launching the 18° off the deck the recommendation was to select the 18° rather than the 20° - with a view to getting maximum distance off the tee with the confidence of an iron for those tighter fairways or higher risk of penalty, and the more penetrating flight. Not what I expected going in but definitely the right decision.

Club is ordered, MMT 80 UT graphite shaft, MCC +4 Midsize grip in Grey/Grey. Should be with me in 5-7 working days.

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Love the amount of info! I agree with you it took a bit to find it but once I got the feel of the the shaft center was much easier to find. They are long for sure! I’m gonna try them once more in the coming weeks!

 

[JB]

 

[baylrballa]

OK so I'm back from my fitting. Here are my impressions.

I took my Apex 2024 18° and 20° UT's down for comparison, and we had both the 18° and 20° of the new 2025 model in the fitting studio. After warming up with my 9i we started hitting my 20° which had been my go to for most of the season off the deck, and switched it out to the 18° and then both off the tee to get some baseline data.

Went to the 2025 20° and hit that off the deck and then off the tee and then completed the set with the new 18°.

I typically use the 20° off the tee for narrow fairways or on days when the wind is head-on - it isn't at the moment a club I would naturally draw out of the bag for an approach into a green. I have used the 18° less and only carry one of them at a time - my expectation was to only replace one of them, and to trade-in both going down to just the one UT for 2026.

Initially I wasn't sure about the newer model - I was getting a lot of heel/high strikes and struggled to find the middle. Some of this is likely to have been down to the standard grip on the fitting shaft but I also felt that the head seemed lighter in the newer model. Off centre strikes had a harsh sound as feedback whereas the 2024 model is a dull thud no matter where you seem to hit it on the face. Some of this might be down to the fitting studio I was in, but I got the same noise off the deck or the tee which eliminates the matting and I didn't get it with my 2024 model. Heel to toe less of an issue than low to high on the face - anything on the centre line sounds and flies a lot better.

With a bit of time I started to find closer to centre strikes and the feel and sound really improved. Whilst I didn't notice a massive drop off in distance from the off-centre strikes I certainly heard and felt the feedback.

I didn't get a data dump from the trackman, and I forgot to take photos in the bay (sorry!) the ones below are of the 20° in the shop afterwards - but the summary on the data is positive.

Based on the better strikes I was seeing I was picking up 2-2.5 mph on the 2025 model compared to the 2024 model. Shot of the day was a 145.7mph ball speed 233yd carry, 256yd total with the 18° off the tee - probably 14-18yds less with the 20°. Spin of good strikes lived in the low to mid 3000s. Launch and landing angle in the window I would expect and want. Gutted I didn't get more data but was too busy hitting and discussing the session with my fitter. Dispersion I was less worried about given that I know this improves dramatically once I get into the MCC +4 Midsize grip - but grouping was much improved on the newer models and especially the 18°. On balance I'd say that I found it easier to hit the 2025 18° than the 2024 18°, it's marginal but there.

Given my propensity to use the club off the tee, and because I had no issues launching the 18° off the deck the recommendation was to select the 18° rather than the 20° - with a view to getting maximum distance off the tee with the confidence of an iron for those tighter fairways or higher risk of penalty, and the more penetrating flight. Not what I expected going in but definitely the right decision.

Club is ordered, MMT 80 UT graphite shaft, MCC +4 Midsize grip in Grey/Grey. Should be with me in 5-7 working days.

View attachment 9389359View attachment 9389360View attachment 9389362

That sounds pretty promising.

 

[WIB081]

View attachment 9389517View attachment 9389518View attachment 9389519

You’re killing me with these pics!

 

[mikefrench]

You’re killing me with these pics!

Yep - a little more polished than my snaps in the pro-shop, knackered from my fitting

 

[Hawkins]

View attachment 9389517View attachment 9389518View attachment 9389519

Such a pretty club. I'm going to need to find one of these locally to hit to see if it can find its way into my bag

 

[MH]

Ordered the 22* at lunch time to fill my 4 iron vacancy

 

[baylrballa]

Ordered the 22* at lunch time to fill my 4 iron vacancy

Got the 18* pulled up on the website. No trigger pull yet.

 

[MH]

Got the 18* pulled up on the website. No trigger pull yet.

Pull that trigger!