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Callaway Apex Performance Series Irons – Ai200, Ai300 and Ti Fusion

SuperStroke
Jman said:
As much as I'm a forged fan, Callaway also crushes it with their internals. Urethane micropsheres are pure sorcery.
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There has to be serious voodoo in the TiF to make a Ti face feel the way they do.
 
amarkabove said:
I wish I had more experience with the previous Apex models to compare across the years, but I've only hit the 21s once, and only hit the fitting 7i of the Apex Pros at a Dicks. But I do know I will be always look to the Apex line in the future from here on out.
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This last part of your post is how I’ve been feeling through the testing. I’ve had a couple people ask me how the TiF compare to previous versions of the Apex lineup and sadly, I just don’t know. The TiF are the first Apex irons that I’ve ever hit for more than one “here try my club” one time.

This has made it harder for me to answer the question of how do these fit in the Apex family. For my answer to that, I have to look at the message Callaway has given us about the Apex family.

Forged Performance & Feel: The TiF fit right in with what a player should expect to feel from an Apex iron. They feel good! But, and it’s a big but, these feel different in a very good way. It’s still so hard to describe what exactly they feel like but I think it fits the Apex family being that it’s the first iron of its kind.

Enhanced Ball Speed: These are definitely fast irons! I can feel the ball jump off the face even though it has that nice soft feel to it. It’s also not just speed for the sake of speed. The spin is there which is pretty incredible.

Tour Inspired Look: For years, it’s been undeniable that the Apex irons are some of the best looking on the market. The TiF absolutely fit in seamlessly here. Yes, there are the issues with the finish which hurt this category more than any other. That being said, they are still a damn good looking iron. Just looking at them in the bag, you know they’re something special but you also know they’re an Apex iron. At address they have that sleek look that Apex is known for.

Overall, I think these fit perfectly into the Apex family being that they are the first of their kind. It also fits with Callaway’s overall messaging and family of products, pushing the envelope to bring us the next big thing.
 
I'm really craving a set of Ai300 with the UST HDC shafts.
Going to attend our winter Callaway fitting at my club and see how things pan out.
 
If I have managed to capture your attention this far, you are either bored or I am doing something right. Seriously this review has been a lot of fun and challenging for me at the same time. I am trying to convey thoughts that at times only make sense to me. As I try to put my thoughts into constructive feedback, it has helped me learn a lot about my golf game and specifically how these irons are working for me. Here are the links to the previous in depth reviews I have provided so far in case you missed them:
Let’s keep this train rolling down the tracks. I want to focus on something that is personal for me, but I think it will help the overall process of providing insights to help others make the best decisions when it comes to the Ai 200 irons, or this release in general. If we all operate on the premise that this iron provides great performance across the face, we land on some of the nuances that make players gravitate towards a certain profile. For me it goes back to being an Apex player since the CF-16 line. The first time I set one down and took notice of what I was looking at, the first thing that came to my mind was that the Apex irons inspired confidence. As a mid-high handicap player, I needed all the help I could get from an iron. As my handicap has dropped over the years, I still go back to wanting something “playable & forgiving”, while at the same time play an iron that will not offer a larger footprint that was not pleasing to my eye. That confidence is something that is tough to describe or explain, but as golfers I think we all reach that point regardless of our abilities. There is a club, or clubs, that inspire that confidence the minute we look at it at address. The Apex irons are that club for me. I ventured into the Srixon ZX 5’s and the Mizuno 921 Forged lines, and while I played well and they fit the profile I liked to see, something was missing. Thinking back, I scored well, the irons were forgiving enough, and at the same time “hot enough” to allow me to maximize center strikes. While confidence was there, it was not quite “home”. The Apex line is home for me. That might skew my views or thought process, but I have tried to consciously call out the good and the bad as unbiased as I can. I am a firm believer that there are no bad clubs out there, just bad decisions. We all get attracted to shiny and new, but sometimes that comes at a cost. For me without realizing it, I was sacrificing confidence with the non Apex irons I played.

If we peel that layer of confidence back another layer, we must acknowledge the Ai 200’s fall into a category that Callaway doesn’t have and was much needed to fit a broader range of golfers. With the Ai300’s you are fitting a different kind of player. Typically, they will need some help to get the ball in the air, they might not play a lot of golf so when they do, they need forgiveness to help the game stay enjoyable. Then you have a player of my ability like @JDax who plays the Ai300’s because they inspire him with confidence. I fully believe he can throw the Ai 200’s in his bag and see the same results, but for some reason the 300’s checks all the boxes for him. If we go the other way, the Ti Fusion line presents another level of confidence for certain players. I could probably get away with playing those irons, but I would be leaving a lot on the table in terms of performance or forgiveness. I say all that to come back to this Ai iron line is set properly in the current lineup. I had a cup of coffee with the Paradym Ai Smoke irons, and quickly realized those irons were not for me. They performed well, but just didn’t inspire confidence and presented some turf interaction issues I didn’t like. They didn't inspire confidence. I don’t like to throw golfers into buckets determined by handicap or scores, because I have seen some high handicap players consistently play a “players iron” or CB type of profile really well. Their scoring issues lied elsewhere. This current line features one of the more impressive lineups I’ve seen from an OEM. Initially when the MB/CB/TCB/Pro Apex line was released, I was a little bummed out because I was wondering where the replacement for the CF-21 line? Well patience paid off because the Ti Fusion, Ai 200, & Ai 300 line filled in the gaps nicely. Callaway now arguably has an iron lineup that is currently fitting pro golfers all the way up to higher handicap players. That broad range is impressive, and they are accomplishing that by continuing to push the technology envelope, while still maintaining playability, superior feel, and most importantly, forgiveness away from center. More importantly, they have an iron offering for any golfer to make sure we all maintain our level of confidence with the irons we chose to have in our bags.
 
MikeG said:
If I have managed to capture your attention this far, you are either bored or I am doing something right. Seriously this review has been a lot of fun and challenging for me at the same time. I am trying to convey thoughts that at times only make sense to me. As I try to put my thoughts into constructive feedback, it has helped me learn a lot about my golf game and specifically how these irons are working for me. Here are the links to the previous in depth reviews I have provided so far in case you missed them:
Let’s keep this train rolling down the tracks. I want to focus on something that is personal for me, but I think it will help the overall process of providing insights to help others make the best decisions when it comes to the Ai 200 irons, or this release in general. If we all operate on the premise that this iron provides great performance across the face, we land on some of the nuances that make players gravitate towards a certain profile. For me it goes back to being an Apex player since the CF-16 line. The first time I set one down and took notice of what I was looking at, the first thing that came to my mind was that the Apex irons inspired confidence. As a mid-high handicap player, I needed all the help I could get from an iron. As my handicap has dropped over the years, I still go back to wanting something “playable & forgiving”, while at the same time play an iron that will not offer a larger footprint that was not pleasing to my eye. That confidence is something that is tough to describe or explain, but as golfers I think we all reach that point regardless of our abilities. There is a club, or clubs, that inspire that confidence the minute we look at it at address. The Apex irons are that club for me. I ventured into the Srixon ZX 5’s and the Mizuno 921 Forged lines, and while I played well and they fit the profile I liked to see, something was missing. Thinking back, I scored well, the irons were forgiving enough, and at the same time “hot enough” to allow me to maximize center strikes. While confidence was there, it was not quite “home”. The Apex line is home for me. That might skew my views or thought process, but I have tried to consciously call out the good and the bad as unbiased as I can. I am a firm believer that there are no bad clubs out there, just bad decisions. We all get attracted to shiny and new, but sometimes that comes at a cost. For me without realizing it, I was sacrificing confidence with the non Apex irons I played.

If we peel that layer of confidence back another layer, we must acknowledge the Ai 200’s fall into a category that Callaway doesn’t have and was much needed to fit a broader range of golfers. With the Ai300’s you are fitting a different kind of player. Typically, they will need some help to get the ball in the air, they might not play a lot of golf so when they do, they need forgiveness to help the game stay enjoyable. Then you have a player of my ability like @JDax who plays the Ai300’s because they inspire him with confidence. I fully believe he can throw the Ai 200’s in his bag and see the same results, but for some reason the 300’s checks all the boxes for him. If we go the other way, the Ti Fusion line presents another level of confidence for certain players. I could probably get away with playing those irons, but I would be leaving a lot on the table in terms of performance or forgiveness. I say all that to come back to this Ai iron line is set properly in the current lineup. I had a cup of coffee with the Paradym Ai Smoke irons, and quickly realized those irons were not for me. They performed well, but just didn’t inspire confidence and presented some turf interaction issues I didn’t like. They didn't inspire confidence. I don’t like to throw golfers into buckets determined by handicap or scores, because I have seen some high handicap players consistently play a “players iron” or CB type of profile really well. Their scoring issues lied elsewhere. This current line features one of the more impressive lineups I’ve seen from an OEM. Initially when the MB/CB/TCB/Pro Apex line was released, I was a little bummed out because I was wondering where the replacement for the CF-21 line? Well patience paid off because the Ti Fusion, Ai 200, & Ai 300 line filled in the gaps nicely. Callaway now arguably has an iron lineup that is currently fitting pro golfers all the way up to higher handicap players. That broad range is impressive, and they are accomplishing that by continuing to push the technology envelope, while still maintaining playability, superior feel, and most importantly, forgiveness away from center. More importantly, they have an iron offering for any golfer to make sure we all maintain our level of confidence with the irons we chose to have in our bags.
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When I got fit for my AI300's we spent the majority of the time on those clubs specifically because I was coming from the DCBs. And I hit them so well. So when I asked to hit the Ai200's I even told the guy that they probably weren't for me. After we went through a few clubs the fitter looked at me and said you'd have no problem gaming either one of these sets. It's just preference at this point, so I went with the more forgiving of the two. But it felt good to know that I could go to the other set if i wanted to.

I think for sure the AW wedge I order to replace my DCB will be an Ai200 just for this reason. I hit that club more consistently on the face so giving up the forgiveness won't be that big of a deal.

Appreciate your reviews bud. You're doing a great job with them!
 
Nappy said:
When I got fit for my AI300's we spent the majority of the time on those clubs specifically because I was coming from the DCBs. And I hit them so well. So when I asked to hit the Ai200's I even told the guy that they probably weren't for me. After we went through a few clubs the fitter looked at me and said you'd have no problem gaming either one of these sets. It's just preference at this point, so I went with the more forgiving of the two. But it felt good to know that I could go to the other set if i wanted to.

I think for sure the AW wedge I order to replace my DCB will be an Ai200 just for this reason. I hit that club more consistently on the face so giving up the forgiveness won't be that big of a deal.

Appreciate your reviews bud. You're doing a great job with them!
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It's crazy isn't it. The lines are blurred so well and really help golfers who take the time to get fit or at least seek a knowledgeable person to help walk them through the process. Fittings are important, but this line is an easy transition from an Apex 21 player to the Ai200 or a Paradym Smoke player transitioning to the Ai 300's
 
Cruskater said:
Anyone

I'm assuming the CB/MB combo is shorter maybe with a touch more launch and spin?
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I haven't hit the new irons but my CB/MB irons are about a half to full club shorter then my past irons but more consistent in everyway than my other irons I've had in the past.
 
MikeG said:
It's crazy isn't it. The lines are blurred so well and really help golfers who take the time to get fit or at least seek a knowledgeable person to help walk them through the process. Fittings are important, but this line is an easy transition from an Apex 21 player to the Ai200 or a Paradym Smoke player transitioning to the Ai 300's
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It’s pretty wild to think about JUST how blurred the lines have gotten 10 years after the first Apex irons. There is just so much flow from model to model.
 
Jman said:
It’s pretty wild to think about JUST how blurred the lines have gotten 10 years after the first Apex irons. There is just so much flow from model to model.
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It really is and why having the proper conversation during a fitting can easily put someone in an iron they never imagined they could or should play. Options are fun
 
Jtubb17 said:
Seriously! Who knew holding a green with a 5i was possible 🤣
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When I can actually hit my 5i and 6i, man is that a good feeling when it happens!!
 
@xThor

Between processing and shipped will my order status change? the salesman inferred a midweek delivery but I've seen no change :( only asking based on today's poor iron play. A change may be needed soon!

6-7 ai300
8-P ai200

MMT 85 R shafts

Superstroke white full cord grips

Anything that could delay this?

Thanks Neil!
 
JW Smoove said:
@xThor

Between processing and shipped will my order status change? the salesman inferred a midweek delivery but I've seen no change :( only asking based on today's poor iron play. A change may be needed soon!

6-7 ai300
8-P ai200

MMT 85 R shafts

Superstroke white full cord grips

Anything that could delay this?

Thanks Neil!
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Everything here looks good!
 
MikeG said:
If I have managed to capture your attention this far, you are either bored or I am doing something right. Seriously this review has been a lot of fun and challenging for me at the same time. I am trying to convey thoughts that at times only make sense to me. As I try to put my thoughts into constructive feedback, it has helped me learn a lot about my golf game and specifically how these irons are working for me. Here are the links to the previous in depth reviews I have provided so far in case you missed them:
Let’s keep this train rolling down the tracks. I want to focus on something that is personal for me, but I think it will help the overall process of providing insights to help others make the best decisions when it comes to the Ai 200 irons, or this release in general. If we all operate on the premise that this iron provides great performance across the face, we land on some of the nuances that make players gravitate towards a certain profile. For me it goes back to being an Apex player since the CF-16 line. The first time I set one down and took notice of what I was looking at, the first thing that came to my mind was that the Apex irons inspired confidence. As a mid-high handicap player, I needed all the help I could get from an iron. As my handicap has dropped over the years, I still go back to wanting something “playable & forgiving”, while at the same time play an iron that will not offer a larger footprint that was not pleasing to my eye. That confidence is something that is tough to describe or explain, but as golfers I think we all reach that point regardless of our abilities. There is a club, or clubs, that inspire that confidence the minute we look at it at address. The Apex irons are that club for me. I ventured into the Srixon ZX 5’s and the Mizuno 921 Forged lines, and while I played well and they fit the profile I liked to see, something was missing. Thinking back, I scored well, the irons were forgiving enough, and at the same time “hot enough” to allow me to maximize center strikes. While confidence was there, it was not quite “home”. The Apex line is home for me. That might skew my views or thought process, but I have tried to consciously call out the good and the bad as unbiased as I can. I am a firm believer that there are no bad clubs out there, just bad decisions. We all get attracted to shiny and new, but sometimes that comes at a cost. For me without realizing it, I was sacrificing confidence with the non Apex irons I played.

If we peel that layer of confidence back another layer, we must acknowledge the Ai 200’s fall into a category that Callaway doesn’t have and was much needed to fit a broader range of golfers. With the Ai300’s you are fitting a different kind of player. Typically, they will need some help to get the ball in the air, they might not play a lot of golf so when they do, they need forgiveness to help the game stay enjoyable. Then you have a player of my ability like @JDax who plays the Ai300’s because they inspire him with confidence. I fully believe he can throw the Ai 200’s in his bag and see the same results, but for some reason the 300’s checks all the boxes for him. If we go the other way, the Ti Fusion line presents another level of confidence for certain players. I could probably get away with playing those irons, but I would be leaving a lot on the table in terms of performance or forgiveness. I say all that to come back to this Ai iron line is set properly in the current lineup. I had a cup of coffee with the Paradym Ai Smoke irons, and quickly realized those irons were not for me. They performed well, but just didn’t inspire confidence and presented some turf interaction issues I didn’t like. They didn't inspire confidence. I don’t like to throw golfers into buckets determined by handicap or scores, because I have seen some high handicap players consistently play a “players iron” or CB type of profile really well. Their scoring issues lied elsewhere. This current line features one of the more impressive lineups I’ve seen from an OEM. Initially when the MB/CB/TCB/Pro Apex line was released, I was a little bummed out because I was wondering where the replacement for the CF-21 line? Well patience paid off because the Ti Fusion, Ai 200, & Ai 300 line filled in the gaps nicely. Callaway now arguably has an iron lineup that is currently fitting pro golfers all the way up to higher handicap players. That broad range is impressive, and they are accomplishing that by continuing to push the technology envelope, while still maintaining playability, superior feel, and most importantly, forgiveness away from center. More importantly, they have an iron offering for any golfer to make sure we all maintain our level of confidence with the irons we chose to have in our bags.
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I could absolutely play the 200s , I don’t mind the top line of the 300s, so I just went with the extra forgiveness.
 
MikeG said:
If I have managed to capture your attention this far, you are either bored or I am doing something right. Seriously this review has been a lot of fun and challenging for me at the same time. I am trying to convey thoughts that at times only make sense to me. As I try to put my thoughts into constructive feedback, it has helped me learn a lot about my golf game and specifically how these irons are working for me. Here are the links to the previous in depth reviews I have provided so far in case you missed them:
Let’s keep this train rolling down the tracks. I want to focus on something that is personal for me, but I think it will help the overall process of providing insights to help others make the best decisions when it comes to the Ai 200 irons, or this release in general. If we all operate on the premise that this iron provides great performance across the face, we land on some of the nuances that make players gravitate towards a certain profile. For me it goes back to being an Apex player since the CF-16 line. The first time I set one down and took notice of what I was looking at, the first thing that came to my mind was that the Apex irons inspired confidence. As a mid-high handicap player, I needed all the help I could get from an iron. As my handicap has dropped over the years, I still go back to wanting something “playable & forgiving”, while at the same time play an iron that will not offer a larger footprint that was not pleasing to my eye. That confidence is something that is tough to describe or explain, but as golfers I think we all reach that point regardless of our abilities. There is a club, or clubs, that inspire that confidence the minute we look at it at address. The Apex irons are that club for me. I ventured into the Srixon ZX 5’s and the Mizuno 921 Forged lines, and while I played well and they fit the profile I liked to see, something was missing. Thinking back, I scored well, the irons were forgiving enough, and at the same time “hot enough” to allow me to maximize center strikes. While confidence was there, it was not quite “home”. The Apex line is home for me. That might skew my views or thought process, but I have tried to consciously call out the good and the bad as unbiased as I can. I am a firm believer that there are no bad clubs out there, just bad decisions. We all get attracted to shiny and new, but sometimes that comes at a cost. For me without realizing it, I was sacrificing confidence with the non Apex irons I played.

If we peel that layer of confidence back another layer, we must acknowledge the Ai 200’s fall into a category that Callaway doesn’t have and was much needed to fit a broader range of golfers. With the Ai300’s you are fitting a different kind of player. Typically, they will need some help to get the ball in the air, they might not play a lot of golf so when they do, they need forgiveness to help the game stay enjoyable. Then you have a player of my ability like @JDax who plays the Ai300’s because they inspire him with confidence. I fully believe he can throw the Ai 200’s in his bag and see the same results, but for some reason the 300’s checks all the boxes for him. If we go the other way, the Ti Fusion line presents another level of confidence for certain players. I could probably get away with playing those irons, but I would be leaving a lot on the table in terms of performance or forgiveness. I say all that to come back to this Ai iron line is set properly in the current lineup. I had a cup of coffee with the Paradym Ai Smoke irons, and quickly realized those irons were not for me. They performed well, but just didn’t inspire confidence and presented some turf interaction issues I didn’t like. They didn't inspire confidence. I don’t like to throw golfers into buckets determined by handicap or scores, because I have seen some high handicap players consistently play a “players iron” or CB type of profile really well. Their scoring issues lied elsewhere. This current line features one of the more impressive lineups I’ve seen from an OEM. Initially when the MB/CB/TCB/Pro Apex line was released, I was a little bummed out because I was wondering where the replacement for the CF-21 line? Well patience paid off because the Ti Fusion, Ai 200, & Ai 300 line filled in the gaps nicely. Callaway now arguably has an iron lineup that is currently fitting pro golfers all the way up to higher handicap players. That broad range is impressive, and they are accomplishing that by continuing to push the technology envelope, while still maintaining playability, superior feel, and most importantly, forgiveness away from center. More importantly, they have an iron offering for any golfer to make sure we all maintain our level of confidence with the irons we chose to have in our bags.
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You've done great with the review dude. I'm a big ponder on the 200s. Not sure I'm going to jump anytime soon with indoor season approaching. But I've enjoyed following yours, and others thoughts in the thread.
 
ddec said:
You've done great with the review dude. I'm a big ponder on the 200s. Not sure I'm going to jump anytime soon with indoor season approaching. But I've enjoyed following yours, and others thoughts in the thread.
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I appreciate it Dean. Coming from you that is high praise.
 
xThor said:
Everything here looks good!
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Neil you’re good!! You checked on my stuff and i got a tour order has shipped email 2 hours later!!

I know coincidence, but still.


on it's way dog GIF
 
Just got home from Callaway fitting. First I hit the 200 with SF i95 stiff. Hit it well. Was actually surprised by ball flight and overall height with the stiff I95 shaft. Next we put the same shaft in the TiFusion. Proceed to smoke shot after shot with a slight draw. Switch back to the 200 for a few swings. We all agree I’m hitting both well but the Fusion is easily the winner. This was agreed upon by fitter club pro and myself. After settling on the Ti Fusion we swap in an MMT 85 reg flex shaft to get a comparison. Hit both extremely well. Now I’m a little confused on shaft selection. Need to hit them with a few more shaft options. I95 regular and the MMT 95 shaft.

The Fusion is the leader currently if I’m was buying today. I hit them so good I don’t care if finish isn’t perfect.
 
Pops said:
Just got home from Callaway fitting. First I hit the 200 with SF i95 stiff. Hit it well. Was actually surprised by ball flight and overall height with the stiff I95 shaft. Next we put the same shaft in the TiFusion. Proceed to smoke shot after shot with a slight draw. Switch back to the 200 for a few swings. We all agree I’m hitting both well but the Fusion is easily the winner. This was agreed upon by fitter club pro and myself. After settling on the Ti Fusion we swap in an MMT 85 reg flex shaft to get a comparison. Hit both extremely well. Now I’m a little confused on shaft selection. Need to hit them with a few more shaft options. I95 regular and the MMT 95 shaft.

The Fusion is the leader currently if I’m was buying today. I hit them so good I don’t care if finish isn’t perfect.
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TiF are something special
 
Pops said:
That they are. Long and forgiving.
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Were you surprised at how forgiving they are? That’s definitely something I wasn’t expecting.
 
Mixed set scheduled to arrive tomorrow. If it happens maiden voyage Thursday.
 
Jtubb17 said:
Were you surprised at how forgiving they are? That’s definitely something I wasn’t expecting.
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I was very pleased with the forgiveness. Much more forgiving than I expected. Let’s just say when I went back and hit my beloved Forge Tecs I really want the Fusions in the bag.
 
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