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

SuperStroke
JW Smoove said:
So far so good. Still getting acquainted with distance and aim, but no complaints. I think for smaller sets, 8 is a good place to split.
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I think the only split set I’ve ever had was my Apex Pro/CB combo I had for half of this year. I only split where I did because I wanted a 10 and 11 iron. I could have easily played the full set of pros or split at the 8 very comfortably. I think leaving the 7 in the more “forgiving” sku would absolutely be my play like you’re saying
 
Nappy said:
Yeah that was the thing that stuck out to me at Ballyhack. I felt I could really control the club better too. Idk ...got me thinking of some real crazy internet golfer stuff. 😂
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Soft stepped long irons, hard stepped scoring irons, 1* weak, 1/2 long….. all that equals bombs. 😎
 
Course was empty yet slow today so I ended up playing the last 4 holes with a couple other guys. They couldn’t stop gushing about how good my irons looked in the bag, and the shots that were being made with them. On the 7th hole, so the second hole I played with them, I was 185 out, way off to the left with trees between me and the green. I pulled 4i and aimed to the right of the trees with the hope I could work it back. I got enough distance but too much draw and ended up pin high to the left of the green. Neither guy could believe I had tried to hit an iron, let alone a 4iron. It was very reaffirming to me that these clubs are a great fit for me when even strangers are impressed.
 
Got to hit a couple 6 irons and a couple PWs of the Ti Fusions today. Didn’t find the offset in the 6i to be too much, and the PW blade length was short enough that I’d be comfortable to game them. The feel was REALLY good for hitting with range balls. Definitely interested in these being a candidate for the Grandaddy fitting.
 
Ti Fusion has entered the chat in the scoring irons. I think I’m still looking at the 200s in the 6-8 range but 9-A I could see the TiF working depending on gapping. I was able to hit a few 6i shots and a few 9i shots today and I really liked what I saw with the 9i
 
Had several magically great shots today - on a very very soft course. 2 eight irons both to inside about 5 ft. 2 6 irons (I was pulling them early), very straight at selected target but rub of the green put both in bunkers, both hit the grass/sand sort of no man's land and pulled back into the bunker dryer day, they likely bounce forward. 1 seven iron that did as expected, as well. Add these to the round Friday, all good. I am adjusting to the added length and right now, very happy. More to follow.
 
Played full rounds two days in a row, first time since before my surgery. I'm really digging these irons. I don't have my speed back to where it was, but I sure have my height back to where it was before my shoulder started giving me troubles. I haven't cleaned up the garage enough to get on the monitor, but I'd bet I'm at 100 feet again already. The AI200 paired with the Recoil Dart is really working for me, and making the transition to making fuller swings really easy. The feeling just doesn't say hollow body and filled to me. They feel solid, sound pure and transmit impact location well. Looking forward to getting more work in with them as I heal and recover.
 
Greg Kulbick said:
Played full rounds two days in a row, first time since before my surgery. I'm really digging these irons. I don't have my speed back to where it was, but I sure have my height back to where it was before my shoulder started giving me troubles. I haven't cleaned up the garage enough to get on the monitor, but I'd bet I'm at 100 feet again already. The AI200 paired with the Recoil Dart is really working for me, and making the transition to making fuller swings really easy. The feeling just doesn't say hollow body and filled to me. They feel solid, sound pure and transmit impact location well. Looking forward to getting more work in with them as I heal and recover.
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That’s great news!
 
Nappy said:
It is. And it's kind of making me question going with the Ai300s in the rest of my irons.
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Wow… the reverse ponder engaged.
 
As the season sadly comes to an end, it is a fantastic time to summarize my time with the Apex Ai200 irons over the last two months. When @Jman first published the fantastic article at the beginning of this thread, I was quickly enamored with the idea of the new Apex Performance line as a whole. But I was playing new Ai Smokes, so the odds of me making a switch was low. Thru that early discussion, spin was mentioned regularly, as was feel. These were the only areas I felt were a bit lacking with the then current irons, and this post stuck in my head. When the opportunity to review a set of irons popped up, I threw my name in for a set of the Ai200, as increasing spin was really priority number one. I was very lucky to have been chosen, as these irons have been everything I had hoped they would be and maybe a little more.

LOOKS: It should be no surprise I love the way these irons look, both in the bag, in the hand, and most importantly, behind the ball. While I never actually played them, the Apex 21 irons weren't a home run for me in the looks department. I believe the Ai200 improved upon them in every way. Part of that is I prefer the sleek lines on the modern hollow body style over the cavity back look of the previous generation, but the clubs have also slimmed down a bit.
The topline is slim without being too thin, there is some offset, but it's not overbearing, and the sole is both thin and shaped very well with the Dynamic Sole Design that Callaway has been using of late. For a guy like me who takes very minimal divots, a chunky sole can be an issue, and there is not of that here.

Also, the satin finish is truly spectacular. Clean, no glare, and wears very well. Here is what the very first shot looked like:

IMG_6235.jpg

And here is what that same club looks like after a dozen rounds and a few range sessions with no cleaning:


IMG_7599.jpegIMG_7600.jpeg

Very, VERY pleased with that wear (or lack thereof).

FEEL: Feel might just be the star of the show here. The forged 455 face, forged body, and urethane microspheres all combine to create a very pleasant, soft, premium feel off the face. Well struck shots reward you with that softness, while mishits will let you know with some feedback without being overbearing or harsh. And as we know, feel is sound and sound is feel, and the Ai200 shine there as well. Not too loud, clicky, pingy, but instead a solid, crisp sound off the face.

View attachment IMG_6738.MOV

PERFORMANCE: I'm lumping a few key characteristics together here, because they all go hand in hand with the on-course experience that is the Ai200 irons. For starters, these irons are firmly in the "player's distance" camp. The ball goes a long way off the face, but does so with high launch and plenty of spin. They aren't any shorter really for me than the couple degree stronger Ai Smokes were, but with the added benefit of higher launch, better trajectory, and enough spin to actually hold some greens. The launch is/was a regular talking point for me throughout this process because it's just been in a higher window than I am used to seeing. And for as hot as the ball comes off the face, the fact there is still consistent spin throughout the bag has been a game changer for me.

Along with the distance, there is still plenty of workability here. Coming from a set of clubs that just wanted to go straight, being able to try to shaping shots has been a fun adventure. Having the option to try to get creative can be a huge positive on the course... when it works. But even when it doesn't, it certainly can be a lot of fun, which is what my entire time with these so far has been.

FORGIVENESS: The other side of that workability coin is of course forgiveness. And while there is more workability and less forgiveness in the Ai200 than there is in the Ai Smoke (and I would imagine the Ai300), there is still plenty of forgiveness on tap. I've caught shots on the very bottom groove that have had no business going as far as they did. I've hit some off the toe that resulted in shots that were probably 95% of a great strike. But I've also tried to draw or fade around an obstacle and absolutely overcooked it which has resulted in some less than ideal follow ups, which shows these won't hide every swing flaw, but won't punish less than perfect swings.

OVERALL: I think the best way I can sum up my thoughts is by saying if someone came into the my house tomorrow, stole my Ai200 irons, and left my Ai Smokes behind, I'd immediately trade in the Smokes for a new set of Ai200. Don't get me wrong, I loved the Smokes, and they are an absolutely incredible set of irons, but the combination of feel, spin, and launch I get from these Apex have taken my game to a new level. Plus... just look at them

IMG_7074.jpeg

I may not be able to hit these much for the dark, winter months, but I don't intend to stop talking about these in here, as well as hitting them whenever I might get a chance knowing full well these will be my gamers next season. As always, please don't hesitate to leave any questions if you have them.
 
amarkabove said:
As the season sadly comes to an end, it is a fantastic time to summarize my time with the Apex Ai200 irons over the last two months. When @Jman first published the fantastic article at the beginning of this thread, I was quickly enamored with the idea of the new Apex Performance line as a whole. But I was playing new Ai Smokes, so the odds of me making a switch was low. Thru that early discussion, spin was mentioned regularly, as was feel. These were the only areas I felt were a bit lacking with the then current irons, and this post stuck in my head. When the opportunity to review a set of irons popped up, I threw my name in for a set of the Ai200, as increasing spin was really priority number one. I was very lucky to have been chosen, as these irons have been everything I had hoped they would be and maybe a little more.

LOOKS: It should be no surprise I love the way these irons look, both in the bag, in the hand, and most importantly, behind the ball. While I never actually played them, the Apex 21 irons weren't a home run for me in the looks department. I believe the Ai200 improved upon them in every way. Part of that is I prefer the sleek lines on the modern hollow body style over the cavity back look of the previous generation, but the clubs have also slimmed down a bit.
The topline is slim without being too thin, there is some offset, but it's not overbearing, and the sole is both thin and shaped very well with the Dynamic Sole Design that Callaway has been using of late. For a guy like me who takes very minimal divots, a chunky sole can be an issue, and there is not of that here.

Also, the satin finish is truly spectacular. Clean, no glare, and wears very well. Here is what the very first shot looked like:

View attachment 9307709

And here is what that same club looks like after a dozen rounds and a few range sessions with no cleaning:


View attachment 9307712View attachment 9307713

Very, VERY pleased with that wear (or lack thereof).

FEEL: Feel might just be the star of the show here. The forged 455 face, forged body, and urethane microspheres all combine to create a very pleasant, soft, premium feel off the face. Well struck shots reward you with that softness, while mishits will let you know with some feedback without being overbearing or harsh. And as we know, feel is sound and sound is feel, and the Ai200 shine there as well. Not too loud, clicky, pingy, but instead a solid, crisp sound off the face.

View attachment 9307710

PERFORMANCE: I'm lumping a few key characteristics together here, because they all go hand in hand with the on-course experience that is the Ai200 irons. For starters, these irons are firmly in the "player's distance" camp. The ball goes a long way off the face, but does so with high launch and plenty of spin. They aren't any shorter really for me than the couple degree stronger Ai Smokes were, but with the added benefit of higher launch, better trajectory, and enough spin to actually hold some greens. The launch is/was a regular talking point for me throughout this process because it's just been in a higher window than I am used to seeing. And for as hot as the ball comes off the face, the fact there is still consistent spin throughout the bag has been a game changer for me.

Along with the distance, there is still plenty of workability here. Coming from a set of clubs that just wanted to go straight, being able to try to shaping shots has been a fun adventure. Having the option to try to get creative can be a huge positive on the course... when it works. But even when it doesn't, it certainly can be a lot of fun, which is what my entire time with these so far has been.

FORGIVENESS: The other side of that workability coin is of course forgiveness. And while there is more workability and less forgiveness in the Ai200 than there is in the Ai Smoke (and I would imagine the Ai300), there is still plenty of forgiveness on tap. I've caught shots on the very bottom groove that have had no business going as far as they did. I've hit some off the toe that resulted in shots that were probably 95% of a great strike. But I've also tried to draw or fade around an obstacle and absolutely overcooked it which has resulted in some less than ideal follow ups, which shows these won't hide every swing flaw, but won't punish less than perfect swings.

OVERALL: I think the best way I can sum up my thoughts is by saying if someone came into the my house tomorrow, stole my Ai200 irons, and left my Ai Smokes behind, I'd immediately trade in the Smokes for a new set of Ai200. Don't get me wrong, I loved the Smokes, and they are an absolutely incredible set of irons, but the combination of feel, spin, and launch I get from these Apex have taken my game to a new level. Plus... just look at them

View attachment 9307711

I may not be able to hit these much for the dark, winter months, but I don't intend to stop talking about these in here, as well as hitting them whenever I might get a chance knowing full well these will be my gamers next season. As always, please don't hesitate to leave any questions if you have them.
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Wow. They are wearing very nicely. Look amazing in the bag too.
 
Been thinking about the feel of these a lot since Saturday
 
willplaysgolf said:
Me too.
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The feel is phenomenal. Nothing like I expected! Offset isn't as bad as I thought either. I was expecting more it was pretty good. No lefts for me
 
Long and wet course today didn’t leave me many iron shots (a lot of hybrids and woods) but the TiF were great. First two fairway bunker shots since I got them came out fantastic - one setup a birdie from the fringe. Had a 9 dead on line on a par 3 that just got knocked down a little by a wind gust last second and left a 15 ft birdie look instead of something closer but still great. Used the AW a lot for chipping around the green to good effect.

Still not tired of how insanely good they feel. Two+ months now and every time it’s like, “damn, that’s good.”
 
New ferrules have been ordered to get ready for the shaft change in the TiFs...To say I'm excited is an understatement!
 
Muchmore said:
New ferrules have been ordered to get ready for the shaft change in the TiFs...To say I'm excited is an understatement!
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Worthless without pictures!! But, also, awesome!! Congrats
 
JW Smoove said:
Worthless without pictures!! But, also, awesome!! Congrats
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it's not a ferrules thread, didn't want to muck it up too much. Just wanted to throw that in there since I can't golf right now lol
 
Muchmore said:
it's not a ferrules thread, didn't want to muck it up too much. Just wanted to throw that in there since I can't golf right now lol
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Let's see them when they come out!
 
What could possibly be better on the TiF than black ferrrules on black shafts? :unsure:
 
I still keep going back to the spec page on the ai300s, pondering.
 
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