News

Callaway Apex 2023 Irons Review

The 2024 Callaway Apex irons bring replacements for the previous Pro, CB and MB models. The three models can be combined into a single set if required and are priced the same to encourage this. The Apex range is aimed at low single figure handicappers and elite players who are good ball strikers looking for an iron that offers shot shaping ability. Here's the low down on the key features of each model.

Callaway Apex Pro 2024 Irons Review

The Callaway Apex Pro 2024 irons feature a hollow head that combines a forged 1025 carbon chassis with a forged face insert. In the 4 and 5-iron this is a Forged 455 steel face cup and in the shorter irons it is a 1025 steel face insert. The hollow head is filled with Callaway's urethane microspheres that support the thin face and improve the sound and feel. The Apex Pro features the largest head of the three models with the most offset and lofts that are 1° stronger than the other two models.

Callaway Apex CB 2024 Irons Review

The Callaway Apex CB 2024 irons are designed to be cavity back blades that have a more compact look with extra forgiveness. The head is forged 1025 carbon steel throughout the set with weight inserted in the toe to improve the MOI of the head. As you move up the set the centre of gravity (CG) drops lower to help with the launch in the longer irons. The 2023 model features pre-worn leading and trailing edges on the sole to improve turf interaction at impact too.

Callaway Apex MB 2024 Irons Review

The Callaway Apex MB 2024 irons use all the same design features as the CB, but in a muscle back design. The MB offset and topline width are a little bit less than the CB, but you would be hard pressed to notice this at address.

The choice of 3 heads in the Callaway Apex 2024 irons offers numerous possibilities for custom fitting. To illustrate this and to review the Callaway Apex irons, we invited our resident reviewer Martin Hopley into the Hogan Studio to check them out, so over to him now:

Callaway Apex 2024 Irons Comparison Review

By independent reviewer Martin Hopley

The Apex brand name has a long history and started with the Hogan Golf company which Callaway took over in 2003. Since then the Apex irons have generally been Callaway's better player irons, although like any ageing superstar their waistline has fluctuated over the years. The 2023 models have been back into therapy and their fitter looking profile befits their position as irons for elite golfers.

Appropriately I tested in them in the SGGT Hogan Studio which has 4,6,8,W in each set so I was able to test right through the bag with the same shaft. My driver club head speed is around 100mph so, to get the right balance between forgiveness and feel, some set blending would a good idea. Thankfully I am in an SGGT fitting studio with Trackman hitting balls outdoors so I can test each model to find the optimum combination.

Callaway Apex Wedge Review

Apart from the larger head and more offset, the main visual difference with the Pro wedge is that is has a P on it, whereas the CB and MB sets have the number 10. This harks back to how Hogan used to name their wedge and with the set gap wedge there is also a 50° 11-iron which would be worth checking out too in a wedge custom fitting session.

The larger hollow head of the Pro wedge did generate more ball speed and that saw a significant distance gain over the blade style wedges. Having used the previous Callaway Apex Pro model the 2023 wedge is an improvement, even if the feel is still slightly muted.

The CB wedge seemed very compact and a little shorter heel to toe than the MB. This combination of cavity back and small head doesn't really work, so if you are wanting something with more feel go for the MB version as that felt more like a blade should.

Callaway Apex 8-iron Review

The feel from the Apex Pro 8-iron really starts to improve as the design features in the larger head start to come into their own. The offset and head size give more confidence that the last version and single figure players may find that this is where they can get the right combination of forgiveness and playability. The CB 8-iron starts to come into its own, but again the MB has the edge in feel and performance, even if it seems fractionally smaller.

Callaway Apex 6-iron Review

As you move into the 6-irons you can start to see the differences between the models more clearly, which is why fitters that just use one club focus on a single mid-iron. As you can see below, the differences in head length, offset and sole width are clearly defined.

Surprisingly the MB 6-iron was reasonably easy to hit and the slightly higher spin from the lower CG give it a better flight and landing angle for me. The CB continues the theme of the feel improving in the longer irons, but if you are looking for more forgiveness than the MB, then the Pro would be the one to go for.

Callaway Apex 4-iron Review

As you can see from the numbers below, none of the Apex 4-irons should be anywhere near my bag and I would suggest that should go for you too, unless you are a high swing speed elite player. The design of the head and the CG position mean that this is a low flying, low spinning club with little forgiveness.

That said, the Pro 4-iron is an improvement on the previous model and bizarrely the MB went pretty well too, although the shot pattern was not quite as accurate.

Also new to the range is an updated Callaway Apex UT 2024 iron, which is also available at SGGT for driving iron custom fitting. It has quite a shallow face and is probably not the panacea for your long iron ills unless you have the speed for this type of players' iron. Once you get to this stage of your Callaway Apex bag I would be booking a hybrid custom fitting to fill out the longer clubs before the fairway woods.

Callaway Apex 2024 Irons Summary

The 2024 Callaway Apex irons are a more focussed family of irons than last year's range as they are clearly targeted at better players. The previous standard Apex overlapped with the Paradym irons so with that having left home, the raison d'etre for the Apex range is a bit clearer.

If you had to pick from the Apex range then most amateur golfers should probably go for the Apex Pro and use a custom fitting session to see if some of the shorter irons from the MB range could create a little more feel.

Like some families there can be an odd child out and in chez Apex this is the CB model. It's not as forgiving as the Pro and not much more than the MB, so it has major middle child syndrome. It tries to be a blade, but the Apex MB beats it hands down as for feel and, relatively speaking, it was just as playable, especially in the wedge. If you are a seriously good player looking for blades then the Apex MB is definitely one to try out.

To find out which model of iron suits your game, book a custom iron fitting with SGGT today.

Book A Fitting