Callaway Apex Irons 21 Review After 30 Days
Hey It's Linda, and thanks for stopping by for my Callaway Apex 21 Irons Review!
Now, in case you're not aware - the Callaway company has released many series of irons sets over the years, both to the joy and displeasure of the golfing community, but few have taken the golfing world by storm the way the Apex series has. Used by professionals, and invested in by amateurs trying to emulate professionals, the models of the Apex series have more than proven their worth in the industry.
But with the Apex Pro and Apex DCB getting a lot of attention, let’s rear our gaze to the model that paved the way – the standard Apex and its 2021 model. It is the model that’s often overlooked by newbies and seen as not quite up to par with the Apex Pro by most professionals.
Before I dive into it, here's a quick comparison of the 3 clubs:
| Feature | Apex 21 Irons | Apex Pro | Apex DCB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target Golfer | Mid to low handicappers | Low handicappers | High to mid handicappers |
| Design | Player's Distance | Player's Irons | Game Improvement |
| Forgiveness | Moderate | Low | High |
| Workability | High | Very High | Moderate |
| Feel | Forged Blade Feel | Premium Forged Feel | Soft Feel |
| Distance | Long | Controlled Distance | Long |
| A.I. Design | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tungsten Energy Core | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Urethane Microspheres | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Center of Gravity | Precisely placed | Low | Low and deep |
| Launch | Consistent | Lower | Higher |
| Price | $$ (Moderate) | $$$ (Expensive) | $ (Affordable) |
This comparison table provides an overview of the main features and differences between the Callaway Apex 21 Irons, Apex Pro, and Apex DCB. Each model has been designed to cater to different golfer skill levels and preferences, providing varying levels of forgiveness, workability, feel, and distance.
In addition to the features listed in the comparison table, it's important to consider factors such as durability, customer support, and brand reputation when choosing between the Callaway Apex 21 Irons, Apex Pro, and Apex DCB.
Each model has its own unique selling points, and understanding the key differences will help you make a well-informed decision based on your individual needs and preferences.
That said, let's get started!
Why Listen To Me?
My name is Linda Parker, my mom was a LPGA pro before my parents met, and I’ve been around golf since before I could walk.
I used the Callaway Apex 21 Irons for 30 days in beautiful San Diego, California at The Grand Golf Club, Barona Creek, and the amazing Torrey Pines Golf Course.
Over the years, I've had the opportunity to test and review a wide variety of golf equipment from numerous brands.
This extensive experience has allowed me to develop a deep understanding of the intricacies and nuances that make a great set of irons.
As a seasoned golfer, I can confidently provide insights and valuable information about the Callaway Apex 21 Irons that will help you make an informed decision.
With notable features, pros, cons, and more – here are our thoughts after using the Apex iron set for one month:
Callaway Apex 21 Irons Notable Features:
- Forged Blade Feel. It is very rare these days to find an iron set that’s legitimately forged. Most are cast iron that is marketed as having that “forged-feel” but little else if we’re being honest. Luckily, the body of this model is 100% forged from a 1025 mild carbon steel body, and their patented urethane microspheres deliver exceptional sound and feel at impact. With that in mind, we can safely surmise that the Apex is a Player’s Distance iron set, meaning they are intended for mid to lower handicappers.
- Consistent Launch and Increased Forgiveness. Though being exceptionally forgiving is a quality more important for beginners, even professionals can benefit from a little help during off-center shots. The Apex achieves this thanks to their Tungsten Energy Core. With 5x the tungsten, precision and consistency also benefit as a result because of the precisely placed center of gravity.
- The First Apex Iron Designed With A.I. The irons of this model hold the singular distinction of being the first of Callaway’s clubs to be designed with the help of A.I. technology. That means hundreds of simulations were computed to come up with the most ideal shape and structure of the club heads.
What We Experienced Using This:
Appearance-wise, we have to admit that the Apex irons can be very unassuming. Though they’re nowhere near being an ugly set, there’s nothing too much in the look that catches the attention. If you’re into classic-looking irons though, this is probably as old-fashion looking as it's going to get for modern clubs.
That being said, the devil’s in the details. Upon picking up one of the irons, we could automatically tell by the weight how precise the tungsten is positioned within. Being forged iron, the clubs also have a very nice feel to them.
After using the Callaway Apex 21 Irons for an entire month, it's clear that they cater to a golfer's specific needs.
The irons have a great feel and provide consistent performance, allowing us to focus on our game without worrying about equipment limitations.
This set truly feels like it's designed with the user in mind, taking into consideration various skill levels and providing a satisfying golfing experience.
Our initial thoughts
The initial tests with the set were quite promising. Being 100% forged iron, the sound they produced upon impact was like music to the ears, at least for golfing fanatics like us. Once you’ve been playing the game for a while, you can tell the quality of a club based on the sound it produces.
The feel and feedback are also impressive. There are little to no harsh vibrations and you can really feel the “ping” the club makes on near-perfect shots. That means it’ll let you know if you make a poor shot too.
On Using it on a golf course
On our initial tests with the Apex, we learned right away that this set can easily match the Apex DCB in speed, carry, and distance. We brought the other Apex models for comparison and we found very minimal differences.
The DCB 8 iron had a carry dispersion of between 124 and 130 yards, Apex had a carry dispersion of 121 and 131 yards.
Them being player’s distance irons though, bad shots proved a big hindrance on the ability of the Apex’s ability to perform. It’s forgiving but certainly won’t make an effort to compensate for mistakes. For this reason, there were instances that the Apex DCB, a game-improvement set, reached farther distances.
Our thoughts on using it for 30 days
The good shots made with the Apex were amazing. The bad shots though were very bad. This is not necessarily the iron set’s fault. We would recommend that only a golfer who knows how to swing properly touches this set.
Slice and hooking are wonderfully minimized with these irons and shots are fairly high and straight when one gets the hang of them. If you’re looking for something more workable than the Callaway Apex Pro Irons, but more “professional” than the Apex DCB, then we would recommend the Apex standard (these ones).
Pros & Cons
Let's look at the pros & cons of the Apex Irons.
Pros
- A lot of premium features. Callaway pulled on all the stops to give their Apex clubs the best of the best. The Apex standards are no exception and, if you get it, you can expect quality that’ll last for many years.
- A great middle option of all the Apex models. The Apex Pro is not very forgiving, being aimed at professionals, and the Apex DCB is forgiving but less able to achieve pro-level distances. This model sports the best of both worlds.
- Great price point. The price is very reasonable in our opinion, especially if you consider the performance, features, and quality you're getting in comparison to other player's distance iron sets on the market.
Cons
- Harder to use for higher than mid-handicappers. This set makes no attempts to compensate for less-than-good shots. It’s forgiving but not by a lot. This means it’s better suited for mid to single-digit handicappers.
Callaway Apex 21 Irons Review & Final Verdict (4.6/5)
And that was our review of the Callaway Apex 21 Irons. Though there’s a lot to love, the set would have scored higher had they managed to make them more forgiving, even if that’s not their target anyway. As it stands, these are great clubs for the low handicap golfer who wants the ultimate in terms of workability and feel.
Now it’s time for our final verdict.
The Callaway Apex 21 Irons are some of the best-looking and best-performing irons we’ve ever had the pleasure of testing. They offer an incredible amount of control and workability, and they feel absolutely fantastic.
If you’re a low handicap golfer who wants the absolute best, then these are the irons for you. Just be aware that they’re not very forgiving, so if you tend to miss the sweet spot often, you might want to look elsewhere.
Still, the feel, workability, and looks are impressive enough that we think they’re worth checking out even if you’re not a scratch golfer.
If you’re looking for something between the Apex Pro and the Apex DCB, a true no-nonsense player’s distance iron set, then this might just be the set for you!
Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Have you had a chance to hit these yet? If so, what did you think? Let us know down in the comments. As always, thanks for reading!