Best Callaway irons 2024
Which 2024 Callaway iron is best for you? Our reviews team have all the answers you need as we round up the ultimate Callaway irons currently available
As we move further into 2024, Callaway continues to be a leading brand in the golf industry, offering a range of top-quality irons to suit every player’s needs.
We’ll be taking a closer look at the best Callaway irons available on the market this year. These including Callaway’s brand new Ai Smoke irons, which are packed with the latest tech this year.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, there’s a Callaway iron on this list that’s sure to help you take your game to the next level.
Best Callaway Irons 2024
Callaway Paradym AI Smoke Irons
Reviewed by Ian Backhouse
These are great-looking irons with a sleek, sophisticated design that immediately catches your attention. They feature a refined blue/grey smoke finish that exudes elegance. When you look down at the clubhead at the address, it has quite a thin top line, which will appeal to some.
On closer inspection, the sole is not chunky too; perhaps the combined chrome base and dull grey insert play a trick on your eyes as this is a slimmer sole than you may come to expect from a club that sits perhaps more in the player’s distance category rather than the game improvement category, despite the hollow body construction.
I tried the 5 and 9 irons across all 3 models, and the results were very similar – higher ball speed, lower launch angle, lots less spin than is optimum for the club but longer carry and, given the lower ball flight, significantly longer total distance. I didn’t see big differences from normal strike shots when I looked at the dispersion numbers and factored in my normal shape/proximity to the target. However, anything slightly off-centre still flew well and didn’t stray too far from the target, which was interesting.
These great-looking irons are definitely worth considering if you are looking for distance and forgiveness, especially from off-centre strikes. The ball leaves the clubface at some speed, and the potential extra distance will, in turn, lead to different club choices. You should definitely be custom-fitted to ensure you have the right head shape (and weight) and shaft combination for your swing speed and shot shape; I feel I would definitely have had a higher ball flight and potential carry with a different shaft – this might not have changed overall distance but would make it easier to stop the ball sooner in the summer. As you would expect from Callaway, these clubs come with a full range of shaft and grip options and are another step forward in using technology to optimise the performance of a wide range of golfers.
PROS
- Thin top line
- Great ball speeds
- Forgiving
CONS
- Need a custom fit
- Read the full Callaway Paradym AI Smoke irons review
RRP: £1049 4-PW
7 iron loft: (Degrees) 28
Shafts: Dozens of custom options available
More information: Callaway Website
Callaway Apex CB Irons
Reviewed by Jack Backhouse
CB heads seem to be slowly disappearing from different manufacturers’ iron ranges. Once a staple in a tour player’s bag, good ball strikers seem to either play the pure blade or something with a bit more help. The Callaway Apex CB is going to reverse that trend single-handedly.
The design of the head is simple and clean, without too much going on on the back of it. The dulled chrome is smart, and the head sits pretty compactly behind the ball. There is a fraction more ‘meat’ behind the ball than the Callaway Apex MB head, which gives you a bit more confidence that you can see those towering shots that land soft as seen on TV. These irons are truly beautiful.
The head is forged from 1025 carbon steel, which is what gives it the buttery soft feel and quality at impact, and new to all the Apex irons this year is a new dynamic sole design which is supposed to help with turf interaction, making it easier to maintain speed through the ball and into the ground, which should help make more consistent contact.
One of the new tech advancements since the release of the 2021 Apex MB is the progressive centre of gravity the irons now have. The longer irons are designed (3-4-5) with a lower CG to help with launch and the ball landing softly into greens, whilst the short irons (9-10-11) all have a higher CG, so players can expect help to keep the ball flight down. This is great as clearly the traditional issue with small-headed irons is how hard the long irons are to get up in the air, but this is no longer with Callaway now delivering enhanced workability and control.
I am a huge fan of these irons, and I absolutely would consider putting them in the bag. Callaway have managed to add some tech features to a very small head that will help your game, so if you are looking for a new set, then get a fitting and give these a try.
PROS
- Great compact shape
- Sound solid
- Designed with tour players in mind
CONS
Not suitable for inconsistent ball strikers
- RELATED: Read our full Callaway Apex CB irons review
Callaway Apex MB Irons
Reviewed by Jack Backhouse
Unboxing this gift from Callaway was a real treat. I love blades, and they do not come any ‘bladier’ than the new Callaway Apex MB iron. With the thin topline, and the compact blade length, this golf club screams high-level ball striker, and if you are not, then you shouldn’t be holding them.
Behind the ball, they look fantastic. You really feel like you are going to be able to work different ball flights, and I love the dulled chrome finish. The black tungsten weight screw with Apex stamped on it gives you the impression that there is some technology in the head and that it is not just your standard blade. This hasn’t added any unwanted size to the club, so you purists out there can stand down.
The data isn’t impressive in terms of carry and total distance, as I have hit irons this year that get up to 190 yards plus, but it’s the consistency that’s important. The launch angles are pretty tight, the spin is very consistent, there are no surprise long ball speeds, and you just generally get the feeling that you know what is going to happen when you make contact. The player that is considering putting these in the bag are searching for more control and more predictable results, and that is exactly what Callaway Golf offer in these irons.
Something Callaway have been great at in their last few player’s irons lines is how well the irons combo set together, and that is no different in the new Apex Pro line. The Apex MB and CB irons look pretty much identical at address behind the ball, and you could easily go half and half with these to make your long iron game a tad easier. The Apex Pro head is also pretty similar and would offer much more firepower in 3 and 4 iron whilst still looking the part, so you should certainly go for a fitting where you can hit all the long iron heads to build the most optimal set for your game.
I am a huge fan of these blade irons, and they are right up there with the irons I’ve most enjoyed hitting this year. Callaway have managed to add some tech features to a very small head that will help your game whilst not ruining the purity of the MB. If you are a good ball striker looking for an upgrade, you should definitely be considering these.
PROS
- Great feel
- Sound fantastic
- Serious sex appeal
CONS
- Not suitable for inconsistent ball strikers
- RELATED: Read our full Callaway Apex MB irons review
Callaway Paradym irons
Reviewed by Hannah Holden
These irons are so attractive. Callaway have done such a great job with the styling. When you look at them on a shelf they really stand out. I love the navy and gold colourway and think the whole club looks premium and smart.
The offset is minimal which is nice, and great for golfers who don’t necessarily need lots of help moving the ball from right to left. I also really like the fact the blade length is fairly compact.
I was impressed with just how easy the 5 and 4-iron were to hit. These are not clubs I typically like using but I found them really easy to hit, especially the 5-iron. I would happily put this straight in play as it was easy to launch and the data was super consistent which is rare with a long iron.
Overall these are a really impressive set of irons. They are exceptionally long, so they are perfect for players who have lost distance or who want to hit the golf ball further. But the big thing that impressed me is just how well Callaway has balanced having more ball speed and distance without losing control. I think Callaway have nailed it with the Callaway Paradym irons.
Pros:
- Long carry distances
- Fast ball speeds across the face
- Forgiving on off centre strikes
Cons:
- Not as workable as other models
- RELATED: Read our full Callaway Paradym irons review
Callaway Rogue ST Max irons
Reviewed by Jack Backhouse
There’s no getting away from how big these irons are. At address the Rogue ST Max irons almost make the ball look small, which is good as these clubs are designed for a player who wants maximum forgiveness and distance. They sit with the classic Callaway iron style and have the strongest lofts in the Rogue ST family.
The results do not disappoint, these irons are crazy long. From what I would consider being fairly average club head speed averages, I was able to hit a 9 iron that carried 149, a 7 iron that carried 180 and my longest 5 iron went 204 CARRY. This was easily the longest Rogue ST iron model.
The Rogue ST Max are not only long but also incredibly forgiving. Strikes from places other than the centre also flew extremely far and felt really solid. I even had mishits with the Rogue ST Max irons that fly further than a good strike on my current irons. Not a good look for the old blades.
The only downside I see with the Rogue ST Max irons would be that the spin on the shots is very low. This is great if you want more distance but not good if you’re trying to control it, and would give me problems when hitting into greens. I would also probably have to add at least two more wedges into my bag to fill some gaps created by the irons going so far.
Pros:
- Long
- Consistent ball speeds across the face
- Strikes feel powerful
Cons:
- Chunky heads won’t suit the eye of all players
- RELATED: Read our full Callaway Rogue ST Max irons review
Callaway Rogue ST Pro irons
Reviewed by Jack Backhouse
The Callaway Rogue ST Pro Irons have to be up there as one of the best-looking irons on the market right now. Callaway have done a great job of designing a classically simple iron with a thin top line and reduced offset.
After the first shot with the pitching wedge I could feel immediately they were hot off the face. The ball seemed to shoot off the face much quicker and higher than what I am used to. Callaway’s new AI Designed Flash Face Cup doing its job nicely.
I enjoyed the consistency in the flight of the ball too, not hitting the ball perfectly out the middle every time but still seeing almost the same trajectory every time. Callaway put this down to precision high-density tungsten weighting in the head. There is up to 188% increase in tungsten in the head compared to previous iron models, making these as consistent as ever.
If I were to put these in play, I would probably choose to create some split set, using the Rogue ST Pro irons in 6,5,4,3 irons and maybe the Apex TCB irons in the 7,8,9, PW. Hitting half and three-quarter shots is such a big part of my game I couldn’t risk hitting the low spin shot that never stops, but the consistency of the long irons is too good not to play.
Pros:
- Compact players shape
- Great speed off the face
- Consistent distance on off-centre hits
Cons:
- Hot ball speeds might cause a problem for knockdown iron shots
- RELATED: Read our full Callaway Rogue ST Pro irons review
Callaway Rogue ST Max OS Lite irons
Reviewed by Jack Backhouse
The Callaway Rogue ST Max OS Lite irons were designed specifically for players looking to get the maximum performance out of the club, and it definitely looks that way when you address the ball. These clubs have huge club heads, wide soles, and enhanced offset giving the feeling that it’s hard to mishit a shot.
Setting up to the ball, the club head feels massive. The Rogue ST Max OS Lite has a thick top line, oversized head, and enhanced offset. It makes you feel like the sweet spot on the club is enormous, which is precisely the feeling a higher handicap golfer wants.
These irons wouldn’t go into my bag, but I’d definitely recommend them to a slow swing speed player. I think Callaway have done a great job offering a club to those players who arent obsessed with distance, and just want to be able to hit the ball up in the air more consistently.
Pros:
- Lots of offset helps square the face up
- Light weight allows you to swing faster
- Any quality of strike will perform well
Cons:
- Larger club heads
- RELATED: Read our full Callaway Rogue ST Max OS Lite irons review
Best Callaway Irons 2024
We hope this article has provided you with valuable insights into some of the best Callaway irons of 2024 as reviewed by NCG. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro, upgrading to high-quality golf equipment can make a significant difference in your game.
If you’re after more Callaway equipment buying guides, check out our links below…
- Best Callaway Drivers 2024
- Best Callaway Golf Balls
How do we test irons?
At National Club Golfer we are passionate about producing accurate and thorough reviews and make sure our testing process is rigorous so we get a good understanding of how each club performs.
Each iron is hit with Pro V1 golf balls to allow us to collect launch monitor data with our in-house TrackMan and Flightscope. After this it is time to head out onto the golf course and test the clubs in practice and competition play. We do this across a variety of golf clubs in our base of Yorkshire.
What is important when buying a new iron?
When buying a new set of irons it is important to know what you want from that club to help you improve.
Most people are looking for more distance, each iron model is optimised for different things. Depending on your swing and your impact conditions, you may not actually hit the model that is advertised as the longest, the furthest. So if you want more distance it is always worth giving different models a hit before you make a decision.
For most golfers, especially high handicappers, something that is more forgiving is going to yield the best performance. Most forgiving golf irons have a slightly bigger club head with perimeter weighting for high MOI. They also have a center of gravity that is further back to help players get more height on their shots.
Do you want something that is draw bias? There are so many models out there to help with slice correction, it would be silly not to take a look if you see your ball disappearing into the right trees too often. A closed face and draw bias weighting can get you hitting straighter shots in no time at all.
Don’t forget about the shaft either. Getting the correct shaft can help dial in your spin, launch angle and can also give you some extra distance. Having a club fitting or trying different options with your local pro can really improve the performance of your new driver.
The Best Callaway Irons 2024: FAQ’s
What are the latest Callaway irons?
The Ai Smoke irons from Callaway are their latest model of irons. These irons have proved to be some of the best all-round irons we have tested this year.
What’s different in the latest Callaway irons?
The Paradym irons are distance irons and, as the name suggests, are designed to deliver maximum distance, but a new construction means you get all the benefits of a great feeling club too.
The club face is a forged 455 face, and Callaway are saying it is their most powerful forged iron face ever.
The iron has a hollow body construction with a speed frame for added stiffness. This allows the club face to be thinner which helps drive up ball speeds.
The combination of a forged face and urethane microspheres provides an ultra-soft feel and a premium sound which isn’t always available in distance irons.
This is designed for golfers who want a players distance iron with a smaller more refined shape and the feel from premium forging.
What Callaway irons do the pros use?
Currently there are 42 PGA Tour players among the top players in the world playing Callaway clubs or other Callaway equipment. This list includes players like Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, and Tony Finau.
Conclusion
We hope this article has provided you with valuable insights into some of the best Callaway irons of 2024 as reviewed by NCG. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro, upgrading to high-quality golf equipment can make a significant difference in your game.
Nicola Slater
Nicola recently graduated from Stirling University where she studied Sports Studies, she wrote her dissertation on barriers to participation for women in golf.
Nicola plays her golf at Hickleton Golf Club and has recently started her professional career on the LET Access Tour. Having played for Yorkshire Ladies and has represented England at junior and senior level.
