Review: Callaway Apex MB irons
Our Callaway Apex MB irons review took place at the Golf Shack at Moor Allerton in Leeds.
We used a Foresight GC Quad launch monitor to gather data thanks to PGA professional James Whitaker.
Callaway Apex MB irons review – First impressions
There have been some fantastic bladed irons released in 2017 and these are right up there from a looks and shelf appeal point of view.
We’ve had the Mizuno MP-18, TaylorMade P730, Titleist 718 MB and now these little beauties from Callaway.
All of the above look fantastic and are undoubtedly aimed at the better players.
The Apex MB were created specifically with tour players in mind and have already become very popular among the brand’s staff players.
Current European Tour players using them include Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Nicolas Colsaerts, Haydn Porteous, David Horsey, Thomas Detry and Alvaro Quiros.
They are a true muscle-back blade with classic, compact shaping, a traditional thinner top line, and a bright chrome finish.
Callaway Apex MB irons review – The technology
There isn’t really a lot of technology which can be applied to a lump of metal.
With irons of this nature it’s all about getting the looks and feel spot on.
Callaway say they have paid particular attention to CG positioning to create the ball flight preferred by tour players.
Each iron, forged from a single piece of 1025 Carbon Steel, is engineered for soft feel. They say their triple net forging process that allows for a more aggressive and precise ‘V’ shaped groove pattern for more accuracy and control.
Callaway Apex MB irons review – The results
As a mid-handicapper these irons aren’t really aimed at me but I was interested to see how the performance compared with the more ‘game-improvement’ irons I am familiar with.
The look at address is quite intimidating. The heel to toe length is much shorter than what I am used to.
They make you feel like you have to be very precise with your ball striking which isn’t a bad thing.
With most irons of this nature, the sweet spot is quite small – which again isn’t a bad thing as you get plenty of feedback from your shots.
Anything out of the heel or toe and you really know about it from a feel and results point of view.
I was definitely capable of hitting reasonable shots with these irons and I really enjoyed the sound and feel on offer.
But I was losing about 10 yards of distance though so a 7-iron for me was going 140 instead of 150.
My game is currently build around a 7-iron going 150 yards.
It’s not an insurmountable problem but I fear as I go up into the longer irons my gaps will get shorter and shorter – I’d have to move into hybrids quite early!
Callaway Apex MB irons review – NCG verdict
Blade enthusiasts will love these irons – the looks are right on the money and they offer everything a better player would want.
I think the traditional lofts will be an issue for any player, like me, who has got used to stronger lofts in their irons.
I’m used to about 30˚- 31˚ in a 7-iron these days and the loft on the Apex MB 7-iron is 34˚. The 6-iron is 30˚ so they are effectively going to be a club shorter for me.
So it’s not just the lack of helpful technology that might cost me. Even if I hit them out of the middle, I’d have to re-think my yardages.
But there is much to be gained for mid-handicappers by practising with irons like this as they will improve your ball striking through their feel and feedback.
Details
SRP: £1,049 (7 irons)
Available: 2-AW
On sale: January 26, 2018
More information can be found on the Callaway website.
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James Savage
Former equipment editor of NCG. Inconsistent ball-striker and tea-maker.
