Callaway have released their most complete game-improvement irons to date. So what’s new, and how do they perform? Find out in our Callaway Apex Ai300 iron review.
- RELATED: Callaway Apex Ai200 irons review
- RELATED: Callaway Apex irons: Everything you need to know!
NCG SUMMARY
They were great for a consistent performance. For a higher handicap player, these irons were perfect in helping to deliver strong distance yardages and are easy to hit.
Not to mention they look great. They have a smart, professional look and the club head didn’t feel overly bulky, which was a big plus.
PROS
- Smart looking
- Really good levels of forgiveness on bad strikes
- Strong distance gains
- Easy to hit
CONS
- None
Callaway Apex Ai300 Iron Review: First Impressions
I really like the simplified look. Aesthetically, I think they are what you’d pretty much want from a set of irons. They look more slick and professional than previous Callaway game improvement irons and match the distinct Callaway appearance. Overall, as far as game-improvement irons go, I think they are very nicely styled.
NCG Verdict
After only a few warm-up shots, I was fairly sold on the Callaway Apex Ai300 irons. I have admittedly never owned a set of game-improvement irons, but being a 14-handicapper, that is probably a mistake. Instantly, I seemed to see a great improvement in performance than I usually produce.
For a mid-handicapper, like myself, consistency with the irons is what I am constantly left wanting. But with these irons that was exactly what I found.
So, what does the data say?
Starting with the lower irons, I was pleasantly surprised with how good these Callaway irons felt coming off the club face. Below is my 9-iron data, which I was pleased with, especially in terms of carry distance and control. I was happy to see an average carry yardage of 114.8 in a strong wind.
The lower irons felt effortless in getting the ball up in the air. As you can see with the height registers of 75ft, 69ft and 63ft you can launch your shots up in the air. I hardly have the best of swings, far from it, but I was still able to throw it up. This is perfect for higher handicappers who struggle to keep their approaches on the green as the irons create high balls for a softer landing.
Throughout the bag, I was pleased with the control I was able to command over the golf ball. I tend to leak shots out to the right, but a slice became more of a fade. The ball flight looked good most of the time, and for mid to high handicappers having a less extreme and more controlled ball flight is ideal.
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I was also able to get plenty of spin from the pitching wedge and 9-iron, as you can see from the data. Nice ball speeds and increased spin across the board. This will also aid in giving players more control when hitting into the green as they can soften the landing onto the putting surface.
In terms of the longer irons, below is my data from the Callaway Apex Ai300 5-iron, I was also impressed. Like most mid to high handicappers I often feel as though I loose control when hitting the lower irons. But, these irons bucked that trend for me. I liked how they came off the club, and once agin the ball flight was very much controlled.
Again I was impressed with the consistent spin rate and ball speed. Which Callaway attributes to the Ai Smart Face. They say the Ai Smart Face generates outstanding speed and spin consistency with tight dispersion into greens. This is ideal for less accomplished golfers.
Even the mishit shots performed well. As you can see from the dispersion graphic I was able to regularly reach a good carry yardage. But, possibly even more importantly, the landing zone for each club was nice and compact. Having a consistent grouping is key for us higher handicappers in being able to score low.
What also impressed me, throughout the bag, was the performance I was still able to generate when hitting behind the ball or a little thin. The forgiveness levels of the Callaway Apex Ai300 irons is impressive in it’s own right.
Having irons with enhanced turf interaction for mishits is ideal for those who struggle to consistently strike the ball cleanly or don’t have enough consistency with their swing. If you don’t necessarily strike the ball of the middle of the club face, then this should be a considered option for you.
Something else that suited my eye, was the view over the ball. There wasn’t a big bulky club head that distracted my eye when swinging, but rather a slick compact-looking club. The face also looked to be steep, which is perfect for those looking for that extra bit of confidence you can get enough launch.
Overall, I think these are a fantastic set of game-improvement irons. The performance gains is evident for mid to high handicappers and make golf that tad bit easier.
Callaway Ai300 Iron Review: The Details
Available: Pre-order from 15th August, PAR date 23rd August
RRP
Apex Ai300 Steel: £1199 / $999
Apex Ai300 Graphite: £1299 / $999
Shaft
Steel: True temper DG Mid 90 (R, S)
Graphite: UST Mamiya Recoil Dart 70 (A, R, S)
Grip: Golf Pride Z-Grip
Lofts: 20° – 33°
More information: Callaway UK / Callaway US
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