Equipment
See photos of Callaway’s new Apex irons, coming “very soon”
Last week, sources confirmed that Callaway would revive the Apex name for its new set of forged distance irons.
This weekend in the GolfWRX Tour/Pre-Release Equipment forum, the first photos of the iron’s logos were released, as well as a video message from Roger Cleveland about the irons.
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According to Cleveland, the new Apex irons are longer and have great turf interaction like Callaway’s previous forged distance iron, the Diablo Forged.
“And they’re coming very soon,” Cleveland said.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D LS (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade P7CB (4), TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold X100
Wedges: TaylorMade Prototype (50-SB09), TaylorMade MG5 (56-HB12, 60-LV07)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400
Putter: TaylorMade TP Juno
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Christiaan Maas’ clubs here.
TaylorMade Golf’s MySpider program underwent a substantial overhaul over the last month. Firstly, the company launched the option to customize the Spider ZT model, and now the program has returned with the MySpider Tour and MySpider Tour X.
The revamped page now gives golfers complete control over every visual and functional detail of their putter on the popular Tour and Tour X head, with every cosmetic idea thought of. In MySpider Tour, golfers can choose from four head finishes, 16 paint fill colors, nine Surlyn face insert colors, three aluminum insert options, six sightline configurations, and four hosel options — L-neck, small slant, double bend, center shaft. Six sightline options are available in MySpider Tour, including the optically engineered True Path alignment system. MySpider Tour X gives builders the option of four head finishes, four hosel configurations, and five sightline options, also including True Path alignment.
One of the more interesting features of the new MySpider program is the availability of three distinct face insert options. Along with the usual Surlyn Pure Roll insert trusted by Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, which can be customized from nine colors, golfers can now also select firmer options. Two are offered with the black aluminum Pure Roll insert, slightly firmer than the traditional insert, or for the firmest feel, golfers can choose from two colors of milled aluminum inserts.
Another fun addition to the MySpider Tour is the ability to use the “Tommy Sightline.” The custom alignment aid design, which was first drawn onto Tommy Fleetwood’s putter by PGA Tour Rep James Holley, is based on the milled sightline on his Spider ZT head. There are five shorter lines on the left and right of a longer central line serving as the traditional short line alignment aid.
See below for the full specifications sheet for MySpider Tour and Tour X:
MySpider Tour
MySpider Tour X
Equipment
Then and now: Comparing Rory McIlroy’s current setup to his record-breaking 2019 Canadian Open victory
In Rory McIlroy’s first appearance at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, he crushed the record books to earn his 16th PGA Tour title in dominating fashion, winning by seven shots over Shane Lowry and Webb Simpson.
McIlroy’s score of 22-under-par 258 is the lowest 72-hole score to date at the Canadian Open, and his closing 61 is also the best final-round score in the history of one of golf’s oldest tournaments. Finally, with his win in 2019, McIlroy became only the sixth player to win the career Triple Crown, adding to his victories at the U.S. Open in 2011 and The Open Championship in 2014, joining Tommy Armour, Walter Hagen, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods in a coveted list.
So, with that, why not compare his current setup to the clubs he used to break all the records?
Driver
2019: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees @8), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7X (45 5/8 inches)
McIroy led the Tour in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee in 2019; he’s doing the same in 2026. Between now and then, McIlroy has switched from the Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX (a shaft with slightly more feeling in the tip) to the original Fujikura Ventus Black 7X, having just made the change to the heavier version from playing the 60X.
What’s interesting about McIlroy’s 2019 setup is that the weighting on his driver is actually set in the high-draw setting, using the T-Track weighting system, whereas in the Qi4D, he’s currently using a heavily rear-weighted setup. (Two 13-gram weights in the rear and only two 4-gram front weights.)
The TaylorMade M5 driver he played in during his Canadian Open win was the company’s first head that they claimed to design to initially exceed the USGA’s COR limit, and then injected with tuning resin to bring it back in bounds.
Fairway woods
2019: TaylorMade M6 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX; TaylorMade M5 5-wood (19 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 90 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8X; TaylorMade Qi4D 5-wood (18 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9X
The TaylorMade M6 fairway wood that McIlroy was using during the 2019 season is still in the bag of some of the best golfers on Tour in 2026. Just check out Justin Rose’s winning setup from the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year. This year, though, McIlroy has still been searching for his top-end-of-the-bag setup, having played both the new Qi4D and the Qi10, which he won the Masters with.
The same shaft swap can be seen in the fairway woods as the driver, along with slightly less loft on the 5-wood.
Irons
2019: TaylorMade P750 (4) Buy here, TaylorMade P730 (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
2026: TaylorMade P760 (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
The biggest difference between McIlroy’s custom set and the stock P730s is the groove design. While the P730s were constructed with 14 MX-9 grooves on their milled faces, McIlroy’s proto heads instead use the higher-spinning, 16-groove layout of the TW2 grooves. Other big differences between the sets are that McIlroy’s 7- and 8-irons have thinner toplines, are 1 degree stronger in loft, and are 1/4 inch longer than the original P730 builds.
With McIlroy’s 4-iron, the switch from P750 to P760 sees a transition to a two-piece construction with Speed Foam in it, which allows McIlroy to launch the ball slightly higher, with more workability.
Wedges
2019: TaylorMade Milled Grind (48-09SB), TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09SB, 56-09SB, 60-LB09), Shafts: Project X Rifle 6.5
2026: TaylorMade MG5 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB, 60-08LB @61), Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)
Between 2019 and 2026, McIlroy’s focus on his short game has been much more apparent. It was the reason why he switched back to the TP5 golf ball, to help with launch, spin and control with his wedges leading up to his career Grand Slam victory in 2025. The most apparent changes to McIlroy’s wedge setup are his lofts and bounce. He’s slowly delofted his pitching to a sand wedge, but has increased the loft on the lob wedge, bending his current 60-degree to 61. With that, adding more loft to his lob wedge also slightly increases the bounce and leading-edge sit point, so, as a result, he plays a lower-bounce lob wedge compared to 2019. The MG5 wedges are also softer than the first Milled Grind option from 2019. McIlroy also no longer plays the full-face grooves found on the Hi-Toe.
Putter
2019: TaylorMade Spider X
2026: TaylorMade Spider Tour X
Notice anything similar. Yes, the copper finish on Rory McIlroy’s Spider X putter in 2019 is a slightly more reflective finish than the recently released torched PVD finish. McIlroy was using the True Path alignment system, but now uses only a single white sightline.
Ball
2019: 2019 TaylorMade TP5 (#22)
2026: 2025 TaylorMade TP5 (RORS)
As mentioned above, McIlroy had transitioned from the TP5 to TP5x golf ball since his victory in Canada in 2019, but now is black with the same style of golf ball as his victory at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.
Grips
2019: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
2026: Golf Pride MCC
Interesting, McIlroy actually used Golf Pride’s Tour Velvet Cord grips during his victory in 2019 (it was during a 2+ year switch to the corded TV) as opposed to his usual MCC grips, which he has played for most of his career.
What’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
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joro
Sep 22, 2015 at 8:36 am
Funny stuff here. I played my good golf in the 60s with small forged blades and Wood Woods. The balls were wound and cut easily. I still have the Irons and took them out one day a year or so ago along with some Wood Woods just to see. Pretty clubs and good memories of Tournaments won, but one round and back in the Garage. There is no way the old stuff is playable when put alongside the new.
So your a traditionalist, thats fine, play the game anyway you want and enjoy it but don’t try to convince anyone it was better. Todays stuff is great, although I do not approve of the way the lofts are jacked to hit it farther, that is an outright scam to sell more clubs.
I am sure the traditionalists drive an old car in favor of a new one also because they are still stuck in the good ole days. Well, whatever but don.t try to convince that old is better.
Joe
Dec 6, 2013 at 3:33 pm
Is it just me or did Callaway totally just rip off Ping’s i20 design?
Tourcaddie74
Sep 25, 2013 at 2:41 pm
With all the purist on this blog, how many of you are still playing persimmon drivers? Face it , golf has changed because of the golf ball. Low spin with a 3 or 4 iron will not go very far, much less get very high unless you come over the top. Callawy is the new leader in the golf industry. They have 21 people in R&D with PHDs. How many companies have that many on staff? These irons will be a big hit on the market because of the ability to mix and match irons in your set. For all the purist, go get yourself a set of MacGregor VIP’s from 1966 and see how they look, them go play a round from all the way back and post your 84.
MartyMouse
Sep 25, 2013 at 7:03 am
I have already hit both the pro and this version (pictured). The Callaway Rep let me do some range work with them. The pro version is completely awesome. Best forged cavity back they have ever built! I feel truly worthy of the Apex name. I am personally glad that they are not letting the model name die.
Jeffrey Trigger
Sep 23, 2013 at 6:36 pm
I don’t get all the anger on this post. Yes, they are named Apex. No, they aren’t blades. Seriously folks, from the address position find a better looking GI iron. I am quite impressed with the look of this iron. I’m hoping that this is a sign to come for 2014 irons to look less like space station door handles.
CJ
Sep 23, 2013 at 7:43 am
I would think the majority of customers buying these will know little if any about what the original Apex was…that was some time ago. Those that do don’t have to look at the Cally iron or hit it or talk about it..and continue to live in the past….IMO of course.
R
Sep 22, 2013 at 10:15 pm
look similar to the legacy black that stenson uses
Nathan
Sep 22, 2013 at 8:37 am
He’s dead so doesn’t really matter what they call them!!!…could call them bin ladens if they want…wh care!!!!!!
Dunno, Jack
Sep 20, 2013 at 12:57 pm
Truly, take one second to read what you write before hitting enter. Either that or post a video of your swing so we can determine credibility.
On another note, if you know anything about Mr. Hogan you would probably understand that he would most certainly not appreciate that you are speaking for him good or bad. Your opinion is not his opinion.
JHM
Sep 19, 2013 at 11:47 am
In a nod to all the traditionalist I heard that Callaway is going to be offering a Bobby Jones inspired line of blades. The PW will have 52 degrees of loft, stock shaft will be Hickory, other wooden shafts available as an upgrade.
Scratch kelly
Sep 18, 2013 at 7:10 pm
I own four sets of original hogan apex irons. They were the best irons of their day. This ‘blade” is forged? Like many of the others titleist ap1-2. Part forged part not! The use of the name may attract folks to look but the players looking for modern apex blades will run to miura or epon forged !!!! After seeing this. Probably plays well for most folks but the use of the name on these seems a waste if marketing print!
JS
Sep 18, 2013 at 1:21 pm
Anyone who thinks Callaway has a right to put Apex on those monstrosities doesn’t know equipment or has no sense of respect for the Ben Hogan brand or Legacy. A desperate company trying to cash in on a legacy they abandoned when they bought Top Flite to combat Titleist supremacy, that got them far!
Ian
Sep 19, 2013 at 3:50 pm
I bet the Hawk himself would be bagging something like these. I’m playing Cleveland 588TT’s. 7iron goes 165-170 up in the air! Why wouldn’t you? They look pretty good as well. Medium top line with far less off set then many GI irons. The 3time michigan player of the year as well as 2 time pga participant is playing them.
DP
Sep 17, 2013 at 1:27 pm
Alright, let’s all hold our water a bit, remember, these are just the Apex version, not say the Apex Pro or blade, which is probably the next step. I am all for tradition, but like someone posted above, if they feel good, work well and give a little more forgiveness than a blade I’d hit it. I am all for making the game easier and more fun for everyone. Give me a shovel and if it helps me with GIR’s I am all in…example G25’s. More people on this site SHOULD be applauding these versus all the criticism out of the box.
pinky&the brain
Sep 17, 2013 at 10:02 am
Give the clubs a chance…. lets not be too hasty.
Young
Sep 17, 2013 at 9:08 am
As long as that black thing is not plastic I am fine. just don’t like any plastic on my clubs..
Dave
Sep 17, 2013 at 7:13 am
I could care less that they don’t look like the old Apex.If they have a great feel and perform,I’m good with that.
Mike
Sep 17, 2013 at 6:52 am
Could’t agree more with Blair’s statement about the top line. I don’t mind rest of the design or looks but top line is just oafish!
Blair
Sep 17, 2013 at 4:27 am
top line is gross
Danny
Sep 18, 2013 at 6:58 pm
I don’t have an idea of the “old” Apex’s as with the new Apex launch is the first time I had heard of the older Ben Hogan line. I initially thought the cavity / rear (first picture) looked really nice and thought this is an iron I could game, then I scrolled down to the top line photo and WOW, what a shame! Guess the search for my next set continues!
Chris
Sep 16, 2013 at 7:39 pm
Man, you guys must be so awesome at golf. I guess you missed Nathan Smith playing X Hot irons with stock graphite shafts in the Walker Cup. Not X Hot Pros. Regular X Hot irons. It is not 1975 anymore.
HackerDav31
Sep 16, 2013 at 10:45 pm
You didn’t realize everyone here is a 0-2 hcp and hits driver 300+ yards? Welcome to WRX. Home of the Monday-Sunday morning quarterbacks of all things golf! I kid of course, there are lots of great guys on the site, but these rage debates over sullying a legacy with an iron launch, ruining golf with innovation, etc, etc, etc. Its so tiring… this site should be fun to visit! Most of the time its just infighting and brand name-calling… sadly.
Steve
Sep 16, 2013 at 6:51 pm
These look great. Lets hope there not to expensive.. Nobody is going to spend $1400 on ping anser irons but they are one of the best irons on the market. I can see the apex playing very similar to the anser. But they should leave the distance tag well away from these types of irons.
Martin
Sep 16, 2013 at 6:29 pm
Wow, you guys are a tough crowd.
I think they look pretty good and will try them out.
KK
Sep 16, 2013 at 6:28 pm
How about an Apex, Apex Tour and Apex MB? That would get the most out of the Apex name while offering blades for the diehards here. Although I doubt some of these Apex fans ever had the game for Apex irons, past or future. It’s like auto fans and manual transmissions. They cry about not the dwindling option but every car in their garage has slush boxes and soccer stickers on the windshield.
Mike
Sep 16, 2013 at 5:36 pm
I played Ben Hogan Apex clubs for years and those never looked so chunky. Who is Callaway aiming at with this Apex model, those retired 36+ HCPers with too much cash? Obviously yes. Sorry but that would be last clubs I would purchase. Shame that Callaway trashed Ben Hogan’s brand and legacy.
Ola scholander
Sep 17, 2013 at 1:06 am
Thats me! If you leave out the retired part 🙂
Chris
Sep 16, 2013 at 5:32 pm
At address they look very close to my beloved DCI Blacks. Now, offer Recoil shafts and these will be mine.
Chris
Sep 16, 2013 at 5:16 pm
Love em!!!
Andrew
Sep 16, 2013 at 4:00 pm
This is not ok….at all.
Greg
Sep 16, 2013 at 3:00 pm
Missed opportunity
MikeB
Sep 16, 2013 at 2:49 pm
I, for one, love the looks of these.
perry
Sep 16, 2013 at 12:14 pm
They should have named these the Hogan Radials!
naflack
Sep 16, 2013 at 12:04 pm
Is Ben Hogan somewhere all in a rage or shaking his head at the hysteria? Besides that, should it even matter? He was one man, who according to Arnold Palmer wasn’t even pleasant…
purkjason
Sep 16, 2013 at 11:10 am
This is all about greed and nothing else. After this slap in the face to the legendary Ben Hogan I vow to never own anything Callaway. I admit I own the X Hot Driver and for weeks now I have tried to brainwash myself into liking it but cannot. Yesterday I shelfed the driver. With todays 3 woods no one even needs a driver anyways. Ben Hogan, I personally apologize for Callaway’s Idiocy !
Matthew
Sep 17, 2013 at 10:55 am
Get over yourself. Why would they make a blade and put Apex on it, you honestly think that Callaway needs two lines of blades. It’s hard enough to sell one line of blades to amateurs who think they can play them but have no business hitting them. I personally think it’s a good idea on Callaways part to put the name on this type of iron. The guys that played the Hogans in the 70s and 80s and wants to play it again are most likely not playing blades now, or atleast shouldn’t be.
Perry
Sep 16, 2013 at 11:07 am
I am unsure of the terms of the sale of the Hogan name to, I think, Perry Ellis for clothing but if Callaway retained the rights to the Hogan name for equipment, I think they should keep it and use it with the Apex name in a traditional forged blade. I will reserve judgment until I see them but a prima facie opinion is that I don’t quite care for it. I heard there were a couple of versions of the Apex so maybe I’ll like the other version better.
Shark
Sep 16, 2013 at 11:01 am
I saw the title and eagerly opened to complete disappointment.
On their own without the apex name…. They are ok.
A friend once said if your titleist ap1 irons came forged he would love that.
Well… These look like they have a good address look, almost chunky like original x forged.
They have a insert for absorbing shock. They look somewhat forgiving.
But the blasphemy is in the name. Apex forged Ben Hogan blades were beautiful with clean lines and that great logo.
This offering had nothing to do with that. Why bring back the name for that? Absolutely bizarre thinking.
Ebk
Sep 16, 2013 at 10:48 am
Wow. Just wow.
They don’t look anything like an evolved Apex iron. Hard to see Apex name without the Ben Hogan cursive signature. I always hoped Cally would bring back the Hogan line, but that’s not possible. These don’t look nearly as nice as the x forged irons.
I wonder how they’ll play and what level player they’re designed for…
Gary
Oct 4, 2013 at 3:34 pm
I think the new apex irons look great
I had a set of apex blades in the 80’s they were great
Then I used hogan edge forged irons in the 90’s they were easy to use
I used them in the Brittish open in 1996
The new irons look easy to use and are forged
You have got to use modern technology
Stop kidding yourself only tour pros can hit blades.
JnRadioActive
Sep 16, 2013 at 10:36 am
The guys on the Hogan Swing Secrets page will piss themselves over this
JnRadioActive
Sep 16, 2013 at 10:35 am
If Ben is looking down (or up) on this it will make him even nastier than he already is up (or down) there…
Colin Gillbanks
Sep 16, 2013 at 10:50 am
Haha.
Comment of the week.
Me nunya
Sep 16, 2013 at 4:13 pm
Mr. Hogan is neither up there nor down below…everyone knows he is in Valhalla.
The rumor is Hogan’s driver is harder to lift than Mjolnir.
JChoj
Sep 17, 2013 at 10:04 am
THIS is the comment of the year!
Ola Scholander
Sep 16, 2013 at 10:35 am
trajectory and distance for these compared to speed blades? i like shovels but would prefer a forged shovel if it performs just as well. mizuno ez forged for example does not perform as good as rocketbladez (for me that is) . and yes i know all about kranked lofts etc, but rockebladez are both loger and w better trajectory than the ez:s
Jon W
Sep 16, 2013 at 10:32 am
legacy*
Big_5_Hole
Sep 16, 2013 at 10:06 am
Those are not Apex irons. Apex irons were the pinnacle of forged blades in their day, a true players club; these are shovels.
What a disgrace to one of the greatest names in golf history.
Jon W
Sep 16, 2013 at 10:31 am
+1, ruining the Ben Hogan golf club lagaxy.
Shame on you Callaway!
Aaron
Sep 18, 2013 at 10:54 pm
Considering that Callaway bought Hogan Golf years ago… Guess its theirs to do with as they please.
andy
Sep 18, 2013 at 11:59 am
stop being such a drama queen.
Jay
Oct 14, 2013 at 12:12 pm
Maybe they think these are that good that they can wear the Apex Badge. When is the Pro coming?
Josh
Sep 16, 2013 at 10:04 am
In before the rage comments!