Equipment

New Callaway 2021 Apex, Apex Pro, and Apex DCB irons: Could this be the best Apex launch ever?

Published

5 years ago

Jan 12, 2021

Today, Callaway introduces the new 2021 Apex, Apex Pro, and Apex DCB irons.

“With the Apex line we get to express the best of our technology.”

-Dr. Alan Hocknell, Callaway R&D on the new 2021 Callaway Apex irons

It was in 2019 that Callaway Golf brought the action-packed Apex Forged to the market, and it became a hit almost overnight. What wasn’t to like? It looked amazing, launched high, went forever, and got through the turf effortlessly.

Like any other launch in this category, I always ask, at what point will they add spin back into this package? At the end of the day, spin is control at any trajectory, and although this class of iron has always leaned toward lowering spin and making up for it with descent angles, time has taught us that there is an optimal spin window with irons that can’t be ignored.

So what was Callaway’s recipe to make a successful iron even better? Engineers found new ways to look at spin, and in my opinion, it’s a huge step forward.

2021 Callaway Apex Forged irons

The new 2021 Callaway Apex irons

The Tech Story: Spin Robustness

The new 2021 Callaway Apex Forged irons were created with one goal in mind: optimization, not only across the set, but into each specific iron. For the first time, Callaway used A.I to design its patented Flash Face Cup, which in previous applications created a face that was not only fast but extremely forgiving.

In this update, the focus was on control and “spin robustness,” which is an awesome way to say spin optimization. Callaway was able to not only increase ball speeds and forgiveness across the face, but with a new weighting configuration, also able to control and optimize spin.

Each iron face is tuned to complement the loft (i.e. long irons = high launch/low spin, mid irons = mid launch/mid spin, short irons = lower launch/higher spin).

More photos and discussion in the forums.

The new 2021 Callaway Apex Forged Face On

But why focus on the spin? The answer is simple, control. Yes, it’s fun to hit monstrous 8-irons, but the reality is, if you can’t stop the ball, it’s useless. Not everyone can get the ball high enough to utilize a steep descent angle, so adding some useable spin opportunities across the face makes a ton of sense. Callaway did this without making any tweaks to the previous loft package. That’s pretty remarkable.

How exactly? The new 2021 Callaway Apex Forged incorporates five times the tungsten as its previous version (up to 64 grams in the 9-iron), which not only tunes in launch and spin, but in harmony with Callaway’s urethane microsphere injection, creates an iron that gives you that crisp forged iron feel all while giving you the help you need across the face. The tungsten weights are also placed in a unique CG position for each iron. This amount of tunability is typically seen in drivers and metal woods.

More photos and discussion in the forums.

What does that mean for us? Specifically, it gives each iron a very precise CG location to dial in trajectory but an added benefit is these irons lose very little on thin shots. That’s huge for the recreational player.

The Look

What’s new? Why re-invent the wheel? The only real tweaks are a pre-worn leading edge across the set and in the short irons a higher toe with some rounding to the shape.

The new 2021 Callaway Apex Forged down the line

The new 2021 Callaway Apex Forged iron

Overall

As with Apex Forged ’19, this iron packs all the punch a player would want in a high-end teched-out forged package. This is Callaway’s Mercedes Benz AMG, and in a competitive 2021 iron market, the 2021 Callaway Apex will definitely punch its weight with players of all skill sets, and it looks amazing. Well done, Doc, Scott, D. Nevs, and the entire Callaway crew.

Pricing/Specs/Stock Offerings (Per Callaway)

Available at Retail: 2/11

Pricing: $185/stick – steel, $200/stick – graphite

Loft offerings: 3-AW

The new 2021 Callaway Apex Pro irons

2021-callaway-apex-pro-21-irons

“This new Apex Pro is a serious breakthrough for better players in terms of Forged performance”

-Dr. Alan Hockenell, Callaway R&D

The new 2021 Callaway Apex Pro may be the biggest shocker in this new line. Based on previous models, one could assume that what we would see this time is a clean, tour-inspired players cavity back. However, 2021 is a new year, and with it, a brand new take on a players forged iron.

The Tech Story: Going internal

As with the Apex Forged (standard), the new 2021 Callaway Apex Pro was designed with A.I technology utilizing the Flash Face Cup to increase ball speeds and forgiveness in a hollow-bodied forged 1025 mild carbon steel chassis. This time around, it’s what’s inside that tells the story. The internal tungsten weighting system, which goes all the way up to 90 grams in the 7-iron, creates a forged players iron that optically looks like it should, but also gives it just enough help to please an even wider range of golfers.

The new 2021 Apex Pro also incorporates Callaway’s urethane microsphere injection to fine-tune feel and sound.

It’s not often that you see an iron designed specifically for the tour that packs in this much tech, all while serving the two main masters at the pro level: looks and control.

Although the new 2021 Callaway Apex Pro packs a bit more punch and forgiveness than its older sibling, don’t for a second think this is a distance iron. Using A.I to design the face, Callaway ensured that launch and spin windows were dialed to satisfy the Marc Leishman’s and Min Woo Lees of the world. Basically, this iron won’t provide and surprises to its tour staff, which is a huge plus.

More photos and discussion in the forums.

The Look

The new Callaway Apex Pro has all the tech bells and whistles one would want but with zero sacrifices to optics. The compact players profile has just a hint of offset, a thin topline, and a players sole for optimized turf interaction. It’s a simple, yet elegant, exterior design with a ton of horsepower under the hood.

Overall

I love the direction Callaway went with the Apex Pro. It’s a true separation from the X Forged line and offers a middle ground between Apex MP and X Forged CB. I’m a huge fan of the ability to build combo sets, and with this unique Apex Pro setup, players now have a true players club that also delivers the ball speeds and spin combos that allows the set to transition harmoniously.

I had a chance to speak with PGA Tour Manager Jacob Davidson on the new 2021 Callaway Apex Pro and its unique design, and this is what he had to say.

JW: The new Apex Pro is definitely something fresh in this category. What was the initial reaction from the staff?

JD: We’ve been doing the majority of our early player testing with staffers who have been at our Ely Callaway Performance Center in Carlsbad, Ca. They’re loving it and the initial reaction from the players who have tried it has been great. Now that the Tour season is back underway, we’ll have a lot of guys testing these irons on-site at events and doing a lot of work with building up these irons. It’ll keep us busy for sure!”

JW: In regards to performance, what are players that have tested experiencing with the new iron? More distance? Higher launch?

JD: The performance really stands out, which is what you would expect from a player’s iron. These guys aren’t worried about getting more distance, it’s about getting the consistent distance that they know they can expect on every shot. The spin robustness on Apex Pro helps create that level of consistency, which really helps with the level of control they’re looking for.

The forged feel stands out too, with the 1025 hollow body construction – that’s what guys expect from Apex. And with all the Tungsten that we have in there, it’s a big help in getting the exact launch and ball flight that they want to see.

JW: With this new hollow body construction, it feels like we will see a ton of Apex Pro/Apex Pro MB combo sets. Do you think that’s accurate? Why?

JD: Yes we are going to have a really extensive offering of combo sets available – in fact, we have four really great options, we’re calling it a fitting menu. There’s the “Sweet Spot” which combines Apex and Apex DCB. The “Triple Play” is something new that blends Apex, Apex Pro, and Apex DCB – so three different irons in one set. There’s the “Mixed” set that features Apex and Apex Pro. And the “Player” option is for the elite players with a mix of Apex Pro and Apex MB.

JW: What separates an X Forged CB player from an Apex Pro Player. Is there a profile of player that leans one way or the other?

JD: Both of these irons are great options and in the bags of PGA Tour players each week. The X-Forged CB irons have a touch more offset and bounce than the Apex Pro irons. The new Apex Pro irons offer slightly longer blade lengths and grooves in the 2021 lineup and are packed with some new exciting technology. The initial feedback on the Apex Pro’s has been nothing short of exceptional on tour with guys adding them to their bags rather quickly. Both sets of irons offer extremely tight spin robustness and workability for a player’s iron.

JW: Any tweaks to the soles/looks based on tour feedback?

JD: We added longer blade lengths and grooves in the Apex Pro irons.

Pricing/Specs/Stock Offerings (Per Callaway)

Available at Retail: 2/11/21

Pricing: $185/stick – steel, $200/stick – graphite
Loft Offerings: 3-AW

More photos and discussion in the forums.

New 2021 Callaway Apex DCB (Deep Cavity Back) irons

The new 2021 Callaway Apex Forged DCB

“But wait there’s more!

-Dave Neville Callaway SR. Director of Brand Management

Same tech package as Apex Forged (standard) in a beefed-up chassis for the higher handicapper.

The New 2021 Callaway Apex Forged and Apex Forged DCB

This iron, which is Callaway’s most forgiving forging ever, is a direct response to the players who wanted the full Apex Forged experience but with a bit more forgiveness.

The new 2021 Callaway Apex Forged DCB Down the Line

The new 2021 Callaway Apex Forged DCB

The new 2021 Callaway Apex Forged DCB

The Look

Players will see a bit more offset, thicker top line, wider sole, and a longer blade length. This combination equals more launch and ball speed across the face all while staying true to the Apex Forged loft package which makes combo sets a no-brainer.

More photos and discussion in the forums.

The new 2021 Callaway Apex Forged DCB Face On

Overall

The new 2021 Callaway Apex DCB is a clever play for Callaway. There is a big chunk of the market that needs help but also wants high-tech forged irons. These are every bit of that, and my hunch tells me they will be a sleeper hit in the fitting bay.

Pricing/Specs/Stock Offerings (Per Callaway)

Available at Retail: 2/11/2021

Pricing: $185/stick – steel, $200/stick – graphite
Loft Offerings: 4-AW

More photos and discussion in the forums.

Whats in the Bag

Christiaan Maas WITB 2026 (June)

Published

3 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

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.

Equipment

TaylorMade MySpider Tour and Tour X: More customizable build options now available

Published

4 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

Alistair Cameron

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

Published

6 hours ago

Jun 11, 2026

Alistair Cameron

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.