Equipment
Update: Callaway to release Apex Black irons (again)
Note: If you missed out on the initial launch, Callaway is re-releasing the Apex Black irons, available on August 18th, due to popular demand.
Tired of the same satin or chrome finish on what seems like every set of irons on the market? These new all-black (a.k.a murdered-out) irons may be your answer.
Callaway is set to release its Apex CF ’16 irons with a Satin Black PVD finish. The irons will have all of the same technologies as the original retail offerings: A progressive design with 360 Face Cups in the long irons (3-7) for forgiveness and distance, face plates in the short irons (8-AW) for feel and distance control, and a multi-piece construction throughout the set.
Read here for more tech talk on the Apex Forged irons.
The Apex Black irons, which are forged from 1025 mild carbon steel, will be available for $1,299 with steel shafts, and $1,499 in graphite. The stock shaft will be a stepless True Temper XP 95 shaft with a Satin Black finish that matches nicely with the all-black club heads, but other shafts will be available at no upcharge, as well.
Pre-sale date is set for May 20, while the official launch is on June 3.
See what GolfWRX members are saying about the irons in the forums.
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
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Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
Asterisk Talley WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Brianna Do WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
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Dave
Jun 15, 2016 at 2:46 pm
Can I get a set in red no make that blood red as I’m having issues with my game lately. They will probably play better.
Dave
May 18, 2016 at 4:51 pm
Ya Tom your right like all the rest of the companies ,one year old Taylor made drivers last years first new model out of many they released.On line for $125.00 original price $395.00
Dave
May 18, 2016 at 1:48 pm
Nice clubs but the price is well the price is absolutely out of reach for us retired guys . I understand it costs for r@d but they are painted black how much was the paint? Oh ya and most of us long time golfers know the mark up on clubs , I don’t mine someone making a living but come on now guys they are just clubs. More does not mean better …………
Tom
May 18, 2016 at 3:32 pm
wait a year 70% less.
joro
May 18, 2016 at 11:53 am
I have been playing Wilson Blk Irons for a couple of years now and together with the blk. Aldila RIP iron shaft they are really stealthy, and the C100s are really great and understated Irons.
Alan Medina
May 18, 2016 at 11:29 am
Are those plasti dipped? Black versions look kind of cheap. I like the brushed silver though!
Tom
May 18, 2016 at 3:40 pm
Comparison to other deposition techniques[edit]
“Advantages[edit]
PVD coatings are sometimes harder and more corrosion resistant than coatings applied by the electroplating process. Most coatings have high temperature and good impact strength, excellent abrasion resistance and are so durable that protective topcoats are almost never necessary.
Ability to utilize virtually any type of inorganic and some organic coating materials on an equally diverse group of substrates and surfaces using a wide variety of finishes.
More environmentally friendly than traditional coating processes such as electroplating and painting.
More than one technique can be used to deposit a given film.”…..
Dave
May 18, 2016 at 7:02 am
Funny. I don’t have a problem spinning the ball with mine. These do look nice.
tish
May 18, 2016 at 12:36 am
Don’t forget the Nike Vapor Pro Irons too…they came out before the PXGs…and the Adams were out before anyone
James
May 17, 2016 at 11:48 pm
Hope the black last longer then my Cleveland wedge, bottom and half way up back of wedge is now just a stainless steel color…..did Cleveland just paint the wedges??
Brian
May 17, 2016 at 2:59 pm
$1,300….Titleist, Callaway, and Taylormade iron prices are getting ridiculous. A part of the reason I stick with Mizuno
OH
May 17, 2016 at 2:55 pm
Pulling a page from the PXG playbook. Very original there Cally.
Cleveland....
May 17, 2016 at 4:24 pm
and possibly cobra might take issue w/ your statement. Looking back over time a lot of manufactures have had options for black finishes on irons.
just glad more options for finishes are becoming available from the larger more accessible manufacturers.
lsf_21
May 18, 2016 at 11:44 pm
You must be new to golf equipment. Adam’s made black irons years ago. Callaway made black irons with the razr black. This has been done before pxg even existed.
OH
May 25, 2016 at 10:34 am
No, I’m not new to golf equipment and am well aware of prior model irons coming in black from other OEMs. PXG was the most recent, though, and this move by Callaway plus their markup on them versus the satin finish seems to follow suit to exactly what PXG has done.
golfraven
May 17, 2016 at 2:34 pm
I would consider those if I was looking for new irons, even if I am not a big Cally fan.
Chuck D
May 17, 2016 at 2:19 pm
Eldrick could have used a pitching wedge!
Adam
May 17, 2016 at 1:39 pm
Well shoot just got some APEX! But I am LH, these are RH only anyhow 🙁 That shaft is nice though, wonder if it performs identical to the stepped version?