Gear: Callaway Apex MB and CB irons (2023). Price: $215 with True Temper Dynamic Gold mid steel shafts, Golf Pride Z grips.
Specifications: Forged carbon steel 1025. Available in 3 iron (20.5 degrees), through attack wedges (50 degrees).
Available: August 18, (pre-sale), / September 8, (in stores).
Most golfers want irons to help them hit the balls farther and higher. But elite players — those with a powerful and repeatable swing — always look for more from their clubs. You can achieve all the distance and power you need, but you still want more control. You need irons to allow you control the flight of the ball, and curve it. This requires a higher level of feeling at impact.
Callaway updated their Apex CB irons and Apex M irons based on feedback from the tour pros. They now offer more control and feel and are easy to mix and match to create a blended golf set.
The Apex Pro irons have been updated to include a hollow chamber filled with vibration-absorbing microspheres in the 3-5 irons. However, the Apex MB irons and Apex CB are solid-body models forged out of 1025 carbon steel. The sensations generated at impact are not hindered by the material used to make the irons. This is what pros, college athletes and elite amateurs prefer.
Callaway created the Apex CB & Apex MB using a progressive location of center gravity (CG). The long irons have extra mass positioned lower in the head to create a higher-launching ball shot. However, the CG moves up to the mid-and short-irons for a more piercing, low-flying ball flight.
Both clubs have a pre-worn, more rounded leading edge. The trailing edge has a more rounded design, with a more pronounced upward curve. This helps the Apex CB or Apex MB to get into and out of the grass more effectively.
The Apex CB is a Callaway Apex TBC, which is the iron that Jon Rahm and Xander Schnauffele use. Callaway increased the blade length a couple millimeters over the Apex TCB. The brand believes this iron will be the most popular on the PGA Tour and also available to a few amateur golfers.
Callaway designers added tungsten in the toe section to offset the weight and bring the ideal striking area to the center of face. The tungsten can be seen because it is hidden under the chrome plating. This will help create a neutral bias in weight and make it easier for players to draw or fade.
The Apex CB is designed with a cavity-back, which allows for a slight amount of weighting around the perimeter. However, the Apex Mb is a muscleback blade. The blade is very compact, with virtually no offset. It also has a thin topline. Callaway has studied the sole design, and changed the bounce so that it is quick on the grass.
Fitters can change the weight of the club based on its length or the player’s preferences.
The Apex CB looks very similar to the Apex MB, but they are identical in loft, with the pitching wedges at 46 degrees, and the 5-irons at 26 degrees. Golfers can easily blend sets with a custom-fitter. Many PGA Tour professionals do this. Callaway will offer the “The Elite”, a combo set that includes the Apex CB 3 iron through 7-iron, and the Apex M in the 8-iron to attack wedge.
Here are some close-up photos of the Apex CB for 2023 and Apex MB.
