PGA Championship

Oak Hill Country Club



Callaway

Apex 21

Hot List Gold 2023

Our Review:

WHAT IT DOES: A mainstay of Callaway’s iron line, the Apex remains a dependable choice for many golfers. The forged 1025-carbon-steel body has a cupface that wraps around part of the topline and sole to maximize flex and ball speed on the 4- through 9-iron. The company continues to use tungsten weighting (ranging from 14 to 64 grams or five times the amount of tungsten in the previous Apex version) encased in microsphere-filled urethane to better control the center of gravity. A major benefit of this design is improved ball speed on off-center strikes, particularly on shots hit on the lower part of the face. Speaking of the face, it’s the first time artificial intelligence has been used to design the face architecture for each iron. 

WHY WE LIKE IT: We’ve been fans of the Apex since the first iteration debuted in 2014, and in some ways it helped bring the concept of the players-distance iron into focus. Over the years Callaway has improved the Apex’s shaping—more pleasing-to-the-eye short irons and a power boost at impact that makes you feel like the iron downed an energy drink. Not badass enough for you? The Apex also comes in an all-black version.  Read more>>

Which one's for me?

Find Out
Price: Apex 21 $185 (per iron)
All products featured on Golf Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Callaway Apex 21_PDI_Hero.jpg
Prev Club
Next Club
Callaway Apex 21_PDI_Hero.jpg
Ratings
Performance

50%*

Innovation

30%*

Look / Sound / Feel

20%*

* Percentage of total score

Player Comments
Medium-Handicapper
"These are just beautiful clubs. Sharp. Perfect-sized head. Obviously some tech but doesn't look too busy. Crisp off the face with a forged response in your hands. Easy to control."
Handicap, 9
High-Handicapper
"Simple design with clean back cavity. Crisp, classic, soft click at impact. Lightweight feel through the swing. Very easy to control. Great launch without sacrificing distance. Very trampoline jump off the clubface."
Handicap, 14
High-Handicapper
“The club has a buttery-smooth feel through the turf. As exhilarating as a breath of fresh air. This iron excels in every category: forgiving, straight and long.”
Handicap, 12
Club Specs
Models Shaft Shaft Flex Dexterity Price
Apex 21 Graphite: UST Mamiya Recoil Dart 65 Graphite, Steel: True Temper 85 MPH Steel L, R, S Left Hand / Right Hand $185.00

Apex 21

Name Loft Length Lie
5I 23.50 38.00 61.00
7I 30.50 37.00 62.00
PW 43.00 35.75 63.50

Surviving the Hot List: Season 2

What happens when you drop a golf-crazed Hollywood actor and a retired NFL player into the most grueling gig in golf? At the 2023 Hot List summit, Golf Digest's cameras followed Michael Peña and Danny Woodhead's quest to ace their new jobs as rookie club testers.

From the Manufacturer
Description

The Apex 21 Irons deliver an extraordinary level of forged performance and craftsmanship. They’re the first forged iron designed with Artificial Intelligence for faster ball speeds and improved spin consistency. Increased forgiveness comes from our massive Tungsten Energy Core, and we’ve enhanced the shaping for even better turf interaction. In short, these irons deliver superior performance with iconic feel on every swing.

LEARN MORE