Expert Review: Callaway Apex DCB 21 Single Irons
All photos courtesy of David L. Brown
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the irons, which I tested for one day in August of 2022.
My take
The Callaway Apex DCB 21 irons are suited for golfers looking for accuracy and consistency within their mid-range game. They are sharp with their silver and black design and, overall, will not disappoint when it comes to pin hunting.
About the club I tested
- Model: 2021 Callaway DCB Apex Irons
- Loft setting: 7 Iron 30.5 degree standard offset
- Shaft type: Steel
- Shaft flex: Regular
About me
- Average score: 79
- Handicap: 7
- Experience: 22 years of golf
- Right/Left-Handed: Left-handed
- Typical ball flight: High
- Golf ball used: Taylormade RBZ
- Club swing speed: 97mph
Test conditions
- When I tested the club: August 2022
- Days tested: One day
- Where I’ve used it: Simulator
- Weather and wind conditions: Indoors
How it performs
Why I chose this club
I decided to give these clubs a try because I had heard these were one of the newer Callaway irons on the market. I ended up going through a testing session with a simulator and found out that these were not the irons for me, but could be for someone looking for more workability and feel within their midgame.
What I love about it
- Forgiveness: These irons were forgiving in that when a shot was struck off-centered or my swing path was off, the ball still flew the distance I wanted and was relatively close to my target.
- Feel: The feel was soft and could easily be determined when a shot was struck pure or not.
- Sound: The irons had a metallic sound to each shot that appealed to the ear.
- Workability: I worked the ball consistently from right to left, which is my natural shot shape. It allowed me to be confident when I was seeking pins.
- Shaft Feel: The shaft feel was lightweight and easy to swing through on contact.
- Shaft Performance: The shaft was standard steel and provided solid support to each swing.
- Aesthetic Appeal: The silver and black design had a very sharp look to it.
- Grip Feel: The grips were tacky and felt comfortable within the hands.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Distance: I play irons from 2008 right now, and my distance with the 2021 Callaway irons was exactly the same. I feel that with today’s technology, the distance should have been greater.
- Adjustability: There was no adjustability to these irons as the loft settings were predetermined.
- Launch Angle: The launch angle was lower than I would have liked as I like to launch the ball high and let the ball land softly, but I was consistently not getting the soft landings I was hoping for.
- Spin: My spin rate was higher, averaging around 8000 RPM versus my current irons (7200 RPM). This created what I thought was more side-to-side movement within my shots.
Best shot with this clubs
I tested these clubs and I wouldn’t say one shot stood out, but I liked that they were consistent with each swing. I believe a large part of this was due to its cavity backing, which has MOI forgiveness features to create better consistency. This is why I saw my shot chart on the simulator was all within 10 yards distance and 20 yards left or right.
Value for the money vs. other options
I think these are a good value compared to other irons that I have tested like the Callaway Mavriks, Callaway Big Berthas, and the Srixon ZX5s because they are more consistent than the Mavriks, Big Berthas but not quite as consistent as the ZX5s. For their price, I believe they are definitely worth the purchase for someone looking to make an upgrade.
Final verdict
These irons were comfortable in my hands. I felt confident the more and more I tested them, but I feel like they are suited for someone looking for irons that will provide them consistency and accuracy over distance.
