Expert Comparison: Mizuno Pro 223 Irons vs Callaway Apex 21 Irons

Published on 02/04/2024 · 5 min readCompare Mizuno Pro 223 Irons and Callaway Apex 21 Irons. Get expert insight below!
Mark D., Golf Expert
Ellis G, Golf Expert
Victor Maldonado, Golf Expert
Contributed By Golf Expert Mark D., Ellis G, Victor Maldonado, Jonathan Belanger, Ari T and others

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Side by side comparison

Top pick!
Mizuno Pro 223 Irons
Top pick!
Callaway Apex 21 Irons
Price
$1,499.94
from:$714.28
23% off
User rating
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4.73(146)
The Curated Take
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Best for golfers seeking consistent, predictable results and great distances.

Iron Set Type
Iron Set
Iron Set
Player type
Players
Players distance
Used (Y/N)
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In the world of golf, the Mizuno Pro 223 Irons and Callaway Apex 21 Irons are two top-tier products that have been making waves. Both are designed for advanced players, offering exceptional performance, feel, and design. The Mizuno Pro 223 Irons are a player's cavity back iron, offering a blend of performance and exceptional feel without sacrificing all of the forgiveness. On the other hand, the Callaway Apex 21 Irons are known for their workability, feel, and distance, making them a great choice for mid to low handicappers. While both irons have their unique strengths, the Mizuno Pro 223 Irons stand out for their superior feel, workability, and aesthetic appeal. However, the Callaway Apex 21 Irons are not far behind, offering impressive distance, forgiveness, and a great feel. The final verdict? It's a close call, but the Mizuno Pro 223 Irons might just edge out the competition for their exceptional feel and workability.

The Mizuno Pro 223 Irons are a phenomenal player's cavity back iron, designed for the more advanced player who is looking for top-end performance, while still enjoying some forgiveness in their irons. These irons are well made and look the part as well. High-quality components with advanced engineering and design stand out.

One of the most attractive aspects of Mizuno irons is the exceptional feel. It is buttery soft when you find that sweet spot to let you know you laced it. It’s one of the best feeling irons, in terms of feedback, in the game. Another positive about these irons is the satisfying audible “click” sound at impact that lets you know you found the center face, while off-center strikes create a different sound to let you know you missed.

The 223 irons produce exceptional spin, especially on the scoring irons (8 iron through gap wedge), and offer great stopping power to help hold the greens and set up more birdie opportunities. The 223 model is one of the most attractive on the market. With their traditional lofts, super workability, excellent spin, superb feel, and consistent distance, any low to mid-handicapper will love them.

The Mizuno Pro 223 golf clubs are made for the better player looking for an iron with an exceptionally soft feel at impact. These irons not only look and feel good, but the performance backs it up. They were constructed with increasing distance in mind for better players needing extra distance out of a compact design. Overall one of the best distance player irons in the game.

Mark D.
Golf Expert

The Callaway Apex 21 Irons are a great choice for golfers looking for a good balance between a player's iron and a set with enough forgiveness. These irons consistently produce the optimal ball flight and spin rate. They also look great in the bag, and at address.

These irons are long! For many golfers, the extra distance took some getting used to. Hitting higher lofted approach shots also helps with proximity to the hole since the descent angle is steeper and golfers are able to control spin a little more.

Mishits definitely lose distance, but the dispersion is excellent - balls that aren’t well-struck tend to stay on-line longer and in play more often. The Apex 21s are a strong, versatile set of irons that suit a wide variety of golfers.

The Apex 21s are a great choice for me because they have a clean, classic almost blade-like look, but have enough forgiveness for my mishits. These are great irons for a higher handicapper looking to improve scores and gain distance, or for a low handicapper who needs a bit more forgiveness. This is an extremely versatile set of clubs that I plan on enjoying for years.

Ellis G
Golf Expert

Callaway Apex 21 Irons

$714.28$925.00
23% off
  • We price match
  • Returnable

Similarities

Both the Mizuno Pro 223 Irons and the Callaway Apex 21 Irons are designed for advanced players, offering a blend of performance, feel, and forgiveness. They both have a clean, classic look that appeals to many golfers. Both sets of irons are known for their exceptional feel and feedback, providing a satisfying experience when you hit the sweet spot. They both offer a good amount of forgiveness, making them suitable for players who may not always hit the center of the clubface. Both irons also offer excellent distance, with the Callaway Apex 21 Irons being particularly noted for their length.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While both sets of irons are designed for advanced players, they cater to slightly different types of golfers. The Mizuno Pro 223 Irons are ideal for more advanced players who are looking for a solid blend of performance and exceptional feel without sacrificing all of the forgiveness. They are some of the best-looking clubs in the game, both at address and in the bag. The 223 model is one of the most attractive on the market. With their traditional lofts, super workability, excellent spin, superb feel, and consistent distance, any low to mid-handicapper will love them.

On the other hand, the Callaway Apex 21 Irons are a great choice for golfers looking for a good balance between a player's iron and a set with enough forgiveness. These irons consistently produce the optimal ball flight and spin rate. They also look great in the bag, and at address. These irons are long! For many golfers, the extra distance took some getting used to. Hitting higher lofted approach shots also helps with proximity to the hole since the descent angle is steeper and golfers are able to control spin a little more.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

  1. Performance: Both sets of irons offer excellent performance, but the Mizuno Pro 223 Irons edge out the Callaway Apex 21 Irons due to their superior workability and consistent distance.
  2. Feel: Both irons are known for their exceptional feel, but the Mizuno Pro 223 Irons are often described as having a "buttery soft" feel, giving them the edge in this category.
  3. Forgiveness: While both sets of irons offer a good amount of forgiveness, the Callaway Apex 21 Irons are noted for their excellent dispersion on mishits, making them the winner in this category.
  4. Aesthetics: Both sets of irons have a clean, classic look that many golfers find appealing. However, the Mizuno Pro 223 Irons are often praised for their aesthetic appeal, both at address and in the bag, making them the winner in this category.

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the Mizuno Pro 223 Irons and the Callaway Apex 21 Irons are top-tier products that offer a blend of performance, feel, and forgiveness. However, the Mizuno Pro 223 Irons edge out the competition due to their superior feel, workability, and aesthetic appeal. They are a perfect set of irons for more advanced players who are looking for a solid blend of performance and exceptional feel without sacrificing all of the forgiveness. On the other hand, the Callaway Apex 21 Irons are a great choice for golfers looking for a good balance between a player's iron and a set with enough forgiveness. They offer excellent distance and forgiveness, making them a strong, versatile set of irons that suit a wide variety of golfers. Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on the individual golfer's preferences and needs.

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