Expert Review: Callaway Apex Pro Irons 2019

Published on 03/14/2023 · 5 min readThis review is my honest opinion of the irons, which I bought with my own money in January 2019.
Peter Weisel, Golf Expert
By Golf Expert Peter Weisel

Photo courtesy of Peter Weisel

About this review This review is my honest opinion of the irons, which I bought with my own money in January 2019.

My take

The Callaway Apex Pros are a small clubhead for intermediate to advanced golfers who want forgiveness from a player’s iron.

Photo courtesy of Peter Weisel

About the club I own

  • Model: Callaway Apex Pro 2019 Irons
  • Loft setting: 4-PW
  • Shaft type: AeroTech Steelfiber i110
  • Shaft flex: Stiff

Test conditions

  • When I bought the club: January 2019
  • Days tested: 1 day of custom fitting, and 3 years of play.
  • Where I’ve used it: I have used these irons at my home course Meadow Hills Golf Course, golf trips, outdoor driving ranges, and indoor simulators.
  • Weather and wind conditions: Wind, rain, drought, and sunny skies.

About me

  • Average score: 76
  • Handicap: 3
  • Experience: 18 years
  • Right/Left-Handed: Right-Handed
  • Typical ball flight: Medium height fade
  • Golf ball used: Callaway ChromeSoft X LS
  • Club swing speed: 105-110 mph with a driver

How it performs

Feel
5/5
Sound
5/5
Distance
4/5
Forgiveness
4/5
Launch
4/5
Workability
4/5

What I was looking for

I played a set of blades before these (the Srixon Z965), which were great when I played well but fell short (literally) when I would mishit them. I wanted to find a cavity back iron to help with mishits that have a smaller club head like my blades.

Why I chose this club

I tried clubs from Callaway, TaylorMade and Srixon during my testing. I did consider purchasing the TaylorMade P790, but the Callaway Apex Pro carried 7 yards farther in the air. That was the tie breaker during my club testing.

Photo courtesy of Peter Weisel

Photo courtesy of Peter Weisel

What I love about it

  • Forgiveness: The perimeter weighting of these clubheads makes them very forgiving for their size. I was previously playing blades in my short irons and wanted my miss hit 8 irons to start hitting the green. Now my mishits on the toe and flies farther in the air.
  • Feel: Cavity back irons have a reputation for looking bulky and not having a great feeling at impact when a shot is struck well. The forged face creates a fantastic feel that is similar to a blade iron. However, the center of the clubface feels more hollow than other forged clubs I have hit, like the Srixon Z765.
  • Workability: The Apex Pro is a very workable cavity back iron due to it’s small size. Much better than it’s larger counterparts like the TaylorMade SIM2 Max or Cobra Kind Radspeed. Those who currently play blades will find that these irons do not move the ball as much as blades do.
  • Adjustability: The metal used for the clubheads is soft enough that the loft and lie can be adjusted by a few degrees without breaking the clubhead.
  • Shaft Feel: I LOVE the Aerotech Steelfiber i110! They have the weight of a steel shaft and forgiveness of a graphite shaft.
  • Shaft Performance: I love the Steel Fiber i110 shaft’s ability to blend the performance of a graphite shaft and the weight of a steel shaft.
  • Aesthetic Appeal: The thin top line makes them an excellent option for people who desire the look of a Player’s Iron. The metal on the clubhead is soft which shows some minor dings and dents over time. Thankfully it’s nothing that would make me want to replace them.
  • Launch Angle: I prefer to hit my stock shots pretty high in the air ,and the Apex Pro irons help me do that. The perimeter weighting provides a mid to high trajectory that many golfers require.

Issues I’ve encountered

  • Distance: These irons perform better than their higher lofted counterpart blades but I wouldn’t consider these distance irons. There are irons on the market that will generate more distance. The 2021 model of the TaylorMade P790 and Callaway Epic Forged irons travel farther in the air than the 2019 Callaway Apex Pro irons.
  • Sound: The sound of the Apex Pro won’t replicate traditional forged clubs perfectly, but they do provide a slightly higher-pitched solid sound. They remind me of a fast car driving by while walking on the sidewalk.
  • Launch Angle: It is hard to hit very low shots below the wind. They are not designed to hit this shot.

Best shot with this club

The best shot I have ever hit with these irons was a 4 iron approach into the 17th hole of the par 5 at Pinehurst #8 on a golf trip with my dad. I hit a great drive and I was able to flush my 4 iron, land it just short of the green and it rolled up to about 8 ft from the hole. Definitely the best shot of the trip!

Value for the money vs. other options

The 2019 Callaway Apex Pro irons are not bargain performance irons. They are designed for golfers that require specific features from their irons and don’t mind paying a little extra to get them. The TaylorMade P790 and Srixon Z 765 irons I tested also fall into this category. They are all in the $150-$200 per club price range.

Final verdict

These irons helped me improve my ball striking and hit more greens in regulation. I recommend the Callaway Apex Pro to any intermediate to advanced golfer looking for a forgiving iron that has a smaller look when addressing the ball.

Curated experts can help

Have a question about the article you just read or want personal recommendations? Connect with a Curated expert and get personalized recommendations for whatever you’re looking for!

Shop Golf on Curated

Callaway Apex Pro Irons 2019
$1,050.00
TaylorMade 2021 P790 Irons
$809.99$1,219.99
Callaway Epic Forged Irons
$1,499.95

Browse more Callaway Golf

Callaway 2024 Rogue ST Max Irons
$549.97$699.99
TaylorMade RBZ Speedlite 11-Piece Complete Set
$899.97$1,199.99
TaylorMade Golf Qi Irons
$848.56$942.84
Callaway XR Packaged Complete Golf Set
$1,199.97$1,399.99
Wilson Profile SGI Complete Set
$359.99$399.99
Callaway Women's Strata 11-Piece Complete Set
$359.99$399.99
Cleveland RTX 6 Zipcore Tour Satin Wedge
$79.96$169.99

Browse more Callaway Golf

Read next

New and Noteworthy