Updated July 15, 2023. This article was thoroughly audited by multiple golf experts and coaches for its accuracy. You can read more about our rigorous testing protocol here.
Callaway has produced some of the best golf equipment the industry has seen over the past few decades. Their long history of creating finely crafted clubs extends to their Callaway golf irons.
Whether you are looking for a player’s iron or a game-improvement iron, Callaway offers an affordable set that provides outstanding performance.
Here’s our list of the best Callaway iron sets that can instantly improve your game and help lower your scores.
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Last updated on 2023-09-27. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
Table of Contents
Things to Consider When Buying Callaway Irons
Back (Blade vs Cavity)
The back of the iron typically equates to the level of a golfer using the irons.
For example, cavity-backed golf irons are used by mid and high handicappers that need more forgiveness and consistency from their shots.
Advanced players use blade irons because they provide workability with outstanding performance.
Center of Gravity (Deep vs. Shallow)
The center of gravity can be shallow toward the face or deeper in the sole. A deeper CG can help golfers lift the ball with greater ease. Instead of a low ball flight, the deep CG creates a tall arcing shot. On the other hand, a shallow CG positioned more toward the hitting area creates a more dependable, moderate ball flight preferred by advanced golfers.
Shaft (Steel or Graphite)
A steel shaft, typically found on irons and wedges, offers a heavier weight when compared to graphite. These shafts provide a more solid feel throughout the swing, making them more ideal for the performance needed from an iron.
Graphite shafts are great for golfers struggling with swing speed and woods and hybrids where maximum swing speed translates into more yards off the tee box. Graphite does work well in irons for seniors, juniors, and ladies.
Recommended: Graphite vs Steel Shaft: Which is Better?
Type (Forged vs Cast)
Forged irons are commonly associated with blade irons used by low handicappers. These advanced irons help these gifted golfers shape shots with stunning accuracy.
Cast irons, typically found in the shape of a cavity-backed iron, offer a deep, low center of gravity to help lift the ball along with exceptional distance and carry.
Best Callaway Irons Ever
Callaway Paradym Iron
Best All-Around Callaway Irons
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SPECS(4-PW)
- Loft: 20°-42°
- Lie Angle: 61°-64°
- Shaft Length: 35.5”-38.875”
- Weight: D1
PROS
- Streamlined body helps minimize drag
- Superb feel and outstanding responsiveness
- Lower CG helps improve launch with long irons
CONS
- Tougher for high handicappers to hit consistently
Callaway’s outstanding Paradym set, my choice for the best Callaway iron on the market, offers a players’ distance club for mid handicappers that want more length and accuracy from their irons.
Featuring a tour-inspired shape, the Paradym set offers total control over the golf ball with high launch from the long irons with low spin and increased spin rates with impressive hold on entry shots into the green.
There’s so much I love about these irons, but my favorite feature of these clubs has to be the workability. It remains incredibly difficult to find players’ distance irons that allow you to work the ball from side to side with confidence, but I’ll be the first to admit that Callaway pulled it off with their latest set.
Ideal for low to mid handicappers, the Paradym irons are a real treat to play and sure to help improve your overall game from the fairway.
Read the Full Callaway Paradym Irons Review
Callaway Paradym X Iron
Best Callaway Irons for High Handicappers
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SPECS(4-PW)
- Loft: 18.5°-41°
- Lie Angle: 61°-64°
- Shaft Length: 35.75”-38.875”
- Weight: D2
PROS
- Very forgiving face helps redirect off-center strikes
- Exceptionally long with higher launch angle
- Heavier weight lowers CG for crisp, clean contact
CONS
- Better for inexperienced golfers, not for low handicappers
The Callaway Paradym X irons offer a more inviting club set for the average golfer. While the regular Paradym set works as a players’ distance iron, the alternative X set delivers more forgiveness to high handicappers and beginners.
On the course, I could see quite quickly that the X set delivered more forgiveness with additional offset at address and a wider sole to anchor the club through the impact zone. The X clubs don’t offer the workability that the regular Paradym set does, so that’s tough for advanced players to enjoy on the links.
If you are struggling to find consistency with your iron play, the Paradym X offers an inviting array of features that create stability while boosting distance, launch, and carry.
Read the Full Callaway Paradym X Irons Review
Callaway Rogue ST Pro Iron
Best Forged Callaway Irons
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SPECS(4-PW)
- Loft: 21°-43°
- Lie Angle: 60.5°-63.5°
- Shaft Length: 35.75”-38.5”
- Weight: D3
PROS
- Tight blade shape offers premium workability
- Lighter weight helps maximize swing speed
- Cleaner feel at impact with pure sound
CONS
- Very little forgiveness on off-center strikes
The Rogue ST Pro irons from Callaway have elevated the forged iron game by giving low-to-mid handicappers a set that can bring distance and spin to the course with first-rate workability.
During my time with this set, I tried to see how far I could push the workability of these irons. And I’m happy to report that they were game for whatever I threw its way. Regardless of direction or height, the Rogue ST Pro irons worked extremely well in producing my intentions on the hole.
The irons also are incredibly light, making them easy to maneuver as you see fit to obtain your intended swing path.
Better for advanced players, the Rogue ST Pros also deliver outstanding sound and feel to help boost confidence and playability.
Read the Full Callaway Rogue ST Pro Iron Review
Callaway Apex DCB Irons
Best Distance Callaway Irons for Mid Handicappers
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SPECS(4-PW)
- Loft: 20°-43°
- Lie Angle: 60.5°-64°
- Shaft Length: 35.75”-38.5”
- Weight: D2
PROS
- Forged feel with very forgiving face
- Consistent results with high launch
- Superb distance with power to burn
CONS
- Doesn’t offer much workability for advanced players
The Callaway Apex DCB irons are for golfers that want high-end clubs with the benefits of game-improvement irons. These irons offer first-rate performance with an impressive assortment of features including a very forgiving face, consistent launch, and top-tier distance with eye-popping ball speed.
Once I got these irons on the Trackman, I was amazed at my increases in ball speed, spin rates, and shot height. If you are struggling to find reliable shot shape, the DCB’s can fill the void and improve your overall consistency.
Callaway placed an emphasis on giving the DCBs premium feel and sound, two characteristics I feel they’ve succeeded in achieving.
Best for high handicappers, the Apex DCB irons offer tall, high arcing shot shape for the golfers that need consistency and reliability the most.
Read the Full Callaway Apex DCB Irons Review
Callaway Rogue ST Max Iron
Most Forgiving Irons for High Handicappers
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SPECS(4-PW)
- Loft: 18.5°-41°
- Lie Angle: 60.5°-64°
- Shaft Length: 35.75”-38.875”
- Weight: D2
PROS
- Low, deep CG boosts launch
- Outstanding distance with muscle
- High MOI keeps face square through impact
CONS
- Club feels heavier in hand but packs a punch
Callaway’s Rogue ST Max irons offer high handicappers a ton of distance with all the features necessary to produce high, long shots that reach the target with a steep landing angle to hold the greens.
These irons also produce a healthy amount of spin, helping you shoot for the pin from shorter distances.
During my evaluation of the Rogue ST Max, one thing became increasingly clear during my testing. If you hit the ball in the center of the face, expect the golf ball to go a very long way.
Since these are game-improvement irons, the distance averages can be unreliable at times, but if you are looking for more muscle on the course, I suspect you’ll have a tough time finding a better set.
Read the Full Callaway Rogue ST Max Irons Review
Callaway Apex TCB Irons
Most Accurate Callaway Irons for Low Handicappers
SPECS(4-PW)
- Loft: 20°-42°
- Lie Angle: 61°-64°
- Shaft Length: 35.5”-38.875”
- Weight: D1
PROS
- Compact shape offers precise shotmaking
- Soft feel with high spin
- Customized ball flight and total control
CONS
- Hard for inexperienced golfers to find consistency
The Callaway Apex TCB Irons, a low handicapper’s dream, deliver soft feel, high spin, and total control anywhere on the golf course. The same irons Jon Rahm used to win the 2021 U.S. Open, the TCB set offers a tour-inspired compact shape that emphasizes control and accuracy before distance.
Technically, these irons are considered cavity-back, but with a few caveats. As I mentioned before, the head size is compact which helps improve workability. Also the iron has an adjustable plate that can add or reduce the weight of the club head.
A thin topline at address helps golfers find their target line and the high spin allows shots to stop cold on the green.
A great set for advanced players, I was blown away by the pinpoint accuracy and dynamic shotmaking capabilities of the TCB iron set from Callaway.
Callaway Apex Pro Irons
Best Callaway Irons for Mid Handicappers
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SPECS(4-PW)
- Loft: 23°-46”
- Lie Angle: 60.5°-63.25°
- Shaft Length: 35.75”-38.5”
- Weight: D1
PROS
- Innovative hollow shape increases speed
- Forged design offers feel and responsiveness
- Consistent launch and reliable shaping
CONS
- High handicappers and beginners will find irons tough to hit
The Apex Pro irons from Callaway utilize a hollow body construction to boost distance via increased ball speed. These irons are forged like the other sets in the Apex series, so they provide exceptional feel and responsiveness.
I enjoyed how I could work the Apex Pros from side to side without losing a yard of distance, even though these are considered game-improvement irons. Also the head offers impressive forgiveness and the wide sole cleanly enters the turf for consistent ball striking.
The irons also help create a more reliable shot shape, a feature important for mid handicappers that are dealing with erratic play and need stability to lower their scores.
If you are in the market for a game-improvement iron set that delivers distance and accuracy with workability, the Apex Pro golf irons ranks high on my list.
Callaway Apex MB Irons
Best Callaway Irons for Low Handicappers
SPECS(4-PW)
- Loft: 23°-46°
- Lie Angle: 60.5°-63.25°
- Shaft Length: 35.5”-38.5”
- Weight: D1
PROS
- Classic blade shape delivers premium workability
- High performance grooves generate top-tier spin rates
- Dynamic feel and responsiveness with softness
CONS
- Made for only for the best amateurs and professionals
Callaway’s delightful Apex MB irons might only be for the best of the best, but if you are a low handicapper looking for more feel and workability, these golf irons might be the solution to your problem.
Featuring a classic blade shape, the Apex MB set offers top-tier feel with high performance grooves that can spin the ball anywhere on the course.
Callaway has given these irons a centralized CG to maintain balance and improve workability. The tour shape of the club head also helps craft shot shape with ease, especially if you prefer working the ball with a draw or fade.
What I really like about these Apex MB irons is how soft they are at impact. From 150-200 yards I felt I could control the irons and work the ball to the left or right with little problem.
The Apex MB, Callaway’s most dynamic set for low handicappers, dazzles on the golf course.
Callaway Apex Irons
Best Distance Callaway Irons for High Handicappers
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SPECS(4-PW)
- Loft: 21°-43°
- Lie Angle: 60.5°-63.5°
- Shaft Length: 35.75”-38.875”
- Weight: D2
PROS
- Lower center of gravity makes it one of the longest players irons on the market
- 360-degree Face Cup redistributes weight around the perimeter for better forgiveness and consistent distance
- Forged steel body produces low vibration for enhanced feel and outstanding response
CONS
- Lower shot height demands higher swing speed
- Advanced irons will create inconsistency in mid to high handicappers
The Callaway Apex Irons provide an outstanding forged iron experience that rivals most other equipment companies. Rather than the Apex consisting of one piece of metal, Callaway deconstructed what you think a forged iron should be and redesigned the iron from scratch. As a result, the Apex is one of the longest forged irons on the market today.
Like the other golf irons in the Callaway family, the Apex utilizes a strong forged steel body, low tungsten weight to boost launch, and the 360-degree Face Cup gives the golfer astonishing forgiveness.
The strong forged steel body is the best feature for advanced players from that trio. Although this is a multi-piece iron, the steel provides excellent stability and a solid feel at impact. Another area where the Apex Irons shine is with workability, as you’ll find that they make it easy to shape shots from anywhere on the course.
The Callaway Apex Golf Irons provide the benefits of a cavity-backed iron with the form and shape of forged iron, ideal for low handicappers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Callaway irons for low handicappers?
The Paradym set offers advanced players a players’ distance iron set that offers premium workability with staggering length from the tee box or fairway. For sophisticated shotmaking, the Paradym delivers impressive overall performance, making it a must-play for golfers looking to get their handicaps down to single digits.
What are the best Callaway irons for an average player?
The Paradym X irons offer a game-improvement collection that provides all of the features that the average player needs to make the leap to the next level. The X set offers more forgiveness, a wider sole with high MOI, and a heavier build to boost launch for higher, straighter shotmaking.
Which Callaway irons are most forgiving?
The Rogue ST Max irons offer the most forgiveness out of Callaway current iron offerings. The Rogue ST Max provides players with perimeter-weighting along the base of the club to keep it stable and square through the impact zone. The wider sole of the ST Max clubs also help boost launch for high, straight shots that find the target with regularity.