Updated July 25, 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’s exceptional players distance irons, the Apex 21 set, offers impressive turf interaction and high ball speeds with more forgiveness than similar forged iron sets.
A fine collection of golf equipment, the Callaway Apex 21 irons are sophisticated but deliver the extra distance you need from your long and mid irons.
The standard Apex iron set produces a clean, powerful feel with a consistent launch angle that tightens dispersion and helps you pick the right club for your needed yardage.
In this Callaway Apex 21 irons review, I’ll look deeper into what makes these forged irons so capable on the course.
Callaway Apex 21 Irons
Most Forgiving Players Distance Irons for Mid Handicappers
Check Price on Amazon
Check Price on PGA Tour Superstore
Check Price on Global Golf
Specs (4-PW)
- Loft: 21°-43°
- Lie: 60°-63.5°
- Shaft Length: 35.75″-38.5″
- Swing Weight: D2
Pros
- Outstanding forged club feel produces confidence
- Exceptional forgiveness keeps shots along the target line
- High ball speed increases distance and spin consistency
Cons
- Doesn’t have the workability of the Apex Pro set
Callaway Apex 21 Irons Features
Designed with Artificial Intelligence
The Apex golf clubs were designed with the help of A.I. as designers looked to increase distance and ball speed while reducing side spin.
The increased spin robustness across the redesigned face architecture helps golfers create a sophisticated shot shape that finds more greens from mid-to-long yardages.
Flash Face Cup
Along with its iconic feel, the Apex set delivers premium forgiveness with a compact iron shape. The Cup provides premium face flexibility that reduces the side rotation that causes slices and hooks.
The Face Cup produces a premium feel like the Apex DCB models and Apex MB combo set.
Tungsten Energy Core
The Energy Core produces a low, deeper CG that creates the high launch that the regular Apex and Apex DCB irons are known for in the golfing world.
The increase in tungsten helps stabilize the club head through the impact zone for crisp, clean shotmaking from the fairway and rough.
Our In-Depth Callaway Apex 21 Irons Review
Looks
I really enjoyed the slim and sleek appearance of the Callaway Apex 21 irons.
Although there’s more material here than you would find with a blade-style iron, these Apex clubs utilize the additional bulk along the sole to improve launch, so for casual golfers, the alteration is worth the stretch.
Along the face, the Apex sticks to a traditional appearance. There’s no additional milling here, and that’s fine, as above-average players enjoy a classic approach to their clubs, especially when it comes to the hitting area.
Sound
When it comes to sound, the Callaway Apex 21 irons deliver the crispness you’ll find on most Sundays on the PGA Tour. Similar to the Apex DCB and Apex Pro iron sets, the standard Apex clubs share the muscular sound that most forged sets cannot duplicate.
For this Callaway Apex 21 irons review, I was dually impressed with the consistently pleasing sound the clubs delivered.
If you are looking for a professional set of irons, the Apex clubs are first-rate when it comes to their sound production from either the fairway or light rough.
Feel
When evaluating the feel for this Callaway Apex 21 irons review, I was immediately struck with how pure these clubs are from the fairway.
If your ball sits on top of the short grass, you can expect the Apex clubs to deliver a muscular blow that limits vibration and stays smooth throughout the follow-through.
With the thin topline, players expect the feel and consistency of a forged iron, something they’ll find the Apex produces with every swing.
With the shorter irons in the set, the feel stands out as the club head moves effortlessly into the turf and through the golf ball.
I enjoyed how responsive these clubs are for any level of golfer. Even if you are a single-digit handicapper, you’ll be impressed by the feel of the Callaway Apex irons.
Performance
During my time with these clubs for this Callaway Apex 21 irons review, I noticed how capable and consistent these irons perform on the course. Not only do they provide the crisp ball-first contact that I’m looking for, but these clubs are built for speed.
I wasn’t expecting this type of distance in a forged iron without sacrificing workability or spin.
Comparable to the exceptional Apex Pro sets that golfers like Xander Schauffele enjoy on the PGA Tour, the Apex 21 collection reaches back and produces staggering yardage that makes these irons weapons off the tee box.
With a thin top line, the Apex iron utilizes the True Temper shafts to improve feel and sound. I was also impressed with the limited vibration of these clubs on off-center shots.
These clubs are the first Apex irons designed with the help of A.I. and you can see the difference as you continue to play with these first-rate clubs. The purity of each shot and its results certainly show that there’s more under the hood with this Apex set.
Like the comparable Apex MB and Apex DCB irons, the Apex 21 set produces a smooth feel that creates a deep confidence in the links that you can do anything with these clubs.
My Verdict
After getting the Callaway Apex 21 irons onto the range and course, I can confidently say that this players distance set offers some of the best forgiveness I’ve ever seen.
These superb clubs work extremely well for mid and low handicappers looking to upgrade their accuracy and consistency.
These great irons feature plenty of power and sophistication. I was able to hit shots into the green consistently as the mid irons feature premium workability.
The scoring clubs in the set did display some inconsistency, but with time I found their deep cavity delivered more launch than I was accustomed to on the course.
These Apex irons come at a premium price, but that’s to be expected for one of the best iron sets on the market for serious golfers looking to improve their overall iron game.