FIRST LOOK: Callaway’s high-performance Apex UW utility wood

On the heels of the Epic Super Hybrid introduction, Callaway unveiled a second souped-up metalwood that blends some of the best performance characteristics from the fairway wood and hybrid space.

Designed with direct feedback from Callaway staffer Phil Mickelson, Apex UW ($299.99; 17, 19 and 21 degrees) is built for the golfer who needs a secondary option of the tee, but doesn’t want to sacrifice playability from the fairway and rough. While the head is larger than most hybrids, the shaft is 1.5 inches shorter than a standard fairway wood with the same loft.

The end result is a “utility wood” that’s easy to hit and control at the same time.

Hybrids

A neutral center of gravity position is achieved through the inclusion of 18 grams of Metal Injection Molded (MIM) tungsten weighting housed inside the head. The strategically-placed tungsten produces high launch and consistent spin characteristics with a reduced draw draw bias. According to Callaway, Apex UW produced a 17 percent tighter downrange dispersion pattern during initial testing.

Given the club’s ability to consistently find fairways and greens, it should come as no surprise that Mickelson added it to his setup shortly after it surfaced on Tour. Along with the six-time major winner, Adam Hadwin, Marcus Armitage have tapped the Apex UW in recent months. The club has also seen an uptick in usage on the LPGA Tour, where five players put it in play at the Shoprite Classic.

In addition to being a “fairway finder,” Apex UW boasts an Artifical Intelligence-designed Flash Face SS21 architecture and Forged C300 Face Cup that bump up the ball speed numbers for additional length off the tee. The face technology is combined with Callaway’s Jailbreak AI Velocity Blades that connect the crown and cast 17-4 stainless steel body, allowing the face to flex more effectively for an effcient energy transfer at impact.

Better players will appreciate the clean, compact head profile and high-gloss crown that’s void of alignment aids. Unlike the Epic Super Hybrid, the Apex UW features a bonded hosel that caps the ability to alter loft and face angle.

Callaway’s Apex UW will be available Oct. 14 and comes standard with Project X’s HZRDUS Black 70 shaft and Lamkin’s UTX grip.

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