This year’s ClubTest is bigger and better than ever. To help you make sense of the mountain of high-tech new clubs on the market, we put all of the latest offerings from the top golf club manufacturers to the ultimate test. Below you will find the test results and complete reviews of seven new Callaway iron models.
You can find the full list of ClubTest iron reviews here.
Want to overhaul your bag for 2022? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf.
CALLAWAY IRON REVIEWS
Callaway Rogue ST
We tested: Rogue ST Max: 4-PW, AW, GW, SW; Rogue ST Max OS: 4-9, PW, AW, GW, SW; Rogue ST Pro: 3-PW, AW; Rogue ST Max OS Lite: 4-PW, AW, GW, SW
Our take: Players fawned over the combination of length and forgiveness from the Rogue ST irons, but the Pro version in particular was a show stopper: “For how low spin it is, it has a nice controlled launch and it’s extremely fast,” said a GOLF tester. “I’m shocked how much the ball is jumping off the face, and it has a blade look! Amazing”
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The details: Even in the modern market, the Rogue ST irons are as high-tech as they come. The faces in each head have been optimized by Artificial Intelligence, and they’re made with new 450 A.I. Face Cups to enhance speed and forgiveness. The hollow-bodied constructions are filled with urethane microspheres to improve sound and feel, and they use heavy Tungsten weighting to enhance stability and dial in trajectory.
Callaway Apex 21
We tested: 3-PW, AW
Our take: There’s a reason that Callaway’s Apex irons are among the industry’s top selling and performing irons, year-after-year. Our testers found the Apex irons to offer a strong combination of distance, forgiveness, sound, feel and workability. If you’re unsure where to start your iron search, these are a good place to start.
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The details: Although the Apex 21 irons have forged bodies and compact head shapes with minimal offset, they’re packed with game-improving tech. Each head is made with A.I.-designed face cups, Tungsten energy cores, and the hollow-bodied constructions have urethane microspheres in the middle for better sound and feel.
Callaway Apex Pro 21
We tested: 3-PW, AW
Our take: Don’t let the “Pro” name fool you. Yes, these irons are suited for low handicappers and even pros, but their forgiveness properties make them a contender for mid-handicappers, too.
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The details: The Apex Pro irons have forged 1025 hollow-body constructions that are filled with urethane microspheres, creating a unique combination of speed, forgiveness, feel and sound. They also have A.I. designed Face Cups and up to 90 grams of Tungsten per head to dial in performance. Compared to the standard Apex iron, they have slightly smaller shapes and narrower sole widths.
Callaway Apex DCB 21
We tested: 4-PW, AW
Our take: If you’re a mid-to-high handicapper who wants the look, feel and performance of an Apex iron, but don’t quite have the skill to use the smaller Apex or Apex Pro versions, the Apex DCB may be your ticket into the Apex family. They’re ultra-forgiving and have a slightly larger package to help with mishits.
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The details: Tagged as the most forgiving Apex iron in the company’s history, Callaway’s Apex DCB irons have a deep cavity back and new aged tech to boot. They have A.I. designed Face Cups, Tungsten Energy Cores, and forged hollow-body constructions to boost speed and forgiveness across the face. They also have wider soles and more offset than their Apex family members to help with turf interaction, height, and draw-bias.
Callaway Apex TCB
We tested: 3-PW, AW
Our take: The Apex TCB (Tour Cavity Blade) irons offer everything that a better player wants from a blade iron in terms of looks, feel and performance, with just a touch of added forgiveness. They’re also world No. 1-approved, being that Jon Rahm used these irons to win the 2021 U.S. Open Championship.
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The details: Callaway’s TCB irons are similar in look and tech to the company’s X Forged CB offerings, except they’re slightly more compact with thinner toplines and soles, and slightly less offset. The TCBs are forged from 1025 carbon, they have tour-tuned face plates for distance control, and adjustable plate weights in the back cavity to dial in performance.
Callaway Apex MB
We tested: 3-PW, AW
Our take: Blade irons are for the golfer who wants the ultimate in precision performance, and the Apex MBs deliver both in shaping and in technology. If you hit the ball long and don’t miss the center of the face often, these could be the answer for your blade buying needs.
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The details: The Apex MB irons have all the makings of a pure blade. They’re forged from 1025 carbon steel, have thin toplines, minimal offset and a compact shape. To separate them from other blades on the market, however, Callaway designed the Apex MBs with adjustable weighting in the back cavities to dial in swing weight and performance. They also have new grooves that are made to reduce fliers out of the rough. Blade users will enjoy those added levels of precision.
Callaway X Forged CB
We tested: 3-PW, AW
Our take: The X Forged CB irons have a combination of control and forgiveness that suit both tour players and low-handicap amateurs alike. They’re not the smallest irons in Callaway’s stable, but they have compact shapes that produce precise workability with just enough forgiveness to help with misfires.
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The details: Compared to Callaway’s Apex TCB irons that have a similar look, the X Forged CB irons are a touch larger with slightly wider soles and more offset. As their names imply, the X Forged CB irons are forged from 1025 carbon steel for a soft feel. They also have Tungsten weighting to dial in CG (center of gravity), and Tour Tuned faces for the distance control that better players want.
