Callaway Apex 21 Pro Irons Review – Are They Blades, Forgiving & Good For High Handicappers?

The Callaway Apex series of irons is one of the most coveted among pros and amateurs alike and it’s not hard to see why.

But what good will they do the casual golfer or the high handicap golfer? Do these irons have any value for someone seeking forgiveness? Are they even blade irons? Find out in the following article.

Callaway Apex 21 Pro Irons Overview

The Callaway Apex 21 Pro irons are packed with advanced features that could provide some benefit for players of all skill levels.

It should be kept in mind though, that the Callaway Apex 21 Pro were designed for single-digit handicap players. This is evident when you look down at point of address. The compact head is the first dead giveaway.

Still, these are fairly forgiving irons for such a compact head. In our opinion, the best thing about them is the feel you get from the fully forged 1025 steel body. This gives them a soft feel that players of all skill levels will surely enjoy.

These irons sport a high-end design and have advantages for both your short and your long game.

Are the Callaway Apex 21 Pro Irons Forgiving?

Callaway has added 90 grams of tungsten in the 3 iron of this set which increases launch angles and carry distances almost effortlessly.

The launch and carry we were getting when we tested these irons was very impressive in the long irons. The dense tungsten weights which have been precisely placed in each iron, help pull your swing downward and sweep up the ball off the deck.

While the compact head may be a challenge for high handicap players, low handicap players will find it very easy to get the apex height and distance they need from these irons.

Are the Callaway Apex 21 Pro Irons Good for Beginners and High Handicappers?

This iron set might scare a lot of beginners and high handicappers off at point of address.

That’s because there is very limited offset, the blade lengths are short, the topline is thin and the sole is quite narrow. It may be hard for high handicappers to make consistent contact with any of the irons in this set.

Are the Callaway Apex 21 Pro Irons Blades?

This is sort of a hybrid blade type of set.

With the Callaway Apex 21 Pro irons, you get the look of a blade set of iron but they certainly play more forgiving than your standard blades. They have the compact appearance of a blade but lean a little more towards player’s irons in performance.

Should you Buy the Apex 21 Pros or the Apex DCB Irons?

If you are looking for similar performance to the Callaway Apex 21 Pro irons but in a more forgiving package, the Apex DCB’s would fit the bill perfectly.

The Apex DCB irons have more offset, a wider sole and an expanded face so the sweet spot is actually larger. They don’t look as intimidating at point of address either. Still, they sport all the same performance features that the Callaway Apex 21 Pro’s do including the Flash Face Cup and forged body.

Callaway Apex 21 Pro Irons

Category: Player’s Performance Irons

Callaway Apex 21 Pro First Impressions

We were really impressed with the sleek “notched” muscle back design of these irons.

This gives them a unique look among muscle back irons and may even make the transition from cavity back to muscle back irons less jarring for some players. What struck us even more is what we saw at the point of address.

The Callaway Apex 21 Pro irons have the lease offset and narrowest sole of any entry into the Apex family. For the better testers in our party this was no problem but for the rest of us, it took some getting used to – and some of us never did.

Still, the feel could not be ignored. On full swings, the The Callaway Apex 21 Pro’s felt soft and buttery. On pitches and short approaches, you get all the detailed feedback you need to inform your shots.

The Callaway Apex 21 Pro irons won’t play as long as standard distance irons if you are a high handicapper but distance should be no problem with these irons if you are a more advanced player.

Callaway Apex 21 Pro Selling Points

  • Hollow body design
  • Urethane microspheres
  • Fully forged
  • Soft 1025 steel
  • Excellent short game control
  • Excellent workability

Who are the Callaway Apex 21 Pro’s for?

The Callaway Apex 21 Pro irons would be a good choice for single-digit handicap players or mid handicap players looking to break into single-digit territory.

Perhaps the best thing about these irons is the spin control you get on mid to short approaches. From about 150 yards out, you get effortless distance with a surprising amount of shot shaping ability and roll control.

On approaches from about 90 yards out, you get the pop and stop that you need to stick to faster greens. One of the things we liked the most is the relatively easy distance control you get which comes mainly from the 100% forged construction.

For any player looking to get a good combination of launch, distance, feel and short game control, the Callaway Apex 21 Pro would be a very good fit.

The Apex Series from Callaway

The Apex family of irons also includes the standard Apex and the Apex DCB’s. With a moderate sole width and head size, the standard Apex irons are set up more as distance irons. They are not as forgiving as the Apex DCB’s even though they share all the same features.

The Callaway Apex 21 Pro is the only model in the Apex line to feature the “notched” muscle back design. The other two entries look more like cavity back irons which adds to the forgiveness factor.

Distance: 91/100

Forgiveness: 89/100

Feel and Control: 94/100

Value: 92/100

Overall Rating: 96/100

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