Callaway Apex DCB Vs. Taylormade Stealth Irons Comparison Overview
Today we are going to be taking a look at a couple of iron sets that defy their genre. While no one would argue that the Taylormade Stealth and Callaway Apex DCB irons fall into the category of game-improvement irons, we would humbly argue that they barely fit the profile of game-improvement irons.
There are some common features between these two sets that make them nearly player’s performance irons. Find out all the important details you need to know about these two sets in the following comparison overview.
Callaway Apex DCB Irons Overview
The Apex moniker is an apt one for this set of irons.
The Callaway Apex DCB irons feature a prominent sole which, as the name alludes to, helps yield maximum launch angles. But by far the most impressive thing about these irons (and part of what makes them feel better than typical game-improvement irons) is the forged 1025 carbon steel body.
And while the sole width is considerable, the overall head profile still manages to be pretty scant. This combo gives the Apex DCB irons the feel and the look of player’s performance irons. However, the tungsten weighting that emphasizes low/rear CG smacks of game improvement.
Overall, you get a moderate degree of workability out of these irons. Unfortunately though, this comes at the expense of distance.
Taylormade Stealth Irons Overview
The Taylormade Stealth irons also have added sole mass in order to promote high launch angles.
This common feature lends both the Taylormade Stealth and the Apex DCB irons a good degree of short-game performance. The Taylormade Stealth irons were the longer clubs overall though. The 4 iron in the Stealth set was averaging 182 yards while the 4 iron of the Apex DCB set was averaging 176 yards.
The hollow body and detached face of the Taylormade Stealth irons certainly make them game-improvement irons. They have a lesser feel than player’s performance irons, provide weaker feedback but offer more help with distance.
In short, you won’t need a ridiculously fast swing speed to get adequate distance from the Taylormade Stealth irons.
The Callaway Apex DCB iron belie their game-improvement designation by providing a premium feel. The Taylormade Stealth irons give you the launch you need to refine your short game more than a typical game-improvement iron set would. The Taylormade Stealth irons are also longer than the Apex DCB’s.
Callaway Apex DCB Irons
Category: Game Improvement Irons
Taylormade Stealth Irons
Category: Game Improvement Irons
Callaway Apex DCB First Impressions
We knew that the Callaway Apex DCB irons targeted mid to high handicappers but they don’t feel like it.
Right from the gate, we were blown away with the feel of these irons. The feel of the forged 1025 carbon steel is amazing. It allows for a solid feel at contact with feedback you would expect from tour-grade irons.
Assisting with the soft feel of these irons is the layer of urethane microspheres included in the head. We also liked that the sole had a substantial footprint.
This will play well with high handicappers at it just looks more comforting at point of address.
The Callaway Apex DCB irons are available with graphite UST Mamiya Recoil Dart shafts and steel True Temper Elevate ETS 85 shafts.
The graphite shafts will certainly be more beneficial for high handicap players so those were the ones we tested.
The 4 and 5 irons are what we tested first and we were impressed with the distance and launch. The set starts with a 4 iron at a considerable 20 degrees of loft then jumps up to 23 degrees in the 5 iron.
The Callaway Apex DCB irons certainly impressed with their feel, distance and launch.
Taylormade Stealth First Impressions
The Taylormade Stealth irons have a striking design that we didn’t really know what to make of at first.
These are some of the most uniquely designed game improvement irons we ever tested. The cap back system that wraps around the rear toe area looks striking but it didn’t make sense to us at first.
Then we started playing with this set. One of the first things we noticed was that even with the 4 iron, it was very easy to find the sweet spot. The offset helps yes, but more than anything, that extra mass in the sole beneath the sweet spot helps to square up.
It’s like a giant target for your alignment. And since the face was designed to flex to a ridiculous degree, you don’t need a fast swing speed to get decent distance out of these irons.
With the 5 iron in the Taylormade Stealth set, our testers were able to establish an average distance of 161 yards. Of course, as game improvement irons, they suffer from the typical short-game pitfalls.
With the shorter irons, spin is very hard to control. Roll distance was a problem on short approaches and if you are playing a particularly fast green, you will need to rely on your wedges for longer shots.
Callaway Apex DCB Selling Points
- They feel amazing
- They have a larger head shape than any other Apex iron
- Good amount of offset for beginners and mid handicappers
- Good for both mid and high handicappers
- 50 grams of internal tungsten weighting in the long irons
- Forged design
Taylormade Stealth Selling Points
- They have an innovative cap back design
- They do work to soften harsh vibration to a moderate degree
- Reduced toe mass
- Increased sole mass under the center of the face
- They feature Taylormade’s inverted Cone Technology (ICT)
- 450 stainless steel face
Who are the Callaway Apex DCB Irons For?
The Callaway Apex DCB irons were designed for players with a handicap of 10 and higher.
The Callaway Apex DCB irons clearly have something to offer both mid and high handicap players. However, for high handicap players, the DCB’s will mostly be beneficial for distance, feel and launch. They don’t offer much help with off-center shots.
The Callaway Apex DCB irons could certainly stand to be a little more forgiving but they would still be a solid choice for beginners ready to break through to the mid handicap range.
Callaway Apex DCB Final Assessment
Distance: 94/100
Accuracy: 95/100
Forgiveness: 92/100
Feel and Control: 93/100
Overall Score: 94/100
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Who are the Taylormade Stealth Irons for?
The Taylormade Stealth irons would primarily benefit high handicap players who are struggling chiefly with distance.
While they offer a moderate degree of forgiveness, it’s clear after testing these irons that most of the R&D went into improving ball speed and distance for players with slower swing speeds.
Most of the testers in our party with swing speeds under 90MPH were keeping up remarkably well with testers with faster swing speeds. Just don’t expect impeccable feel from these irons.
While Taylormade claims that the polymer cap back material gives these irons a “forged feel” we would classify this as a dubious claim at best. At the end of the day, there is simply no mistaking a forged iron and these are not forged irons.
The Taylormade Iron Family
While the Stealth irons are a stand-alone class, Taylormade makes a ton of iron sets. One of the most notable for beginners and high handicappers is the SIM2 Max irons that sport an oversized face profile so that it’s much easier to nail the sweet spot.
The SIM2 Max irons also feature the predecessor to the cap back system, the Speed Bridge. The Speed Bridge is a rear brace that connects the crown and sole, allowing the face to be disconnected from the body just like the Taylormade Stealth irons.
The result is the same: higher degree of flex and ball speed. However, the SIM2 Max irons will do more for you if you are struggling with iron accuracy. They offer comparable distance to the Taylormade Stealth irons; but with a higher emphasis on forgiveness.
Distance: 94/100
Accuracy: 92/100
Forgiveness: 93/100
Feel & Control: 89/100
Overall Score: 92/100
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