When I attended the press trip to get a first look at some new additions to the Callaway Apex lineup, I was fully expecting something in the ballpark of the new Ai200, and Ai300 irons, however, the Apex Ti Fusion iron took me somewhat by surprise. With a premium price tag and some serious tech, they will be looking to rival the very best irons on the market in 2024.
Callaway is saying that the Apex Ti Fusion is its most advanced iron ever. This offering has been engineered with a ‘no limitations’ briefing and it features an industry-first forged titanium face that Callaway claims promotes faster ball speeds for increased power.
The Apex Ti Fusion iron aims to break the tradeoff between a traditional one-piece and two-piece iron by creating more deflection than steel, with more urethane interaction and a forged body. A titanium face and hollow body construction have been designed with feel in mind, while the Ai Smart Face is there to provide extra insurance on mishit shots.
The Apex Ti Fusion boasts a new, premium Diamond-Like Coating (DLC) finish. Callaway says that DLC is more durable than PVD and it certainly produces a really striking aesthetic.
In terms of shelf appeal, these irons are simply sensational. I’m a sucker for a dark finish on an iron head, but when coupled with a matt black Dynamic Gold shaft as they have been here, the look is elevated even further. Down behind the ball the dimensions don’t feel dissimilar to the Apex Pro model, with similar toplines and offset. You would be hard-pressed to find a set of irons that look better in the bag than these.
Performance-wise, the numbers were strong without being overwhelming. Comparable to the Titleist T200, and TaylorMade P790 irons in terms of ball speed and distance output, but that isn’t the real story here. The feel off the face of these irons is the real highlight, a fantastic combination of power and liveliness without feeling harsh in any way. I didn’t really know what to expect, but the softness surprised me in my early strikes.
The 7-iron loft comes in at 30.5˚ so they are very much in the best compact distance iron category in that regard, and they provided ample spin and launch during testing. Despite the Callaway claims, I can’t say I noticed much if any increase in yardage over other irons of a comparable loft such as the Ping i525 or the Mizuno Pro 245 but I would confidently say that I preferred the feel of the Apex Ti Fusion over both of the aforementioned models.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed testing these irons, however the only genuinely standout feature was their exceptional looks. For the additional money, I would hope for a few more performance boosts, but I suspect the stunning aesthetic alone will be enough to persuade many to part with their cash here.
The stock steel iron shaft option is the True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Gunmetal 115g, while the Mitsubishi MMT is the graphite offering. Priced at $2100/£1999, they are certainly at the premium end of the market, but those looking for a unique set with impressive aesthetics and feel will not be disappointed.
