Callaway Apex MB irons Review

  • At a glance

  • TG Rating 4.5 out of 5
  • Owner Rating 5 out of 5
  • Pros

    This is what an iron should look like. One for the traditionalist that enjoys a compact size and super-soft feel.

  • Cons

    Forgiveness not its strongest point.

What we say...

For the latest 2017 Callaway Apex MB reviews, click here 

Technology
Progressive CG positioning means the short irons fly a little lower than previous generations. Each iron is a one-piece forging with a satin finish so the MB can be mixed with other Apex models seamlessly

Tour players are the best ballstrikers in the world, so Callaway sought their input when it was designing its new Apex MB irons. After talking in depth to the likes of Phil Mickelson and Henrik Stenson, Callaway made subtle changes to offer the slimline look and feel of a forged blade with plenty of playability.

“We’ve taken the most Tour feedback and advanced amateur feedback and put it into this iron,” said Dr Alan Hocknell, Callaway’s Senior VP of R&D. “We already had a very successful muscleback iron, so some of the feedback we received was to not change too much, but there were some specific things. Progressive centre of gravity positioning means the short irons fly a little lower, and there’s a clean, simple look of a one-piece forging with a satin chrome finish consistent with other Apex irons.”

The Apex MB boast the same “High Performance” grooves that feature in the Apex and Apex Pro irons, which are spaced wider apart to improve spin consistency regardless of your lie. Plus, the satin finish is the same, so you can blend them with other models in the Apex line-up seamlessly.

Looks
Has the same satin finish as the Apex line, which is one of my favourites on the market. It’s short from heel to toe, yes, but the top line is thicker than your usual blade, which makes you think there’s some meat behind the ball and boosts your confidence.

Feel/sound
Super feel you’d expect from a one-piece forged iron. Shots you strike from the middle feel effortless, like no power has been lost in the collision of club and ball, with a muted, understated sound.

Forgiveness
As expected, not it’s strongest point. Poor strikes suffer a loss of feel and distance. But those using these shouldn’t hit poorly struck shots that often.

Performance
There’s an argument to say this is very close to the perfect-looking iron for the purist. I don’t mind the slightly thicker top edge and the feel is gorgeous. The spin levels and flight were extremely consistent, so if you strike them well you can really dial in your numbers. I like how the club stays in the turf for a short amount of time; it feels like you lose less speed through the hit. You’d be mad not to take the forgiveness on offer in the Apex Pro, but the Apex MB would be a good option in the short irons for most where poor strikes are less of a concern.

Product Information

Left Handed available Yes
Custom-Fit available Yes
Lofts 18°, 21°, 24°, 27°, 31°, 35°, 39°, 43°
Forgiveness level Low
Graphite shafts available  
Iron type Muscle back
Offset  

Your Reviews

Callaway Irons User Reviews

  • 5 out of 5 The Righteous blades

    By Cris

    Great iron love the feel, look, and how retro this club really is. The muscle back is like no other besides the other top brands.