Callaway reveal new Apex MB and X Forged irons
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Callaway have revealed the Apex MB and Callaway X Forged – two tour-inspired forged irons created with input from Callaway’s Tour Staff
Forged irons have come back in a big way in 2017, and the new Apex MB and X Forged iron sets from Callaway are the latest to come to market. Part of the influx is down to brands courting the best blade players in the game (including Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods), who became free equipment agents when Nike quit golf, while others have arrived using new hollow body forging tech, which is completely rewriting how forgiving forged irons can be.
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TaylorMade and Mizuno have already hit the headlines with their new forged clubs, and now it’s Callaway’s turn. They have revealed two sets of tour-inspired forged designs, the Apex MB and X Forged, both of which have been created with input from Callaway’s tour staff.
Both these two iron ranges have already been getting significant usage on Tour and, from January 26th 2018, they will be made available in stores across Europe to professional and amateur golfers.
Callaway Apex MB £1049
Quickly becoming Callaway’s most popular iron on Tour (including being the #1 Iron model at the recent Italian Open**), the new Apex MB is a true muscle-back blade with classic, compact shaping and style, a traditional, slightly thinner top line, and a beautiful bright chrome finish.
The world’s best players have been heavily involved in the development of Apex MB, and they already feature in many Callaway Staff Professional bags, including Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Nicolas Colsaerts, Haydn Porteous, David Horsey, Thomas Detry and Alvaro Quiros.
A true muscleback, Callaway say the new Apex MB iron is a classic shape and style. There’s a slightly thinner topline, bright chrome finish and the smallest head shape in their iron line up.
Every head of the Apex MB iron is forged from 1025 carbon steel, to deliver the soft feel and feedback tour players want. Callaway say centre of gravity positions are optimised for control, while precision face grooves deliver consistent spin even from the rough.
Luke Williams, Senior Director Global Strategy, Irons and Woods, commented: “Our Tour players have been at the heart of this pure, forged muscle-back iron. During the R&D process we discussed every detail of what makes a great iron for them, the things they like now, and even the things they liked in the past.”
Callaway engineers have paid particular attention to CG positioning in the Apex MB to create a ball flight preferred by Tour players, whilst retaining more traditional lofts that align to the needs of the better golfer who is in-tune with distance gapping and consistency.
Each iron, forged from a single piece of 1025 Carbon Steel, is engineered for a remarkably soft feel, with the exact craftsmanship and precision that can only be achieved through Callaway’s premiuim Triple Net Forging process that allows for a more aggressive and precise ‘V’ shaped groove pattern, to deliver consistent control and shot-shaping, for pin-point accuracy.
“Creating a club with the shortest blade length, smallest head and thinnest sole of any irons in the current Callaway range, Apex MB are unashamedly designed for the type of player that looks for maximum workability and has very specific needs from how the club interacts with the turf,” added Luke.
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Callaway X Forged £1049
Compared to the Apex MB, X Forged is more forgiving with a slightly longer blade and slightly larger head size, to instil confidence in both Tour players and accomplished amateurs.
Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed and Branden Grace have all been fans of the previous Callaway X Forged irons model, so you know they’ve played a role in this new design. Callaway says this style of forged cavity is very popular with tour players, as it offers a sprinkling of forgiveness missing from the new Apex Muscleback.
Its sole sculpting, progressive centre of gravity locations and precision grooves have been set up to optimise shot making, turf interaction and accuracy. And the super-clean and classic look at address will appeal to many.
With a clean and classic look at address, the new X Forged Irons are engineered for high performance and exceptional feel from a precise Triple Net Forging process.
This single piece, cavity back iron features Tour configured soles, CG progression for precision shot-making and accuracy, with just the right amount of forgiveness and a classic finish.
X Forged also features a similar precise and aggressive ’20V’ shaped groove pattern seen in the Apex MB, made possible through the forging process, promoting high levels of control and spin out of any playing conditions, whilst retaining the clean and classic look at address, inspired by some of Callaway’s most popular forged irons.
Luke Williams commented: “X Forged is not quite so intimidating to play as Apex MB and is for golfers that prefer the feel offered by a single-piece forging, with some additional forgiveness. We’ve already had strong feedback from Tour players who have been particularly positive about the feel.”
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