Price
$207 per iron
Callaway Apex Ai300
Price
$207 per iron
OFFICIAL RETAILER
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matt martian photography
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Why we like it
- The Apex Ai300 replaces the Apex DCB and targets golfers who are early in their golf journey or are looking to step up from the super-game-improvement category.
- The forged 455-steel face was designed with the help of AI analysis of average-golfer impact data. The topology behind the face is different for each iron—thinner and thicker in areas where it needs to be to create maximum consistency.
- The tungsten core has urethane with “microspheres”—tiny air bubbles encased in glass—that lowers the center of gravity to help with launch despite slightly strong lofts.
- Compared to the Apex DCB, the topline for the Apex Ai300 is thicker, the sole width is wider, and the blade length is longer.
- Top 5 in Performance, middle-handicaps
- SPECS: 7-iron: 29 degrees; PW: 42 degrees
What our testers said
handicap
- all
- low
- mid
- high
Jamie
53, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Perfectly proportioned head with a beautiful, brush finish. Small amount of offset on the longer irons provides a lot of forgiveness. I had no trouble getting the ball up in the air, even on slightly fat shots. The ball just rockets off the face on a mid-high trajectory, with just the right amount of speed.
Gary
38, Handicap 13
10+ years testing
The players distance package with the game-improvement performance. It plays a little like both in that it makes your best shots better and your worst shots less bad.
Timothy
46, Handicap 17
1 year testing
I was immediately comfortable with this club. The finish, shape and weighting all worked together exactly how I like. That comfort led to confident swings and pure strikes. It didn't add anything for me in terms of distance, but I felt in control with all my swings.
Alejandra
27, Handicap 6
5 years testing
Let's call it reliable. It's easy to control and repeat the same flight over and over. It did feel like it was missing a little extra boost in power.
Thomas
61, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
I really like the forgiveness. It was hard to hit a bad shot. Every club went through the turf easily, and got up nicely.
SEE ALL (24)
Jamie
53, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Perfectly proportioned head with a beautiful, brush finish. Small amount of offset on the longer irons provides a lot of forgiveness. I had no trouble getting the ball up in the air, even on slightly fat shots. The ball just rockets off the face on a mid-high trajectory, with just the right amount of speed.
Gary
38, Handicap 13
10+ years testing
The players distance package with the game-improvement performance. It plays a little like both in that it makes your best shots better and your worst shots less bad.
Timothy
46, Handicap 17
1 year testing
I was immediately comfortable with this club. The finish, shape and weighting all worked together exactly how I like. That comfort led to confident swings and pure strikes. It didn't add anything for me in terms of distance, but I felt in control with all my swings.
Alejandra
27, Handicap 6
5 years testing
Let's call it reliable. It's easy to control and repeat the same flight over and over. It did feel like it was missing a little extra boost in power.
Thomas
61, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
I really like the forgiveness. It was hard to hit a bad shot. Every club went through the turf easily, and got up nicely.
Aaron
45, Handicap 16
1 year testing
While it wasn't one of the longer options, I do think it was one of the more forgiving ones. I really enjoyed the higher trajectory of this club. It was very easy for me to hit consistent shots with it.
Shane
37, Handicap 12
6 years testing
High, soaring ball flight that maintains its height and falls out of the sky nice and soft. You don't have to hit it hard and the ball continues to carry, despite what feels like effortless impact.
Matt
53, Handicap 11
4 years testing
This is a forgiving gamer. It produced likable shots on unlikable swings. I was impressed by the consistency and tight dispersion. The length was a little less than I liked to see—about half a club short—but I could get over that in the name of accuracy.
Skylar
28, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Super-balanced clubs! Not too big, or too small. Just the right size and weight. I couldn't mis-hit these. Even if I did, it was going the same distance and direction that I intended.
Chris
60, Handicap 8
1 year testing
Doesn't feel like there's a lot of pop to it on center hits. The weight is lower on the club and helps get the ball in the air.
Wayne
61, Handicap 7
3 years testing
At address, the face looked very small to me, and that made me feel like I was going to have trouble hitting the sweet spot. And that's exactly what happened. I hit it all over the face and didn't get consistent results.
Peter
58, Handicap 8
10+ years testing
It looks more like a players or players distance iron than a game-improvement club. I expected a little more harshness on off-center hits, but it actually didn't feel too bad. The sweet spot is pretty decent in size, and that's why you get that nice, flush feeling of a forged club.
Ryan
50, Handicap 10
8 years testing
A real industrial feel to this club. It felt really heavy in my hands, and labored through the hitting zone. There's distance in it, but not enough to make you jump for joy.
Jin
31, Handicap 10
2 years testing
All my shots were pretty consistent in terms of direction; very tight dispersion. It looks similar to the Apex Pro line, and I think for someone who wants a little bit more distance without sacrificing so much on the looks, this is a great club.
Anand
44, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
Extremely forgiving club. The gapping was consistent across all clubs, as were my yardages. The offset is very noticeable, but the mass in the head helps you launch the ball. Easy to hit.
Scott
38, Handicap 16
10+ years testing
It really packs a punch. There's a lot of strength behind the head at impact and the launch is high and energetic. As long as you deliver the club with some intensity, you can really poke it out there.
Todd
63, Handicap 13
1 year testing
A tale of two clubs. Off-center hits fly high and on target, or fairly close. Center hits deliver a lower, more direct, fuller ball flight. Generally, you get a nice sizzle off the face and a well-controlled, well-delivered ball strike.
Andrew
40, Handicap 8
1 year testing
Powerful set of clubs. When you hit the center of the face, the ball hops off on a good trajectory, and then descends nicely. Considerable amount of side spin and loss of distance on mis-hits. Probably not the best club for higher indexes.
Daniel
34, Handicap 11
6 years testing
Very, very hot off the face. You can really feel the energy transfer from the club into the ball.It was very easy to get the desired ball flight with the swing that you put into the club.
Sean
54, Handicap 6
9 years testing
Jumps right off the face when you catch it. I just need to spend a little more time with it before I would consider putting it in my bag.
Ryan
47, Handicap 12
3 years testing
Short, thick face doesn't inspire much confidence. Center hits didn't feel great and didn't have a ton of energy, and mis-hits fell off a bit. Felt like I had to work to get this one up in the air.
Paul
64, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
I thought the launch was consistent on every club. Distance, too. It felt like the club and the shaft were one, so there wasn't any extra sensory stuff going on when I made impact. Consistent swings delivered consistent results.
Matt
28, Handicap 7
2 years testing
Definitely not the most forgiving club. It has a little offset to it, so I really had to press my hands forward in order to get the clubface square at setup, which I didn't love. The face was also very firm, so it was tough to tell where on the face I was hitting the ball.
Wei
56, Handicap 14
10+ years testing
I really like the beveled edges. It makes the thickish topline look much thinner. Very nice turf interaction. Incredibly forgiving, and really long. It's fun to hit.
Gary
38, Handicap 13
10+ years testing
The players distance package with the game-improvement performance. It plays a little like both in that it makes your best shots better and your worst shots less bad.
Timothy
46, Handicap 17
1 year testing
I was immediately comfortable with this club. The finish, shape and weighting all worked together exactly how I like. That comfort led to confident swings and pure strikes. It didn't add anything for me in terms of distance, but I felt in control with all my swings.
Aaron
45, Handicap 16
1 year testing
While it wasn't one of the longer options, I do think it was one of the more forgiving ones. I really enjoyed the higher trajectory of this club. It was very easy for me to hit consistent shots with it.
Shane
37, Handicap 12
6 years testing
High, soaring ball flight that maintains its height and falls out of the sky nice and soft. You don't have to hit it hard and the ball continues to carry, despite what feels like effortless impact.
Matt
53, Handicap 11
4 years testing
This is a forgiving gamer. It produced likable shots on unlikable swings. I was impressed by the consistency and tight dispersion. The length was a little less than I liked to see—about half a club short—but I could get over that in the name of accuracy.
Ryan
50, Handicap 10
8 years testing
A real industrial feel to this club. It felt really heavy in my hands, and labored through the hitting zone. There's distance in it, but not enough to make you jump for joy.
Jin
31, Handicap 10
2 years testing
All my shots were pretty consistent in terms of direction; very tight dispersion. It looks similar to the Apex Pro line, and I think for someone who wants a little bit more distance without sacrificing so much on the looks, this is a great club.
Scott
38, Handicap 16
10+ years testing
It really packs a punch. There's a lot of strength behind the head at impact and the launch is high and energetic. As long as you deliver the club with some intensity, you can really poke it out there.
Todd
63, Handicap 13
1 year testing
A tale of two clubs. Off-center hits fly high and on target, or fairly close. Center hits deliver a lower, more direct, fuller ball flight. Generally, you get a nice sizzle off the face and a well-controlled, well-delivered ball strike.
Daniel
34, Handicap 11
6 years testing
Very, very hot off the face. You can really feel the energy transfer from the club into the ball.It was very easy to get the desired ball flight with the swing that you put into the club.
Ryan
47, Handicap 12
3 years testing
Short, thick face doesn't inspire much confidence. Center hits didn't feel great and didn't have a ton of energy, and mis-hits fell off a bit. Felt like I had to work to get this one up in the air.
Wei
56, Handicap 14
10+ years testing
I really like the beveled edges. It makes the thickish topline look much thinner. Very nice turf interaction. Incredibly forgiving, and really long. It's fun to hit.
Jamie
53, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Perfectly proportioned head with a beautiful, brush finish. Small amount of offset on the longer irons provides a lot of forgiveness. I had no trouble getting the ball up in the air, even on slightly fat shots. The ball just rockets off the face on a mid-high trajectory, with just the right amount of speed.
Alejandra
27, Handicap 6
5 years testing
Let's call it reliable. It's easy to control and repeat the same flight over and over. It did feel like it was missing a little extra boost in power.
Thomas
61, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
I really like the forgiveness. It was hard to hit a bad shot. Every club went through the turf easily, and got up nicely.
Skylar
28, Handicap 7
3 years testing
Super-balanced clubs! Not too big, or too small. Just the right size and weight. I couldn't mis-hit these. Even if I did, it was going the same distance and direction that I intended.
Chris
60, Handicap 8
1 year testing
Doesn't feel like there's a lot of pop to it on center hits. The weight is lower on the club and helps get the ball in the air.
Wayne
61, Handicap 7
3 years testing
At address, the face looked very small to me, and that made me feel like I was going to have trouble hitting the sweet spot. And that's exactly what happened. I hit it all over the face and didn't get consistent results.
Peter
58, Handicap 8
10+ years testing
It looks more like a players or players distance iron than a game-improvement club. I expected a little more harshness on off-center hits, but it actually didn't feel too bad. The sweet spot is pretty decent in size, and that's why you get that nice, flush feeling of a forged club.
Anand
44, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
Extremely forgiving club. The gapping was consistent across all clubs, as were my yardages. The offset is very noticeable, but the mass in the head helps you launch the ball. Easy to hit.
Andrew
40, Handicap 8
1 year testing
Powerful set of clubs. When you hit the center of the face, the ball hops off on a good trajectory, and then descends nicely. Considerable amount of side spin and loss of distance on mis-hits. Probably not the best club for higher indexes.
Sean
54, Handicap 6
9 years testing
Jumps right off the face when you catch it. I just need to spend a little more time with it before I would consider putting it in my bag.
Paul
64, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
I thought the launch was consistent on every club. Distance, too. It felt like the club and the shaft were one, so there wasn't any extra sensory stuff going on when I made impact. Consistent swings delivered consistent results.
Matt
28, Handicap 7
2 years testing
Definitely not the most forgiving club. It has a little offset to it, so I really had to press my hands forward in order to get the clubface square at setup, which I didn't love. The face was also very firm, so it was tough to tell where on the face I was hitting the ball.
NO REVIEWS
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Range Results
We tracked 20,000 shots through player testing and then had them analyzed by our team of scientists. These graphics reflect the relative performance our players saw for each club in the category.
A Skeptic’s Guide To New Golf Equipment
From the Manufacturer
Callaway Apex Ai300
Apex Ai300 Irons are meticulously designed for pure feel, power, and consistency. These elegant cavity-back designs feature a slightly larger profile that blends performance and forgiveness in our most complete game-improvement iron, delivering performance that stands alone. A forged hollow-body combined with a forged 455 face creates a tour-level sound and feel. This advanced forged construction is coupled with a stunning, premium design that will captivate you more than ever before. In addition to enhanced feel, the forged 455 Face Cup delivers outstanding power across the face. This unique combination of power and feel seperates the Apex Ai300 from the rest.
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