Today, Callaway Golf announced AI-driven changes to one of the most popular iron models in golf: the Callaway Apex series. Beginning August 15th, pre-orders will begin for the new Apex Ai200, Ai300, and TiFusion irons.

All models are unique and cater to a particular genre of player, as you would expect from Callaway.

Let’s take a first look at the new Apex sticks and see which model might end up in your bag before 2025 hits.

At a Glance

Callaway has been taking consumers on an equipment journey this year. From its Paradym Ai Smoke line to the recently released Opus wedges, if you’re a fan of the chevron, you have not been disappointed. Personally, I can’t believe it's been a decade since Callaway created the first Apex Iron. In that time, irons as an equipment category, has seen tremendous change from a technology standpoint.

Apex is one of the contributing models that have direct ties to what we see today, which is a robust irons aisle at golf retailers.

As we creep towards 2025, here’s the new iterations Callaway has for the masses:

Ai200: A forged hollow-body, player’s distance iron.
Ai300: A forged cavity-back design for superior game improvement.
TiFusion: A forged titanium face model that’s the definition of “premium.”

“We wanted to recommit ourselves to really focusing on what the player needs,” said Zack Oakley, Sr. Product Manager at Callaway Golf. “We don't feel like we or the competition has been catering to this player the way they deserve. So, we went back to the drawing board, relooked at some things, and focused on three key areas for this next generation of Apex.”

Callaway Apex Ai200

The player's distance iron category is evolving rapidly. At its inception, this category of iron was designed to help better players who still need an added layer of forgiveness and distance. Apex has had multiple models that have fit this bill, and the new Ai200 is a culmination of predecessors and modern technology.

Callaway is categorically calling this hollow-body design its most advanced of all time. A Forged 455 Face Cup pairs with the body design to create what Callaway is touting as a tour-level sound and feel—two aspects only achieved with superior materials, I might add.

We’ve heard a lot about AI Smart Face from Callaway, so it’s no surprise that technology is being adopted in the Ai200. Essentially, the face is designed based on real data from actual players, plus A.I., to create an optimized clubface. Spin, launch, forgiveness, and distance all reap the benefits of AI Smart Face.

“The Ai200 is that core players' distance iron that's going to be for a player who wants the look of a player's iron, the feel of a player's iron, but doesn't want to sacrifice distance, doesn't want to sacrifice feel or consistency,” said Oakley.

The Ai200 will be available from 4-AW with stock True Temper DG Mid 100 steel shafts and UST Mamiya HDC Recoil Dart graphite shafts. A 7-piece iron set will run $1,400.

Callaway Apex Ai300

If game improvement irons are more your speed, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more elegant design than the new Apex Ai300. This cavity back iron has a slightly larger profile than the Ai200, but that’s to be expected based on the audience it’s geared towards.

You’ll find plenty of similarities in the Ai300, however. The same Forged 455 Face Cup is present in this model, which by design would make for a truly unique experience having a larger head delivering tour-level sound and feel. An important note is that the same Ai Smart Face technology is also part of the Ai300 design, meaning players in this category in search of distance will likely find accuracy and spin to go along with the added yardage. A welcomed bonus.

“The AI 300 is going to be that game improvement iron, a little bit higher launch, a little bit more forgiveness, going to have a lot of the same tech as you're going to see across the platform here but in a more forgiving profile,” said Oakley.

The Apex Ai300 Irons will be available in 4-AW with stock True Temper DG Mid 90 steel shafts and UST Mamiya HDC Recoil Dart shafts. The only shaft variation being the slightly lighter option for the Ai300. Exactly the same, however, is the $1,400 price point as the Ai200.

Callaway Apex TiFusion

If you’re in search of a premium iron set that also strays from the norm, the new Callaway Apex TiFusion has you in mind. With this model Callaway debuts an industry-first, forged titanium face. This hollow-body design featured more urethane interaction in the building process, making it fast and powerful.

Aesthetically, this iron strikes me the same as a luxury car. It has all of looks (see the dark finish), bells, and whistles that you crave. It’s a concept iron that’s geared towards the better player, but Callaway didn’t skip the Forged 455 Face Cup and Ai Smart Face that you’ll find in the other Apex models.

Much like when Callaway recently debuted its Opus wedge lineup, the OEM has leaned into offering models for the masses in addition to something for the premium-seekers. The example here being the Opus and Opus Platinum versions.

“It's about incorporating titanium into an iron construction,” said Brian Williams, VP of R&D at Callaway. “Titanium, like in drivers, is flexible and allows for high deflection with rebound, which is great for energy transfer and ball speeds. We also knew we could leverage it for unique spin control. However, fusing titanium with steel, which don't naturally join, required a new fusion methodology. Conventional methods like brazing or swaging had trade-offs, so we had to innovate to make this work without compromises.”

Of course, a premium iron will carry a premium price tag. A 7-piece set of the Callaway Apex TiFusion will run $2,100. For the equipment lover that’s looking for something special, this is it.

How and When

The new Callaway Apex Ai200, Ai300, and TiFusion models will all be available for pre-order on August 15th, and you can catch them in your local golf retailer beginning on August 23rd. For more information, visit callawaygolf.com.

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