Callaway recently dropped three new irons: the Apex Ti Fusion, the Apex Ai200 and the Apex Ai300. The Ti Fusion not only looks different than the Ai200 and Ai300 thanks to its black PVD finish but it is also made using titanium, making it very unique in the world of better-player distance irons.
The Apex Ai200 and Ai300, however, look very similar. Golfers in the market for new irons might need help understanding how the two clubs are similar, what makes them different, and what types of players Callaway had in mind when designers created the Ai200 and Ai300.
Have no fear, Golfweek is here to help.
Callaway Apex Ai300 iron. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
Construction and Technology
The Apex Ai200 and Ai300 both feature a multimaterial construction and a forged 1020 carbon steel chassis that is attached to a thin, forged 455 Carpenter stainless steel cup face. The faces were designed with the help of artificial intelligence. While Callaway has been using AI to create driver faces for several years, these are the first iron faces designed with the analytical help of supercomputers.
The result is a hitting area that should give golfers more distance over a larger area, but also more consistency because the hitting area does not have hot spots or excessively rigid areas.
Callaway designers added urethane microspheres inside the heads of both the Apex Ai200 and Apex Ai300, and the soft material absorbs excessive vibrations to soften the feel and enhance the sound that is created at impact.
The Apex Ai200 irons are forged from 1020 carbon steel for a softer feel and have adjustable weight plates that allow fitters to change the swing weight. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
The Apex Ai200 and Apex Ai300 also both feature a screwed-in weight on the back of the head that custom fitters can swap to change the swing weight of the clubs based on their length or a golfer’s preferences.
Who are the Apex Ai200 and Apex Ai300 for?
The Callaway Apex Ai200 is a better-player’s distance iron that is shaped and intended for golfers who want a better-player’s club. These golfers want more speed, but they don’t want to sacrifice control and feel to get it.
The Apex Ai200 is smaller than the Apex Ai300, and has a slimmer topline, less offset and a shorter blade length.
The Apex Ai 300 can be put squarely into the game-improvement category and is built for golfers seeking forgiveness and distance. It features a larger head and thicker topline, which gives it a more confidence-inspiring look in the address position for players who shoot in the 80s and low 90s.
The Apex Ai300 creates a higher launch angle with increased ball speed, while also generating less spin than the Apex Ai200.
The Apex Ai200 (left) has a shorter blade length, a thinner topline and slightly less offset than the Ai300. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
The Takeaway
The best way to find the irons that are right for you is to work with a custom fitter who has a launch monitor and hit shots with lots of different head and shaft combinations.
The Callaway Apex Ai200 and Apex Ai300 irons look very similar, and working with a custom fitter, they can easily be blended into one set that can provide you with the benefits of both clubs.
That said, if you are a lower handicap golfer who values feel, shot-shaping, and compact aesthetics but now want more speed, the Apex Ai200 might be something you should try.
However, if your priorities in a new set of irons lean more toward added distance and enhanced forgiveness, the Apex Ai 300 offers higher MOI (moment of inertia), so it will be more stable.