Tour issued Callaway Apex Pro 19' "Dot" Iron Pics and differences (comparison Pics added Page 3)

[B_of_H]

the biggest difference i see is less offset. i'd consider playing these but the stock version has way too much offset for me.

[RyanBarathWRX]

Heres my take...

**

Are these new Dot versions way different than retail? **

YES 100%, a one piece forged iron is not the same as a cup faced forged iron with a load of tungsten in it. BUT it doesn't automatically mean that its better of worse - just different.

**

Are a lot of the pros playing the DOT version versus the retail version on tour? **

By all accounts YES, we have seen a lot of the players on tour using the DOT version, BUT once again, we are talking about the best players in the world that A- don't miss it that often, B- have no issue with ball speed which translates to height, spin and green holding capability, C - are very specific about the look of their clubs.

 

As I wrote about recently [golfwrx.com/549138/tour-issue-irons-a-look-behind-the-curtain/](http://www.golfwrx.com/549138/tour-issue-irons-a-look-behind-the-curtain/ "golfwrx.com/549138/tour-issue-irons-a-look-behind-the-curtain/") "tour issue" for many really just means another option for players on staff to play the most recent gear - branded obviously. Almost all players are going to benefit much more with the retail versions to help increase ball speed and forgiveness but like many things in life being able to have something that is different and more rare will have people that have the game to play them search them out and game them.

 

These are very cool and I can't wait to see them in person - but its important to remember why these exist in the first place.

[buckeyefl]

> @radiman said:

> What? Callaway has their guys on tour playing something different than the retail models? You don't say... ?

>

> All jokes aside. I just wish they would offer some of their tour only stuff to the public. From their many Epic Flash's down to these irons.

>

> The irons sound intriguing and look pretty nice. Thanks for sharing the info.

>

>

 

When you click on the short video they literally sound intriguing. :)

[tdk8180]

I would like some dot heads in RAW finish.

Im coming from APEX MBs...so these Dot Heads are a wonderful compromise. I dont want the cup face tech, because i dont want to be accidentally flying targets. That can happen more often with the 4 thru 6 irons. I dont need that in my life

[justasgood]

Bigger difference is loft. The non dot PW loft is 45* I believe the dot head is 47*

[DFS PFD]

I'm really tired of buying Callaway gear just to have them release 6 other version of their line up two months later.

[tdk8180]

Callaway should have a membership (yearly fee) that gives you access to have your stuff built to exact specs on their tour semi trucks. Limit the memberships to a reasonable number and even let people buy raffle tickets to win a membership or blind auction them off....whatever. Having a select number of super Callaway fans that play no other equipment should at least be able to get their hands on some tour only stuff.

[joey3108]

Just to tease you guys some more.... They even have the micro grooves version. I've worked and hit them. Forgot to take a pictures, cuz it was a quick emergency work for a players trying to catch a flight.

[Wardonation]

Not sure the difference but instead of "cup face" they have a plate face? I called into the Sirius Callaway show last night and that is what they said? two piece forged with a "plate face"?

[Wardonation]

They are NOT a one piece forging according to the dudes on Sirius?

[radiman]

The Apex dot is on their site now.

 

https://www.callawaygolf.com/golf-clubs/iron-sets/irons-2019-apex-pro-dot.html?_ga=2.215180055.1403925684.1554832876-1773007131.1541710621

 

[tsecor]

then it wouldn't be "tour only"....lol> @radiman said:

> What? Callaway has their guys on tour playing something different than the retail models? You don't say... ?

>

> All jokes aside. I just wish they would offer some of their tour only stuff to the public. From their many Epic Flash's down to these irons.

>

> The irons sound intriguing and look pretty nice. Thanks for sharing the info.

>

>

 

 

[TWshoot67]

Less offset is one difference but I'm willing to bet they are less forgiving, playinmg more like a blade for the better player.

[radiman]

> @tsecor said:

> then it wouldn't be "tour only"....lol> @radiman said:

> > What? Callaway has their guys on tour playing something different than the retail models? You don't say... ?

> >

> > All jokes aside. I just wish they would offer some of their tour only stuff to the public. From their many Epic Flash's down to these irons.

> >

> > The irons sound intriguing and look pretty nice. Thanks for sharing the info.

> >

> >

>

>

 

This is correct. Thankfully, I didn't drop $1.5k on a set of Apex Pro's only to have these release two months later.

[jci13]

I didn’t realize it but my set of Apex Pro Smoke irons I ordered and received back in February are the “dot” version. I ordered my set with DG120 S400 tour issue shafts and 2* weak on lofts and was sent the “dot” version. They are beautiful and play great. I’ve only been able to play 2 rounds with them so far due to cold/wet weather up here in northern Indiana.

[buckeyefl]

> @TWshoot67 said:

> Less offset is one difference but I'm willing to bet they are less forgiving, playinmg more like a blade for the better player.

 

I dont think theres any reason to be betting on those things.

 

I went to the link and checked out the specs and compared them to my current clubs. A little disappointed that they still have so much offset in comparison.

[TWshoot67]

> @buckeyefl said:

> > @TWshoot67 said:

> > Less offset is one difference but I'm willing to bet they are less forgiving, playinmg more like a blade for the better player.

>

> I dont think theres any reason to be betting on those things.

>

> I went to the link and checked out the specs and compared them to my current clubs. A little disappointed that they still have so much offset in comparison.

 

Maybe I used wrong choice of words , but in all years previous when it came to any Tour Version irons that Callaway had produced going all the way back to the FT3 Tour Driver. The Tour Only or Tour players version of clubs have always been much harder to hit for average golfer. Now if your a a player who hits bvall on the sweet spot size of say nickle/Quarter size pattern you may have no issues playing Tour player clubs. But most of us mere mortals would be better served playing clubs built to help you play the game better with larger room for error. I know in early mid 2000's when I owned just about every Tour Iron made by TM and Cally, they all were much harder to hit or should I say smaller sweet spot for sure. So I was maybe thinking these would fit in this same catagory.

 

 

[jci13]

On the offset just remember that Callaway switched their offset numbers to mm now. On the apex pro 19 the offset is minimal. I compared the offset in my apex pro 19 to my apex pro 16 and my apex pro original and the 19’s have less than the 16’s or the original apex pros.

[buckeyefl]

> @jci13 said:

> On the offset just remember that Callaway switched their offset numbers to mm now. On the apex pro 19 the offset is minimal. I compared the offset in my apex pro 19 to my apex pro 16 and my apex pro original and the 19’s have less than the 16’s or the original apex pros.

 

I didn't notice that but my specs were in inches since they are older clubs. Thanks for the info. I'm not in the market but maybe I can get to a demo and check them out in person in case of a future purchase.

[buckeyefl]

> @TWshoot67 said:

> > @buckeyefl said:

> > > @TWshoot67 said:

> > > Less offset is one difference but I'm willing to bet they are less forgiving, playinmg more like a blade for the better player.

> >

> > I dont think theres any reason to be betting on those things.

> >

> > I went to the link and checked out the specs and compared them to my current clubs. A little disappointed that they still have so much offset in comparison.

>

> Maybe I used wrong choice of words , but in all years previous when it came to any Tour Version irons that Callaway had produced going all the way back to the FT3 Tour Driver. The Tour Only or Tour players version of clubs have always been much harder to hit for average golfer. Now if your a a player who hits bvall on the sweet spot size of say nickle/Quarter size pattern you may have no issues playing Tour player clubs. But most of us mere mortals would be better served playing clubs built to help you play the game better with larger room for error. I know in early mid 2000's when I owned just about every Tour Iron made by TM and Cally, they all were much harder to hit or should I say smaller sweet spot for sure. So I was maybe thinking these would fit in this same catagory.

>

>

 

I was agreeing with you because its usually a given that the tour models are harder to hit and belong in a small minority of hands.

[EaglesGolf99]

Triple Diamond retail heads are in shops already. Just an FYI.

[Golf4lifer]

> @jci13 said:

> On the offset just remember that Callaway switched their offset numbers to mm now. On the apex pro 19 the offset is minimal. I compared the offset in my apex pro 19 to my apex pro 16 and my apex pro original and the 19’s have less than the 16’s or the original apex pros.

 

The Apex Pro 19’s 8 iron have 2.5mm of offset or .098”. The Apex Pro 14/16 8 irons each have .095”/2.4mm of offset. Seems to me they are pretty darn close to one another.

[Josh L.]

> @EaglesGolf99 said:

> Triple Diamond retail heads are in shops already. Just an FYI.

 

Does anyone actually know the difference between the diamond and the retail?

[ShakeyT]

When you have ex- Taylormade leadership running the show, should you expect anything different?

[ssfranny]

> @easyyy said:

> > @radiman said:

> > What? Callaway has their guys on tour playing something different than the retail models? You don't say... ?

> >

> > All jokes aside. I just wish they would offer some of their tour only stuff to the public. From their many Epic Flash's down to these irons.

> >

> > The irons sound intriguing and look pretty nice. Thanks for sharing the info.

> >

> >

> I heard from @FairwayFred that Club Champion is going to offer them and triple diamond Epic drivers for custom fitting. In a month or so.

>

 

they need to offer hot melting on that SZ in custom that driver is LOUD!

[DTown3011]

It's interesting and somewhat frustrating that the marketing language/description is extremely vague in the clear differences between the two irons. You have to read between the lines in order to discern exactly what you might be buying. They clearly talk about a face PLATE on the dot version and a 360 face CUP on the standard version. I'm sure this is to reign in distances for the tour guys not looking to hit 250-yard 6-irons. The lofts are also 1-2* weaker on the DOT set and the lie angles flatter, running off a more traditional 47* PW instead of 45* and 0.5-1* flatter. Lastly, the offset is less. Pretty substantially in fact. Here are the 2 spec sheets:

 

 

[PapaJohick]

I mean is it surprising that the pros get something that is better for their games? Flatter lie/less offset to help with the left miss, no face cup for more consistent distances, weaker lofts for better/higher spin and launch windows.

 

like mentioned by barath though, doesn't mean they are better in general. Just different for the pros vs what the standard ones are meant to do for the general public.

 

i would bet that almost all the OEMs do something like this for the players not technically playing the OEM blade/cb clubs in order to market that club genre to the public but making sure they play correctly for the tour pro.

[golfer55082]

So, the “dot” version is actually X-Forged iron with shiny chrome finish??

[DTown3011]

> @golfer55082 said:

> So, the “dot” version is actually X-Forged iron with shiny chrome finish??

 

Not even close. The X-Forged is a ONE PIECE forged iron. The Apex Pro Dot is 2 pieces, a carbon steel face plate attached to a forged body, tungsten weighting, and still the urethane microspheres.

It's like comparing the Titleist CB (1 piece forging) to the AP2 (multi-material iron).

[golfer55082]

 

Wow, big thumbs up in how you explain the difference. With the difference in mind can I say that the dot version will fly longer, more forgiving, and less “soft” in feel than X-Forged , just like Titleist AP2 vs CB?

 

> @DTown3011 said:

> > @golfer55082 said:

> > So, the “dot” version is actually X-Forged iron with shiny chrome finish??

>

> Not even close. The X-Forged is a ONE PIECE forged iron. The Apex Pro Dot is 2 pieces, a carbon steel face plate attached to a forged body, tungsten weighting, and still the urethane microspheres.

> It's like comparing the Titleist CB (1 piece forging) to the AP2 (multi-material iron).