LIVE Q&A: Callaway Golf Apex Irons and Hybrids. Mon Oct 5, 4PM ET / 1PM PT. Ask questions NOW!

[left hand low]

What performance improvements can I expect in the pro model from the previous model? Forgiveness, ball flight, workability, feel, etc? Curious what the benefits of an upgrade might be?

[bigbear88]

When it comes to testing irons I use two factors to help me decide on irons. The first is feel, which is subjective and the other is statistics. Could you explain for us non enginerring folks (in layman's terms) how the new technology is statistically better over previous irons? What statistics (distance, launch angle, how thin face of iron is) are most important to your team? Thanks for your time! Can't wait to try the new irons!!!!

[Bolt]

The new irons look fantastic. What are the ball flights like between the Apex and Apex Pros? Im looking for a new set of clubs that offer a more piercing ball flight with the ablitliy to work the ball but also looking for some forgiveness. Would you recommend the standard Apex's?
[color=#282828]Did you put replace Tungsten in the long irons for the cupface technology? If so what are the advantages?[/color]

[johnnylongballz72]

Thank you Callaway and Golfwrx for doing this Q&A.

I am not a particularly good long iron player so I have been searching for several years for the right hybrids to replace my long irons. I continue to have the same set of problems with almost every set of hybrids I have played.

First, I hit them farther than the irons I am trying to replace, and this leaves a gap in my bag.

Next, I can't stop hitting hooks, and I find it almost impossible to work the ball left to right.

The reviews I have read say that the new Apex hybrids are more "iron like" and more versatile. What is it about the new design that would make them fill the gaps in my bag better, and would allow me to hit a wider variety of shots?

Thanks,

JB

[Hochbeinz]

Hi Guys,

I seem to hit my 7 iron about 20 yards further than my 8. I'm concerned that could get even worse with the cf 16 since the 7 has the cup face and the 8 do not. How do you test gapping to make sure it's consistent. Robots or a number of diffrent golfers with diverse striking abillities. Or both?
Thks for your time.

[yellolab]

This is great, thanks very much for this.

1) As a Titleist guy, I currently play AP2, and like them a lot. As I am looking for something with clean lines that is more forgiving am considering the CF16. Can I assume you consider the AP1 and AP2 to be a primary competitor, and use them for benchmarking against the Apex line(both pro and CF16). I would like to hear your thoughts/impressions of the AP line vs the Apex line- either data driven or subjective would be great.

2) Picking a shaft....based on a whopping total of one review on the web, low spin rates from the CF16 has been raised as a potential issue. Based on this one data point, I am jumping to conclusions here but am inclining to pick a shaft that offers a higher spin rate. Do you have any data for that shows relative spin comparisons of the different shafts you offer.

3) Fitting question- can I order a stiff shaft soft stepped? Not obvious to me on your website.

[youngunz5840]

Any plans to mix in other metals to allow for a forging and a thin face similar to mizuno that's all one piece?

[Lunch_Box_81]

What are the lofts going to be for the Apex and Apex Pro?

[bellken]

Are the Apex hybrids meant to blend in with the Apex CF 16's, or, are they meant to blend in with the Apex Pro's? Or, is it intended, that they blend in with both? And, how would you blend them in?

thanks,

[Pack7483]

I have played the Apex Pros for a year now and really really like them. I play 5-pw. Since the new CF technology in the Pro 16's is just offered in the 3-7 would I tell a big difference between the old Pros 8-pw vs the new Pros 8-pw?. I really like my current 8-pw so maybe I could just order the new Pro 16's 5-7?

[LeftyBobby]

Loved Project X but also loved the Tour-V's. [b] In regards to the Apex Pros; what advantages have you seen in changing the stock shafts from KBS Tour-V to Project X? Does the new head design [i]jive[/i] better with the heavier, Project X? [/b]

[FerrisBueller]

How does the bounce and sole grind compare between the Apex and Apex Pro. Is there a condition that they will excel in? Soft, Firm, Both!?

[ETgolf]

I am in the market for new irons and have been hitting the apex and apex pro quite a bit the last few weeks. I am obviously waiting for the new versions to come out and test those heavily as well, but I'll be adding a new set of one or the other soon! I have heard a lot about the hybrid as well and have been considering upgrading from the current 2-iron I have to a hybrid. One of the things I love about my 2-iron is my ability to knock it down off the tee and from the fairway, but it doesn't perform well from the rough. What about the new apex hybrid do you think makes it more playable from the rough or tough lies (if anything)? Thanks so much for the time!!

[tider992010]

For the last several years, Calloway has been going through a re-emergence to re-identify itself. Bringing back Big Bertha, Great Big Bertha, etc. To your credit, it looks like your company has suceeded in a tough market place. Mr. Calloway's was credited with saying, "Good Ethics is Good Business". What do you think Ely Calloway would think of the company now, how would he feel about the new Calloway APEX Line for 2016 and other lines that have recently been released?

[Turbosnake]

on average how much has the ball speed increased with Apex CF16 vs the previous Apex...?????

thanks

[mizuno player]

Callaway is producing great stuff right now. My issues with the current Apex Pro is even at 1/4 over the swing weight is way too high for me. ( D 5-6 with dynamic gold)

Will you be able to get better swing weight numbers with the new clubs??

[jjgdyr]

Can't wait to try the new gear. It's awesome that Callaway has been releasing so much new gear late in the year to keep excitement and enthusiasm in the sport during a time of the year when most people start preparing to hibernate. I know we've got a horrible drought here on the west coast, but I'm looking forward to playing my best golf of the year with this new gear!!!

So here's my questions

does the usga have a limit on the moment of inertia(COR) for irons? And if so, how close are these irons to that limit?

The recoil shafts are amazing! I play approximately 125-150 rounds of golf per year. So my current apex irons have been used for almost 250 rounds. Do graphite shafts and steel shafts degrade in performance over time with constant use? If so, how often should they be replaced?

We all know that balls fly farther in great weather conditions. But do these irons with their new forging process perform differently when they're colder/hotter?

What is the hottest spot on the club face? Or maybe a better question is, where is best spot on the club face to impact the ball to generate the longest distance?

Thanks again for your time and your tireless effort to make the coolest golf gear on the planet!

JJ

[wilavic]

I have already watched several reviews of these irons and the cf16's look like a real winner in terms of a game improvement iron without the huge foot print associated with that category of club.Did you make a conscious effort to do this or was it more a by product of the materials i.e. the very thin face allowing more mass to be distributed to the edges? Also can you confirm that there will be no up-charge for premium shafts like c-taper and tour-v to name a couple.Thanks

[Nimz]

The durability of the finish on the current apex pros has been a real issue. Have you done anything to fix this issue and will it be an issue on the cf16 apex?

[dalillama47]

With all this cup face technology, especially in the irons, what is the benefit of this compared to a regular forged iron and also one that has the body forged with a welded face? Will you loose any consistency with the strike?

[Warrick]

I have moved more and more towards Callaway/Odyssey, top and bottom of the bag set. I have been so impressed, that I actually wondering how the Apex Pro iron would compare to my Mizuno MPH5/MP5 combo set. What would set them apart? Feel would be tough to match I think. Are these 1 piece forgings from 5-P? 1025? C-Taper offered at no upcharge? Will this finish be more durable than the last release of the Pro's?

Sorry for all the questions, but am very intrigued by the irons.

Thanks, will be on for the chat also.

[bama11]

Thank you guy's and WRX for the live forum! My questions are:

-Why two different finishes on the irons?

-Most of the post concerning the new Apex Hybrid state that it is geared toward better players, is this true? If so, what are you going to offer the mid to high handicap players who do not carry a 3 or 4 iron and would like to replace the long irons with hybrids.

-The feel of the previous version of the Apex irons was extremely soft on all shots, almost too soft even on mishits making it hard to actually distinguish from a off center hit. Will the new Apex retain the forged feel but with feedback from the strike that most forged irons produce?

-When should we expect to see the new Chrome Soft balls/Speed Regime golf balls?

Thanks for your time! And Harry, ROLL TIDE!!!

[2012BFT]

What is the biggest, most significant performance gain in this the new Apex Pro? Was there a lot of feedback provided for this iron from 2013 X Forged Players? Do you expect the Apex pro to gain a larger tour presence in this upcoming 2016 season?


Huge shout-out and thanks to WRX and Callaway for taking the time to do this Q&A!

[golferjsh69]

I'm currently playing Mizuno MP-62s and looking to upgrade. Considering the AP2s and the Apex Pros. What technology is in the new Apex pro that will help my game? Also, are there any shaft upcharges?

[Hudidad]

[quote name='HipCheck' timestamp='1443636177' post='12391310']
[attachment=2975050:CHAT_CALLAWAYAPEX.jpg]

[color=#000000]Callaway has just launched their new lineup of Apex Irons and Hybrids, and now they’re ready to answer your questions. Join us on Monday, October 5th (4 PM ET/1 PM PST) for a LIVE Q&A with Callaway's product experts on all things Apex. They'll cover the face cup technology in [/color][color=#000000]Apex 16 Irons[/color][color=#000000], the forged performance in Apex Pro 16 Irons, the shot-shaping with Apex Hybrids, and a whole lot more. [/color]

[color=#000000]Submit your questions now, and we’ll see you for the chat! [/color]

[b][color=#B22222]Who's on the Callaway Panel:[/color][/b][list]
[*][color=#000000]Alan Hocknell, SVP, R&D[/color]
[*][color=#000000]Luke Williams, Sr. Global Product Strategy Director - Irons and Hybrids[/color]
[*][color=#000000]Scott Manwaring, Sr. R&D Director - Irons and Hybrids[/color]
[*][color=#000000]Tim Reed, SVP, Product Strategy and Management[/color]
[*][color=#000000]Dave Neville, Sr. Marketing Director[/color]
[/list]
[color=#B22222][b][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]When’s It Happening:[/b][/font][/color]
[color=#000000][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]Monday, October 5th, 4 PM ET/1 PM PT[/font][/color][color=#282828] [/color]

[color=#B22222][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][b]Live Q&A Link:[/b][/font][/color]
[color=#282828]This thread will be the Live Q&A link.[/color]

[color=#282828][color=#B22222][b]Giveaway:[/b][/color][/color]
[color=#000000]2 GolfWRX members who have their question answered will win new Apex clubs to put in their bag:[/color][list]
[*]1st Place Winner: Apex 16 Irons (Standard or Pro) and an Apex Hybrid
[*]2nd Place Winner: 2 Apex Hybrids
[/list]
[color=#282828]Winners chosen by random from all questions that are answered.[/color]
[/quote]


I'm looking for the perfect 3 hybrid complement for the 2016 Apex irons I'll be pre-ordering on 10/16. Could you tell me the difference between the 815 hybrid, and the new Apex hybrid? I intend to buy just the 3 iron equivalent of one of these to fit with a 4-PW set. I have the 816 5 wood now and really like it.

Thanks much!

[OnTheRocks]

Looking at a new set of irons and I would love to hear your thoughts on an Apex/Apex Pro combo set. Would you recommend someone to pick one set to play throughout (ie 3-PW) or pick a more customized set makeup (ie 3-6 Apex, 7-PW Pro,etc)?

Thanks!

[B-Man]

Quick question regarding shaft selection in the irons:

How much R&D is involved into designing the club head based upon a particular shaft family as opposed to complementing a given (or possible) head design and then testing it against differing shafts to determine its attributes? Which comes first nowadays, with many players now more comfortable with a certain shaft's performance and then looking to change the club head to match?

Cheers,
Rich

[Cooper]

I've heard the Apex will be a little smaller and harder to hit than the previous mode. Is this true? Also why kind of distance will we see from the Apex over the 2013 version?

[cz13X4]

what was the biggest downfall of the previous apex line and how did you capitalize on that information to improve the new models?

[dmeyer1982]

What kind of distance gains are you expecting to see for the pro version vs the x forged. I love the flight of the x forged but would love a few more yards