Callaway Apex CF16 - BEST. IRONS. EVER......

[Neurotica]

Anyone with the recoil 110s? How do you like them? How do they feel?

 

They feel like KBS TOURS to me and play very similar but much easier on the elbows. Very pleasant feeling when flushing these especially the longer irons.

[NJMARTN]

I've heard some people say they don't like the "turf interaction ." Can you explain in a little more detail what you mean?

[cmatthews77]

I'm loving the irons more and more with each round (coming from the Apex Pros). They don't feel quite as good as the Pros but deliver more punch off mishits. Turf interaction again not quite as good as the Pros but not an issue.

[nsxguy]

I'm scarred (and scared :lol: ) by the prior generation Apex. I tried them outdoors at a demo day a couple of years ago and hit them terribly. I mean just AWFUL. Out of a couple of dozen swings I hit maybe 5 somewhat resembling a golf shot.

 

Now, I obviously didn't have my swing that day and it was VERY windy but,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, :scare2:

 

Anyway, I'm hitting the CF-16s (stock XP95 stiff) indoors and hitting them very well. I've also recently been hitting the Apex Pro as well.

 

Had a fairly long session yesterday in the store sim with both irons. As expected I'm almost a club short with the Pros (PX 6.0 steel) but what I found unusual was the ball flight. Virtually every shot was a gentle to fairly hard draw; the Pros drawing more than the CF-16. I rarely see this shot shape on the course - my general ball flight is very straight.

 

So, for comparison, since I've played my Ping G's recently (from my older Ping G20s), I put together MY G combo (1.5 up with DG S300) and hit that. Hit the G combo VERY straight (this is what I DO see on the course). Distance a few yards short of the CF-16s therefore a little more than 1/2 club longer than the Pros. So while the Apex' were all standard lie and the G was 1.5 up it's even stranger that the Apex' would draw and the G would stay straight. :dntknw:

 

I'm not a big hitter. Ping 7 iron flies about 149/150, CF-16 about 153/4 and the Pro about 143/4. Launch for all was between approx 22.3 and 24.0 degrees. The biggest difference I saw was the SPIN RATE. All 7 irons, the Apex spun consistently around 4300. The Apex Pro around 4600. The Ping Gs around 5700.

 

Now I didn't have my preferred shaft (the DGS300) in either Apex but would that have much effect on the spin rates for the Apex ? I believe I've seen some spin rate complaints on this thread. Anybody have any issues with lofted irons releasing on the green when you would have expected them to (pretty much) stick ?

 

Thoughts ?

[MJisGOAT]

I think that the wider sole makes the turf interaction an issue in some cases. I have both the pro and cf 16 and not sure which I like better. I launch the cf16 high enough to where holding greens is a non issue.

[Ripken08]

I'm scarred (and scared :lol: ) by the prior generation Apex. I tried them outdoors at a demo day a couple of years ago and hit them terribly. I mean just AWFUL. Out of a couple of dozen swings I hit maybe 5 somewhat resembling a golf shot.

 

Now, I obviously didn't have my swing that day and it was VERY windy but,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, :scare2:

 

Anyway, I'm hitting the CF-16s (stock XP95 stiff) indoors and hitting them very well. I've also recently been hitting the Apex Pro as well.

 

Had a fairly long session yesterday in the store sim with both irons. As expected I'm almost a club short with the Pros (PX 6.0 steel) but what I found unusual was the ball flight. Virtually every shot was a gentle to fairly hard draw; the Pros drawing more than the CF-16. I rarely see this shot shape on the course - my general ball flight is very straight.

 

So, for comparison, since I've played my Ping G's recently (from my older Ping G20s), I put together MY G combo (1.5 up with DG S300) and hit that. Hit the G combo VERY straight (this is what I DO see on the course). Distance a few yards short of the CF-16s therefore a little more than 1/2 club longer than the Pros. So while the Apex' were all standard lie and the G was 1.5 up it's even stranger that the Apex' would draw and the G would stay straight. :dntknw:

 

I'm not a big hitter. Ping 7 iron flies about 149/150, CF-16 about 153/4 and the Pro about 143/4. Launch for all was between approx 22.3 and 24.0 degrees. The biggest difference I saw was the SPIN RATE. All 7 irons, the Apex spun consistently around 4300. The Apex Pro around 4600. The Ping Gs around 5700.

 

Now I didn't have my preferred shaft (the DGS300) in either Apex but would that have much effect on the spin rates for the Apex ? I believe I've seen some spin rate complaints on this thread. Anybody have any issues with lofted irons releasing on the green when you would have expected them to (pretty much) stick ?

 

Thoughts ?

 

Thought 1: Are you sure you are doing a fair comparison in terms of lie angles? Each manufacturer has different standard lies and the clubs lengths that affect lie angles may be different. You need to research the specs to see if the Pings were truly 1.5 up over the others based on standard and shaft lengths.

 

Thought 2: Why do you prefer DGS300 shafts? Your distances seems short to warrant that shaft. You may want to explore R300 if you like the heavier feel.

[JMH1220]

I just hit these on the range for the first time. Wow! Always thought not forgiving enough for me. They are very nice. Long and straight and felt great with Recoil. Very surprised.

[TruGolfer]

I've been playing them for a few weeks now. Great distances for a newbie like me. But they don't sound as good as my old '02 BB's... kinda dull 'thud' instead of 'ping' when struck.

[SilverBullets]

I'm scarred (and scared :lol: ) by the prior generation Apex. I tried them outdoors at a demo day a couple of years ago and hit them terribly. I mean just AWFUL. Out of a couple of dozen swings I hit maybe 5 somewhat resembling a golf shot.

 

Now, I obviously didn't have my swing that day and it was VERY windy but,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, :scare2:

 

Anyway, I'm hitting the CF-16s (stock XP95 stiff) indoors and hitting them very well. I've also recently been hitting the Apex Pro as well.

 

Had a fairly long session yesterday in the store sim with both irons. As expected I'm almost a club short with the Pros (PX 6.0 steel) but what I found unusual was the ball flight. Virtually every shot was a gentle to fairly hard draw; the Pros drawing more than the CF-16. I rarely see this shot shape on the course - my general ball flight is very straight.

 

So, for comparison, since I've played my Ping G's recently (from my older Ping G20s), I put together MY G combo (1.5 up with DG S300) and hit that. Hit the G combo VERY straight (this is what I DO see on the course). Distance a few yards short of the CF-16s therefore a little more than 1/2 club longer than the Pros. So while the Apex' were all standard lie and the G was 1.5 up it's even stranger that the Apex' would draw and the G would stay straight. :dntknw:

 

I'm not a big hitter. Ping 7 iron flies about 149/150, CF-16 about 153/4 and the Pro about 143/4. Launch for all was between approx 22.3 and 24.0 degrees. The biggest difference I saw was the SPIN RATE. All 7 irons, the Apex spun consistently around 4300. The Apex Pro around 4600. The Ping Gs around 5700.

 

Now I didn't have my preferred shaft (the DGS300) in either Apex but would that have much effect on the spin rates for the Apex ? I believe I've seen some spin rate complaints on this thread. Anybody have any issues with lofted irons releasing on the green when you would have expected them to (pretty much) stick ?

 

Thoughts ?

 

I know this was posted 2 weeks ago but I would say you def. need a different shaft than what you were hitting. Under 5k is way low for a 7i. You should be in the mid 6k to 7k range with a 7i. Id suggest a lighter weight, higher launching and higher spinning shaft.

 

I haven't had issues with the CF16s rolling out too much. Yes, they roll out a little further than my 712 AP2s did, but, we are talking a matter of feet, not yards. The CF16s do spin less than my AP2s, but, they also launch higher. With the proper shaft fitting, I was able to the spin to 5800 on average with a 6i in the CF16s.

[mason82]

I've had these about 2 months, and I can't dial in the distances worth a crap. Nice looking, decent feel and forgiveness, but they can be HOT. I've flown more greens with these things, only to be short on what I thought were well struck balls on others. I'll be going to MP 18 or 718 AP2 in a month.

[TruGolfer]

In a way I'm glad I am a beginner who hasn't developed a consistently solid technique or habits. I really like the feel and forgiveness of these Apex CF16's and will hone my technique to fit these clubs instead of finding the 'elusive' perfect clubs to fit me. To me, having the right shafts is more important than clubheads. I plan to keep these and all my new acquisitions for 10+ years.

[JMH1220]

I've been playing them for a few weeks now. Great distances for a newbie like me. But they don't sound as good as my old '02 BB's... kinda dull 'thud' instead of 'ping' when struck.

The dull thud sound is exactly what I like and want

[GC70]

I hated these every time I hit them in doors. My fitter gave me a set (4-AW with Recoils) to hold me over until the 718's come out. I absolutely love them very long, forgiving, and feel pretty darn good.

[nsxguy]

I'm scarred (and scared :lol: ) by the prior generation Apex. I tried them outdoors at a demo day a couple of years ago and hit them terribly. I mean just AWFUL. Out of a couple of dozen swings I hit maybe 5 somewhat resembling a golf shot.

 

Now, I obviously didn't have my swing that day and it was VERY windy but,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, :scare2:

 

Anyway, I'm hitting the CF-16s (stock XP95 stiff) indoors and hitting them very well. I've also recently been hitting the Apex Pro as well.

 

Had a fairly long session yesterday in the store sim with both irons. As expected I'm almost a club short with the Pros (PX 6.0 steel) but what I found unusual was the ball flight. Virtually every shot was a gentle to fairly hard draw; the Pros drawing more than the CF-16. I rarely see this shot shape on the course - my general ball flight is very straight.

 

So, for comparison, since I've played my Ping G's recently (from my older Ping G20s), I put together MY G combo (1.5 up with DG S300) and hit that. Hit the G combo VERY straight (this is what I DO see on the course). Distance a few yards short of the CF-16s therefore a little more than 1/2 club longer than the Pros. So while the Apex' were all standard lie and the G was 1.5 up it's even stranger that the Apex' would draw and the G would stay straight. :dntknw:

 

I'm not a big hitter. Ping 7 iron flies about 149/150, CF-16 about 153/4 and the Pro about 143/4. Launch for all was between approx 22.3 and 24.0 degrees. The biggest difference I saw was the SPIN RATE. All 7 irons, the Apex spun consistently around 4300. The Apex Pro around 4600. The Ping Gs around 5700.

 

Now I didn't have my preferred shaft (the DGS300) in either Apex but would that have much effect on the spin rates for the Apex ? I believe I've seen some spin rate complaints on this thread. Anybody have any issues with lofted irons releasing on the green when you would have expected them to (pretty much) stick ?

 

Thoughts ?

 

I know this was posted 2 weeks ago but I would say you def. need a different shaft than what you were hitting. Under 5k is way low for a 7i. You should be in the mid 6k to 7k range with a 7i. Id suggest a lighter weight, higher launching and higher spinning shaft.

 

I haven't had issues with the CF16s rolling out too much. Yes, they roll out a little further than my 712 AP2s did, but, we are talking a matter of feet, not yards. The CF16s do spin less than my AP2s, but, they also launch higher. With the proper shaft fitting, I was able to the spin to 5800 on average with a 6i in the CF16s.

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

I was always a high launcher of the ball even though I played the ball back and was a "digger". I modified slightly to take a bit less dirt and the ball still flew very high. I have since (3 months ago) developed some slight swing changes and have become a sweeper and am hitting the ball much straighter.

 

The CF16's, with the very low spin rate, were with the stock stiff XP95s (my Ping G's were with the DGS300). I find a few 100 rpms difference with different shafts and the same head but nothing like the 11-1400 or so difference between the Ping head and the CF-16s. I'll have to check another GI iron head and see where it falls, maybe an AP1 or XR16.

 

As a follow up I have recently found a DGS300 shaft at the store to use with the CF-16s but the results were very similar - lowish spin rate. But it was, as might be expected, a bit straighter and a few yards shorter with the DSG300.

 

When I got my current G20s 5 seasons ago I spent at least 6 sim sessions in 2 weeks with different shafts (mostly lighter) in the G20s and every time the DSG300s were a bit shorter than the others but the dispersion was FAR better. Only other shaft that gave similar results was the KBS C-Taper (played 1 season with it but went back to the DGS300).

 

Thanks again.

[Cwing]

Attention CF16 fans. I just posted mine on the BST.

 

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1526784-callaway-apex-cf16-4-pw-waerotech-steelfiber-i110cw-stiff/

[JDMRN81]

Just an FYI, Callaway announced they're bringing back the Apex Blacks. Pre-orders start Friday!

[Jdavenp3]

Just an FYI, Callaway announced they're bringing back the Apex Blacks. Pre-orders start Friday!

 

Wish they wouldn't wear so damn fast. Cobra King MB are about the only black clubs that hold up the test of time.

[Stonewalled]

Got the Steelhead Pros this week, thought they were going to kick the CF16's out of the bag, nooooooooooooo chance. Have both in the Recoil black shaft and there is no comparison, the CF16's are more solid and the feel is so much better. Should have saved my money and trusted my CF16's they are the best.....

Had a decision to make this week CF16's or Steelhead Pro's. CF16's won out. Nice taste in golf bags English. Picked up one of those this year as well, someone had won one and was selling it cheap. Sweet Bag.

[ron lefthanded holmes]

I wanted to love these irons so bad but I gave up on them after a couple months. It really bummed me out. I didn't like the turf interaction and I really didn't think they felt that great. I can understand why people love them but they weren't for me.

 

Im the same just dont feel right to me tried a few different shafts and still no good so ping i200s for me

[Scooterboy59]

The Black irons are back!!!!!!!Sweet.

[Lefty431]

The Black irons are back!!!!!!!Sweet.

 

Does anyone know if they're available in left hand this time??

[cavanagh]

Black are great but do mark too easy, which is a shame but might order a set to keep ha ha

[814willowbeach]

man, the black apex are so nice!

[johnnybogey]

Finally had a chance to take my new Apex cf16's with Recooil 780's to the range. Just awesome. Launch is lower with the recoils compared to the xp95's I had in the OG apex.

 

 

[TruGolfer]

They look cool as collectibles but I'd be afraid to use them.

[misplacedtexan83]

They blemish easier than I was hoping on the first release.

 

Hopefully, they have rectify the finish this time to be more like the wedges.

 

They are sexy without a doubt but when the finish starts to come off various places it can be distracting.

[High Draw]

I still play the chrome version and cannot believe the performance of these. Paired with modus 120's and they are awesome. Really like the long irons so much I've contemplated getting rid of my hybrid.

[Double Dutch]

Does anyone have any experience with the KBS Tour V 90 shafts? I think they're exclusive to callaway or even to the Apex. I have them in a set I bought used and they're okay, but I haven't seen any distance gains like most Apex users have, and the clubs don't feel near as good as other clubs I've tried with DG or Project X shafts.

All I know is they're supposed to be low weight,low launch and low spin.

EDIT: these clubs do perform very well though. GIR has gone up from 4-7 to 7-12 per round.

[Striker Ace]

What I discovered at the range tonight. I can hit my 8 iron 150 yards on average but every once in a while get great height and 175 yards. I hear a lot of people saying these clubs are too inconsistent.

 

Well I got news for you, it ain't the clubs. I get 175 when I swing great and hit the sweet spot.

[mason82]

What I discovered at the range tonight. I can hit my 8 iron 150 yards on average but every once in a while get great height and 175 yards. I hear a lot of people saying these clubs are too inconsistent.

 

Well I got news for you, it ain't the clubs. I get 175 when I swing great and hit the sweet spot.

 

That's my problem with these, they are too inconsistent. I had a 181 approach the other day and was 20 yards over the green with a 6 iron. It really messes with how I choose an iron for a shot. I have a pretty aggressive swing and maybe these aren't meant for that, I don't know. I will be selling these for MP 18 or 718 AP 2 in a few weeks, I can't handle the inconsistencies.