Apex Pro 21 vs Apex tcb

[Parjim734]

I have it narrowed down to these 2 irons. Need feedback from users. Little info on me. 57 yeas old, still very athletic and play 2-3 times a week. Been playing Taylormade p760, 2020 P770, P7MC last 3 years Modus 120 stiff. After 20 years playing TaylorMade only clubs, looking to make a change . My ocd kicks in and I will be changing entire bag to Callaway. Grew up playing blades, or small cavity back irons. Any feedback would be appreciated 

[golfschnell]

Given the irons you listed, I’m assuming you are a good ball striker, low handicap. Then  I would definitely go TCB just on feel alone. The 21 pros are very nice looking but the 7 iron and longer feel and sound horrible. If you are not a very good striker I would recommend the combo Apex set with standard Apex in 4-7 for added forgiveness and they actually feel and sound better than the pros. Hopefully, the next iteration of the Apex Pro addresses the issue.

[Parjim734]

Thanks for reply.  I’m really leaning towards tcb. I’ve demo apex pro, and the sound and feel are a little clicky, that’s why I got rid of 770’s. I’m going to golf shop tomorrow here in Michigan and hopefully they have a demo head f the tcb

[Seidinho]

Based on what you’re describing, I’d also take a look at the x forged. 

[SBH9458]

I’d respectfully offer that Apex Pro 21 3-6, MB 7-P is money. Regret getting rid of mine still.  @Parjim734

Edited December 26, 2022 by SBH9458
Added OP.

[Parjim734]

I’m pretty sure I’m going with the 21 pros 4-aw. I’m going for a fitting next week for shafts. Was able to hit tcb today, but I think the pros will hel on the days I’m not quite on my game

[SBH9458]

9 minutes ago, Parjim734 said:

I’m pretty sure I’m going with the 21 pros 4-aw. I’m going for a fitting next week for shafts. Was able to hit tcb today, but I think the pros will hel on the days I’m not quite on my game

@Parjim734 The Apex Pro 21s are so good. Scoring irons… up to you, but the players blended set is exceptional. 

[Lacey Underall]

I was fitted for a set of Apex Pros. Loved them in the sim. One range session followed by 9 holes and I was hideously offended by the feel. I mean there was no way I could continue. Just my two cents tho, opinions will vary.

[Red4282]

I second the apex pro/mb combo. Can be found on CPO for good prices. Best of both worlds. Its not the feel but rather the sound that can be off-putting with the pros. I tend to get over that rather quick if it performs and its not TERRIBLY obnoxious.

Edited December 27, 2022 by Red4282

[Ed McNicholas]

I play the tcb and they are some of the best irons I've ever played. The apex pro feels like garbage. That said I play firm golf balls so the apex was extra offensive.

[uW0tM8]

Apex TCB all the way. I’d check out the X Forged or even the MBs before the Apex Pros. TCBs are excellent all-around clubs. Feel, consistency, forgiving for the size, great look. 
 

Apex Pros feel like a plastic toy, ESPECIALLY if you don’t middle it. 

[Kale_m]

Depends if you need distance or not. If you need to get a few more yard go apex pro. I have hit them and didn’t notice them sounding weird. 
 

TCB are very nice. Smaller, more compact, thinner..

 

 

[StarPlatinum]

TCB sit better to my eyes, better contact feels, also better spin numbers, Imo

[Parjim734]

I went with TCB’s with elevate tour shafts 4 thru AW. Now to decide between epic or rogue woods

[jsamis]

Take a good look at the rogue pro irons for long irons. Less clicky and sound better than apex pros. 
 

4-5 rogue pro

6-A tcbs 

 

tweak lofts to gap as needed. 
 

edit: gl with your TCBs - they were my #2 behind zx7

Edited January 1, 2023 by jsamis
Saw OP made decision. Typo

[FifeRiviera]

I took in a set of AP21s as trade against my P7MC/Bs and I am so impressed they're staying all year now. 

 

Little bit longer than normal, slightly more forgiving and PLENTY spin. one hop stop with a 5 iron no issue. 

[T_Golf_23]

I think you will be very happy with that decision. They are surprisingly forgiving and stable across the face. 
 

feel is exponentially better than the pros…. On par with some of the best feeling irons out there…. I play Miura as well… 

 

Look on CPO at the woods. They can be had for crazy cheap. The wedges too. Lots of high end shaft options. 
 

I preferred the epic line, especially the max ls driver because the weight adjustability of the epic line was better than the rogue ST… allowed me to fine tune swing weight and positioning better. I play a 44.5” driver length. 
 

gains between the too will be very little from a tech perspective. Especially if you consider the cost savings of epic vs rogue. 

[RoyalMustang]

I had a set of 3-7 Apex Pro 21, 8-PW Apex MB w/S400 shafts.  They are great irons! I still have them actually but will likely be selling as they haven't yet been substantially better than my old Mizuno MP20 MMC DG120X irons. They are easily as good however. 

 

If you are a good ball striker, I would recommend looking at these. I can't say that the Pro 21s are better or worse than my MMCs; they are supposedly loaded with more "tech" but my full 6-iron is still 184-195 on either of these if I make a good swing. The only difference is if I mis-hit the 8-iron, being a blade. Distance drops by 5-7 yards or so, but I am not consistent enough so that I have ever noticed a difference on the course. Only the range. 

[RoyalMustang]

6 hours ago, FifeRiviera said:

I took in a set of AP21s as trade against my P7MC/Bs and I am so impressed they're staying all year now. 

 

Little bit longer than normal, slightly more forgiving and PLENTY spin. one hop stop with a 5 iron no issue. 

 

Yeah, I have to hit a rock-hard, slightly uphill 190-yard par 3 with my 5-iron at my course with a crazy sloping green.  It is always a very difficult shot, but I haven't had an issue with the Apex Pro not stopping. Plenty of pars with that club, and even a couple of birdies! Choke down maybe 1/2" and the distance is perfect. 

 

If I had to nitpick, I would say that the AP21 is a touch more forgiving than my MMC MP20 in the long irons; I just hit the sweet spot a bit more often. I don't really notice the additional ball speed one way or the other; I can get plenty of loft with either set, but have had a few more good long iron swings with the Apex Pro. It could be the shafts though (S400 vs my MMC's DG120X). 

[WoodBeGoodGolfer]

Hello Gentleman, this is a topic near and dear to my heart.  I have both sets...apex pro blended (apex 21 4-7, apex 21 pro 8-A) with steel fiber shafts AND Apex TCB TCB Modus Pro 105.  

1. Agree, TCB great feel, soft, precise, accurate...when I got my shafts shortened 1/2 inch and added lead tape...money!

2. Apex and Pro blended: same! 1/2 inch shortened, but no lead tape...

 

Pro's a smidgen longer, maybe...

 

I got a new/old set of Taylor P790 TI for a song...long, straight, very forgiving...but, to use a car analogy...It's like driving a toyota next to an Audi...I really understand the draw of the Taylormade...they are easy to play and almost feel like cheating...but, imo, there's much less feel

 

Enjoy gentleman!

[RatherBeGolfing15]

Has anyone done a combo of Apex MBs 7 or 8 to AW and TCBs 4-6 or 7?

 

wondering if it’s worth it or just go full TCBs

[craz-e]

12 hours ago, RatherBeGolfing15 said:

Has anyone done a combo of Apex MBs 7 or 8 to AW and TCBs 4-6 or 7?

 

wondering if it’s worth it or just go full TCBs

not quite! 
I have 5-PW in the MB and just the 4 iron in the TCB 

[RatherBeGolfing15]

Do you find the TCB just gives you that added forgiveness in the 4? Do you ever wish you had it in 5-6 as well?
 

I have a fitting today and will hit both.

 

Part of me loves the idea of having the combo. But the other part of me doesn’t know why I would put myself through MBs on off days when the TCBs would be more forgiving and produce similar spin and control.

 

I am coming from Apex 21s and have been rapidly improving my game and ball striking. The person I take lessons with is really pushing the combo set and insists my ball striking can handle the demands of both clubs. In the back of my head I’m still the awful ball striker I was 2 years ago and don’t feel adequate to move to such demanding clubs, especially the MBs.

[aswile]

I have a combo set of MB '21 PW-7 and Apex Pro '21 4-6 and played a full set of TCBs last year- I find the TCB long irons to be as easy to play for me as the Apex Pro. I think the small size and sole on the TCBs actually makes them even easier to play that the Apex Pros, but mishits spin and lose more distance than the Pros. 

 

Edited April 2, 2023 by aswile
spelling error

[RatherBeGolfing15]

This is good to know. I know many people playing the pro's and like them a lot and don't find them overly demanding. I think hearing that the TCBs are similar gives me some confidence that I can game them

[wobgon]

I had x forged and apex mb combo and wish i still had them.

[RatherBeGolfing15]

Just got back from my fitting.

 

Hit 7 irons both with DG Ti x100

 

Loved the MB. Thought I would love the TCB and I liked it a lot but the MB just felt buttery and the flight was better.

 

Fitter suggested AW-8 in MB and 7-4 in TCB. He said I could go up to 6 in the MB and likely not see any change in scores. Even higher if I wanted but hard to know without hitting them.

 

I like cutting at the 8 so the set is 4 of each but I do think maybe more MBs would be nice.

 

something to think about

[RatherBeGolfing15]

2 hours ago, wobgon said:

I had x forged and apex mb combo and wish i still had them.

Where in the set did you change from MB to the x forged  

[KevCannon]

Callaway has gone in a strange direction with the Apex Pro irons, and kinda ruined them.

For a long time Apex Pro irons were in the “players cavity back” category and various iterations were used by a bunch of different Callaway staffers, along with the X Forged irons, and MB’s of course. Then Callaway decides to go away from the forged cb style build, and makes the Apex PRO  (not the regular Apex) a hollow body “players distance” iron. Of course they released the TCB irons which are in use all over the Tours by their staffers, but also still have the MB, oh and the X Forged, and all are firmly in the “need to be a better than decent ball striker” category. Callaway seems like they are trying to go in all directions simultaneously, and feels like they are searching for an identity.
Sorry for the rant and thread jack….OP - I would choose the TCB’s

[RatherBeGolfing15]

24 minutes ago, KevCannon said:

Callaway has gone in a strange direction with the Apex Pro irons, and kinda ruined them.

For a long time Apex Pro irons were in the “players cavity back” category and various iterations were used by a bunch of different Callaway staffers, along with the X Forged irons, and MB’s of course. Then Callaway decides to go away from the forged cb style build, and makes the Apex PRO  (not the regular Apex) a hollow body “players distance” iron. Of course they released the TCB irons which are in use all over the Tours by their staffers, but also still have the MB, oh and the X Forged, and all are firmly in the “need to be a better than decent ball striker” category. Callaway seems like they are trying to go in all directions simultaneously, and feels like they are searching for an identity.
Sorry for the rant and thread jack….OP - I would choose the TCB’s

Will be interesting to see what the lineup looks like after the update. Pro’21s we’re discontinued.