Equipment
Update: Callaway to release Apex Black irons (again)
Note: If you missed out on the initial launch, Callaway is re-releasing the Apex Black irons, available on August 18th, due to popular demand.
Tired of the same satin or chrome finish on what seems like every set of irons on the market? These new all-black (a.k.a murdered-out) irons may be your answer.
Callaway is set to release its Apex CF ’16 irons with a Satin Black PVD finish. The irons will have all of the same technologies as the original retail offerings: A progressive design with 360 Face Cups in the long irons (3-7) for forgiveness and distance, face plates in the short irons (8-AW) for feel and distance control, and a multi-piece construction throughout the set.
Read here for more tech talk on the Apex Forged irons.
The Apex Black irons, which are forged from 1025 mild carbon steel, will be available for $1,299 with steel shafts, and $1,499 in graphite. The stock shaft will be a stepless True Temper XP 95 shaft with a Satin Black finish that matches nicely with the all-black club heads, but other shafts will be available at no upcharge, as well.
Pre-sale date is set for May 20, while the official launch is on June 3.
See what GolfWRX members are saying about the irons in the forums.
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Russell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Photos from the 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
CJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
Charles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
Details on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch
GolfWRX Launch Report: 2026 Titleist GTS drivers
Photos from the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
PGA Championship Tour Report: Fitzpatrick, Koepka among big-name putter switches for Aronimink
Photos from the ShopRite LPGA
Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Dave
Jun 15, 2016 at 2:46 pm
Can I get a set in red no make that blood red as I’m having issues with my game lately. They will probably play better.
Dave
May 18, 2016 at 4:51 pm
Ya Tom your right like all the rest of the companies ,one year old Taylor made drivers last years first new model out of many they released.On line for $125.00 original price $395.00
Dave
May 18, 2016 at 1:48 pm
Nice clubs but the price is well the price is absolutely out of reach for us retired guys . I understand it costs for r@d but they are painted black how much was the paint? Oh ya and most of us long time golfers know the mark up on clubs , I don’t mine someone making a living but come on now guys they are just clubs. More does not mean better …………
Tom
May 18, 2016 at 3:32 pm
wait a year 70% less.
joro
May 18, 2016 at 11:53 am
I have been playing Wilson Blk Irons for a couple of years now and together with the blk. Aldila RIP iron shaft they are really stealthy, and the C100s are really great and understated Irons.
Alan Medina
May 18, 2016 at 11:29 am
Are those plasti dipped? Black versions look kind of cheap. I like the brushed silver though!
Tom
May 18, 2016 at 3:40 pm
Comparison to other deposition techniques[edit]
“Advantages[edit]
PVD coatings are sometimes harder and more corrosion resistant than coatings applied by the electroplating process. Most coatings have high temperature and good impact strength, excellent abrasion resistance and are so durable that protective topcoats are almost never necessary.
Ability to utilize virtually any type of inorganic and some organic coating materials on an equally diverse group of substrates and surfaces using a wide variety of finishes.
More environmentally friendly than traditional coating processes such as electroplating and painting.
More than one technique can be used to deposit a given film.”…..
Dave
May 18, 2016 at 7:02 am
Funny. I don’t have a problem spinning the ball with mine. These do look nice.
tish
May 18, 2016 at 12:36 am
Don’t forget the Nike Vapor Pro Irons too…they came out before the PXGs…and the Adams were out before anyone
James
May 17, 2016 at 11:48 pm
Hope the black last longer then my Cleveland wedge, bottom and half way up back of wedge is now just a stainless steel color…..did Cleveland just paint the wedges??
Brian
May 17, 2016 at 2:59 pm
$1,300….Titleist, Callaway, and Taylormade iron prices are getting ridiculous. A part of the reason I stick with Mizuno
OH
May 17, 2016 at 2:55 pm
Pulling a page from the PXG playbook. Very original there Cally.
Cleveland....
May 17, 2016 at 4:24 pm
and possibly cobra might take issue w/ your statement. Looking back over time a lot of manufactures have had options for black finishes on irons.
just glad more options for finishes are becoming available from the larger more accessible manufacturers.
lsf_21
May 18, 2016 at 11:44 pm
You must be new to golf equipment. Adam’s made black irons years ago. Callaway made black irons with the razr black. This has been done before pxg even existed.
OH
May 25, 2016 at 10:34 am
No, I’m not new to golf equipment and am well aware of prior model irons coming in black from other OEMs. PXG was the most recent, though, and this move by Callaway plus their markup on them versus the satin finish seems to follow suit to exactly what PXG has done.
golfraven
May 17, 2016 at 2:34 pm
I would consider those if I was looking for new irons, even if I am not a big Cally fan.
Chuck D
May 17, 2016 at 2:19 pm
Eldrick could have used a pitching wedge!
Adam
May 17, 2016 at 1:39 pm
Well shoot just got some APEX! But I am LH, these are RH only anyhow 🙁 That shaft is nice though, wonder if it performs identical to the stepped version?