Equipment
WRX Spotlight: Callaway Apex 19 irons
Product: Callaway Apex 19 irons
Pitch: From Callaway: “We’ve created a new standard for incredibly soft feel from a forged 1025 mild carbon steel body, and for the first time ever we’ve engineered our proprietary urethane microspheres into a forged iron. The carbon steel body promotes amazing Apex sound and feel, and the urethane microspheres consist of over one million tiny air pockets that absorb unwanted vibration without slowing the face.”
“Our renowned 360 Face Cup employs a shallow, flexible rim around the perimeter of the face that flexes and releases at impact to promote fast ball speed for consistent distance on center hits and off-center hits. In the short irons, the spin control VFT Face is designed for aggressive shot-making in your scoring clubs…The tungsten-infused, multi-material construction allows us to locate the position of the CG in each iron with extraordinary precision while maintaining the flexibility of the Face Cup.”
Our take on Callaway Apex 19 irons
Callaway introduced its Apex iron line just over 5 years ago, consisting of its “Forged Tour Performance” Apex Pro and standard Apex, which it calls its “Players Distance Iron.” Unlike the more traditional “Apex Pro 19” irons, the standard “Apex 19” irons are slightly larger and utilize more multi-material technology to provide both more distance and forgiveness to the player.
These irons will fit a wide variety of players, from low to mid-handicappers alike. They can even be blended quite nicely into a combo set with the Pros. Aside from some technological enhancements, which we’ll dive into, there is new Smoke PVD Finish is available — including a darker Elevate Shaft — for those that prefer a darker look.
In the increasingly crowded “Players Distance Iron” category, Callaway Apex 19 irons are standouts. The sound, feel, and playability is once again near the top of the pack. Callaway’s 360 Face Cup Technology is no joke, providing consistent, dependable distance when needed. The original Apex 14 irons took first place in GolfWRX’s 2015 Gear Trials in the Players Irons category, and the line has only improved in the years since.
Some better players may consider the scoring irons to be a bit too large. They may be better suited the Apex Pro, or a blended set of the two. The smoke finish will increase the price (Starts at $1,560 vs $1,400) and it’s unsure at this time how the black will wear, as a darker finish is tougher to maintain over time.
However, if you’re looking for a Players Distance iron for 2019, these should absolutely be on your “must try” list. There’s a good chance they’ll also become a “must buy.”
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
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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...
Dingo
Jun 26, 2019 at 1:03 am
Love the look and feel of these irons, however, after a month of putting some range work in and playing 5-6 rounds the face is wearing quickly!
brian
Apr 3, 2019 at 9:04 am
$1,400…
Peter
Apr 3, 2019 at 8:04 am
I have the ‘16 version of the forged. Love them, truly. The one thing to be careful of is you will get the occasional flyer. For example, I usually hit my 7 iron 170 carry but caught one almost too flush and (over) drew it 198 carry on the launch monitor the other day. Felt amazing but would have been pissed on the course. I’ve had the same thing on the course especially with a little grass or mud on the ball. For me, “forgiving” means you hit it your distance when you miss the COG on the face and can be punished (not always) by going too far on center strikes, which is an odd conundrum but I’ll take it vs the opposite!
the bishop
Apr 3, 2019 at 6:55 am
If the black finish is indeed PVD then we actually do know how it will wear and the answer is “not well”.
I
Apr 3, 2019 at 2:12 am
Best irons evah
JB
Apr 3, 2019 at 2:01 am
I have had the Apex Pro irons for about a month now. I can say without a doubt, that they are some of the best irons I have ever owned. Excellent looks, sound, feel, and great all around performance! These clubs will be in my bag for a long time.
JP
Apr 3, 2019 at 12:11 am
Love the look of the apex pro. If they played as good as they look, it’s a win
Big Mike
Apr 2, 2019 at 11:00 pm
I gamed the combos for a bit and sold them. Nice but nothing exceptional.
hellomcfly
Apr 2, 2019 at 8:34 pm
I know sole technologies are different from each company but I wish they would list the bounce specs on the website