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Here I’ll be fully reviewing the Callaway Apex Pro 16 iron, the better-player sibling to the Callaway Apex CF 16 and one of two new upgrades to the Apex line of irons.
The Apex Pro 16 is Callaway’s premium forged iron offering intended for skilled players wanting to take their game to a high level. The shaping of the Apex Pro 16 was directly influenced by the input of Tour players.
Is the Apex Pro 16 a worthy Tour iron? Can scratch golfers and lower handicaps use it as well? What are its strengths and weaknesses?
Read on to find out what you need to know to make an informed purchase.
Note: Unless otherwise stated, stock shafts and stock grips are used when evaluating this club. In most cases, the golf clubs reviewed on Golfstead are acquired temporarily for testing purposes and are not purchased. The review that follows is based on the personal experience and research of the author. Because everyone’s swing and body are different, results with a particular club may differ from person to person.
Quick Verdict
Rating: 4.9/5 (Outstanding)
Classification: Better-Player
Pros
- goes above and beyond the call of a players iron
- forgiveness is very good for a forged Tour iron
- distance is very solid and reliable
- gorgeous slim shape and design
- affords a ton of workable control over distance and ball flight
- incredibly playable and easy to get the ball up in the air
- sound and feel is as amazing as you would expect out of a players iron
Cons
- not ideal for higher handicaps looking for pure distance or forgiveness
- expensive (now less so)
Recommended for: Elite amateurs and professionals. They’re also a very viable option for mid or high handicappers who want to challenge themselves to become better players.
Best Places To Buy Online
These irons used to be readily available at many different stores including Amazon, but because they’re now a few years old, there’s less availability. However, they’re also a lot cheaper, which is great.
One of the best places to look for used Apex Pro 16 irons is Callaway Golf Pre-Owned, a certified reseller.
You can look at the prices on Global Golf, which has a great return policy.
Another great place to get Apex Pro 16 irons at the lowest prices is eBay, where you can sometimes find them at over $400 off the original price.
Want a high-resolution look at the Apex Pro 16 irons? Click on the composite image at the top of the page and navigate the photos on the left-hand side of the screen.
What are the reviews like?
The Apex Pro 16 irons have received very high ratings from customers and critics. They have, for instance, an average customer rating of 4.9/5 (95% recommended) on the CGPO website and a 4.8/5 on Global Golf.
What People Like
- terrific versatility and flexibility in terms of altering shot shapes and trajectories
- superb playability in general
- solid distance
- gorgeous looks
- soft feel
- wide shaft selection
What People Don’t Like
Like with the Apex CF 16 irons, however, the price of Apex Pro 16 irons are on the high end, and some people may not be willing to make that investment.
What are the features?
Like the Apex CF 16 irons, the Apex Pro 16 irons feature progressive offsets and centers of gravity (CG).
The longer irons have more offset and a tungsten insert to lower the CG, while the shorter irons have less offset and a higher CG for optimum control, feel, and a penetrating ball flight.
The Apex Pro 16 irons have a classic super-compact shaping and design influenced by the extensive input of the best Tour players. The advanced quadruple net forging of the 1025 mild carbon steel head produces a soft feel that better players love.
Stock Info
The stock shafts offered are the Project X in steel and the UST Mamiya Recoil 95/110 in graphite, with a wide selection of additional shaft options being available at no upcharge.
More information on the shafts and their specs can be found on this page.
The specifications of the Apex Pro 16 irons are detailed in the table below. Note that the lofts are slightly weaker (more traditional) than those of the Apex CF 16.
| Name | Loft | Availability | Length | Lie | Offset | Graphite Swing Weight | Steel Swing Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 21° | RH/LH | 39" | 60° | 0.130 | D2 | D2 |
| 4 | 24° | RH/LH | 38.5" | 60.5° | 0.125 | D2 | D2 |
| 5 | 27° | RH/LH | 38" | 61° | 0.115 | D2 | D2 |
| 6 | 30° | RH/LH | 37.5" | 61.5° | 0.105 | D2 | D2 |
| 7 | 34° | RH/LH | 37" | 62° | 0.100 | D2 | D2 |
| 8 | 38° | RH/LH | 36.5" | 62.5° | 0.095 | D2 | D2 |
| 9 | 42° | RH/LH | 36" | 63° | 0.090 | D3 | D2 |
| PW | 46° | RH/LH | 35.75" | 63.5° | 0.085 | D3 | D2 |
| AW | 51° | RH/LH | 35.5" | 63.5° | 0.085 | D3 | D2 |
How do these irons perform?
Distance
Distance is very good for a players iron, but I certainly wouldn’t say it’s one of the main selling points.
The Apex Pro 16 iron doesn’t have Cup 360 technology built in like the CF 16, so you’re not going to get as much explosiveness off the face. Still, though, distance is extremely reliable and plenty long for most skilled golfers.
Forgiveness
As expected, the Apex Pro 16 irons aren’t quite as forgiving as the CF 16 irons.
Nonetheless, forgiveness is still very solid and quite impressive for a pure players iron; you’ll probably find that minor mis-hits hardly stray from the intended line nor do they lose much ball speed at all.
With that being said, golfers who prioritize forgiveness should probably look into other options like the CF 16 or Big Bertha irons.
Trajectory
The progressive CG of the Apex Pro 16 irons result in relatively high, long iron trajectories and lower penetrating short iron trajectories.
Although this is the natural behaviour, the ball flight can be easily modified to suit the situation.
Playability/Workability
You might expect the Apex Pro 16 irons to be extremely playable and extremely workable, and you’d be right. Ball flights (heights, curves, etc.) and distances can be controlled easily and with precision without exaggerated swing movements.
The Apex Pro 16 irons are your best friend when it comes to maneuvering out of hairy lies.
What about look, sound & feel?
The Look
The Apex Pro 16 irons have a beautiful slim profile: small offsets, thin soles, thin top lines, and an efficient blade length that frames the ball nicely.
They are finished in a mirrored gloss chrome that some people think doesn’t age as well as the brushed chrome of the CF 16 irons. Nonetheless, it’s a clean and classic look that elite amateurs and professionals should really love.
Mid to high handicappers who want a look that’s a little more confidence-inspiring should look to irons like the Apex CF 16.
The Sound & Feel
Sound/feel are fantastic overall. They’re about what you would expect from a high-calibre forged players iron.
Compared to the Apex CF 16 (both irons have similar sound and feel), the Apex Pro 16 irons sound a little sharper and quieter at impact. Feel is soft and crisp but not quite as explosive.
Conclusion
The Apex Pro 16 iron is a wonderful true blade offering. It delivers the reliable, quality performance demanded by professionals, scratch golfers and low handicappers, with the added bonus of very decent forgiveness.
There is no other Tour iron like it, and more people will be able to accommodate the dropped price.
If you have any thoughts or opinions about the Apex Pro 16 irons, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!
My nephew is a very low handicap (about 6) so I’m sure he would really love the Apex Pro 16s. What shaft flex would be best for a driver swing speed of around 95 mph?
Knowing just that piece of information, I would suggest your nephew start with a regular or stiff flex. There’s little doubt he’ll be extremely happy with high-quality irons like the Apex Pro 16. Good luck with your shopping and do let me know if you have any other questions.
Thorough review! My husband and I are trying to ramp up our golf game now that we relocated back to the Phoenix area, this is so timely, thank you.
You’re welcome, Bri. Although the Pro 16 iron could be great for beginners with the right priorities, I would also suggest checking out my review of the Apex CF 16, an iron friendlier to amateurs or “everyday” golfers as you put it.