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Here I’ll be fully reviewing the Callaway Apex hybrid, the very first hybrid created for the Apex player.
This hybrid features the Forged Face Cup technology that has become standard in the Apex family of hybrids and irons.
Callaway claims that the Face Cup delivers faster ball speeds across the face as well as more ball flight control. How do these claims hold up when put to the test? Is this a worthy hybrid offering for lower handicaps? What are its strengths and weaknesses?
Read on to find out what you need to know to make an informed purchase.
What are the reviews like?
The Apex hybrid has had a superb reception overall: average customer ratings of 3.8/5 on Global Golf, 4.9/5 (97% recommended) on the CGPO website, and glowing reviews from many professional critics.
What People Like
- neutral bias (rare among hybrids)
- excellent distance and control/accuracy
- excellent ball speed forgiveness
- very playable
- satisfying impact feel
- terrific workability (high, low, curved)
There really isn’t much that the Apex hybrid doesn’t get right.
What People Don’t Like
Be aware that the Apex hybrid is not adjustable.
Also keep in mind that while mis-hit forgiveness in terms of distance is top, the same can’t be said for directional forgiveness — those who tend to struggle with hooks and slices might have a hard time with this hybrid.
What are the features?
Forged Face Cup
The Apex hybrid is the first to feature a Forged Face Cup, also found in the Apex CF 16 irons.
The face cup is made from 455 Carpenter Steel and allows for more face flex at every impact location, resulting in more ball speed and distance on both mis-hits and solid strikes.
Neutral Bias
The center of gravity (CG) is positioned low and in such a way that the bias is actually neutral, allowing for versatile shot-shaping control in every direction.
The Apex hybrid is bringing skilled golfers who have avoided hybrids in the past because of their draw biases back into the hybrid game.
Responsible for this low CG position is an Internal Standing Wave (a weight low in the head) and a 6 gram weight on the sole of the club.
Stock Info
The stock shaft offered is the Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Hybrid, a great shaft that feels light yet solid throughout the swing. A selection of additional custom shaft options are also available at no extra cost.
The specs of the Apex hybrid and the Kuro Kage shaft can be found in the tables below:
| Name | Loft | Availability | Standard Length | Lie | Swing Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2H | 18° | RH/LH | 40.50" | 57.50" | D3 |
| 3H | 20° | RH/LH | 40.00" | 58.00" | D3 |
| 4H | 23° | RH/LH | 39.50" | 58.50" | D3 |
| 5H | 26° | RH/LH | 39.00" | 59.00" | D3 |
Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Hybrid Shaft Specifications
| Flex | Shaft Weight | Torque | Kickpoint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light | 66 | mid | mid |
| Regular | 69 | mid | mid |
| Stiff | 82 | mid | mid |
How does the hybrid perform?
Distance
The Apex hybrid truly is long. It’s one of the longest hybrids currently on the market, playable by just about anybody including those who hit a natural draw and would otherwise have hooking problems with draw-biased hybrids.
In many cases, players will find that they can hit these hybrids higher and farther than an equivalent iron.
The ball launches hot off the Face Cup clubface with plenty of height to take advantage of the relatively low spin rate.
Forgiveness
In terms of ball speed preservation on mis-hits, you can’t ask for much more. There is hardly any difference in distance and trajectory between mild mis-hits (including thin shots) and solid strikes.
Moderate and more severe mis-hits still retain a good height and ball speed, and in this respect, the Apex hybrid is extremely generous for a players club.
However, a natural consequence of its versatility is reduced directional forgiveness. Keep in mind that while hooks and slices won’t be exacerbated, they won’t exactly be mitigated either.
Ball Flight/Playability
The typical ball flight with the Apex hybrid is high, straight and penetrating, but at the same time, this flight can be easily altered.
Want to hit a cut around a dogleg right? A high bomb that carries some trees and lands softly into the green? It can all be done no problem by savvy players.
The Apex hybrid does best off the tee and out of the short grass. Accuracy, versatility and workability are all top notch.
One thing I noticed during my testing was the tendency of the clubhead to catch and open in thicker rough, something that’s a little less of a problem with larger head hybrids.
What about look, sound & feel?
The Look
The Apex hybrid has a slim, sleek, iron-like profile and design that appeals to better players: a longer blade length from heel to toe, a fairly narrow width, and a fairly tall face that allows for easier contact out of hairy lies.
The matte black crown contains no alignment aid, but the club sets up very comfortably (square) behind the ball at address.
The sole, with the 6-gram weight in the center, contains some straightforward labeling in a simple black/white/red colour scheme. Very nice overall.
The Sound & Feel
It can definitely compete with the big dogs in the hybrid market.
You would expect a players hybrid to have a premium sound and feel, and the Apex hybrid doesn’t disappoint in this respect. Both can be described as a light, crisp, solid and slightly metallic. The Kuro Kage stock shaft really complements the hybrid well by accentuating these qualities.
The weight of the clubhead feels just right during the swing, and the clubhead provides ample hit feedback for the good of your improvement.
Where should you buy this hybrid online?
The Apex hybrid is now a few years old, and you can no longer order it custom directly from the official Callaway website.
The best you can do now is look for the model on Callaway Golf Pre-Owned (certified), Global Golf, and eBay.
CGPO has a fairly large selection with a 12-month warranty, 90-day buy-back policy, and free headcover included. You can find some really sweet deals on the Apex hybrid on this eBay page.
Conclusion
Pros
- monstrous length on solid strikes and impressively forgiving length on mis-hits
- very accurate, workable and versatile
- extremely playable out of the short grass
- neutral shot bias brings natural drawers back into the mix
- premium sound and feel
Cons
- not as reliable out of the semi rough as other hybrids with larger heads (tends to pull open the face through impact)
- doesn’t really help to straighten out slices and hooks
- no on-club adjustability
Classification: Better-Player
Best suited for: Professionals and low to mid handicappers looking for a neutral-bias hybrid with maximum workability, top distance and everything else demanded from a quality hybrid.
Rating: 4.9/5 (highly recommended to try)
The Apex hybrid is an amazing addition to the Apex family of clubs that is able to meet the demands of low handicappers all the way to even the best Tour pros.
When you consider the fact that within a week after its debut it was already the most played hybrid on the PGA Tour, you realize that it must be doing a lot right.
It’s not just for the best players, though; even higher handicaps who want to challenge themselves can get a tremendous amount of value out of the Apex hybrid. No matter what your skill level is, I would strongly advise giving it a try.
Have any thoughts or questions about the Apex hybrid? Have you tried it? Leave a comment below!
I love the Callaway Apex hybrid – great distance when striking the ball true and very forgiving when you have the occasional mishit.
Great for low handicap golfers to lower the handicap even more, Best when not in the rough stuff.
I find it amazing but also understandable that the Apex hybrid is already the #1 used hybrid on the PGA Tour.
Thank you for sharing this great review, I agree that we all should have them in our bag!
Tony
Yes, it’s definitely a hybrid worth trying, no doubt! Thanks for the comment.
Hello and first off thanks for the detailed review. To be up front, the Apex Hybrid is way out of my league. Of course I wouldn’t mind swinging it just to see how it feels. And maybe to see just how much improvement I need. I did find it interesting to hear how many pros are using it. What would you suggest in lieu of this hybrid club for more of a beginner like myself? Thanks, Geoff.
I wouldn’t say it’s out of your league. Beginners can absolutely use it, but they just won’t get much forgiveness; that’s not necessarily a bad thing depending on one’s priorities. If you do want a hybrid with top forgiveness then there are plenty of quality options you can look at. With Callaway, you have the XR OS and Big Bertha for example, and I just reviewed the Cobra Fly-Z XL hybrid which is another good model. Hope this helps!