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Today, I’ll be reviewing the Callaway Apex Pro 24 irons.
The Apex Pro 24 is the most forgiving and accessible model in Callaway’s Apex line of irons, geared towards better players looking for an added boost in distance. As the successor to the previous Apex Pro 21, it’s the first Apex iron to pair a forged 1025 carbon steel body with a forged face as part of a hollow-body construction.
How does the Apex Pro 24 actually perform when put to the test? How does it compare with the 2021 model and with the other models in the 2024 Apex line? Is it worth putting a set in the bag?
Here’s what will be covered in the review:
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.
What are the reviews like?
The Apex Pro 24 irons enjoy an average rating of 5/5 (100% recommended) on the Callaway store. Critics praise the irons for the extra forgiveness that they provide to better players.
What People Like
- beautiful satin finish
- outstanding bag appeal
- highly forgiving yet provide good feedback
- better sound and feel than the Apex Pro 21
- great accuracy and workability
What People Don’t Like
- super pricey
- some would like an even slimmer look
The Features
The Apex Pro 24 makes a number of new additions compared to the 21 model.
Progressive Face Design
A progressive face design is engineered to give golfers the performance they need through the set.
A Forged 455 Face Cup is found in the 3-5 irons, which is designed to give a boost to distance and forgiveness. The 6-PA irons feature a forged 1025 carbon steel faceplate designed for maximum consistency and scoring control.
Multi-Material Construction
Like the 21 model, the Apex Pro 24 has a hollow-body construction. However, it now pairs a forged 1025 carbon steel body with a forged face — a first in an Apex iron.
This works with urethane microspheres, a proprietary creation of Callaway that provide the benefits of urethane (absorbing unwanted vibrations and improving sound & feel) while still retaining the very high COR of the face, to deliver a super soft, premium feel.
Dynamic Sole
This new addition to the Apex Pro iron consists of:
- a pre-worn leading edge to cut through the turf more efficiently
- trailing edge relief to help promote a clean exit
This Dynamic Sole design helps maintain speed through the turf, thus helping you make more consistent contact for all different types of shots.
MIM Back Weight
A metal-injection molded (MIM) back weight allows club fitters to find a swing weight that works best for you. It also allows for consistent visuals when building a mixed set with Callaway’s other Apex 24 models.
Stock Info
The Apex Pro 24 irons come in 3-AW (19°-50°). Sets and singles are available.
This iron is also available in the following Combo Sets:
- Apex Pro Series Triple Play: consists of Apex Pro 24 long irons, Apex CB 24 short irons, and Apex MB 24 wedges
- Apex Pro Series Player Set: consists of Apex Pro 24 long/mid irons and Apex CB 24 short irons/wedges
The stock shaft options are the True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid 115 (steel) and Mitsubishi MMT Taper Iron (graphite). The stock grip is the Golf Pride ZGRIP Firm. Custom options are available.
If you’re interested, more information on shafts, grips and other customizations can be found here.
Below are the specs of the Apex Pro 24 irons. Click or zoom to enlarge.
The Performance
In the sections that follow, I’ll talk about my experience with the Apex Pro 24 irons. Let’s jump right in.
Distance
As the Apex Pro 24 is geared towards better players, it’s not necessarily meant to be a distance iron.
However, the hollow-body design and internal tech does suggest that this iron would be longer than the Apex CB 24 and Apex MB 24 models, and indeed, this is what my testing indicates.
The length of the Apex Pro 24 falls somewhere between a pure game-improvement iron and a blade. Ball speed and distance is similar to the Apex Pro 21 in the 1025 faceplate short irons, but slightly higher in the Face Cup long irons — a few yards on average.
Distance control and consistency, particularly in the short irons, are excellent.
Forgiveness
The Apex Pro 24 irons possess a healthy level of forgiveness that is pretty impressive for a players’ iron.
As the most forgiving iron model in the Apex 24 line (aside from the UT), slight mis-hits give almost identical results to solid center strikes, and moderate mis-hits still stand a great chance of ending up on the green or just off of it.
Tying in with distance which I mentioned above, I found the 3-5 irons to be more forgiving than the 21 model equivalent, while forgiveness in the shorter irons seems to be pretty comparable between the two.
Playability/Trajectory
When hit solidly, trajectories with the Apex Pro 24 irons are mid-high. Spin and launch are mid, allowing the Apex Pro 24 to provide plenty of stopping power into greens.
The Apex Pro 24 is the highest-launching model in the Apex 24 line, and while Callaway gives the same spin classification for all three models, I did find the spin of this iron to be a little lower.
The long irons are very playable and almost as easy to get up in the air as something like the Apex DCB 21. The short irons and wedges are highly precise and controllable; in fact, I would imagine that most skilled players would see little to no upside in bagging CB or MB short irons as part of a blended set.
The Dynamic Sole of the Apex Pro 24 irons is fantastic. The pre-worn leading edge helps to minimize face deviations and loss in clubhead speed if you hit behind the ball, making your shot a more consistent and pleasant experience.
The Look
The Apex Pro 24 iron simply looks phenomenal. The satin finish is just gorgeous, and the back has one of the most attractive designs I’ve ever seen in an iron — simple yet sophisticated. It really strikes all the right chords for me.
This players iron has some subtle game-improvement characteristics. Compared to the CB and MB models, there’s a little more offset, the top line is a bit thicker, and the sole is a little wider. The head is also not quite as compact.
Whether it’s irons, woods or wedges, I’ve always liked the overall look of Callaway’s clubs, and the Apex Pro 24 is no exception. The MIM’ed back weight is incorporated tastefully in a way that adds some contrast and enhances the aesthetic.
The Sound & Feel
The feel of the Apex Pro 24 iron is very similar to the 21 model, but I found it to be even more satisfying which is consistent with others saying that the feel is improved in this generation.
On center strikes, feel is soft (almost buttery) with a flare of responsiveness/explosiveness in the long irons that have the Face Cup. Feel is predictably not as explosive in the shorter irons with the 1025 faceplate, but it’s a feel that any skilled player should absolutely love.
Because these irons have a hollow-body construction, they have a more consistent feel across the face than a more “playersy” iron like the CB or MB, although there’s still plenty of feedback for diagnosing your misses.
The sound can be described as a little bit sharp and on the quiet side. Feel in mis-hit areas (heel or toe) is considerably firmer, although the urethane microspheres in this club do seem to reduce much of that harshness that you typically experience with players’ irons.
Where To Buy These Irons Online
If you want a brand new set of (or individual) Apex Pro 24 irons with custom shafts, grips, lengths, lofts, lies, etc., definitely head over to this page on the official Callaway website before it gets removed.
You can also get mixed combo sets Apex Pro Series Triple Play (with CB and MB irons) and Apex Pro Series Player Set (with CB irons).
The Apex Pro 24 irons are very expensive. If you want to find good savings, look on eBay.
Alternatively, check out PGA TOUR Superstore which currently allows you to place custom orders.
Final Thoughts
The Callaway Apex Pro 24 iron is a worthy successor to the Pro 21, with improved feel and sound, great distance and forgiveness, outstanding bag appeal, and workability that better players demand.
This iron really doesn’t do anything poorly. And it’s not a one-trick pony, as it gives you the length and forgiveness you need in the long irons as well as the touch and control you need in the short irons.
The Apex Pro 24 is best suited for golfers in the mid to high single-digit or low teen handicaps, but a wide range of better players and mid-handicappers can have great success with them. For stronger players’ offerings that offer even more control over your ball, check out the Apex CB or Apex MB.
Are you interested in the Apex Pro 24 irons? Have you tried them yet? What’s your experience? Let us know in the comments below.
