Equipment
Report: Callaway to revive the ‘Apex’ name
Members of our forums have been buzzing for weeks about the possibility of a Callaway forged iron that would bear the name “Apex,” a nod to the fan-favorite forged irons produced by the Ben Hogan golf brand, which Callaway purchased as a part of its acquisition of Top Flite Golf Co. in 2003.
Last week, we snapped photos of a prototype Callaway driver and two prototype irons at the Deutsche Bank Championship. According to a report by Golfweek’s James Achenbach, the larger iron model, which had yellow tape placed in the cavity to hide its logo, will be called “Apex.”
Unlike the Ben Hogan Apex FTX irons released in 2004 (pictured left), the new Apex irons are a multi-material iron with a deep undercut. That makes them more similar to Callaway’s 2010 Diablo Forged iron (pictured right), which were forged from 1020 carbon steel but featured welded 455 carpenter steel faces to increase ball speed and forgiveness.
In 2012, Callaway sold the Ben Hogan brand to apparel company Perry Ellis Inc., which has been the official licensee of Callaway apparel since taking over for Ashworth in 2005. According to Achenbach, Callaway retained the rights to certain Ben Hogan-related trademarks, however, such as Apex and Edge.
Callaway has yet to release any details on the Apex irons, but we expect that they will begin to surface in the near future. You can see more photos of the Apex irons in the gallery below.
Click here to see what members are saying about the irons in the forums.
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- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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Equipment
Webb Simpson equipment Q&A: Titleist’s new 2-wood, 680 blade irons, and switching to a broomstick Jailbird
With seven career wins on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory, Webb Simpson is a certified veteran on the course. But he’s also a certified veteran in the equipment world, too. He’s a gearhead who truly knows his stuff, and he’s even worked closely with Titleist on making his own custom 682.WS irons.
On Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, I caught up with Simpson to hear about his experience with Titleist’s new prototype 2-wood, how Titleist’s 680 Forged irons from 2003 ended up back in his bag, and why he’s switching into an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser broomstick putter this week for the first time.
Click here to read our full story about Simpson’s putter switch on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, or continue reading below for my full Q&A with Simpson at Quail Hollow Club on Wednesday.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
GolfWRX: It seems like you’ve been a little all over the place with your irons in the past six months or so, and now going back to the 680’s. Is that just a comfort thing? What’s been going on with the irons?
Webb Simpson: Titleist has been so great at working with me, and R&D, on trying to get an iron that kind of modernizes the 680. And so the 682.WS took the T100 grooves, but kinda took the look and the bulk and the build of the 680’s into one club. They’re beautiful, and awesome looking. I just never hit them that well for a consistent period of time. It was probably me, but then I went to T100’s and loved them. I loved the spin, the trajectory, the yardage, but again, I never went on good runs. Going through the ground, I couldn’t feel the club as well as with the blade. So last week, I’m like, ‘Alright. I’m gonna go back more for…comfort, and see if I can get on a nice little run of ball striking.’
So that’s why I went back.
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OK, that makes sense. I know you had done some 2-wood testing recently. Is that in the bag right now?
It’s like day-by-day. I used it at Hilton Head every day. Valero, I used it one round. And this week, me and my caddie will do the book every morning, and if it’s a day where we think we need it, we’ll just put it in and take the 3-wood out. I love it because it’s a super simple swap. Like, it doesn’t really change much.
Yeah, can you tell me about that club? I mean, we don’t really know anything about it yet. You know? I haven’t hit it or anything, obviously.
It has grooves like a 3-wood. Spin is perfect. And it’s honestly, like, everything is in the middle of a 3-wood and driver number. Trajectory, spin, carry, all of it. So, a Hilton Head golf course is almost too easy to talk about because, you know, there, so many holes are driver 3-wood.
Valero, our thinking was we had two par-5’s into the wind, and we knew that it would take two great shots to get there in two. So instead of hitting driver-driver, we just put it in. And I used it on those holes.
Hilton was a little easier because it was off-the-tee kind of questions. But Colonial will be a golf course where, you know, there’s a lot of driver or 3-woods. It’s kind of like a backup putter or driver for me now. I’ll bring it to every tournament.
So it’s, like, in your locker right now, probably?
Well, it would be. It’s in my house [because Webb lives near by Quail Hollow Club, and is a member at the course.] It’s in the garage.
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Do you know what holes you might use it out here if it goes in play?
Potentially 15, depending on the wind. Second shot on 10. Could be 14 off the tee. The chances here are pretty low (that he’ll use the 2-wood). But, like, Greensboro would be an awesome club all day. I’m trying to think of any other golf courses.
There’s plenty that it’ll be a nice weapon to have.
It’s interesting, the wave of 2-woods and mini drivers. Like, it’s just really taken off on Tour, and all the companies have seemed to embrace it.
Yeah. The thing I had to learn, it took me, like, at least a week to learn about it is you gotta tee it up lower than you think. I kept teeing it up too high. You need it low, like barely higher than a 3-wood. And that was where I got optimal spin and carry. If you tee it up too high, you just don’t get as much spin and lose distance, I don’t know if that’s just a mini driver thing.
And you obviously have a Jailbird putter this week. What spurred that on?
Inconsistent putting. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways when it comes to my equipment, but I have to be open minded – I just hadn’t putted consistently well in a while. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel my ball-striking coming along. Like I feel better; for real, better.’
If I can just get something in my hands that I’m consistent with. Being on Tour, you see it every year, guys get on little runs. I can put together four to five tournaments where I’m all the sudden back in the majors, or in the FedExCup Playoffs. You can turn things around quick out here. I’m like, ‘Man, whatever’s going to get me there, great.’
My caddie, David Cook, caddied for Akshay at the Houston Open and he putted beautifully. Then, I watched Akshay on TV at Valero, and he putted beautifully. And, I’m like, ‘I’m just going to try it.’
I’ve never tried it for more than a putt or two, and I just ordered what Akshay uses. It was pretty awkward at first, but the more I used it, the more I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty easy.’ And a buddy of mine who’s a rep out here, John Tyler Griffin, he helped me with some setup stuff. And he said at Hilton Head, he wasn’t putting well, then tried it, and now he makes everything. He was very confident. So I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ll try it.’”
And you’re going with it this week?
Hundred percent.
Alright, I love it. Thank you, I always love talking gear with you. Play well this week.
Thanks, man.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
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Sheen
Jul 15, 2015 at 7:31 pm
Interesting business & marketing case :
APEX is symbolic product identifier of Ben Hogan ironw, which casts the image of best performance and high quality forged iron like top notch product. In this case, it only can do the role of premium line endorser of Callaway Iron for whom considering or might to buy Callaway irons by comparing with Taylormade, Cobra etc…but NOT Titlelist or Mizuno something high flying payer’s brand supplier.
So it would be NOT best strategy for Callaway. Just could be GAP closing strategy.
But on the other hand, if Ben Hogan Equipment used this name, and reintroduced powerful old hit products such as APEX pus, Edge pro and Redlines through re-trimming in modernized version, I could image very fantastic marketing case of ‘Oldest but Goodiest’.
Any Opinions?
Jeff
Oct 8, 2013 at 11:56 am
Just seen the X2 Hot clubs today and I like them, the orange paint scheme along with the hyper speed frame face should perform quite well on paper. Also seen the putters for 2014 as well, nice to to see callaway releasing the versa tank line, should be a good seller. Also nice to see new additions to the versa and white hot pro lines, with new putter shapes such as the jailbird and havoc putters.
joe
Sep 12, 2013 at 12:30 pm
oh boo hoo. complain complain complain. the golf club could be named peewee herman. long as it performs, shouldnt matter. “the ben hogan” name. WHO CARES?!
Go Low
Sep 12, 2013 at 11:21 am
Callaway is out of touch with reality. they have no appreciation for the workmanship that was put in the apex line by the Hogan company.
Callaway does not realize that there is suck a srong market if they make something similar to the Ben Hogan 50th Anniversary Irons. It is a disgrace they butchered the Apex name….What a Shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JHM
Sep 13, 2013 at 3:28 pm
If there is such a strong market, why did the Hogan brand fold. Seems to me Callaway is very in touch with what the public will purchase.
Chris
Sep 12, 2013 at 11:02 am
Callaway has some interesting stuff in the pipeline…Apex and Apex Pro, X hot 2 irons, X hot 2 Driver with Aldila Atx blue and green in Pro model….milled metal x coming in February….new product looks pretty darn good to me, but I agree maybe the Apex name should have been on a blade.
Kyle
Sep 10, 2013 at 2:56 pm
I can honestly say that each and every one of you will be proven wrong. The Apex irons to be released from Callaway are fantastic. Callaway just had their sales meeting regarding 2014 product. There will be two Apex irons released. Both of them forged from a newly refined forging process which allows Callaway to introduce a new, and much faster, face design. Testing down at ECPC have shown to produce enhanced spin robustness as well as extra distance. There will be an Apex Pro series which is not the one featured. I understand that many and most of the Apex fans are desiring a beautiful blade like construction in look as well as feel. The forged Pro model, which has not been released in images will satisfy those desires in my opinion. The Apex Pro will offer the look and feel that Hogan fans are looking for. From everything I have seen and heard, this is going to be a monster year for Callaway. At least they are not offering a gimmick “speed slot” in their irons. X 2 Hot irons and fairway woods will be the best performers. Let’s hope callaway can keep up in the marketing and social community to allow their superior performance to get noticed by consumers and customers alike. On top of the two apex lines, which are both forged, there will also be a revamp in the forged players clubs series as well. I do not believe any tour level drivers or irons were discussed in the meetings. The new X Hot line will offer an even faster face design!! The new process for constructing the face gives Callaway the ability to obtain higher CT testing. Whereas before, they could not reach any closer to the limit in fear of variances causing some product to be above the CT limit. The new process allows them to approach that limit safely and provide more distance. But even more importantly, the new face designs on fairway woods and also being introduced in the new hybrids and the concepts will also be introduced in the irons. The new design does increase ball speed but most importantly is much more consistent and much better performing on off center hits than previous models. MUCH!! more consistent. Anyways, I’ll get off this little rant of mine. Keep an eye out for 2014 Callaway product. There is much more to come than you may know. Wait for the actual release photos before making a judgement. They are beautiful!!
OhioGolfDude
Sep 11, 2013 at 1:57 pm
2013 was a big step forward in regards to design and performance of all Callaway products. I personally love the look of the unbadged iron in the pix, and if the non-pro version performs anything like the DF did, look out. Current trends seem to point that even hackers like the forged feel, but could use the extra forgiveness (even players like Stenson using the Legacy black). I’m currently gaming the Razr XF and these are some of the best feeling and performing irons I’ve used.
tom
Sep 11, 2013 at 11:06 pm
AMEN brother! At least hit the dang thing first before you start complaining, people.
Matthew
Sep 10, 2013 at 1:35 pm
You guys do know that there were cavity versions of the Apex right? I don’t see what all of the fuss is about. There just isn’t enough of a market for Callaway to make two different verisons of blade irons.
Andrew
Sep 9, 2013 at 12:47 pm
Ely would not have approved…. hell, he would not have approved of much of what is coming out of the company these days…
michael
Sep 8, 2013 at 11:03 pm
Callaway should be ashamed in using the apex name on any club that does not have the Hogan name attached to it. Those irons were some of the best made period. The pictures of the next generation is a disgrace to the name and to the great golfer Ben Hogan. I have often wondered why the irons have not been made they were again some of the highest quality irons made even better than the Titleist Irons that were made and I had a set in the 1980s and 1999’s.
I hope that someone will make the irons again.
Devin
Sep 8, 2013 at 6:40 pm
YUCK… Its probably going to come with the all too famous UNIFLEX shaft as well. Just as Callaway had made a turn for the better they try something like this. If Phil talks about what a dream his new “APEX” irons next year at TPC Scottsdale it wouldn’t even surprise me.
jgpl001
Sep 8, 2013 at 6:32 pm
A real step backwards
Callaway – let the Apex rest in peace
MBAISLEY
Sep 7, 2013 at 3:46 pm
I agree 100% with the previous comments. I will be sorely disappointed if the Apex name winds up on this club. And that isn’t to say that I don’t like the looks of the new club….. I am actually quite interested to see more of it. (I can’t hit blades like I used to…. have to take advantage of some of these forged cavity irons that are out these days.)
Mainly, I am just sad that the Hogan brand is gone from the equipment scene. I wish Callaway could’ve found a way to keep the Hogan line of forged irons alive. I guess it just wasn’t profitable to do it.
I feel the same way about the unfortunate demise of the MacGregor brand.
I played MacGregor forged irons for a long time, dozens of different models (V-foil, MT, Don White customs, 1991 VIPs, CB92 VIP Tours, JNPs, Muirfields, you name it), but I stopped buying MacGregor stuff when Golfsmith bought the brand. Golfsmith’s “VIP” forged iron isn’t a piece of junk, but it isn’t up to the standard that I have always associated with MacGregor forgings.
Moreover, it’s been 4 or 5 years since MacGregor was sold to Golfsmith, and they’ve only offered a single forged iron…. the aforementioned VIP. How about some new stuff, Golfsmith? I’d be willing to give it a chance (but my hopes won’t be too high).
Maybe if Callaway hits one out of the park with this new iron, I’ll forgive them for calling it Apex. But they’d better give it their very best effort!!
purkjason
Sep 9, 2013 at 8:02 am
I still have the Macgregor Muirfields and the Macgregor Jack Nicklaus Celebrity Iron Set. I agree that Macgregor is a timeless classic of forged beauty and quality. I still take these irons to the driving range when I need to improve my ball striking. I wish Jack Nicklaus could buy Macgregor and show the American People once again that Macgregor can rise to its past glory against all the OEM Marketing Scam giants.
Roger
Sep 7, 2013 at 1:43 pm
Could be time for an Apex appreciation thread
from those of us who have bagged a set and appreciate a Classic.
Clearly, the clubs pictured are a dissapointment.
Callaway have produced some superb products lately!
Plenty of time for Team Callaway to LISTEN to what WRX’ers
feel is a Club Design that pays respect to Mr Hogan’s legacy.
Jack
Sep 7, 2013 at 9:23 am
I guess we have a consensus. Apex should be on players irons. Maybe it doesn’t even matter cuz it won’t be Ben hogan brand anyway.
Mike
Sep 7, 2013 at 7:46 am
Calling that pig “apex” is an abomination!
BigBoy
Sep 7, 2013 at 2:26 am
Callaway engineers/designers wouldn’t have a clue about why Hogan called it the Apex nor do they have the ability to design such an iron…hack engineers=hack clubs.
John
Sep 6, 2013 at 11:35 pm
Make a iron for strikers to give a nod to hogan…
snowman
Sep 6, 2013 at 11:20 pm
No Way that shovel should called Apex. The Hawk would not be pleased.
TravisLG
Sep 6, 2013 at 9:55 pm
I hope this is all a rumor…
JD
Sep 6, 2013 at 8:06 pm
A bloody disgrace that the classic Apex name is tagged onto that monstrosity. Shame on you Callaway.
Tyler
Sep 9, 2013 at 1:34 pm
+1
Andrew
Sep 6, 2013 at 7:16 pm
Definitely NOT the right product to wear that badge…
Matthew Bacon
Sep 6, 2013 at 1:47 pm
Diablo Forged look cheap where the Apex was classic
Jim Santelli
Sep 11, 2013 at 1:24 pm
Callaway destroyed the Ben Hogan name! Walmart in Texas is carrying Ben Hogan branded clothing and now this. Won’t even look at another Callaway product ever!
wes
Sep 19, 2013 at 10:27 am
Callaway doesn’t own the Ben Hogan name…