Equipment

Callaway leaks new Apex Driving Iron photos

Published

10 years ago

Jul 16, 2014

The British Open apparently has become the best week of the year for equipment companies to launch its new driving irons, and what better venue than a tournament where many players opt for a driving iron to replace their long irons, hybrids or high-lofted fairway woods.

Last year, Ping launched its Rapture driving iron at Muirfield, while TaylorMade officially announced the release of its UDI (Ultimate Driving Iron) earlier this week at Hoylake.

Now it’s Callaway’s turn, and company representatives have put us on watch for Phil Mickelson, Branden Grace, Ryo Ishikawa, Kristoffer Broberg and Thomas Bjorn to put the company’s new Apex UT driving iron in the bag.

The official product details won’t be announced for several weeks, but it’s a good bet to say that Callaway found a way to move the center of gravity of these clubs lower and deeper in the head. These will also likely feature an extremely thin, strong face insert to bring ball speeds to the highest level of any of Callaway’s previous driving irons.

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25 Comments

Daniel

Jul 31, 2014 at 12:38 am

I had one of these bad boys in my hand today, as i work at my local golf store and the callaway rep brought in the new driver and the 21 degree driving iron

for everyone wondering it is bigger in profile then the 712U, but a hair smaller then the Ping Rapture driving iron i was also told that the weight in the bottom of the club head is removable but you cannot get any other weights put in other then the stock one.

Another thing is to the understanding of the rep it will only be available in a 21 degree and 24 degree

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Chuck

Jul 22, 2014 at 1:12 pm

I have yet to see an address-position photo. How much offset did they build into the Apex UT?

The driving irons that seem to remain in tour bags throughout the year seem to be the ones (Titleist 503i, 712U, FourteeN/various models) with the least offset.

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KK

Jul 18, 2014 at 5:59 pm

Prettiest girl at the dance and Callaway almost always loads their clubs with tech. I would love a 24 degree to replace my hybrid.

Reply Report comment
- Daniel
  
  Jul 31, 2014 at 12:39 am
  
  there bringing it out in a 21 degree and a 24 degree
  
  Reply Report comment
Eugene

Jul 18, 2014 at 3:34 pm

i hope their new blades look similar to this. these look so clean. reminds me of the razr mbs and the rac mbs

Reply Report comment
JOEL GOODMAN

Jul 17, 2014 at 3:00 pm

THIS LOOKS LIKE A REAL GOLF CLUB. A PURE GOLF IRON FROM CALLAWAY????, INSTEAD OF THOSE “THINGS” THEY HAVE BEEN SHOVING ON THE PUBLIC FOR YEARS.
ELY WOULD BE PROUD AND FORMER USERS LIKE ME MIGHT COME BACK TO AN IRON THAT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE A SHOVEL OR A BROOM. MAKE THE ENTIRE SET LOOK LIKE THIS AND I’LL LEAVE MIZUNO FOR CALLAWAY.

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FM

Jul 17, 2014 at 11:45 am

Give me an Adams PNT any day. Performs the same function off the tee, easier to hit and very effective out of rough and even around the green.

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Chris

Jul 17, 2014 at 8:59 am

Will we see left handed versions of this……..please callaway!!!!!

Reply Report comment
MPB

Jul 17, 2014 at 3:29 am

Its The Open Championship, not the British Open.

Reply Report comment
- Nigel
  
  Jul 17, 2014 at 9:14 am
  
  I’m with you on that.
  I suppose the name fits better with the American Open, Augusta Open and PGA Open.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - BlkNGld
    
    Jul 17, 2014 at 5:14 pm
    
    Except that the Masters and the PGA are not “open” but are by invitation.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Nigel
      
      Jul 18, 2014 at 5:00 am
      
      So it’s the Augusta Invitational and PGA Invitational then. Either way it was a joke to mock you americans that find it impossible to understand that The Open Championship is the one that takes place in Britain. The British Open doesn’t exist.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Better
        
        Jul 18, 2014 at 5:38 pm
        
        Pretentious Brits.
        
        Reply Report comment
      - Rich
        
        Jul 18, 2014 at 9:40 pm
        
        Better,
        Not pretentious, just correct. The majors are, The Masters, The US Open, The Open and The USPGA. I’m pretty sure the only one by invitation is The Masters. Amateurs and pros can enter and qualify for the open majors but only PGA professionals can enter and qualify for The USPGA. No need to be rude and Golfwrx should get it right too.
        
        Reply Report comment
      - Hal
        
        Jul 19, 2014 at 12:59 am
        
        British Open
        
        Reply Report comment
robin

Jul 17, 2014 at 3:27 am

even Driving Iron are more for better players, this one looks are for really better player!

Reply Report comment
paul

Jul 17, 2014 at 1:48 am

Pretty! I play a 3 iron and a 17 degree hybrid. Courses are hard and fast here for July and August. One of these might be fun. Doubt I “need” one though.

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sgniwder99

Jul 16, 2014 at 9:01 pm

Looks nice, but I find it odd that this is the design of this driving iron, a couple of years after they discontinued this design for the actual iron set–didn’t they?

Reply Report comment
c masty

Jul 16, 2014 at 8:58 pm

Surely they can think of something a bit more eye pleasing than that out of place weight screw on bottom. Otherwise, its a beaut!

Reply Report comment
Jeremy

Jul 16, 2014 at 7:50 pm

The OEMs are in clearly cahoots. It’s like they all got together and said “What’s something else we can sell people? Let’s convince them they need a 1-iron again. When can we do that? How about the Open Championship? All in favor?”

Can’t wait to see these overflowing from the Used bin at my local store in a couple months.

Reply Report comment
- RG
  
  Jul 17, 2014 at 12:12 am
  
  Exactly!
  
  Reply Report comment
cody

Jul 16, 2014 at 7:23 pm

this is what their last one should have looked like. What is with all the driving irons these days? I mean, I get supply and demand. But I am a little shocked that there is that big of a demand for these.

Reply Report comment
Dakota

Jul 16, 2014 at 5:56 pm

So much better looking than the last one, Gorgeous.

Reply Report comment
- Nick
  
  Jul 16, 2014 at 6:02 pm
  
  I like the looks of these. The Titleist 712U is not forgiving enough for the weekend warrior. Definitely a “players” long iron replacement. I think there is a market between the 712U and regular Hybrids for those looking for a more iron like long iron replacement. I currently use an AP1 3 Iron, which is good, but would love something that took a little less effort but kept a more iron like feel than hybrids.
  
  Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

5 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

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Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

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Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

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And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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