Equipment
Callaway leaks new Apex Driving Iron photos
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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Whats in the Bag
Matthieu Pavon WITB 2024 (May)
- Pavon’s WITB accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 Max (9 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6 X
3-wood: Ping G430 LST (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X
Irons: Ping i230 (3-PW)
Shafts: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: Ping Si59 (52-12S, 58-8B)
Shafts: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Ping Cadence TR Tomcat C
Grip: SuperStroke Claw 1.0P
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Pavon’s gear here.
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Equipment
Spotted: Tommy Fleetwood’s TaylorMade Spider Tour X Prototype putter
Tommy Fleetwood has been attached to his Odyssey White Hot Pro #3 putter for years now. However, this week at the Wells Fargo Championship, we did spot him testing a new putter that is very different, yet somewhat similar, to his current gamer.
This new putter is a TaylorMade Spider Tour X head but with a brand new neck we haven’t seen on a Spider before. A flow neck is attached to the Spider head and gives the putter about a 1/2 shaft offset. This style neck will usually increase the toe hang of the putter and we can guess it gets the putter close to his White Hot Pro #3.
Another interesting design is that lack of TaylorMade’s True Path alignment on the top of the putter. Instead of the large white center stripe, Tommy’s Spider just has a very short white site line milled into it. As with his Odyssey, Tommy seems to be a fan of soft inserts and this Spider prototype looks to have the TPU Pure Roll insert with 45° grooves for immediate topspin and less hopping and skidding.
The sole is interesting as well in that the rear weights don’t look to be interchangeable and are recessed deep into the ports. This setup could be used to push the CG forward in the putter for a more blade-like feel during the stroke, like TaylorMade did with the Spider X Proto Scottie Scheffler tested out.
Tommy’s putter is finished off with an older Super Stroke Mid Slim 2.0 grip in blue and white. The Mid Slim was designed to fit in between the Ultra Slim 1.0 and the Slim 3.0 that was a popular grip on tour.
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
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Equipment
Club Junkie WITB, league night week 4: Some old, some new
We enter week 4 of Thursday night men’s league feeling a little more confident in the game. BK is hoping to go a little lower and reduce the mistakes out there with these clubs in the bag. Watch the video for the full breakdown of why these clubs are getting the starting nod this week!
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, neutral setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 63 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: UST Mamiya Lin-Q M40X TSPX Blue 7F5
7-wood: Ping G430 Max (-1 degree, flat Ssetting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 S
Iron: Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi 4
Shaft: Aerotech Steelfiber hls880 S
Irons: PXG 0317 Tour (5-PW)
Shaft: LA Golf A-Series 105 Low (4)
Wedge: Titleist Vokey SM10 (50-08F)
Shaft: UST Mamiya Dart V 105 F4 Wedge
Wedge: Ping S159 (56-10H)
Shaft: Ping Z-Z115
Wedge: Ping S159 (60-08B)
Shaft: Ping Z-Z115
Putter: PXG Battle Ready II Brandon
Shaft: BGT Stability Tour Spec One
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X
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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
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.
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.
Daniel
Jul 31, 2014 at 12:39 am
there bringing it out in a 21 degree and a 24 degree
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
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.
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.
Chris
Jul 17, 2014 at 8:59 am
Will we see left handed versions of this……..please callaway!!!!!
MPB
Jul 17, 2014 at 3:29 am
Its The Open Championship, not the British Open.
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.
BlkNGld
Jul 17, 2014 at 5:14 pm
Except that the Masters and the PGA are not “open” but are by invitation.
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.
Better
Jul 18, 2014 at 5:38 pm
Pretentious Brits.
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.
Hal
Jul 19, 2014 at 12:59 am
British Open
robin
Jul 17, 2014 at 3:27 am
even Driving Iron are more for better players, this one looks are for really better player!
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?
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!
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.
RG
Jul 17, 2014 at 12:12 am
Exactly!
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.
Dakota
Jul 16, 2014 at 5:56 pm
So much better looking than the last one, Gorgeous.
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.