Equipment
Spotted: New Callaway Apex MB Irons
GolfWRX spotted a new set of Callaway Apex MB irons at the CareerBuilder Challenge on Tuesday, where they were being tested by Callaway Staffer Patrick Reed.
Callaway currently sells a set of Apex MB (muscleback) irons, released in late 2014, but the new irons are noticeably different. They have a chrome finish and a streamlined muscle pad, which gives them a more traditional look than the original Apex MB irons.
Old vs. New
According to our boots on the ground, Reed tested the new irons only briefly, hitting the 6 iron and pitching wedge on the range. It’s not clear if he plans further testing of the irons.
See Photos from the Tour of the Apex MB in raw finish
At Address
In last week’s BMW South Africa Open Championship on the European Tour, Rory McIlroy used a set of Callaway Apex MB irons that looked similar to the new irons.
Rory’s Callaway Apex MB irons
It’s unclear if Rory’s irons are an initial prototype of the new model, or customized to his specific needs.
See MORE PHOTOS and what GolfWRX Members are saying about the new irons in our forum.
See Photos from the Tour of the Apex MB in raw finish
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Equipment
Spotted: Tony Finau’s driver shaft change at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Tony Finau has always been known as one of the longest players on the PGA Tour, but he has recently been working on adding a little more distance. Last year, Finau averaged 118.3 mph club head speed and 178.08 mph ball speed, all while playing a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX driver shaft. This year, he has increased his club head speed to 123.93 mph and his ball speed to 183.32 mph.
However, Finau’s overall distance has decreased by two yards in that time. From a fitting perspective, something was amiss. We asked Tony about the shaft change at the Texas Children’s Hospital Open.
“[I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin. My driver’s been a little high spin for me over the last month or so, and so I just figured it was time to probably check out the equipment,” Finau said. “And it definitely showed me that I was using a shaft that’s maybe a little too tip-stiff for me, the way I load the club now. [I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin.”
Finau switched from the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX into the Diamana GT 70 TX. The newer Diamana GT has a slightly different profile than the D+ Limited with the stiffest handle section in the Diamana lineup. The mid sections between the two are similar stiffness but the tip is just slightly stiffer in the Diamana GT. Both shafts are within one gram of each other in the 70 TX. The torque rating on the GT is 0.1 higher than the D+Limited’s 2.7 measurement.
Mitsubishi lists the Diamana GT as a shaft between the mid-launching Diamana TB and the new low-launch Diamana WB shafts. For most players, it would be considered a mid/low launch and low-spin shaft option. Mitsubishi’s Xlink Tech Resin System makes sure the maximum carbon fiber content is there for smooth feel without reducing the strength of the shaft. MR70 carbon fiber is used for reinforcing the shaft and boron is used in the tip for its high strength and compression properties.
Finau is still using his trusty Ping G430 LST driver in 9 degrees and has the adjustable hosel set to -1 degree of loft (standard lie angle). Finau’s long-time favorite Lamkin UTX Green grip is installed. He definitely has a few extra wraps of tape under that grip as you can see the bulge down where the grip meets the shaft.
One final note: Per Ping’s PGA Tour rep Kenton Oates, Finau’s driver is also adjusted to play one degree upright to help dial in his desired launch.
We’ll see how he fares with the new setup this week in Houston!
- Check out the rest of our pictures from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
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Whats in the Bag
Zac Blair WITB 2024 (March)
- Zac Blair what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade M5 Rocket 3 (14 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution V1 X
Utility: Titleist U510 (3)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Blue 85 X
Irons: Ping i210 (4-6), Miura MB-001 (7-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 58-08M @57, 60 @61), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (52-M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 X
Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
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Whats in the Bag
Martin Trainer WITB 2024 (March)
- Martin Trainer what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Wilson Staff Staff Model (6.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kai’li Blue 70 TX
3-wood: Wilson Staff WLabs Prototype (13 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 80 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Staff Model (2, 4-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Wilson Staff Staff Model (52, 56, 60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: Bobby Grace Greg Chalmers Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Chuckle Barkley
Mar 23, 2019 at 6:52 pm
*Travis…….Dude, that observation is priceless. On the floor crackin’ up!! Great stuff!!
Sheen
Mar 24, 2018 at 11:14 am
It is exactly same look of MP 69 except 4D concept.
Travis
Jun 13, 2017 at 3:24 pm
HEY!!! That’s a design ripoff of that one company who ripped off that other company who took their design from that one company who copied that other person who’s club looked really similar to that other one!! Unbelievable Callaway…
BWild
Mar 21, 2017 at 2:08 pm
They are the same design as the titelist 660’s take look…
Barry
Jan 23, 2017 at 10:01 am
Agreed. Does the groove spacing have any impact on spin rate?
Mr Poopoo
Jan 21, 2017 at 1:25 pm
The Mizuno MP-14/29 muscle design never gets old…
Joey
Feb 4, 2017 at 10:56 am
As if they’re the first ones to have that design.
Henny Bogan
Feb 16, 2017 at 12:24 pm
I believe the Hogan Precision (1953 or 1955) were the first to have the “Mizuno MP 14 or 29” muscle design.
CarlLIKESitintheASS
May 15, 2017 at 4:24 am
It’s all about the Ping Eye 2.
westphi
Jan 19, 2017 at 12:11 pm
Simple and clean is always sexy. If they have good turf interaction and a soft buttery feel, I would game them!
Mark
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:52 am
It’s a blade. T
MP-4
Jan 18, 2017 at 11:21 pm
The satin finish looks much better.
MP-29
Jan 19, 2017 at 2:33 am
No, it does not.
Bob Pegram
Jan 21, 2017 at 2:34 pm
It does when you put your club down behind the ball and the angle causes you to get a face full of reflected sunlight. The satin finish doesn’t do that.
Satin is Better
Jan 25, 2017 at 1:50 pm
Yes, it does.
golfraven
Jan 18, 2017 at 4:20 pm
What Rory played in SA was likely a proto set of MBs he got as a farewell present from Titleist before jumping to Nike. They probably said he can stamp it with whatever he likes even their compeitors name. Three years later here we are. Why else are Callys new Epic woods so similar in looks to Titleist’s 915 line – probably also protos from them.
Progolfer
Jan 18, 2017 at 8:28 pm
Sounds like you have it all figured out…
mhendon
Jan 18, 2017 at 11:48 pm
You don’t seriously believe that?
Ryan
Jan 19, 2017 at 5:55 am
And titlest would do this because….
Scott
Jan 18, 2017 at 4:02 pm
I would try them compared to titleist mb which they now look exactly alike. That was one of the nice things about the “old” apex mb. The look. These do. Itching for me but I’ll wait, see, compare numbers
Max
Jan 19, 2017 at 12:17 pm
They are blades buddy, your strike will be the only thing changing the numbers by a noticeable amount.
Mr. Callaway..
Jan 18, 2017 at 2:13 pm
we have Titleist 916 MB on line 1 for you
Brian
Jan 18, 2017 at 7:17 pm
And the Mizuno MP 69 on line 2.
tlmck
Jan 19, 2017 at 5:23 am
And 80’s Wilson Staff
chinchbugs
Jan 18, 2017 at 2:00 pm
dems purty