Equipment
WRX Spotlight: Callaway Apex 19 irons
Product: Callaway Apex 19 irons
Pitch: From Callaway: “We’ve created a new standard for incredibly soft feel from a forged 1025 mild carbon steel body, and for the first time ever we’ve engineered our proprietary urethane microspheres into a forged iron. The carbon steel body promotes amazing Apex sound and feel, and the urethane microspheres consist of over one million tiny air pockets that absorb unwanted vibration without slowing the face.”
“Our renowned 360 Face Cup employs a shallow, flexible rim around the perimeter of the face that flexes and releases at impact to promote fast ball speed for consistent distance on center hits and off-center hits. In the short irons, the spin control VFT Face is designed for aggressive shot-making in your scoring clubs…The tungsten-infused, multi-material construction allows us to locate the position of the CG in each iron with extraordinary precision while maintaining the flexibility of the Face Cup.”
Our take on Callaway Apex 19 irons
Callaway introduced its Apex iron line just over 5 years ago, consisting of its “Forged Tour Performance” Apex Pro and standard Apex, which it calls its “Players Distance Iron.” Unlike the more traditional “Apex Pro 19” irons, the standard “Apex 19” irons are slightly larger and utilize more multi-material technology to provide both more distance and forgiveness to the player.
These irons will fit a wide variety of players, from low to mid-handicappers alike. They can even be blended quite nicely into a combo set with the Pros. Aside from some technological enhancements, which we’ll dive into, there is new Smoke PVD Finish is available — including a darker Elevate Shaft — for those that prefer a darker look.
In the increasingly crowded “Players Distance Iron” category, Callaway Apex 19 irons are standouts. The sound, feel, and playability is once again near the top of the pack. Callaway’s 360 Face Cup Technology is no joke, providing consistent, dependable distance when needed. The original Apex 14 irons took first place in GolfWRX’s 2015 Gear Trials in the Players Irons category, and the line has only improved in the years since.
Some better players may consider the scoring irons to be a bit too large. They may be better suited the Apex Pro, or a blended set of the two. The smoke finish will increase the price (Starts at $1,560 vs $1,400) and it’s unsure at this time how the black will wear, as a darker finish is tougher to maintain over time.
However, if you’re looking for a Players Distance iron for 2019, these should absolutely be on your “must try” list. There’s a good chance they’ll also become a “must buy.”
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- Kris Kim what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.
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TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.
TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.
TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.
Can you see where this is going?
Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”
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TaylorMade PUDI
TaylorMade PUDI technology cutaway (via TaylorMade)
Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.
In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.
TaylorMade PDHY
TaylorMade PDHY tech cutaway (via TaylorMade).
Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.
Club Junkie’s take
Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.
For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.
PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?
TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:
- PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
- PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
- Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
- PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
- PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family
Pricing, specs, and availability
Price: $249.99
At retail: Now
Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)
Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)
PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed
PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/3/24): Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
From the seller: (@wwcl): “Has been gamed as pics show. 33.5 includes original h/c and grip. $575 includes shipping and PP fees.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Dingo
Jun 26, 2019 at 1:03 am
Love the look and feel of these irons, however, after a month of putting some range work in and playing 5-6 rounds the face is wearing quickly!
brian
Apr 3, 2019 at 9:04 am
$1,400…
Peter
Apr 3, 2019 at 8:04 am
I have the ‘16 version of the forged. Love them, truly. The one thing to be careful of is you will get the occasional flyer. For example, I usually hit my 7 iron 170 carry but caught one almost too flush and (over) drew it 198 carry on the launch monitor the other day. Felt amazing but would have been pissed on the course. I’ve had the same thing on the course especially with a little grass or mud on the ball. For me, “forgiving” means you hit it your distance when you miss the COG on the face and can be punished (not always) by going too far on center strikes, which is an odd conundrum but I’ll take it vs the opposite!
the bishop
Apr 3, 2019 at 6:55 am
If the black finish is indeed PVD then we actually do know how it will wear and the answer is “not well”.
I
Apr 3, 2019 at 2:12 am
Best irons evah
JB
Apr 3, 2019 at 2:01 am
I have had the Apex Pro irons for about a month now. I can say without a doubt, that they are some of the best irons I have ever owned. Excellent looks, sound, feel, and great all around performance! These clubs will be in my bag for a long time.
JP
Apr 3, 2019 at 12:11 am
Love the look of the apex pro. If they played as good as they look, it’s a win
Big Mike
Apr 2, 2019 at 11:00 pm
I gamed the combos for a bit and sold them. Nice but nothing exceptional.
hellomcfly
Apr 2, 2019 at 8:34 pm
I know sole technologies are different from each company but I wish they would list the bounce specs on the website