Written ByJamieThis is Golfer Geeks’ Callaway Apex Ai300 irons review.
I’m an avid golfer, 8ish handicap on my way to a 2 (been a 5.6) and frequent tester of golf clubs and equipment since 2015.
Summary: Callaway Apex Ai300 irons are excellent game improvement irons.
They launch the ball quickly and easily. They fly high and with excellent distance. Forgiveness is ample and they perform almost as well from the rough as they do from the fairway.
Callaway nailed it.
In this review of the Apex Ai300 irons, I discuss my experience with the clubs, their unique features and benefits, customer reviews, and potential alternatives.
Golfer Geeks Verdict
4.7/ 5
The Scorecard
Bag Appeal4
Distance5
Sound & Feel5
Launch & Flight5
Forgiveness5
Value4
5 = Among the best / 4 = Very good / 3 = Average–acceptable / 2 = Below average / 1 = Poor / 0 = ☠️
Best For
I like them best for beginners, high handicaps and most mid handicaps.
Though, they also have player qualities.
Heck, I could play them and score well.
Considerations
Little pricey. Seems to be how it goes these days.
The Verdict
An exceptional game improvement iron.
It does all the game improvement things:
- Tons of forgiveness and distance.
- The ball launches high off the face.
- Great out of the rough.
- Can still play shots once that’s part of your game.
- Look inviting at address with zero intimidation.
I consider the Ai300s a considerable step above other Callaway game improvement irons from recent years.
You’ll love the way they play if you can swing the price.
Highly Recommended
Callaway Apex Ai300 Irons
Pros
- ✓Superb Sound & Feel
- ✓Plenty Distance & Forgiveness
- ✓Easy Launch & High Trajectory
- ✓Large improvement over prior year's model
Cons
- ✕Heads could be a little bigger for beginner's eyes
- ✕Pricey for high handicap or beginner irons
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About Jamie
I’m an avid golfer, with an 8ish handicap on my way to a 2 (I’ve been a 5.6), and frequent tester of golf clubs and equipment since 2015.
- Handicap: 6.5
- Expertise: reviewing clubs since 2015
- Right/Left-Handed: Right-handed
- Typical ball flight: Mid-High Tight Draw
- Golf ball used: ProV1x, ProV1
Apex i300 Specs
- Model: Apex Ai300
- Set: 5 iron – PW
- Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold S300 Mid 90g
- Shaft flex: Stiff
| Club | Loftdegrees | Lie Angledegrees | Lengthinches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 20.0° | 60.375° | 39.125″ |
| 5 | 22.0° | 61.0° | 38.5″ |
| 6 | 25.0° | 61.625° | 37.875″ |
| 7 | 29.0° | 61.25° | 37.25″ |
| 8 | 33.0° | 62.875° | 36.625″ |
| 9 | 37.0° | 63.5° | 36″ |
| PW | 42.0° | 63.75° | 35.75″ |
Launch Monitor Data
Note: I hit the ball low during launch monitor testing (for whatever reason).
I had no such issue on the course. Launch high – carry high – stop on a dime – was my experience on the course.
| Club | Club Speed | Ball Speed | Carry Distance (yds) | Peak Height (ft) | Spin Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PW | 75 | 100 | 140 | 77 | 5411 |
| 9 | 76 | 105 | 153 | 73.84 | 4934 |
| 8 | 79 | 113 | 172.82 | 60 | 3556 |
| 7 | 81 | 117 | 181 | 62 | 3367 |
| 6 | 81 | 120 | 182 | 54 | 2920 |
| 5 | 85 | 125 | 156 | 26 | 2033 |
Performance Review
| Category | Grade |
|---|---|
| Bag Appeal | 4 |
| Distance | 5 |
| Sound & Feel | 5 |
| Launch & Flight | 5 |
| Forgiveness | 5 |
| Value | 4 |
Bag Appeal: (4) Exactly what you want to see in a game improvement iron. Larger clubhead with thicker topline and sole. I’m a fan of this design – which Callaway has used for last years and this year’s Apex lineup.
Sound & Feel: (5) Stellar. Soft and solid with zero harshness. A very welcome surprise.
Distance: (5) Can be explosive on center contact still good with mishits.
Forgiveness: (5) Good forgiveness and they never feel harsh on mishits. Appropriate punishment for the severity of the mishit.
Launch & Flight: (5) They go high and straight by default, but I played my normal baby draw with them.
Value: (4) ~$200/club. Expensive for game improvement irons. But this is getting to be the norm.
My Experience with the Ai300s
Range Sessions – 1
Launch Monitor sessions – 2
Rounds of Golf – 1
It didn’t take me a full round to figure these irons out.
I was in light rough on the first hole with 148 yards to a front pin – I hadn’t even taken a swing on the range with the i300s at this point.
I pulled the pitching wedge and put a good enough swing on it. The ball jumped, sailed high, landed just left of the pin, and stopped…right where I was aiming.
So, it came out of the rough like it was on the fairway and had enough spin to stick next to the pin.
Bottom line: Give these a try if you’re in the market. I think you’ll like what you see.
Customer Reviews
An average rating of 4.7 out of 69 reviews. 94% would recommend the Ai300s to a friend.(1)
Who are the Apex Ai300s irons for?
Low handicaps: (Nope) Not that you can’t, but most low handicaps I know prefer compact clubheads.
Mid handicaps: (Yes) They’ve got everything most mid handicaps want.
High handicaps: (Yep, you too) You’ll love their forgiving head size and you’ll love the way they work for you even more.
If you’re a mid or high handicapper in the market for very forgiving irons, the Ai300s absolutely belong in the conversation.
Compare them against every iron on our GI iron roundup.
Potential Alternatives
Mizuno JPX 925 Hot Metal Irons are slightly more demanding, but still plenty forgiving.
TaylorMade Qi irons — Long and forgiving in their own right with good sound and feel.
Titleist T350 Irons – Superb performance and stunning looks.
Best Feel in Golf
Mizuno JPX 925 Hot Metal Irons
Pros
- ✓ Superb forgiveness & distance
- ✓ Best sound & feel in golf
- ✓ High launch
- ✓ Best clubs for the price
Cons
- ✕ Nada
Best Looks
Titleist T350 Irons
Pros
- ✓ Launch the ball High & Straight
- ✓ Forgiving & Long
- ✓ Beautiful Clubs
Cons
- ✕ Pricey
Golfer Geeks Approved
TaylorMade Qi Irons
Pros
- ✓ Solid forgiveness & distance across the face
- ✓ Launch well w/ good trajectory
- ✓ Good sound and feel
Cons
- ✕ Looks...Ok, but not great
- ✕ Not a big improvement over recent Taylormade models
Final Verdict
Callaway Apex Ai300s hit their mark and are stellar game improvement irons. Callaway’s best in a few years.
- They offer explosive distance on center contact.
- Improved sound and feel.
- Ample forgiveness.
- High ball flight and playability from varied lies.
You can play these as a mid or high handicapper and keep playing them into the single digits if you so choose.
As usual…
My #1 suggestion is to get your hands on them before you buy. Either at your local golf store or take advantage of Global Golf’s Utry trial program. I use it and recommend it.
Thanks for checking out our Callaway Apex Ai300 irons review and let us know how they work for you.
Highly Recommended
Callaway Apex Ai300 Irons
Pros
- ✓Superb Sound & Feel
- ✓Plenty Distance & Forgiveness
- ✓Easy Launch & High Trajectory
- ✓Large improvement over prior year's model
Cons
- ✕Heads could be a little bigger for beginner's eyes
- ✕Pricey for high handicap or beginner irons
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