50 Words or Less
The Callaway Apex Ai300 irons are the most forgiving Apex irons yet. Thicker than the Ai200, they launch the ball easily. Elite ball speed and distance, as expected from the Apex family.
Introduction
Callaway’s Apex irons were some of the first in the players distance category. Since then, Apex has expanded to include true players irons and clubs that bridge the gap between players and game improvement. The new Callaway Apex Ai300 irons is the line’s first true game improvement offering. In this review, I’ll discuss whether Callaway was able to maintain the Apex’s appeal while adding more forgiveness.
Looks
At address, the Callaway Apex Ai300 irons take the Ai200 irons [review HERE] and moves them one step toward game improvement. The top line is a little thicker, and there’s a bit more offset. Side by side, I think there’s a noticeable difference between the two, but they are not worlds apart. Overall, these are a bit too big to be called players irons, but they’re good looking game improvement irons.
In the bag, the look of the Ai300 is as similar to the Ai200 as the names suggest. There’s moderate branding spread across the back of the iron, most notably “Apex” on the black weight near the sole. What sets the Callaway Apex Ai300 irons apart is the defined cavity above the thicker sole.
Sound & Feel
Callaway notes that there is a construction difference between the Ai300 and Ai200 irons. The former is “Forged Cavity Back/Forged Face,” the latter is “Forged Hollow-Body/Forged Face.” This difference does not show up in the sound or feel; I found them indistinguishable.
On center, the Urethane Microspheres behind the face provide a soft impact feel. A premium ball produces a hearty “click” on well-struck shots.
The larger size of the Callaway Apex Ai300 irons does not do much to dampen the feedback. I was able to sense the impact location through my hands with good precision. There’s no punishing sting on mishits, but the sound does become a bit thinner on poor strikes.
Performance
As I noted earlier, the Callaway Apex Ai300 irons are the first game improvement iron in the Apex family. They’re rated by Callaway as being the most forgiving Apex and, alongside the Ai200 and Apex Ti Fusion, the longest. This combination is fueled by Ai Smart Face and MIM (Metal Injection Molding) Weight System.
In my testing of the Ai300 and Ai200, I saw that both irons possess elite ball speed. On center, my smash factor was well over 1.4, and almost all my mishits stayed above that threshold thanks to the aforementioned face technology.
Find similar forgiveness in a slimmer package with the Apex Ti Fusion HERE
The Apex Ai300 irons are one degree stronger throughout the set, but the thicker sole causes them to launch a bit higher than the Ai200. They also spun less for me. Both differences were clearly measurable on the launch monitor, but I’m not certain they would have been visible to the naked eye. Overall, I found the Ai300 to have slightly longer carry distances than the Ai200, but the Ai200 produced steeper landing angles.
Per Callaway, the Ai300 gets five stars for forgiveness and and two stars for workability. The Ai200 gets four stars for forgiveness and three for workability. While I would agree that the Ai300 is more forgiving – particularly on thin strikes – I don’t think it’s a 20% difference. Likewise, I don’t think the Ai200 is 20% more workable – both irons can be flighted up or down with a little effort.
To close, what impressed me most about the Callaway Apex Ai300 irons is the consistency. While it’s not as sexy as “5 more yards!” improved consistency has been the real improvements in game improvement and distance irons in the last couple years. The face technology keeps the speed and spin even so you don’t see a big loss of distance on misses or big jumps when you strike one absolutely perfectly.
Conclusion
If you’ve lusted after Callaway’s Apex irons but never felt you were a good enough ball striker, the Apex Ai300 irons were made for you. These irons have ample heft in the sole to help your thin strikes, and the face technology to provide distance and consistency throughout your round.
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Callaway Apex Ai300 Irons Price & Specs
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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80 Comments
So forgiving, even #007 would hit them straight
Matt, I see the Callaway website promotes a matched set comprised an Ai 300 (5i an 6i) and Ai 200 (7i thru gap wedge). Your thoughts on starting the Ai 200 with an 8i instead of the 7i? Also, are there enough differences in the two models to justify a matched set, or is it usually better to stick with one model throughout the bag? Thanks!
Dan,
I think there’s a noticeable difference, especially in the long irons, and sticking with the Ai300 through the 7I seems like a fine idea to me, especially since that’s a very long club (meaning it goes a long way) with this set.
Best,
Matt
These irons are screaming my name, that they need me and I need them. They are beautiful and so need to come home with me. Callaway, why do you temp me like this, #007?
Thanks for the great review Matt!
Is it APEX DCB 2?? Maybe a little more forgiving
#007
Love the look of the new irons! I have played the Apex 21’s and am certain these will continue to improve upon those offerings. Thanks for the great review!
Do the Apex Ai300 come with Golf Pride #007 grips? Do the #007 grips come in standard and medium size?
Thanks,
Dominic Giannola
Dominic,
No, these irons come with “normal” grips.
Best,
Matt
#007
I wanted to try these but my Golf store didn’t have them like 6 weeks after release. So I bought the QI.
It’s a major retailer so I emailed Callaway with my feedback and they didn’t bother to respond.
Where are the @007 Grips on this website?
Gregg,
They’re not here, but you can find them through Golf Pride.
-Matt
Matt,
Great review, the Apex Ai 300 irons
look great! #007
Thanks for all the great reviews, and the 50 words or less to start them was a great idea. “007”
Those looks would make #007 proud!
I wish club companies would keep 1/2″ progression in iron lengths. I play + 1/2″ and when you get to long irons they are hybrid length. #007
#007
Great looking set.#007
Has anyone else looked down on Callaway clubs and just been like, wow that looks clunky? I’ve been fitted for clubs a handful of times and the salesperson always suggests Callaway. I’m a mid handicap so I look for game improvement type of clubs. While I don’t mind the feel when hitting them, I just don’t like the look when addressing the ball and for whatever reason, I can’t get over it. Could just be me.
Thanks #007
These are sweet…. #007
Always listed after Apex irons, maybe the time is now!
#O07. Shaken, not stirred
Nice review, playing apex pro 19s now, will try them. Grips #007
#007
These clubs would look good with the new Golf Pride X 007 grips .
Your review was informative. They are a look when I am ready for anew set.
Add #007 to my comment
Way too much offset for my taste, those look like hook face irons to me. #007
These clubs with the GolfPride 007 grips should improve my game!
#007
As I aged I got away from my Apexes I had for many years and went wit a game improvement brand. 007. These may bring me back!
I would love to compare these to the ’21 Apex DCB with steelfiber fc 90 currently in my bag #007.
Maybe #007 could afford them but I can’t!
Hope to upgrade from my Apex19 in the future. #007
#007
Those James Bond 007 Grips are totally Cool. I would love to have a Midxize set.
Do you think the loft on a #007 iron would be the same as a standard 7 iron?
John,
What do you consider “standard”?
-Matt
Currently play rogue pro which i love, however the feel of a crushed ball off a forged iron is like no other. #007
I wonder how these compare to the Ping i530 with CB graphite shafts that I bought this year, especially the #007 iron.
Is that a significant preworn leading edge? Sure looks like it in that photo….nice! I don’t often see that in the bigger sole designs but I think it’s a great feature. Cally seems to be using it more and more through the lineup. I really like their design, look and finish of their recent irons. Good looking clubs to my eye. Thanks! #007
#007 Bond, James Bond would approve!
Some #007 grips would look nice on them. Good review Matt…Thanks.
#007
#007 could probably afford them!! I guess I’ll stick with what I have!! Great article though!!
Callaway Apex Ai300 Irons would have really enhanced #007 when he played his match against Auric Goldfinger for a bar of gold.
#007
42 degree PW? So now you need 2 Gap wedges before you get to your SW. if you carry a Lob wedge, you now have 5 wedges!jacked lofts are out of control. #007
#007 would look good on these, shaken not stirred…
Great review I need new irons and prefer forged and at 77 the extra forgiveness would be good they would look perfect with the #007 grips.
Great review I need new irons and prefer forged and at 77 the extra forgiveness would be good and would look perfect with #007 grips.
designed by Q, especially for 007!
great info! really want my dad to try these. #007
Have to try them. #007
The #007 grips look great!
Hi Matt,
You write that these are the first true Apex game improvement model. Where would you say the Apex 21 DCBs previously fit in that range?
Steve,
I think the “first true game improvement” is something I cribbed from Callaway’s notes. That line is always a little blurry, in my opinion. All that said, my recollection is that these are more forgiving than the DCB, though perhaps not dramatically so.
Best,
Matt
i am now playing a combo set ; i300 for 5 6 7 , i200 for 8,9,P, and A. They lofted up the i200s by 1 deg for seemless combo. love them could have gone either way on the i7 but opted for the i300. might consider ordering the i7 in the i200 just for the feel and height.
#007
#007 Looks like a beautiful iron for someone like me who needs all the forgiveness one can get, plus the ease of getting height on the ball flight.
I’ll need to try these irons. Will you be reviewing the Apex Ti Fusion irons soon? Thanks for the reviews!
#007.
Kyu,
Yes, we will have that out in early November.
Best,
Matt
I love the 300 build up, but so near xmas will miss moneypenny approve, and Santa will have to demonstrate better performance around the green, I don’t know to putt it to her.
Nice irons and review. Too bad they are #007 hundred dollars more expensive than they need to be.
Another stellar review. Thank you. But I prefer my irons, shaken not stirred. 007
I would love them golf grips as my looking pretty tired #700. Or # 007.
They look fantastic
Have always enjoyed my callaway clubs. I’m sure these would be a great addition. Thx #007
Great review Matt…I could see #007 playing them in the next Bond flick!
Great review, #007. I’ll have to give these irons a look and see.
Golf Pride #007
matt great review . if you make a comparison between ai300 and paradym ai smoke irons which would you suggest for a 12 hdcp aiming to break 80 ?
Meo,
I think at a 12, I would be between the Ai200 and Ai300 in a fitting.
Best,
Matt
tx a lot for your answer
matt , I forgot to tell you that I currently play rogue os max shaft cypher fifty 5.0 and find them unbalanced (shaft too light?) and with too pronounced an offset . regards
It sounds like the best option would be going for a fitting where you can find the right weight, shaft, and a head that has an amount of offset you like.
Best,
Matt
I recently invested in the Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke HL irons but when they released the Ai 300, I knew I had to have at least some of them. So far, I’ve invested in the four and five iron and I have never been more happy with a golf club! The consistency and length of my strokes is absolutely worth the price. I just bought the six iron but I think I will stick with the Ai HL for my 7-pm due to the higher loft it provides which is more important with my short irons as opposed to the longs. But, who am I kidding, if I could afford it I would buy the whole set without question!
Hi Matt. Great review as always. And for an 8.5 handicap?
Juan,
Are you asking if these will work for an 8.5?
-Matt
Yes, I was referring to whether the Ai200 was suitable for an 8.5 handicap, or whether the Apex Pro would even be better.
Juan,
At 8.5 you have lots of options in the Apex line, it just depends what you value in an iron.
Best,
Matt
Great looking irons and great review. #007