Hey Rick, thank you for the awesome review. Went for a fitting earlier this week and got my clubs ordered; 5-7 Ai300's; 8-Gap Ai200's. May get the 4i in the Ti Fusion. Still undecided. Ironic thing is that due to Covid a few years ago, my energy and strength is reduced and have not fully recovered. So the pro fitter put me on graphite fiber shafts, at a half-way between regular and stiff flex with a 1 degree flat lie and just killed the shots straight down the fairway. 7i avg was 188... just blown away with these irons. They explode off the face. Love love love 'em. Can't wait for Spring 2025 to arrive. Winter setting in here in Canada, have to hit the indoor golf domes in the meantime.
Most people I speak with about these clubs just refer to them as the Apex 200's or 300's, the Callaway portion is just assumed when you say Apex. I play the new Apex Pros. I prefer the lesser amount of offset and they are less throng lofted.
These irons are rich for my blood… I will stick to my DTC and budget irons.. but I do need a golf simulator like Rick has for the Midwest winter and the sleepless nights when I am thinking about my swing. Lol
Work harder and you can fulfill the ambition of swing with CALLAWAY IRONS. I UBered for 4 months every night to buy these irons, now I improved 6 shots per round..
Want more traditional lofts, in a one piece forged cavity back? Callaway has them but available only in Japan..the X Forged Star. They look good, really good like the older X forged irons Callaway made a few years(?) ago. Try em out Rick! X Forged....that's a solid name
I just ordered a set of the 2024 Japan-only X-Forged Star irons used online! There are three models: standard X-Forged, the Star, and the Star+. All one-piece S20C forging. The 2024 X-Forged Star actually has the same loft specs as the AI300: 29° 7-iron and 43° PW. But appears to be a fairly small head, and minimal offset. The standard X-Forged is 33° 7i and 46° PW. The X-Forged Star+ is much larger and wider sole, more offset, and 30° 7i, but still one-piece forging.
Callaway makes way too many irons. I get it they purchased Hogan for Apex, but they just have too much junk (mavrik, smoke, apex, fusion, rogue st, and other crap)
I wonder what happens with these high launching, lowlofted clubs on a windy day. Especially with sidewind. Not to mention the gapping problems you run into on the short side of the bag.
Hey Rick, thanks for the good content as always! Any chance we can get some graphite club reviews? Any differences between graphite or steel shaft or purely just feel? Thanks so much!
I remember when the Pro model came out and the Callaway rep said they were for 5 handicap and below. I asked why they don’t just make a version that looks like that but for mid handicap players. In the mean time I bought some P790’s. Too late for me but I think these will take customers off TaylorMade.
One thing I wanna see on the HIT channel is more grip reviews. Rick should and is primed to review all the grips on the market - putter especially. Don’t need to be really long videos but one thing I think would be nice to see is brand compares. Superstroke putter vs Jumbomax putter Golf pride putter vs Lamkin putter Club reviews are great but with how often new clubs are released you really are just showing the exact same video as last time but with a rebranded club. Grip reviews are honestly untouched and are the literal focal point in a golf swing. We need a golf grip to swing the club properly so why is there a lack of grip reviews. Just a thought
Kind see the idea but grips are down to personal preference I love cord in my grips overs do not some like skinny grips I proffer fat grips but interesting idea
So need advice, I am not a big hitter so I need game improvement irons, example my 7 iron is only about 137 yards. But I don’t want offset, as I hit it straight. Offset just makes me go left. What iron should I try?
I really don’t understand why they test and review game improvement irons at their full swing speed. They’re designed for high handicappers who do NOT swing at these speeds
Now I’m playing the callaway Diablo edge . Old yes tired newer clubs just couldn’t hit them as well because of the loft i think and having to find new ball position or am I just talking rubbish don’t know as not an expert want to up grade but just not sure on what to look into buying any advice PS off 18
The biggest question I feel is, what do you gain from the AI300 over the Paradym Ai Smoke irons since it feels that they are both aimed at the Game Improvement market but the Apex irons are considerably more expensive.
You get the forged feel the ai300 is fully forged meaning face and body it will feel much different and most would say better as the forged gives it that soft buttery feel
@@goofy3151But if I’m looking at a game improvement iron, that’s $300 difference for just the feel? I’ve tried convincing customers of that and most people in that club bracket don’t think $300 is worth just the “better feel” when most of them can’t tell the difference.
Golf clubs and IPhones are in the same category. If you get a new phone every year it’s hard to notice the difference, but the difference between an IPhone 8 and a 14 Pro Max is a huge difference.
I think Guy has inadvertently made a great comment on the latest Clubhouse podcast episode. You’re allowed to bring out a new version of an established branded product each year without materially improving ijust like with running shoes. If you want the latest version then great, if not buy last years for a discount. PS. And yes you need to test against the old versions or the title is nothing but clickbait.
Can I suggest a couple of things here? So first off I don't think you ever answered the title. That's not great. Also, when you say how the irons sound, all you really say is they sound "good" or "phenomenal". But how do they really sound? It doesn't really translate well on here for me at least. Maybe they sound like a dull Crack. Idk really. Anyway love the videos. Please keep em coming. Did you ever do the Ping G730 irons? If you did, I will watch that immediately.
Wasn't impressed by the pros this last release granted only tried them in a fitting but ball speed was down mph I loved the pro 21 and pro 19 but pro 24 left something to be desired
If I had a "super computer" I'd come up with the best clubs that could ever be, sell them to every golfer in the world and call it a day. But all these companies keep improving "incrementally" and we keep spending money...or watching these videos, anyway. The real title of this video could be, "Have ANY irons actually improved? Ever?" (If I watch this video to the end will you be giving away a set of these sticks?...You know, just wondering...) [hitting pause at 7:00]
Rick, help me understand strong lofts. I've been golfing 30+ years and cannot see the logic of engraving #7 in the bottom of a 5 iron and calling it a 7 iron. Why did club manufactures stop using normal lofts?
It’s time companies started just putting the lofts on irons, it’s becoming a joke how an iron stamped 7 is really an old school 4 1/2 iron, when’s it going to stop🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
Thank you for the video as always Rick. But what is this delofting about? I get why the manufacturers are doing this, they want to give the customer the impression that he/she is hitting longer. But this is cheating. A 7 Iron with 30° (Ai 200)? My 6 Iron has 31°. Thus, one club more. Or a 7 Iron with 29° (Ai 300) - my 5 Iron has 27° (almost 2 clubs more). No average golfer will be able to hit more than a 6 Iron with these strong lofts. Who wants to be fooled can be fooled. For all others I recommend to read Tom Wishon's book "The Search for the Perfect Golf Club." Very insightful reading and takes a lot of the industry buzz out of the game.
10:53 he explains it. A PW lofted to that of a 9i will fly as far as a 9i but as high as a PW, so it’ll stop quicker. That’s the trick they’re going for. It’s not just a 9i labeled PW.
@@Eric__B that might work with the "short" Irons. But an average player with, let's say 80-85 mph swing speed simply cannot get enough height to play a 20° 4i. Of course with Rick's speed, you can play it. But he is not the "target group" of the Ai 300.
The one BIG thing that I don’t like about this HIT channel and really Ricks reviews as a whole….. is that every thing he reviews is not based on the products own merit, but on his pre-conceived ideas, or preferences! His ego gets in the way of honest unbiased reviews! Rick doesn’t like the Jumbomax Med grips, yet in the few holes he played he chipped better and played better overall! When he begins a review, he always speaks of the looks, and routinely if it is a iron’s design for higher handicaps, you can immediately hear he dislike in the review! This is so evident and often that before he ever swings a club, I can tell you what he will say about it after he hits it….. and 99% of the time I’m deadly accurate! Just wish he would leave his ego, and personal preference out of the review, and tell what the club, ball, grip, etc…. actually do, and not his opinion based on his a higher estimate of his game!
In all honesty, Rick should be classed as a mid to high handicap player with the scores he shoots, some of these irons are ideal for him, but as you say the ego gets in the way
@@goofy3151 I’ve caved in and cracked 2 sets of AI Smoke irons. Not just 1 club, 2 entire sets of irons. Thankfully Callaway is awesome and are letting me into the Apex pros under warranty. These ai200/300’s are forged as where the smokes are cast but they’re still their “smart face” design. After talking with Callaway, we both felt like I should avoid the ai200’s and would be happier in the Pros.
@@goofy3151 My reply to you keeps disappearing. Faces are thin and cave in, I'm on my 3rd set. The last set only took 2 months to cave. Every single iron in the last two sets.
@@goofy3151 Callaway has been covering them under warranty. This last time they let me move into the Apex Pro instead of an iron with the smart face. My only other option would be to sell them for a loss and buy something else. Clubs are okay. My biggest issues is catching flyers on good swings. I had to start playing the flyer number to keep myself from going long.
No clubs have actually improved in years. Being good at golf is about your swing nothing to do with the club. It's all marketing BS. Make the lofts lower, make the club longer and harder to hit and then tell people they need GI irons because they can't hit blades. Hand them a 29 degree 7 iron and then watch them get confused as to why they are putting massive slice spin on it. This isn't golf.
golf,golf tips,golf advice,how to play better golf,rick shiels pga,rick shiels golf,review club lesson,golf lessons,manchester,rick shiels pga golf coach,online golf,facebook golf,twitter golf,rickshielspga,rickshielsgolf,tiger,woods,rory mcilroy,stop slicing,stop hooking,how to play golf,improve ball striking,stop shanks,reduce handicap,become a better golfer,golf balls,titleist,callaway,taylor made,ping tags for this video are kinda funny lol
I think Guy has inadvertently made a great comment on the latest Clubhouse podcast episode. You’re allowed to bring out a new version of an established branded product each year without materially improving ijust like with running shoes. If you want the latest version then great, if not buy last years for a discount. PS. And yes you need to test against the old versions or the title is nothing but clickbait.
Callaway should use AI to come with better names
Better than TM QI10. Quest for inertia 10k
Callawai
If they just dropped the "AI" it would be ok, 'Apex 200' or 'Apex 300' sounds fine.
Like Callaway Whacky McBoomboom
What?
Hey Rick, thank you for the awesome review. Went for a fitting earlier this week and got my clubs ordered; 5-7 Ai300's; 8-Gap Ai200's. May get the 4i in the Ti Fusion. Still undecided. Ironic thing is that due to Covid a few years ago, my energy and strength is reduced and have not fully recovered. So the pro fitter put me on graphite fiber shafts, at a half-way between regular and stiff flex with a 1 degree flat lie and just killed the shots straight down the fairway. 7i avg was 188... just blown away with these irons. They explode off the face. Love love love 'em. Can't wait for Spring 2025 to arrive. Winter setting in here in Canada, have to hit the indoor golf domes in the meantime.
Referring to the title, have they improved over previous versions? Please do the comparison.
I’m so glad I got the last version of the (What could be considered OG) in the 21 version
I probably watched your OG cf16 Apex iron review 100 times and eventually bought them. Still happy I bought em 10 yrs ago
Same, doubt I’ll ever need another set ( hate to say I’m an iron cover user, but my clubs are still mint ) CF16s best club period!
Same. Love my cf16s although they're got a few battle scars now
Most people I speak with about these clubs just refer to them as the Apex 200's or 300's, the Callaway portion is just assumed when you say Apex. I play the new Apex Pros. I prefer the lesser amount of offset and they are less throng lofted.
Can you test the Mizuno pro 243 pls
Would love to see the comparison like in the past!
These irons are rich for my blood… I will stick to my DTC and budget irons.. but I do need a golf simulator like Rick has for the Midwest winter and the sleepless nights when I am thinking about my swing. Lol
Work harder and you can fulfill the ambition of swing with CALLAWAY IRONS. I UBered for 4 months every night to buy these irons, now I improved 6 shots per round..
You need they big grips Rick you were hitting it great with them
Want more traditional lofts, in a one piece forged cavity back? Callaway has them but available only in Japan..the X Forged Star. They look good, really good like the older X forged irons Callaway made a few years(?) ago. Try em out Rick!
X Forged....that's a solid name
I just ordered a set of the 2024 Japan-only X-Forged Star irons used online! There are three models: standard X-Forged, the Star, and the Star+. All one-piece S20C forging. The 2024 X-Forged Star actually has the same loft specs as the AI300: 29° 7-iron and 43° PW. But appears to be a fairly small head, and minimal offset. The standard X-Forged is 33° 7i and 46° PW. The X-Forged Star+ is much larger and wider sole, more offset, and 30° 7i, but still one-piece forging.
Callaway makes way too many irons. I get it they purchased Hogan for Apex, but they just have too much junk (mavrik, smoke, apex, fusion, rogue st, and other crap)
Rick should play a round with GI irons and see how he does
Rick will you review the Tacomo irons?
I wonder what happens with these high launching, lowlofted clubs on a windy day. Especially with sidewind.
Not to mention the gapping problems you run into on the short side of the bag.
How about a large head, forgiving set that without offset? I'm talking for slightly higher handicappers whose miss is too the left? Ai200 or Ai300?
Put the 300s in the bag Rick swallow your pride
He hit the Apex 300 7-iron badly. That offset looks horrible to my eye. I would shoot everything 20 meters left.
@@peterhammer6915 that's why they have custom fitting that he can afford
@@hartattack0725they can’t change offset in a fitting
I like the rounded look.
Hey Rick, thanks for the good content as always! Any chance we can get some graphite club reviews? Any differences between graphite or steel shaft or purely just feel? Thanks so much!
I remember when the Pro model came out and the Callaway rep said they were for 5 handicap and below. I asked why they don’t just make a version that looks like that but for mid handicap players. In the mean time I bought some P790’s. Too late for me but I think these will take customers off TaylorMade.
Beautiful irons!
Would love to see a comparison of these vs some older Apex irons. See if that AI data has added up to any better performance.
One could only dream of these in the bag, certainly replace my near 20yr Wilson fat shafts
One thing I wanna see on the HIT channel is more grip reviews.
Rick should and is primed to review all the grips on the market - putter especially. Don’t need to be really long videos but one thing I think would be nice to see is brand compares.
Superstroke putter vs Jumbomax putter
Golf pride putter vs Lamkin putter
Club reviews are great but with how often new clubs are released you really are just showing the exact same video as last time but with a rebranded club.
Grip reviews are honestly untouched and are the literal focal point in a golf swing. We need a golf grip to swing the club properly so why is there a lack of grip reviews.
Just a thought
Kind see the idea but grips are down to personal preference I love cord in my grips overs do not some like skinny grips I proffer fat grips but interesting idea
Grips today seem to be designed to wear out very quickly. Good feel and very good durability would be the combination I am looking for.
Nah you're alright thanks
Hi Rick, would you compare the Apex CF19 to the 200 or the 300?
The AI 200's are some of the best looking irons I've seen released in the last several years.
Sweet looking irons
So need advice, I am not a big hitter so I need game improvement irons, example my 7 iron is only about 137 yards. But I don’t want offset, as I hit it straight. Offset just makes me go left. What iron should I try?
Apex CF16s.
What’s the difference in forgiveness from the 300s to the paradym?
I really don’t understand why they test and review game improvement irons at their full swing speed. They’re designed for high handicappers who do NOT swing at these speeds
Good point it would be worth Rick inviting a mid handicapper as well
@@clintonparker4141as long as it’s not another bloke out to get his own channel!
I teach lots of high handicappers who have high swing speed. Speed isn't linked to skill.
Rick, did you switch to a Vice ball?
Now I’m playing the callaway Diablo edge . Old yes tired newer clubs just couldn’t hit them as well because of the loft i think and having to find new ball position or am I just talking rubbish don’t know as not an expert want to up grade but just not sure on what to look into buying any advice PS off 18
I love my apex dcb's
&me
The biggest question I feel is, what do you gain from the AI300 over the Paradym Ai Smoke irons since it feels that they are both aimed at the Game Improvement market but the Apex irons are considerably more expensive.
You get the forged feel the ai300 is fully forged meaning face and body it will feel much different and most would say better as the forged gives it that soft buttery feel
@@goofy3151But if I’m looking at a game improvement iron, that’s $300 difference for just the feel? I’ve tried convincing customers of that and most people in that club bracket don’t think $300 is worth just the “better feel” when most of them can’t tell the difference.
Golf clubs and IPhones are in the same category. If you get a new phone every year it’s hard to notice the difference, but the difference between an IPhone 8 and a 14 Pro Max is a huge difference.
what shaft do you use Rick?
X100 tour issue i think in his gamer set
Would love to see Apex 21 vs AI Apex
Review Srixon irons
I won’t buy another Callaway product until they fire whoever is in charge of aesthetics. Four different fonts on an iron head is awful
consistency is spelled consistancy on the graphic at 1:23. just a heads up
Think the 300s would be perfect for me
Love mine but they do draw alot
I think Guy has inadvertently made a great comment on the latest Clubhouse podcast episode. You’re allowed to bring out a new version of an established branded product each year without materially improving ijust like with running shoes.
If you want the latest version then great, if not buy last years for a discount.
PS. And yes you need to test against the old versions or the title is nothing but clickbait.
Enjoyed this video, especially as considering the 200’s currently, but you didn’t really answer the question. Have they improved or not?
Can I suggest a couple of things here? So first off I don't think you ever answered the title. That's not great.
Also, when you say how the irons sound, all you really say is they sound "good" or "phenomenal". But how do they really sound? It doesn't really translate well on here for me at least. Maybe they sound like a dull Crack. Idk really.
Anyway love the videos. Please keep em coming. Did you ever do the Ping G730 irons? If you did, I will watch that immediately.
Wasn't impressed by the pros this last release granted only tried them in a fitting but ball speed was down mph I loved the pro 21 and pro 19 but pro 24 left something to be desired
If I had a "super computer" I'd come up with the best clubs that could ever be, sell them to every golfer in the world and call it a day. But all these companies keep improving "incrementally" and we keep spending money...or watching these videos, anyway. The real title of this video could be, "Have ANY irons actually improved? Ever?" (If I watch this video to the end will you be giving away a set of these sticks?...You know, just wondering...) [hitting pause at 7:00]
Rick, help me understand strong lofts. I've been golfing 30+ years and cannot see the logic of engraving #7 in the bottom of a 5 iron and calling it a 7 iron. Why did club manufactures stop using normal lofts?
What about the Titleist fitting video?
Zzzzz get a life
Great video ... as always 👍
Thanks for the support!
Superb video! Always enjoying your content
Glad you enjoy it!
Are they as good as the GT Drivers, you should do a Woburn fitting video
Against the Apex irons 🤔
I’d take a free set of callaway 200’s
It’s time companies started just putting the lofts on irons, it’s becoming a joke how an iron stamped 7 is really an old school 4 1/2 iron, when’s it going to stop🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
The offset is agregious on these irons. Love the look of them but just dial back that offset and they'd be perfect.
I have and love the triple diamond smoke driver but the "AI" branding needs to go, it's cringe.
Typical of a hollow head design sound like hybrids
Thank you for the video as always Rick. But what is this delofting about? I get why the manufacturers are doing this, they want to give the customer the impression that he/she is hitting longer. But this is cheating. A 7 Iron with 30° (Ai 200)? My 6 Iron has 31°. Thus, one club more. Or a 7 Iron with 29° (Ai 300) - my 5 Iron has 27° (almost 2 clubs more). No average golfer will be able to hit more than a 6 Iron with these strong lofts. Who wants to be fooled can be fooled. For all others I recommend to read Tom Wishon's book "The Search for the Perfect Golf Club." Very insightful reading and takes a lot of the industry buzz out of the game.
10:53 he explains it. A PW lofted to that of a 9i will fly as far as a 9i but as high as a PW, so it’ll stop quicker. That’s the trick they’re going for. It’s not just a 9i labeled PW.
@@Eric__B that might work with the "short" Irons. But an average player with, let's say 80-85 mph swing speed simply cannot get enough height to play a 20° 4i. Of course with Rick's speed, you can play it. But he is not the "target group" of the Ai 300.
Geez my 7 iron is 36*, 1* stronger than that 9 iron.
I don't watch these to buy new clubs. I'm learning so much about how the clubs work. Loving it keep HITting them Rick
Callaway "AI" oooh it must be so new and special because it uses AI! Give me a break. It's a metal golf club.
Titleist video????
I like watching club reviews like this but if I wanted new irons I would be choosing between the different direct to consumer brands.
What happened to the Titleist video?
Zzzzz
The one BIG thing that I don’t like about this HIT channel and really Ricks reviews as a whole….. is that every thing he reviews is not based on the products own merit, but on his pre-conceived ideas, or preferences! His ego gets in the way of honest unbiased reviews! Rick doesn’t like the Jumbomax Med grips, yet in the few holes he played he chipped better and played better overall! When he begins a review, he always speaks of the looks, and routinely if it is a iron’s design for higher handicaps, you can immediately hear he dislike in the review! This is so evident and often that before he ever swings a club, I can tell you what he will say about it after he hits it….. and 99% of the time I’m deadly accurate!
Just wish he would leave his ego, and personal preference out of the review, and tell what the club, ball, grip, etc…. actually do, and not his opinion based on his a higher estimate of his game!
In all honesty, Rick should be classed as a mid to high handicap player with the scores he shoots, some of these irons are ideal for him, but as you say the ego gets in the way
Can you get rob potter back, I reckon he could out drive you now
Nooooooooooooooooo.
TITLEIST VIDEO
Why?
Too much give away in the first 30 seconds xx
rick, can u take a challenge match from an American
If you swing 90+, don't buy anything with the AI smart face unless you want spoon shaped faces.
What do you mean? I swing my 7 about 92
@@goofy3151 I’ve caved in and cracked 2 sets of AI Smoke irons. Not just 1 club, 2 entire sets of irons. Thankfully Callaway is awesome and are letting me into the Apex pros under warranty. These ai200/300’s are forged as where the smokes are cast but they’re still their “smart face” design. After talking with Callaway, we both felt like I should avoid the ai200’s and would be happier in the Pros.
@@goofy3151 My reply to you keeps disappearing. Faces are thin and cave in, I'm on my 3rd set. The last set only took 2 months to cave. Every single iron in the last two sets.
@@nateb618 do you keep going back because they’re so good or what?
@@goofy3151 Callaway has been covering them under warranty. This last time they let me move into the Apex Pro instead of an iron with the smart face. My only other option would be to sell them for a loss and buy something else. Clubs are okay. My biggest issues is catching flyers on good swings. I had to start playing the flyer number to keep myself from going long.
No clubs have actually improved in years. Being good at golf is about your swing nothing to do with the club. It's all marketing BS. Make the lofts lower, make the club longer and harder to hit and then tell people they need GI irons because they can't hit blades. Hand them a 29 degree 7 iron and then watch them get confused as to why they are putting massive slice spin on it. This isn't golf.
golf,golf tips,golf advice,how to play better golf,rick shiels pga,rick shiels golf,review club lesson,golf lessons,manchester,rick shiels pga golf coach,online golf,facebook golf,twitter golf,rickshielspga,rickshielsgolf,tiger,woods,rory mcilroy,stop slicing,stop hooking,how to play golf,improve ball striking,stop shanks,reduce handicap,become a better golfer,golf balls,titleist,callaway,taylor made,ping
tags for this video are kinda funny lol
Address the Titleist video
Why? Get a life
What do you have to say about the Titlelist video you took down?
Zzzzzzz
In performance alone. I think they are, however, ugly as sin.
first love the vids rick!
Thank you 🤩
Review some clubs your audience is willing to pay for.
I would say most people watching this video (including me) are willing to pay for these clubs
first
No. They are cooked. They should stick with what they are good at and focus on Woods and Odyssey
Awful irons
Because ?
I think Guy has inadvertently made a great comment on the latest Clubhouse podcast episode. You’re allowed to bring out a new version of an established branded product each year without materially improving ijust like with running shoes.
If you want the latest version then great, if not buy last years for a discount.
PS. And yes you need to test against the old versions or the title is nothing but clickbait.