Callaway is one the biggest brands in golf and a company with a huge presence amongst both the professional and amateur game. Renowned for producing high-quality golf equipment that caters to an array of players, including the best irons for low handicappers and most forgiving irons, Callaway really is one of the best brands when it comes to club manufacturing.
VIDEO: Joel Tadman runs through the Callaway 2022 iron range
Along with producing the best golf drivers and best golf balls that money can buy, they also create some of the best golf irons which are crucial to get right when it comes to fitting and performance.
Having the correct irons set-up to suit your game will help you find greater consistency. A good set will also give you confidence from an aesthetic and distance-control perspective too.
Acknowledging this, Callaway is most definitely a brand to consider if you are in the market for a new set of irons and, below, we have taken a look at the best Callaway irons in the current range. Alternatively, if Callaway is not for you, then why not check out our guides on the best Titleist irons, best Mizuno irons, best Ping irons (opens in new tab) and the best TaylorMade irons.
Best Callaway Irons 2022
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Some of the best Callaway irons ever made are models that cover a wide range of abilities and this Apex design does just that. Not only will it deliver for those who want distance and forgiveness, but it also delivers for those who want more feel and feedback too.
There are a number of alterations to the Apex 19's to talk about here. To begin with, the Apex 21 design is the first forged iron with a Flash Face Cup designed with Artificial Intelligence for faster ball speeds.
Secondly, it has a new Tungsten Energy Core which is five times heavier than the tungsten weight in the Apex 19 irons to promote higher and more consistent launch and spin.
Finally, like the other models below, the Apex has been forged from 1025 carbon steel for a soft feel which really differentiates this iron from most. In testing, we found the Apex to be soft in feel yet powerful, producing good distance. This is a club that really rewards good ball-striking and it will suit aspiring players looking for a blend of power and feel.
- Read our full Callaway Apex Irons Review
The Rogue ST Pro is a beautiful hollow body iron with slightly more traditional lofts than the other Rogue ST models in a compact, players shape. It’s the most workable model in the range with a thin top-line and reduced offset that features in our Editor's Choice awards for 2022.
Crammed with technology, it has Callaway’s new A.I. Face Optimization that is unique for each club in the set to create spin rate consistency across the face. Precision weighting also features up to 48g of high-density tungsten, an 188 percent increase over Mavrik, for improved launch conditions and maximized speed across the face.
Lastly, there is also the addition of urethane microspheres, which have also been pushed further up the face to the 6th groove to enhance sound and deliver pure feel while maintaining fast ball speeds.
With a 7-iron loft of 30.5°, this iron is clearly still built to offer good distance but in a refined, elegant manner that will please the low handicapper. The size is appealing without being clunky and we really enjoyed the ball striking experience on offer. The acoustics are a tad quiet but the feel is powerful, it’s a real combination that delivers distance without any harsh sound that you sometimes get from game improvement irons. For our money, it’s the best all-round model within the Rogue ST range and one of the best compact mid-handicap irons.
- Read our full Callaway Rogue ST Pro Iron Review (opens in new tab)
The first new Apex iron to talk about is the DCB, a model suited to distance-orientated players who don't want to sacrifice the look and feel of a forged club. Forgiveness comes from the deep cavity back design and the 50 grams of tungsten in the long and mid-irons helps promote better launch throughout the set.
Once again, the urethane microspheres are present to improve the sound, which can be a big issue sometimes when talking about distance or game-improvement irons.
Overall, the lure of the extra distance and forgiveness in the Apex DCB, and indeed the Apex, in a package that still looks appealing and feels good, will, we think, make the two models above in particular a very popular choice.
- Read our full Callaway Apex DCB Irons Review
The Rogue ST Max irons have the strongest lofts in the new family and are suited to a wide range of players that are looking for speed and distance with forgiveness. Added distance also comes from the combination of High Strength 450 steel with the A.I. designed Flash Face Cup optimised for speed, spin, launch and descent angle.
What's more, there is also a tungsten weight port that is significantly heavier than prior ranges that allows for precise CG location for optimal launch throughout the set. These really are some of the best distance irons that you can buy.
Replacing Mavrik was never going to be an easy task, but the Rogue ST Max looks to offer market-leading distance in a visually-appealing package for the mid-to-high handicapper. For golfers that want maximum assistance, this is the iron to go for - it feels supremely easy to hit and the strong lofts are offset by the impressive launch and ball speed, suiting the slower swing speed that struggles to achieve decent carry distance.
- Read our full Callaway Rogue ST Max Iron Review
Another brand new model in the Apex range is the TCB. An iron that moves towards the better player end of the spectrum, this cavity-back design has already been seen on Tour in a number of high-profile bags like Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele.
The iron has been engineered for a soft forged feel that offers excellent feedback, whilst also giving the player control over shot shape. It has a similar footprint than the X-Forged iron from 2018 but, like the other Apex irons in this list, is using a 1025 Forged Hollow Body Construction. It also has a tuned face plate and MIM tungsten weighting for greater performance.
We should also mention the fine-tuning that can be done when buying these irons as you can have an input into the specification package in terms of lofts, bounces, blade lengths, shafts and grips. It is a very Tour-player like experience and one of the best irons for low handicappers on the market.
- Read our full Callaway Apex TCB Iron Review
The Apex Pro 21 model is designed for those who want a slightly more compact profile at address. Once again, it has the same A.I.-designed Flash Face Cup and urethane microspheres present in other Apex models, but in an all-new forged 1025 hollow body construction.
Additionally, Callaway has added a Tungsten Energy Core to the Pro for the first time which is to improve launch characteristics and forgiveness. As we progressed through the Apex range during testing, we found the Apex Pro iron easier to manipulate than the standard Apex.
It’s great for shot shaping and, although not as long, it produced a solid and penetrating ball flight. The look down behind the ball will clearly suit those who strike the ball well quite often, but want a little bit of extra forgiveness compared to the Apex MB.
- Read our full Callaway Apex Pro Irons Review
The Rogue ST Max OS irons are slightly larger than the Rogue ST Max iron and offers higher launch, wider soles and enhanced offset in a very forgiving design for mid-to-high handicap golfers, with the Max OS ranking amongst the best golf irons for beginners that you buy.
It's worth noting that the lofts aren’t quite as strong as the Rogue ST Max, which is an unusual quirk within the Rogue ST iron range, but if you are looking for a blend of high levels of distance and forgiveness in a confidence-inspiring package, then the Rogue ST Max OS iron is well worth trying this year.
- Read our full Callaway Rogue ST Max OS Iron Review
There's no denying that Apex MB is the most blade-like of the Apex range of irons from Callaway. It has a classic-looking design with a tin topline and minimal offset and, as such, it is clearly the iron destined for the Tour.
As you would expect, it is aimed at better players who seek to have the most control over ball flight and shot shape, with the Apex MB one of the best golf blade irons out there.
Like any iron, it must provide some feel and, thankfully, it does, as it is delivered via 1025 carbon steel which feels super soft and gives the player good feedback. There are also precision grooves, which are designed to promote the high level of control and consistent spin, as well as reducing fliers from the rough to deliver even more control.
A new weight in the centre of the clubhead allows swing weights to be precisely dialled in without sacrificing performance. Given the testing we put this iron through, we found the only negative to be that only the finest ball-strikers will be able to use them consistently.
- Read our full Callaway Apex MB Irons Review
There’s some complex technology contained within the Callaway Mavrik Iron, such as the Flash Faces which are designed by a super-computer. The result is a sophisticated face architecture for every loft, delivering a significant boost in ball speed and optimised spin.
In the long irons, the faces are designed for launch and speed, while the mid-iron faces are engineered for a combination of speed and spin consistency. It's a different story in the short irons, which have a face construction designed to optimise precision for shot-making. Tungsten weights have also been precisely positioned to deliver the best possible launch and trajectory.
In testing, we found the standard Mavrik Iron to be the longest of the three in the range, which also contain the Mavrik Max and Mavrik Pro. If you’re looking to gain maximum distance from iron shots, this super-forgiving set could be the way to go.
- Read our full Callaway Mavrik Irons Review
The Callaway X-Forged UT Utility Iron is a hollow headed iron that aims to increase driving iron forgiveness in a compact head aimed at better players. The brand always make good forgings and, when they combine them with technology, then you get the best of both worlds.
In this instance, it's the Flash Face Cup that is designed using Callaway’s AI computer to optimise performance and forgiveness. The leading edge of the face wraps around the front of the chassis to improve ball speed on low face hits, which makes the relatively shallow profile Callaway X-Forged UT easy to launch the ball.
It's one of the best utility iron golf clubs on the market and, in testing, it gave out a mid-height flight which was easy to launch well for this style of driving iron. The nature of the compact head means that it will be easy to shape shots if you need to, so this will appeal to single figure players and it's also available in an 18° 2-iron, 21° 3-iron and 24° 4-iron.
- Read our full Callaway X-Forged UT Utility Iron Review
The Callaway Big Bertha B21 irons were the first Big Bertha irons to be designed using Artificial Intelligence and feature a generous offset, wide soles and a thick topline to inspire confidence.
Flash face technology delivers high ball speeds and a strong ball flight and tungsten toe weighting moves the centre of gravity to the middle of the score-lines for extra forgiveness. Callaway’s urethane microspheres also provide a soft feel, with over one million tiny air pockets absorbing unwanted vibration without slowing the face.
Overall, after testing, we thought the Big Bertha B21 iron to be ideal for high-handicap golfers who struggle with launch and strike. There is a good deal of technology to help you get the ball up with more speed, while the feel off the face is also pleasing on the senses.
- Read our full Callaway Big Bertha B21 Irons Review
How we test Callaway irons?
Our testing for golf irons is built upon a comprehensive process combined with the knowledge and expertise of the Golf Monthly test team. As far as the specific procedure goes, before testing, the team will usually attend product launches and meet with the manufacturer's R&D experts to understand the new technology.
When it comes to testing, we often head indoors first to try the irons in a controlled environment. This usually takes place on an indoor simulator at Foresight Sports, with premium balls and the GCQuad launch monitor. Our outside testing normally takes place at West Hill Golf Club, a course with top-notch practice facilities.
We think it is vitally important to do both and continue to test the irons so they have been comprehensively put to the test in different conditions. It should also be mentioned that manufacturers cannot pay for a good review and we make our conclusions from the testing and our experiences. This is because we strive to give the best reviews possible so you can get a greater understanding of the irons themselves.
FAQs
Which Callaway iron is the best?
This is very much player dependent as what iron is best for a low handicapper will be different to the best Callaway iron for a high handicapper. The Callaway Apex 21 iron arguably has the broadest appeal because of the distance, forgiveness and sleek looks on offer followed by the new Callaway Rogue ST Pro iron.
Which Callaway irons are the most forgiving?
The two most forgiving irons in the Callaway iron range for this year are the Apex DCB and the Rogue ST Max OS. Both have large chassis to provide maximum stability and consistency of ball speed across the face. The Big Bertha B21 iron is also very user friendly, with additional offset to increase the draw bias for golfers that struggle with a slice.
Which professionals use Callaway irons?
A number of professionals use Callaway golf clubs, with the likes of Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele and Phil Mickelson all putting various models in their golf bags.
