Equipment
Callaway leaks new Apex Driving Iron photos
The British Open apparently has become the best week of the year for equipment companies to launch its new driving irons, and what better venue than a tournament where many players opt for a driving iron to replace their long irons, hybrids or high-lofted fairway woods.
Last year, Ping launched its Rapture driving iron at Muirfield, while TaylorMade officially announced the release of its UDI (Ultimate Driving Iron) earlier this week at Hoylake.
Now it’s Callaway’s turn, and company representatives have put us on watch for Phil Mickelson, Branden Grace, Ryo Ishikawa, Kristoffer Broberg and Thomas Bjorn to put the company’s new Apex UT driving iron in the bag.
The official product details won’t be announced for several weeks, but it’s a good bet to say that Callaway found a way to move the center of gravity of these clubs lower and deeper in the head. These will also likely feature an extremely thin, strong face insert to bring ball speeds to the highest level of any of Callaway’s previous driving irons.
Tour Edge Golf has today introduced the all-new Exotics mini driver, engineered to deliver a powerful combination of speed, control, and versatility in the long game.
The Exotics Mini combines a titanium face with a stainless-steel body in design to balance ball speed with stability and control, creating a versatile option at the top end of the bag.
At the core of the design is Tour Edge’s proprietary Combo Brazing technology, a high-precision thermal bonding process that seamlessly fuses a titanium cup face to a stainless-steel body into a single, continuous structure. By eliminating energy loss found in traditional multi-piece constructions, Combo Brazing is designed to deliver faster face response, more efficient energy transfer, and a uniquely powerful yet controlled feel.
The multi-material construction also allows mass to be positioned lower and deeper in the head in a bid to increase stability, while the thin titanium face is engineered to maintain ball speed across a wider impact area.
“While the initial goal was to enhance control and versatility in the long game, Combo Brazing ultimately drove measurable gains in ball speed and distance within the mini driver category. In robot testing, we’ve documented higher ball speeds, higher launch, reduced spin, and increased carry and total distance compared to leading models.” – Vice President of R&D Matt Neeley
In addition to distance performance, the Exotics mini emphasizes forgiveness through a heavier stainless-steel body that shifts mass toward the perimeter. This configuration increases MOI relative to traditional all-titanium mini drivers, helping preserve ball speed and directional stability on off-center strikes. Paired with Pyramid Face Technology from the Exotics metalwood line, the design is intended to support consistent speed across the face.
To further enhance MOI, a lightweight carbon fiber crown frees additional mass that is strategically repositioned low and deep in the head in design to improve stability and promote optimal launch with controlled spin.
“We designed the Mini to be about five millimeters shallower than other mini drivers on the market. That change improves playability off the deck. From a clean fairway lie, it can function as a strong 3-wood alternative while still providing control off the tee.” – Tour Edge CEO David Glod
An adjustable hosel system allows for loft and lie tuning to dial in trajectory and shot shape, while a fixed 13-gram rear weight helps stabilize the head through impact to improve dispersion consistency. The Exotics Mini Driver is available in 11.5 and 13.5-degree lofts in right-handed models.
Pricing & Availability
The Exotics Mini Driver is available for pre-order beginning today for $399.99 USD at touredge.com, and will be available for purchase at retail outlets worldwide on May 22, 2026.
In our forums, our members have been pitting a Srixon ZXi combo against a TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo. WRXer ‘edutch22’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons and kicks off the thread saying:
“Looking at picking up a new set of irons and think I’ve narrowed it down to Srixon ZXi combo or Taylormade P7CB/770 combo. I am currently a 5 cap and allbeit I feel irons are my weakness. My miss is a little to the toe side. I am decently steep at 4-5 down. Always thought I am high spin but recently on trackman my 7 was spinning at 5800 roughly.
My question or looking for thoughts on which one would benefit me more from a forgiveness standpoint? Or is there another iron is should be looking at entirely? I only get to play about once or twice a week, if I am not playing a 2-3 day event. Thanks in advance.”
And our members have been sharing their thoughts and suggestions in response.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- manima1: “You just can’t go wrong with Srixon ZXi7.”
- MattM97: “You have to hit them to know, the V-Sole on the Srixon can be make or break for many.”
- dmeeksDC: “P7CB is more forgiving for me than ZXi7 because my main miss is low middle and the P7CB still flies and spins great on that miss. These are both really nice irons but I like the P7CB more than the Zxi7 and the P770 (or P790) more than the Zxi5. The Srixons are larger so if that gives you confidence that is the way to go. I don’t feel like I get any benefit from the V-sole and the P7CBs live up to their high Maltby forgiveness rating so the TaylorMades have been great for me.”
Entire Thread: “Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who 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, @pianoman0123 has a 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo up for grabs.
From the listing: “2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade Combo. 4-8 irons are CB’s and the 9,PW are Blades. 5-PW have Project X 6.0 Shafts and the 4 Iron has a Steelfiber CW110 Stiff Shaft. Standard Length, Lie and Lofts. These are in very good condition the shafts just don’t work for me. Like new Lamkin Grips on the 5-PW and a stock Golf Pride on the 4 Iron. $525 OBO.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Daniel
Jul 31, 2014 at 12:38 am
I had one of these bad boys in my hand today, as i work at my local golf store and the callaway rep brought in the new driver and the 21 degree driving iron
for everyone wondering it is bigger in profile then the 712U, but a hair smaller then the Ping Rapture driving iron i was also told that the weight in the bottom of the club head is removable but you cannot get any other weights put in other then the stock one.
Another thing is to the understanding of the rep it will only be available in a 21 degree and 24 degree
Chuck
Jul 22, 2014 at 1:12 pm
I have yet to see an address-position photo. How much offset did they build into the Apex UT?
The driving irons that seem to remain in tour bags throughout the year seem to be the ones (Titleist 503i, 712U, FourteeN/various models) with the least offset.
KK
Jul 18, 2014 at 5:59 pm
Prettiest girl at the dance and Callaway almost always loads their clubs with tech. I would love a 24 degree to replace my hybrid.
Daniel
Jul 31, 2014 at 12:39 am
there bringing it out in a 21 degree and a 24 degree
Eugene
Jul 18, 2014 at 3:34 pm
i hope their new blades look similar to this. these look so clean. reminds me of the razr mbs and the rac mbs
JOEL GOODMAN
Jul 17, 2014 at 3:00 pm
THIS LOOKS LIKE A REAL GOLF CLUB. A PURE GOLF IRON FROM CALLAWAY????, INSTEAD OF THOSE “THINGS” THEY HAVE BEEN SHOVING ON THE PUBLIC FOR YEARS.
ELY WOULD BE PROUD AND FORMER USERS LIKE ME MIGHT COME BACK TO AN IRON THAT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE A SHOVEL OR A BROOM. MAKE THE ENTIRE SET LOOK LIKE THIS AND I’LL LEAVE MIZUNO FOR CALLAWAY.
FM
Jul 17, 2014 at 11:45 am
Give me an Adams PNT any day. Performs the same function off the tee, easier to hit and very effective out of rough and even around the green.
Chris
Jul 17, 2014 at 8:59 am
Will we see left handed versions of this……..please callaway!!!!!
MPB
Jul 17, 2014 at 3:29 am
Its The Open Championship, not the British Open.
Nigel
Jul 17, 2014 at 9:14 am
I’m with you on that.
I suppose the name fits better with the American Open, Augusta Open and PGA Open.
BlkNGld
Jul 17, 2014 at 5:14 pm
Except that the Masters and the PGA are not “open” but are by invitation.
Nigel
Jul 18, 2014 at 5:00 am
So it’s the Augusta Invitational and PGA Invitational then. Either way it was a joke to mock you americans that find it impossible to understand that The Open Championship is the one that takes place in Britain. The British Open doesn’t exist.
Better
Jul 18, 2014 at 5:38 pm
Pretentious Brits.
Rich
Jul 18, 2014 at 9:40 pm
Better,
Not pretentious, just correct. The majors are, The Masters, The US Open, The Open and The USPGA. I’m pretty sure the only one by invitation is The Masters. Amateurs and pros can enter and qualify for the open majors but only PGA professionals can enter and qualify for The USPGA. No need to be rude and Golfwrx should get it right too.
Hal
Jul 19, 2014 at 12:59 am
British Open
robin
Jul 17, 2014 at 3:27 am
even Driving Iron are more for better players, this one looks are for really better player!
paul
Jul 17, 2014 at 1:48 am
Pretty! I play a 3 iron and a 17 degree hybrid. Courses are hard and fast here for July and August. One of these might be fun. Doubt I “need” one though.
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sgniwder99
Jul 16, 2014 at 9:01 pm
Looks nice, but I find it odd that this is the design of this driving iron, a couple of years after they discontinued this design for the actual iron set–didn’t they?
c masty
Jul 16, 2014 at 8:58 pm
Surely they can think of something a bit more eye pleasing than that out of place weight screw on bottom. Otherwise, its a beaut!
Jeremy
Jul 16, 2014 at 7:50 pm
The OEMs are in clearly cahoots. It’s like they all got together and said “What’s something else we can sell people? Let’s convince them they need a 1-iron again. When can we do that? How about the Open Championship? All in favor?”
Can’t wait to see these overflowing from the Used bin at my local store in a couple months.
RG
Jul 17, 2014 at 12:12 am
Exactly!
cody
Jul 16, 2014 at 7:23 pm
this is what their last one should have looked like. What is with all the driving irons these days? I mean, I get supply and demand. But I am a little shocked that there is that big of a demand for these.
Dakota
Jul 16, 2014 at 5:56 pm
So much better looking than the last one, Gorgeous.
Nick
Jul 16, 2014 at 6:02 pm
I like the looks of these. The Titleist 712U is not forgiving enough for the weekend warrior. Definitely a “players” long iron replacement. I think there is a market between the 712U and regular Hybrids for those looking for a more iron like long iron replacement. I currently use an AP1 3 Iron, which is good, but would love something that took a little less effort but kept a more iron like feel than hybrids.