Equipment
Update: Callaway to release Apex Black irons (again)
Note: If you missed out on the initial launch, Callaway is re-releasing the Apex Black irons, available on August 18th, due to popular demand.
Tired of the same satin or chrome finish on what seems like every set of irons on the market? These new all-black (a.k.a murdered-out) irons may be your answer.
Callaway is set to release its Apex CF ’16 irons with a Satin Black PVD finish. The irons will have all of the same technologies as the original retail offerings: A progressive design with 360 Face Cups in the long irons (3-7) for forgiveness and distance, face plates in the short irons (8-AW) for feel and distance control, and a multi-piece construction throughout the set.
Read here for more tech talk on the Apex Forged irons.
The Apex Black irons, which are forged from 1025 mild carbon steel, will be available for $1,299 with steel shafts, and $1,499 in graphite. The stock shaft will be a stepless True Temper XP 95 shaft with a Satin Black finish that matches nicely with the all-black club heads, but other shafts will be available at no upcharge, as well.
Pre-sale date is set for May 20, while the official launch is on June 3.
See what GolfWRX members are saying about the irons in the forums.
Cameron Young’s WITB from his win at the 2025 Wyndham Championship. Cameron is a Titleist staff player but his bag is definitely filled with some unique clubs. Here are the clubs he used to secure his first PGA Tour win!
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus HB Black VeloCore+ 10 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Titleist T100 (5), Titleist 631.CY Prototype (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F @57), WedgeWorks (60-K* @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7
Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Prototype
- Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (10 degrees, C2 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X
7-wood: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T150 (4, 5), Titleist T100 (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper AMT Tour White X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F, 56-08M @57, 60-04T @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Fastback 1.5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Yellow
We’re proud to once again partner with 2nd Swing Golf to bring you GolfWRX Members Choice 2025! 2nd Swing has more than 150,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
What is the best driver in 2025? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. When it comes to the best driver of 2025, we want to know what our forum faithful think.
Since our founding in 2005, the bedrock of GolfWRX.com has been the community of passionate and knowledgeable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members — the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.
Below are the results of GolfWRX member voting for the 2025 best driver, along with the vote percentage for each club.
Best driver of 2025: The top 5
5. Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond: 6.02%
Callaway’s pitch: “For golfers looking for a fast, forgiving, yet workable driver, the Elyte Triple Diamond features a tour-inspired shape and is the preferred model by most Callaway tour players.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond here.
4. Ping G440 Max: 6.86%
Ping’s pitch: “The most forgiving G440 model, MAX has a hotter face to generate speed and distance, and a lighter overall system weight with a longer shaft (46″) for faster clubhead speed, higher launch and longer carries. The Free Hosel and Carbonfly Wrap crown save weight to create our lowest CG ever and increase forgiveness while contributing to a more muted, pleasing sound.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 Max here.
3. Ping G440 LST: 9.53%
Ping’s pitch: “LST is an especially good fit for faster swings, offering less spin and more control with a penetrating trajectory. A hotter face, lighter overall system weight and longer shaft (46″) deliver more speed and distance while maintaining tight dispersion.”
@phizzy30: “Not a fan of Ping drivers in general, but 440 LST takes the cake. It’s super forgiving across the face for a low spin head, looks and sounds good and the ability to make it play neutral or slightly fade biased through the hosel settings is very appealing.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 LST here.
2. Titleist GT3: 16.55%
Titleist’s pitch: “The GT3 Driver offers Titleist’s boldest combination of power and personalization through adjustable performance. Dial in the CG Track to your frequent contact location to make your biggest drives even bigger while taking total control over flight and shaping.”
@mrmikeac: “I’ve been Anti-Titleist for years and years and years (outside of Vokey, of course). With that being said, HOLY BEGEEZUS the GT3 driver is an absolute NUCLEAR MONSTER! This thing blew my G430 10K Max out of the water in every single category. Forgiveness is the biggest thing that stands out of me, the 3 model has always been one of the less forgiving models in the past but this GT3 can take bad shot after bad shot and still end up in the fairway, I think a ton of that has to do with the adjustability, it’s actually effective. Feel and sound is perfect, that solid crack is so addicting to hear and when you hit it out the screws this thing can absolutely bomb it. Titleist, I’m sorry for doubting you. You have converted me.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT3 here.
1. Titleist GT2: 22.91%
Titleist’s pitch: “Delivering impressive distance from any impact point, the Titleist GT2 Driver extracts maximum performance through a forgiving design. Get the stability and added confidence of a high-MOI driver without sacrificing speed.”
@DTorres: “The Titleist GT2 has proven to be the best driver of the year. Packaged in a classic profile, GT2 perfectly balances performance and forgiveness while consistently being a high performer across all categories.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT2 here.
Other drivers receiving >2% of the vote
| Driver | Vote percentage (%) |
|---|---|
| Cobra DS Adapt Max K | 4.85% |
| Ping G430 Max 10K | 3.85% |
| Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond | 3.68% |
| TaylorMade Qi35 | 3.51% |
| Callaway Elyte | 3.18% |
| Cobra DS Adapt X | 2.34% |
| Cobra DS Adapt LS | 2.17% |
| TaylorMade Qi35 LS | 2.17% |
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Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)
Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2025 Wyndham Championship
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX 3-wood: Titleist...
Camilo Villegas WITB 2025 (July)
Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Brandt Snedeker fired a final-round 65 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship to outlast Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan. His 5-under...
Dave
Jun 15, 2016 at 2:46 pm
Can I get a set in red no make that blood red as I’m having issues with my game lately. They will probably play better.
Dave
May 18, 2016 at 4:51 pm
Ya Tom your right like all the rest of the companies ,one year old Taylor made drivers last years first new model out of many they released.On line for $125.00 original price $395.00
Dave
May 18, 2016 at 1:48 pm
Nice clubs but the price is well the price is absolutely out of reach for us retired guys . I understand it costs for r@d but they are painted black how much was the paint? Oh ya and most of us long time golfers know the mark up on clubs , I don’t mine someone making a living but come on now guys they are just clubs. More does not mean better …………
Tom
May 18, 2016 at 3:32 pm
wait a year 70% less.
joro
May 18, 2016 at 11:53 am
I have been playing Wilson Blk Irons for a couple of years now and together with the blk. Aldila RIP iron shaft they are really stealthy, and the C100s are really great and understated Irons.
Alan Medina
May 18, 2016 at 11:29 am
Are those plasti dipped? Black versions look kind of cheap. I like the brushed silver though!
Tom
May 18, 2016 at 3:40 pm
Comparison to other deposition techniques[edit]
“Advantages[edit]
PVD coatings are sometimes harder and more corrosion resistant than coatings applied by the electroplating process. Most coatings have high temperature and good impact strength, excellent abrasion resistance and are so durable that protective topcoats are almost never necessary.
Ability to utilize virtually any type of inorganic and some organic coating materials on an equally diverse group of substrates and surfaces using a wide variety of finishes.
More environmentally friendly than traditional coating processes such as electroplating and painting.
More than one technique can be used to deposit a given film.”…..
Dave
May 18, 2016 at 7:02 am
Funny. I don’t have a problem spinning the ball with mine. These do look nice.
tish
May 18, 2016 at 12:36 am
Don’t forget the Nike Vapor Pro Irons too…they came out before the PXGs…and the Adams were out before anyone
James
May 17, 2016 at 11:48 pm
Hope the black last longer then my Cleveland wedge, bottom and half way up back of wedge is now just a stainless steel color…..did Cleveland just paint the wedges??
Brian
May 17, 2016 at 2:59 pm
$1,300….Titleist, Callaway, and Taylormade iron prices are getting ridiculous. A part of the reason I stick with Mizuno
OH
May 17, 2016 at 2:55 pm
Pulling a page from the PXG playbook. Very original there Cally.
Cleveland....
May 17, 2016 at 4:24 pm
and possibly cobra might take issue w/ your statement. Looking back over time a lot of manufactures have had options for black finishes on irons.
just glad more options for finishes are becoming available from the larger more accessible manufacturers.
lsf_21
May 18, 2016 at 11:44 pm
You must be new to golf equipment. Adam’s made black irons years ago. Callaway made black irons with the razr black. This has been done before pxg even existed.
OH
May 25, 2016 at 10:34 am
No, I’m not new to golf equipment and am well aware of prior model irons coming in black from other OEMs. PXG was the most recent, though, and this move by Callaway plus their markup on them versus the satin finish seems to follow suit to exactly what PXG has done.
golfraven
May 17, 2016 at 2:34 pm
I would consider those if I was looking for new irons, even if I am not a big Cally fan.
Chuck D
May 17, 2016 at 2:19 pm
Eldrick could have used a pitching wedge!
Adam
May 17, 2016 at 1:39 pm
Well shoot just got some APEX! But I am LH, these are RH only anyhow 🙁 That shaft is nice though, wonder if it performs identical to the stepped version?