The Apex family has been a successful line for Callaway, with the Ai200, Ai300, and Ti Fusion irons being the newest additions. In this review, we will focus on the Ai200 irons and how they compare to the best irons of 2024. These irons feature a forged hollow body and a forged 455 face, along with strategically positioned MIM weighting and a dynamic sole design for enhanced turf interaction and forgiveness. With a 7-iron loft of 30˚, the Ai200 aims to be one of the best players distance irons on the market.
Visually, the Ai200 irons are sophisticated with little to moderate offset and a digestible top line. They offer a cohesive look with the rest of the Apex family, making it difficult to differentiate between the different iron models. The profile frames the ball beautifully, providing confidence without appearing clunky. Performance-wise, the Ai200 irons stack up against other compact distance irons like the Mizuno Pro 245 and TaylorMade P790, offering strong distance output and a lively feel at impact.
During testing, there was no particular flight bias noted, although there was a slight tendency for a left miss due to the offset. In comparison to the Apex Pro irons, the Ai200 offers slightly more offset and a thicker topline, but the differences are minimal. While the Ai200 serves as a bridge between the Pro and Ai Smoke irons, it may not offer anything significantly different from simply strengthening the Apex Pro.
Despite potential overlap with the Pro model, the Ai200 stands on its own as a high-quality iron in terms of performance, aesthetics, and feel. It blends well with other models in the Apex range, making it suitable for mixed combo options in a player’s bag. The Ai200 irons will be available at an RRP of $1400/£1199 for a 7-piece set including irons from 4 to Approach wedge. Stock shaft options include a Dynamic Gold True Temper Mid 100 for steel and a UST Recoil Dart 80 for graphite, with a Golf Pride Z-Grip as the stock grip.
