Callaway Apex MB 21 vs Callaway Apex Pro 21
Side-by-side factory specifications. Differing values are highlighted.
Specification comparison
| Club | Apex MB 21 loft | Apex Pro 21 loft | Apex MB 21 lie | Apex Pro 21 lie | Apex MB 21 length | Apex Pro 21 length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 20.5 | 20.5 | 60 | 60 | 39 | 39 |
| 4 | 23 | 23 | 60.5 | 60.5 | 38.5 | 38.5 |
| 5 | 26 | 26 | 61 | 61 | 38 | 38 |
| 6 | 30 | 29 | 61.5 | 61.5 | 37.5 | 37.5 |
| 7 | 34 | 33 | 62 | 62 | 37 | 37 |
| 8 | 38 | 37 | 62.5 | 62.5 | 36.5 | 36.5 |
| 9 | 42 | 41 | 63 | 63 | 36 | 36 |
| PW | 46 | 45 | 63.3 | 63.5 | 35.75 | 35.75 |
| AW | 50 | 50 | 63.5 | 63.5 | 35.5 | 35.5 |
Highlighted cells differ between the two sets. Lofts and lies are factory standard.
Lofts compared
- Apex MB 21
- Apex Pro 21
What the differences mean
At the 7-iron, the Apex MB 21 is 34° and the Apex Pro 21 is 33°, a 1° gap. Each degree of loft is worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of carry at the same swing speed, so the Apex Pro 21 should carry roughly 3 to 4 yards further with that club, on a slightly lower, shallower flight than the Apex MB 21. Across the 9 clubs both sets share, the Apex Pro 21 averages 0.6° stronger, with the largest gap at the 6-iron (30° vs 29°). The pitching wedges are 46° and 45°; the stronger one leaves a 5° jump to a 50° gap wedge, which matters when planning wedge gapping.
The Apex MB 21 is a blade iron and the Apex Pro 21 a players iron, so they sit one step apart on the forgiveness scale. The Apex Pro 21 is the more forgiving design, with a wider sole, more offset and more perimeter weighting for roughly scratch to 10 handicaps. The Apex MB 21 trades some of that for a more compact head, thinner topline and more control over flight and shape, which suits low single-digit handicaps who strike the ball consistently.
The Apex MB 21 is listed as forged muscle back and the Apex Pro 21 as forged body with a hollow long-iron construction and urethane microspheres. The Apex Pro 21's hollow body lets the face flex more and moves mass low and outward, usually giving higher launch and more ball speed on off-centre strikes than the Apex MB 21, at some cost in feel. Both use tungsten weighting to lower the centre of gravity and steady the head on off-centre strikes. The Apex MB 21's muscle-back shape keeps mass directly behind the strike for feedback and control, where a cavity spreads it to the perimeter for forgiveness.
The Apex Pro 21 came out 1 year after the Apex MB 21, but it is a different line rather than a direct replacement, so the two were designed for different golfers as well as different seasons.
Which should you choose?
The Apex Pro 21 is the stronger-lofted set — up to 1° stronger than the Apex MB 21 on matching clubs. Expect longer carry per numbered iron but a flatter descent angle; gapping at the wedge end is where that shows up.
Both charts are reproduced in full on their own pages: Callaway Apex MB 21 specs and Callaway Apex Pro 21 specs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Callaway Apex MB 21 stronger lofted than the Apex Pro 21?
No. The Apex Pro 21 is the stronger-lofted set: its 7-iron is 33° against 34° for the Callaway Apex MB 21, 1° stronger and worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of extra carry.
What is the loft difference between the Callaway Apex MB 21 and Apex Pro 21?
At the 7-iron the difference is 1° (34° vs 33°). The largest gap on a shared club is 1° at the 6-iron, and 5 of the 9 shared clubs differ.
Which is better for higher handicap golfers, the Callaway Apex MB 21 or the Apex Pro 21?
The Apex Pro 21. As a players iron it is the more forgiving design, suited to roughly scratch to 10 handicaps. The Callaway Apex MB 21 is a blade iron, better suited to low single-digit handicaps who strike the ball consistently.
Do the Callaway Apex MB 21 and Apex Pro 21 have the same lie and length?
At the 7-iron, yes: both are 62° lie and 37 inches long.
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