50 Words or Less
The Callaway Apex Pro 21 hybrid is an extremely attractive hybrid for the better player. Very compact. Tremendous ball speed on center, but noticeably less forgiveness than the standard Apex 21 hybrid.
Introduction
Though hybrids have been a part of the golf equipment world for about two decades, some players are still loathe to give up their irons. For those golfers looking for the smallest, most visually attractive hybrid, Callaway offers the Apex Pro 21 hybrid. And while this club is short on size, it doesn’t lack at all when it comes to technology and distance.
Check out the Callaway Rogue ST Pro Hybrid HERE
Looks
Callaway’s Apex hybrids have long been some of the best looking, and the Apex Pro 21 continues that tradition. This club is short from front to back, pear shaped, with a clean black crown. It’s also slightly shorter from heel to toe than the Apex 21 hybrid [review HERE], though it looks a bit longer because it’s so slim.
In addition to being much smaller than the Apex 21, the Apex Pro 21 hybrid has a traditional fixed hosel. Per Callaway, this was done in part for to fit the aesthetic preferences of better players. Where the Apex Pro 21 stands out from other players hybrids is that the face is not particularly tall and the toe is more round than square.
While the two Apex hybrids are quite different at address, they have very similar sole designs. Both mix black and slate grey with touches of red highlighting their key technologies.
Sound & Feel
Like the Apex 21, the Callaway Apex Pro 21 hybrid is very quiet at impact. On center it has a slight metallic “click,” but that crisp sound will dull substantially on mishits. This clear audio signal provides excellent feedback on strike quality. Seasoned players will be able to identify impact location through their hands easily.
Performance
After seeing the big ball speed numbers that the Apex 21 posted, I was interested to see if the Apex Pro 21 could compete. For the skilled ball striker, it absolutely can. On centered strikes, the Apex Pro 21 hybrid produces ball speed equal to anything I’ve tested. Driver-like smash factors are not uncommon.
Where the Apex Pro 21 does differ from its larger brother is in forgiveness. The Apex 21 is happy to put massive ball speed on nearly any strike. With the Apex Pro 21, you need to stay close to the center of the face. To be clear, their is still a lot of ball speed on mishits, but you will see a more noticeable drop off compared to larger hybrids.
In terms of launch and spin, the Apex Pro 21 hybrid delivers slightly lower launch and higher spin. This further targets the better player who is looking to hit precise shots with their hybrid, not just bomb it as far as possible. The differences compared to the Apex 21 are not dramatic, but if you’re looking for maximum distance, you’ll want to stick with the standard Apex.
To quickly summarize the differences the between the two Callaway Apex hybrids: the Apex 21 is much larger, it has an adjustable hosel, and it is noticeably more forgiving. For a full review, click HERE.
Finally, one standout feature of the Apex Pro 21 is the stock shaft. The Mitsubishi MMT Hybrid shaft is well balanced in terms of weight and performance. It stood up to aggressive swings but didn’t feel boardy when I swung at 80%. Getting fit is always recommended, but this is a very solid shaft.
Conclusion
Among skilled ball strikers, the Callaway Apex Pro 21 hybrid is going to be a favorite. The combination of beautiful aesthetics with elite ball speed is hard to beat. If you need a new long game weapon, head to your fitter to get one built for your swing.
Visit Callaway Golf HERE
Callaway Apex Pro 21 Hybrid Price & Specs
Matt Saternus
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Hi Matt, if you were looking for a small compact non draw bias players hybrid which out of the apex pro or titleist tsi3 would you gravitate to and why? I think tour edge also make some compact players hybrids. Are there other hybrids i should consider that are compact and are non draw bias? Being adjustable does not really matter to me. I am playing the old callaway apex hybrid from 2016 in 18 degree and 20 degrees which is pretty compact so would be looking to replace these. I then go down to a srixon zx utility iron 23 degree which i really like. Kind Regards Jon
Jon,
If you’re not concerned with adjustability, I think I’d favor the Callaway. You named three great options, all with slightly different strengths. I think the Tour Edge will be the longest, Titleist has adjustability, and Callaway might edge them for forgiveness. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of anything else I’d put in that class.
Best,
Matt
Matt-
Thanks for the great review. I always look to your reviews when I’m interested in a new club.
One question- did you feel that it has a neutral or slightly open flight bias?
Thank you.
It felt neutral to me.
-Matt