Callaway Apex 21 DCB Vs Big Bertha B21 Irons Review & Specs 2023

Callaway Apex 21 DCB Vs Callaway Big Bertha B21 Irons Review & Specs 2023

What scares a mid handicap golfer more than a 10 foot downhill putt? Compact iron heads with low offset.

There’s nothing about these kinds of irons that inspires confidence in a player who is still working out some of the major hitches in his or her game.

Callaway may have taken a step back from premium game improvement irons over the years but in 2021, they are back in a big way.

So today, we are going to be taking a look at two iron sets from Callaway that emphasize forgiveness: the Apex 21 DCB’s and the Big Bertha B21’s.

Overview Of Both Irons Sets

Callaway has been going hog wild with their A.I. design technology and mid handicappers can rejoice now that the Big Bertha B21’s also sport A.I. design.

The Big Bertha line is the latest to get the A.I. treatment which, as Callaway puts it, make these irons incredibly straight and fast.

If you have been lusting over the Apex series irons but haven’t pulled the trigger because of their player’s iron design, the DCB’s will be a godsend.

They are touted as the most forgiving irons in the Apex series and were built specifically for mid to high handicappers.

Callaway Big Bertha B21 Key Features

First things first: these irons are big. You get a big sole and big offset that inspire confidence right off the bat.

They have also been given the urethane microsphere injection treatment to help improve feel and promote ball speed.

The B21’s are also the first Big Bertha’s to feature Flash Face cup technology.

Callaway Apex 21 DCB Key Features

DCB stands for Deep Cavity Back and these irons do in fact feature a deeper than normal cavity for effortless launch. They also feature a beefy sole which, looks great at address.

The DCB’s have also been outfitted with the Flash Face Cup and urethane microspheres. Adding to the smooth overall feel of these irons is the 1025 forged carbon steel material.

Big Bertha B21 Vs. Mavrik Max

The Mavrik Max irons are also game improvement irons…but to a lesser degree.

For instance, the Mavrik Max’s have less pronounced offset than the Big Bertha’s and a narrower sole.

And while the Mavrik’s provide admirable height, the Big Bertha’s go even higher.

The Apex Family

The Apex line also features the standard Apex and the Apex Pro’s.

While all irons in the line feature forged construction and Flash Face Cup technology, the DCB’s have the widest sole and the largest head size of the family.

The DCB’s also sport the highest degree of offset.

Loft Comparison

	Callaway Apex 21 DCB Loft	Callaway Big Bertha B21 Loft
4 Iron	20°	19°
5 Iron	23°	22°
6 Iron	26°	25°
7 Iron	30°	29°
8 Iron	34°	33°
9 Iron	38°	38°

Callaway Big Bertha B21 Options

• Callaway RCH Irons graphite shaft
• KBS Max CT80 steel shaft
• Light, regular and stiff flexes

Callaway Apex 21 DCB Options

• True Temper Elevate ETS 85 Steel shaft
• UST Mamiya Recoil Dart 65 Graphite shaft
• Light, regular and stiff flexes

Length & Lie Comparison

	Callaway Apex 21 DCB Length/Lie	Callaway Big Bertha 21 Length/Lie
4 Iron	38.75″/60.5	38.75″/60.5
5 Iron	38.125”/61.25	38.125″/61.3
6 Iron	37.50”/62	37.50″/62
7 Iron	37.00″/62.5	37.00″/62.5
8 Iron	36.50″/63	36.50″/63
9 Iron	36.00″/63.5	36.00″/63.5

Who Are Each Set For?

One of the main differences between these two iron sets is that the Apex DCB has a forged design.

This changes the feel pretty drastically. If you prioritize feel, then the DCB’s would be best for you.

However, if you like maximum offset and sole width, the Big Bertha’s will be more your style.

Composition Comparison

Both of these sets have been infused with urethane microspheres and feature Tungsten weighting.

The Apex DCB’s are made of mild carbon steel though which, contributes to their softer feel.

The Big Bertha’s are noticeably larger with a more rounded out and expansive sole.

Performance Comparison

There’s no doubt about it: even though the Big Bertha’s also have urethane foam inside the head, the Apex 21 DCB’s felt much better.

You just can’t beat the feel that a forged club gives you. Even on low face shots, it still felt solid and comfortable.

There’s also no competition in terms of distance. The Big Bertha’s launch high and the long irons play longer.

They are also the more forgiving of the two iron sets thanks in part to the higher offset that helps to straighten out shots for players having trouble squaring up.

Neither of these iron sets are wildly workable around the pin but on approaches, we preferred the feedback and more wieldy accuracy of the DCB’s.

Price Comparison

The Callaway Big Bertha B21’s start out at about $900 for the base model. The stock price for the DCB’s hovers around $1,300.

Callaway Big Bertha B21 Pros & Cons

Pros:

• High offset
• Very forgiving
• High launch
• Large sweet spot
• More affordable
• Very wide sole

Cons:

• Not forged
• Poorer feel
• Not very workable
• Heavy

Overall Score: 94/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Callaway Apex 21 DCB Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Forged design
• Great feel
• A.I. design
• Better on approaches
• Better for med to low handicappers
• Good ball speed

Cons:

• Not as forgiving
• Less offset
• Narrower sole
• Poorer turf interaction

Overall Score: 96/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Final Assessment

Both of these sets are great game improvement iron sets. When you look down at them as a mid to high handicapper, you will surely feel more encouraged and they do make swinging your long irons more comfortable.

It’s hard to say which set is better in a universal sense. It’s a subjective matter. If you are really struggling getting down the fairway the Big Bertha’s have more to offer you.

If you want a more wieldy  set of irons that can grow with your developing game, the DCB’s would be the best choice.

Overall, we would recommend the Callaway Apex 21 DCB’s.

They are surely game improvement irons but with more of a premium feel with their forged construction. Be sure to try them out soon!