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When it comes to golf clubs, irons don’t get the same attention as drivers, fairway woods, and putters. They don’t travel the farthest, nor do they usually hit the ball into the hole. However, irons are a critical part of golf that often go overlooked. The best golf irons are reliable and consistent with specifications that match each player’s unique swing. Once you find out exactly how far you are from the hole, a great set of irons can help you control an approach to the green.
The Best Golf Irons - Our Top Picks
- Best Overall Golf Irons: Ping G430
- Best Senior Golf Irons: Titleist T400 Iron Set
- Best Golf Irons for High Handicappers: TaylorMade SIM2 Max
- Best Beginner Golf Irons: Ping G425 Irons
- Best Budget Golf Irons:Tour Edge Hot Launch E522
- Best Golf Irons for Distance: TaylorMade P790
- Best Golf Irons for Mid-Handicappers: Ping i59 Irons
- Most Versatile Golf Irons: Wilson D9 Forged Irons
- Best Design Golf Irons: TaylorMade Stealth Irons
- Best Premium Golf Irons: Mizuno Pro 225 Iron Set
Some golfers will value creating as much speed with their irons as they can, while others will put an emphasis on forgiveness. Either way, every golfer can find a set of irons that enables them to have more confidence when standing over the ball. Below, we’ve put together a list of the top golfing irons to get you closer to the hole with your approach.
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Best Overall Golf Irons - Ping G430
SPECS
- Loft: 29 degrees for 7-iron
- Lie: 62 degrees for 7-iron
- Offset: 0.18” for 7-iron
- Length: 37” for 7-iron
- Swing Weight: D0
The Ping G430 iron set wins our best-in-show award, offering pretty much everything we could want from a golf iron. Playing with this set may yield distance gains to the tune of 10 yards, combined with unparalleled accuracy and precision. That’s all thanks to the complex engineering of these clubs, which combine a high loft with a thin face to improve a competitive ball velocity. The bottom line: You’ll gain distance while still enjoying the forgiveness that Ping is known for.
And that’s just for starters. We also celebrate the re-engineered cavity badge, permitting incredible face flex. Chrome finish ensures an excellent spin. The graphite shaft is durable and comfortable, and the whole set looks stylish and upscale. An all-around great option for golfers of any skill level.
What We Like
- Distance gains without compromising accuracy
- Slim face boosts ball speed
- Consistent spin levels, even in wet turf
What We Don’t Like
- Not the most cost-effective option in the world
Best Senior Golf Irons - Titleist T400 Iron Set
SPECS
- Loft: 26 degrees for 7-iron)
- Lie: 63 degrees for 7-iron)
- Length: 37” for 7-iron
- Swing Weight: D1
Senior golfers have a hard time getting the ball up in the air and producing distance. This set of Titleist T400 irons is adept at doing both. With bulky club heads designed for an incredibly high launch, these irons do everything they can to get the ball in the air. Interestingly, the lofts are significantly lower than you would find in a standard iron set. You would think that would bring the launch lower, but the hollow construction and extreme forgiveness create a higher flight.
This is suitable for players with slow to moderate swing speeds. High swing speed or high launch golfers won’t benefit.
What We Like
- Designed for very high launch
- Super thin and responsive clubface
- Spilt sole for smooth turf interaction
- Hollow construction allows extreme forgiveness
- Very low lofts
What We Don’t Like
- Hard to hit purposeful shot shapes
- High launch players won’t benefit
Best Golf Irons for High Handicappers - TaylorMade SIM2 Max
SPECS
- Loft: 28.5 degrees for 7-iron
- Lie: 63 degrees for 7-iron
- Offset: 4.2mm for 7-iron
- Length: 37.25” for 7-iron
- Swing Weight: D1 (steel), D0 (graphite)
The TaylorMade SIM2 Max irons are designed with the common golfer in mind. That means added forgiveness, a high launch, and additional offset that greatly reduces the dreaded slice shot that so many high handicappers struggle with. The irons have added face flexibility that gives them a forged feel, and an intelligently positioned sweet spot gets the ball coming hot off the face.
This is a great example of how a high-handicap player gets tremendous benefits out of quality game improvement irons.
What We Like
- Cap Back design offers extra forgiveness
- High launching ball flight
- Added offset to reduce right misses
- Face flexibility gives a forged iron feel
- Intelligently positioned sweet spot
What We Don’t Like
- Drawers of the ball won’t benefit
- Difficult to hit purposeful fades
Best Beginner Golf Irons – Ping G425 Irons
SPECS
- Loft: 30 degrees with 7-iron
- Lie: 62 degrees with 7-iron
- Offset: 4.57mm with 7-iron
- Length: 37’ with 7-iron
- Swing Weight: D0
It can be hard to know where to start looking if you are a beginner getting your first set of irons. The Ping G425’s offer a great option because the face is perimeter weighted for a high level of forgiveness while there is also more offset than normal, so shot shapes will tend to be more neutral. We’re also a fan of the variable thickness in the clubface that allows golfers to generate more speed through impact.
What We Like
- Tungsten toe screw adds perimeter weighting
- Variable thickness face adds speed
- Shorter blade length but higher MOI
- Multi-material cavity back covers more of the face
- Great green-holding control
What We Don’t Like
- Tough to generate spin
- Limited shot-shaping ability
Best Budget Golf Irons – Tour Edge Hot Launch E522
SPECS
- Loft: 32 degrees with 7-iron
- Lie: 62.5 degrees with 7-iron
- Length: 32.25' with 7-iron
Can you get a good set of golf irons without breaking the bank? Absolutely. Just check out the Tour Edge Hot Launch E522, a product that offers tremendous quality and durability without costing an arm and a leg. These irons boast the amazing Houdini Sole along with an extra shallow face and a slice-fighting offset design. A hollow body helps with distance gains, while the shallow cup forged face ensures ease of launch.
All of that, combined with a premium graphite shaft, makes for a truly excellent iron, available at a budget-friendly price point.
What We Like
- Affordable price point
- High-quality materials
- Slice-fighting offset design
- Decent distance gains possible
What We Don’t Like
- Spin consistency isn’t quite as good as with other clubs
- Veteran players may wish for something more high-end
BUY: Tour Edge Hot Launch E522
Best Golf Irons for Distance - TaylorMade P790
SPECS
- Loft: 30.5 degrees for 7-iron
- Lie: 62.5 degrees for 7-iron
- Offset: 2.7mm for 7-iron
- Length: 37” for 7-iron
- Weight: D2 (steel), D0 (graphite)
The TaylorMade P790s feature a classic and timeless look that makes them attractive to PGA Tour players. While these are traditional blades, the irons are not going to offer the same level of forgiveness as you will find in-game improvement cavity back irons. What you will find, though, is a light, thin clubface that produces incredible ball speed. A tungsten weight in the toe helps stabilize the clubface through impact, so players can take a full rip without any fear.
All in all, it's an iron that pros can use and it’s an iron average player can use. If you want distance, these are great clubs to put in the bag.
What We Like
- Lighter clubface for faster ball speed
- Thin, carbon steel clubface
- Intelligent sweet spot
- Tungsten placed in toe for stability
- Premium feel off clubface
What We Don’t Like
- Fairly expensive
- Less forgiving
Best Golf Irons for Mid-Handicappers – Ping i59 Irons
SPECS
- Loft: 34 degrees for 7-iron
- Lie: 62 degrees for 7-iron
- Offset: 2.03mm for 7-iron
- Length: 37” for 7-iron
- Swing Weight: D1
Few irons exude a more modern look than this set of Ping i59’s. The forged iron delivers crisp and consistent contact with a decidedly low-pitched sound upon impact. We love how the face is fully machined with four extra grooves that add another layer of control. There is added weight in the toe and heel to add a higher MOI, while at the same time the club has the look of a tour iron because of its thin topline and normal offset.
The irons also have a surprising amount of forgiveness given that they are meant for better players. If you are a single-digit handicap, this could be a good option.
What We Like
- Forged iron with optimal MOI
- Fully machined face adds four extra grooves
- Minimalistic look
- Tungsten toe and heel weights for stability
- Water repellent finish
What We Don’t Like
- Underwhelming distance
- Struggles on mishits
Most Versatile Golf Irons – Wilson D9 Forged Irons
SPECS
- Loft: 30.5 degrees for 7-iron
- Lie: 61.5 degrees for 7-iron
- Offset: 2.54mm for 7-iron
- Length: 37.25” for 7-iron
- Swing Weight: D1
The Wilson D9 Forged are classy irons meant for low-handicap players. The first thing you will notice is a shiny chrome exterior with a thin topline. From the 7-iron on down, the sole of the club has power holes that provide aerodynamic assistance to get the club moving at a steeper angle of attack. Because of the low center of gravity, the irons produce a higher launch.
The versatility in these irons is that you can hit any type of shot with them. They have weight placed in the heel, helping the club open up so fade shots can be hit. While they aren’t going to blow you away from a distance perspective and there is a lack of forgiveness less experienced players would struggle with, better players could easily gravitate towards these irons.
What We Like
- Tour-quality look with thin topline
- Forged feel but with higher launch
- Weight is biased towards heel to open club up
- Power holes for added speed
- Low center of gravity for steeper descent angles
What We Don’t Like
- Not particularly long
- Lack forgiveness
Best Design Golf Irons - TaylorMade Stealth Irons
SPECS
- Loft: 28 degrees for 7-iron
- Lie: 63 degrees for 7-iron
- Offset: 4.1mm for 7-iron
- Length: 37.25” for 7-iron
- Swing Weight: D1 (steel), D0 (graphite)
Golf manufacturers are constantly trying to create clubs that have the functionality of game-improvement irons with the look and feel of forged irons. The TaylorMade Stealth irons come about as close as you can get to blending the two together. The cap back design and toe wrap construction provide added forgiveness, but the club has the look of a player's iron meant for low-handicappers.
The lower launch and lack of spin won’t be for everyone, but these irons both look great in the bag and perform well for golfers of all abilities.
What We Like
- Cap back design for forged feel
- Mass placed in the sole for a low center of gravity
- Thru-slot speed pocket for enhanced forgiveness
- Intelligently positioned sweet spot
- ECHO damping system mutes harsh vibrations on mishits
What We Don’t Like
- Lower launch
- Trouble generating spin
Best Premium Golf Irons – Mizuno Pro 225 Iron Set
SPECS
- Loft: 30 degrees for 7-iron
- Lie: 61.5 degrees for 7-iron
- Offset: 3.04mm for 7-iron
- Length: 37” for 7-iron
- Weight: D2
The Mizuno Pro 225 iron set features a classic blade that produces a high, stable ball flight. With a compact, efficient clubhead and a copper underlay that gives a softer feel, these irons are meant for better players who want speed to go with their consistency.
They are some of the more expensive irons on the market, but it’s a worthy investment if you are looking for a set of blades.
What We Like
- Copper underlay for soft feel
- Hot metal blade design produces a high ball flight
- Compact clubhead
- Multi-thickness face for higher ball speeds
- Clean look
What We Don’t Like
- Tough for high-handicappers to hit
- Expensive
How to Choose the Best Golf Irons
Handicap or Ability
Golfers with less experience and ability generally look towards what is called game improvement irons. They usually feature a larger clubhead and place a priority on forgiveness, which means that off-center hits are designed to still go toward the target. The trade-off for this style of iron is that it usually sacrifices speed in favor of forgiveness, so you won’t hit the ball quite as far. It’s also usually harder to be precise because it’s more difficult to generate backspin with game-improvement irons.
On the other side, more experienced players of higher abilities usually look towards irons with smaller heads. This style is called a blade iron, also known as forged iron. While the clubface may not be as forgiving, and this is certainly not the club a high-handicap golfer would want to try, the speed and control are much higher.
Price Range
A nice set of irons is usually about seven clubs, so the price is based off of that number. A set of irons can cost anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to upwards of two thousand dollars. You can see how an expensive set of golf clubs can add up quickly, given that a driver can cost around $500-$600 and a nice putter can be not far behind. However, there are plenty of quality options at lower price points. If you are looking for respectable irons that are within your budget, several noteworthy brands offer sets in that range.
Fit
Irons can be ordered standard, meaning that variables like the length of the club and the lie angle (otherwise known as the angle of the shaft when a clubhead is soldered evenly on the ground) are going to arrive at the manufacturer’s default setting. This includes the most important variables of all, which is the flex and weight of the shaft. Iron shafts, which are often steel, can vary greatly in both categories.
You are free to buy irons with standard settings, but that’s really only recommended for beginners who are just trying to see whether they like the game or not. Any golfer who is somewhat serious about the game should go get fitted for clubs in the same way a person needs to try on clothes to make sure they fit. Every golf swing is unique, so an experienced fitter can find a set of irons that are tailored to how you swing the club.
One common sentiment that golf teachers hear all the time is that golfers aren’t good enough to get fitted. This saying is actually backwards. Not being a “good enough” player is even more reason to be fitted because of how much technology and proper specifications can help high handicap golfers.
FAQs About Golf Irons
What irons do the pros use?
Titleist is the most common brand of iron used by professional golfers. However, there are multiple highly respected brands that PGA Tour players keep in their bags. TaylorMade, Callaway, Ping, Srixon are a few manufacturers with popular irons.
Should I switch from stiff to regular irons?
The main reason to switch from stiff to regular iron shafts would be if your swing speed is too slow to be playing stiff shafts. Only fast or very fast swing-speed golfers should be playing stiff or extra stiff iron shafts. Average swing speed golfers should play regular shafts. If your swing speed with a 6-iron is below 84 mph but above 75 mph, you should be playing regular shafts. It is a detriment to play shafts with an incorrect flex because the clubface will not reach impact at the correct angle.
What flex should my irons be?
The flex of your irons is dependent on how fast you swing the club. If you swing a 6-iron below 65 mph, a ladies’ flex shaft is appropriate. If you are between 65-75 mph, a senior shaft is necessary. Between 75-83 mph of swing means necessitates a regular shaft. For 84-91 mph with a 6-iron, a stiff shaft is warranted. And anything above 92mph with a 6-iron would create the need for an extra stiff shaft.
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