Best Golf Irons
Golf irons serve a pivotal role in getting a golf ball to land onto the green from the fairway. Since their creation in 1750, golf irons have revolutionized the game of golf. There are many different brands that manufacture golf irons, and each type has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
What are irons used for in golf?
Golf irons are golf clubs commonly used out on the fairway or the rough of a course. As mentioned, iron started to be implemented in the heads of golf clubs in 1750. Originally, wood was used to make the shafts for these clubs. In 1925, steel was implemented in the shafts of golf irons. Golf irons are versatile, unlike drivers and putters. Traditionally, putters and drivers are used on the putting green and tee box. On the other hand, irons can be used in almost any location on the course besides putting greens.
What do the different irons mean?
Traditional golf irons will consist of clubs numbered either 4 through 9 or 2 through 9. The lower-numbered golf irons will allow a golfer to hit the ball farther, while higher-numbered golf irons will go a shorter distance. All of these irons are smaller in size compared to the driver. The average distance most golfers will hit each club are as follows:
- 2-iron: 190 yards
- 3-iron: 180 yards
- 4-iron: 170 yards
- 5-iron: 160 yards
- 6-iron: 150 yards
- 7-iron: 140 yards
- 8-iron: 130 yards
- 9-iron: 120 yards
Things To Consider
When looking for golf irons, you'll want to consider the following:
- What type of irons are you looking for?
- How much are you looking to spend on golf irons?
- Are you looking to buy a single iron or a set?
- Do you play right or left-handed?
Types of Irons
The main types of golf irons are cavity backs and blades, and each carries their own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Cavity Backs
This variation of the golf club is characterized by its carved-out cavity on the back of the iron. The cavity back golf iron is thicker, which helps increase the level of forgiveness when using the club. Beginner and intermediate golfers will often use this type of golf irons.
Blades
This type of golf iron is very thin and solid, which allows for a great feel of the club. Players can easily shape their shots as well. This golf iron is great for seeing the mistake a player is making in their shot. Additionally, the club allows for maximum distance.
What are the best iron sets?
- TaylorMade SiM 2 Max Iron Set
- Callaway 2020 Mavrik Iron Set
- Cobra 2021 Men's Radspeed Iron Set
- Callaway 2021 Apex Iron Set
- Titleist T100S Iron Set
- Callaway 2019 Big Bertha Iron/Hybrid Combo Set
- Cobra 2020 T-Rail Combo Set
- Callaway Rogue ST Max Hybrid Iron Combo Set
- TaylorMade P790 Iron Set
- Cleveland Launcher Turbo HB Iron Set
1. TaylorMade SiM 2 Max Iron Set
Specifications:
- Price: $799.99
- Rating: 4.2/5
- Brand: TaylorMade
An amazing set of clubs for the money, the SIM2 Max Iron Set from TaylorMade is an easy choice for any skilled casual golfer who wants to add distance and accuracy to their approach with a simple upgrade. Starting at $800 for steel shafts and ranging up to $1,200 for a set outfitted with graphite shafts, TaylorMade SIM2 Max Irons are an incredible value.
With so many options to choose from, you are sure to find the perfect club set to fit your game. Even compared to more expensive clubs, the TaylorMade SIM2 Max Irons are excellent performers. The best things about these irons are their snappy shafts and forgiving club faces. Both the steel and graphite options get robust flex low in their shafts, helping the average golfer launch their ball farther. Thanks to TaylorMade’s ECHO Damping System and Inverted Cone Technology integrated into the club faces, you will get more power and precision out of every approach shot.
2. Callaway 2020 Mavrik Iron Set
Specifications:
- Price: $699.99
- Rating: 4.2/5
- Brand: Callaway
The Callaway 2020 Mavrik Iron Set is the best bet for casual golfers whose main goal is adding distance to every approach shot. Callaway has proudly used artificial intelligence to design every Mavrik Iron, and the process yields results: few other irons are as efficient at tacking on distance to each shot with simply a change of club. The Mavrik Irons are the most affordable on this list, starting below $700 for seven clubs, making the set an easy buy.
In addition to lengthening your shots, Mavrik Irons offer incredible forgiveness, improving accuracy with their sophisticated Flash Face Cup architecture adorning each of the massive club faces. (Keep in mind that this makes the overall club heads larger than those of typical irons.) The Mavrik Irons are available in several different five-, seven-, and eight-club sets in a variety of configurations. This makes the 2020 Mavrik Iron Set an excellent choice for elevating your overall mid-range game at an extremely reasonable price.
3. Cobra 2021 Men's Radspeed Iron Set
Specifications:
- Price: $789.99
- Rating: 4.6/5
- Brand: Cobra
One of the more affordable on this list, the Cobra 2021 Men’s Radspeed Iron Set is a great choice for golfers looking for a big overhaul to their club set for only a little money. Amazingly, this seven-club set starting under $800 is one of Cobra’s most technologically advanced iron sets, meaning these clubs really pack a punch.
In spite of its modest price, the Radspeed Iron Set is one of the best choices at any price point for golfers who want the maximum amount of distance and forgiveness from their irons. Thanks to Cobra’s Radial Weighting Technology, an optimized center of gravity helps increase speed and distance in your swing. The stainless steel Forged PowerShell Face insert helps keep your shots on track, improving accuracy with an enormous sweet spot and forgiving flex. Several configurations are available, in steel or graphite shafts, with clubs ranging from a 4 iron up to a sand wedge.
4. Callaway 2021 Apex Iron Set
Specifications:
- Price: $1499.95
- Rating: 4.5/5
- Brand: Callaway
Perfect for the serious golfer who wants to add distance to their approach, the Callaway 2021 Apex Iron Set offers superior shot-lengthening improvement. Designed with the help of Callaway’s proprietary artificial intelligence, the forged 1025 mild carbon steel body provides fantastic energy transfer, as well as a solid, dampened feel and excellent sound.
The 2021 Apex Iron Set features Callaway’s Flash Face Cups set into each clubface, providing accuracy and forgiveness. The Callaway 2021 Apex Iron Set is one of the more attractive iron sets, with slender club heads and an understated design. It is toward the higher end of the price spectrum, with a seven-club set starting around $1,300. All things considered, the Callaway 2021 Apex Iron Set is the best choice for those golfers who want a good-looking, solid feeling set of clubs that will add distance to their shots.
5. Titleist T100S Iron Set
Specifications:
- Price: $1300.00
- Rating: N/A
- Brand: Titleist
Titleist has long set the standard for excellence in irons, and the T100S Iron Set makes good on their reputation. Offering professional grade specifications, the Titleist T100S Irons look and feel like tour irons, but with an extra pop of distance to help you shave strokes off your game. Although it is the most expensive on this list, the Titleist T100S Iron Set offers the best overall performance for the dedicated casual golfer.
The forged tungsten alloy heads dampen vibration for a soft feel while providing excellent feedback and energy transfer. Thanks to their relatively high loft, the Titleist T100S irons provide significantly improved distance on lay-up shots compared to similar irons. To top it off, they are some of the best-looking clubs around. Slim, never bulky, and with minimal color and adornment, the Titleist T100S irons give off a polished look. So if you are looking for a sophisticated set of irons with top-shelf looks and performance, the Titleist T100S Iron Set is the one for you.
6. Callaway 2019 Big Bertha Iron/Hybrid Combo Set
Specifications:
- Price: $1200.00
- Rating: 4.6/5
- Brand: Callaway
The Callaway 2019 Big Bertha Iron/Hybrid Combo Set is the perfect choice for a golfer who wants to add distance and confidence to their game. Even though the price is in the middle of the spectrum, you get a ton of clubs for your money. All of the irons ship with graphite shafts, and each of the seven- or eight-club sets include a 4 hybrid and 5 hybrid iron to help you get the most distance where you need it.
Big Bertha is Callaway’s iron line specifically designed to increase distance, and the results show it. Like all Callaway irons, the Big Berthas feature a tungsten “energy core” for the optimal moment of inertia, as well as the artificial intelligence-designed Flash Face Cup for increased forgiveness and a bigger sweet spot. What really sets the Big Berthas apart are their large, wide club heads and faces. This bigger profile gives you a greater margin of error, increasing your confidence and chances of success on the turf.
7. Cobra 2020 T-Rail Combo Set
Specifications:
- Price: $894.70
- Rating: 4.5/5
- Brand: Cobra
The Cobra 2020 T-Rail Combo Set is the best option for golfers who want a set of clubs to help improve their accuracy. Among all of the irons available, the Cobra T-Rails are some of the most forgiving, featuring wide club faces with large sweet spots. They are also heavily weighted around the perimeter of the head, helping keep your swing straight in line with the ball. The loft is excellent, helping golfers achieve greater height as well as distance. The feel is soft and dampened, and the large club heads are very confidence-inspiring. So if you need a set of irons that will help you with your aim, the Cobra 2020 T-Rail Combo Set is the one for you.
The T-Rail Combo Set is on the high end of the price range, with a six-club set starting just under $900. If you need help with accuracy, and a boost to distance wouldn’t hurt, try the Cobra 2020 T-Rail Combo Set.
8. Callaway Rogue ST Max Hybrid Iron Combo Set
Specifications:
- Price: $1,199.99
- Rating: N/A
- Brand: Callaway
The biggest game-improver from one of the biggest names in golf, the Callaway Rogue ST Max Hybrid Iron Combo Set is the best option for golfers who want to elevate every element of their mid-range play. While certain irons are optimized for distance or forgiveness, Callaway’s Rogue ST Max Irons are designed to maximize accuracy, speed, and distance equally. Golfers with a wide variety of playing styles and skill levels have all found an improvement in their approach games with Rogue ST Max Irons.
Like other Callaway irons, the Rogue ST Max features Flash Face Cup technology for maximum forgiveness and moment of impact. What sets the Rogue ST Max Irons apart from others in Callaway’s lineup is the location and density of the tungsten alloy weighting, which increases launch speeds 260% over those achieved with the Callaway Mavrik Irons. Starting around $1,200 for a seven-club set with graphite shafts, the Callaway Rogue ST Max Irons Set is somewhat expensive, but worth every penny if you crave maximum overall improvement in your midrange game.
9. TaylorMade P790 Iron Set
Specifications:
- Price: $1,299.99
- Rating: 4.1/5
- Brand: TaylorMade
Beautiful and subdued, the TaylorMade P790 Iron Set represents the standard for attractive, player-focused distance irons. Highly appealing to a skilled casual golfer, the P790 Irons elevate every part of your approach game, especially improving distance, all while looking and feeling like tour clubs. Although they are geared toward more skilled golfers, the TaylorMade P790 Irons will advance your game to another level, regardless of your current handicap.
Brushed tungsten alloy heads with minimal black accents match equally subtle yet very snappy graphite shafts, making the TaylorMade P790 Irons some of the most attractive and tour-looking around. A big part of the P790s’ unique distance-enhancing performance is TaylorMade’s proprietary SpeedFoam, which is injected into the head cavity. The SpeedFoam also improves sound, dampening, and feedback. Starting around $1,300 for a seven-club set, the P790s are some of the most expensive available. But with such an elegant, attractive design and amazing performance to match, the TaylorMade P790 is difficult to resist.
10. Cleveland Launcher Turbo HB Iron Set
Specifications:
- Price: $799.99
- Rating: 4.6/5
- Brand: Cleveland
Cleveland Golf has been making a name for itself in recent years by selling top-caliber clubs at budget prices. The Launcher Turbo HB Iron Set makes good on Cleveland Golf’s reputation by offering competitive performance, classic styling, and a bargain price. Starting under $700 for a seven-club set with steel shafts, the Launcher Turbo HB Irons are perfect for a beginner or as a backup set at your beach house.
But it’s not all about value, as the Cleveland Launcher Turbo HB Iron Set will bring gains in control and distance to most any casual golfer’s lay-up game. With technology similar to more expensive clubs, Launcher Turbo HB Irons feature an engineered “turbocharged” clubface for increased speed and forgiveness. The perfectly positioned weights in the core ensure maximum height and distance. With looks and specs that punch well above their price point, if you are looking for an upgrade but are on a budget, the Cleveland Launcher Turbo HB Iron Set will satisfy all your needs without breaking the bank.
FAQ
How much do golf irons cost?
The cost of golf irons will vary depending on the gender they are intended for. In addition, whether or not the irons are for lefties or righties will also have an impact. On average, golf irons for right-handed male players will cost about $900. For left-handed male players, the irons will cost upwards of $650. For right-handed female players, the irons will cost about $600. Finally, irons for left-handed female players will cost just over $700.
What kind of irons are best for beginners?
There are many factors that can help determine what beginning golfers should use to play the game of golf. First off, using blades or cavity backs is a question that must be considered. For beginners, it’s more common to use cavity backs because they are a more forgiving club. Next, shaft choice is another important consideration. Graphite shafts are very light, which helps beginners who might have a slow swing speed. However, they can be more expensive to purchase.
When should you use a golf iron?
A golf iron is used predominantly after a player has hit their tee shot. This means golfers will use golf irons in the fairway, rough, or any other space leading up to the putting green. Traditionally, a golfer will use golf irons numbered between 4 and 9. However, some golfers will use a 2-iron or 3-iron instead of a hybrid for longer shots. The average golfer will use their golf irons when they are between 120 yards and 170 yards away from the hole.