Best Golf Irons Reviewed & Rated for Quality and Performance


The more complete your iron set is, the more choice you have when you are on the golf range. Check out our best golf irons below!
Standout Picks




















Criteria Used for Evaluation
Style
Back Style
When you are shopping for a set of golf irons, you will be presented with two different back styles which are the blade style and the cavity style. It is important for you to understand the difference between the two different designs as each design is meant for different players. If you happen to get a blade style golf iron when you really need a cavity back, then you will have a much more difficult time playing golf and the sport can feel difficult and discourage to you. On the other hand, you may prefer a blade style iron when you are looking to play a more challenging game of golf.
The cavity style of irons tend to be more common than the blade style so let’s begin by discussing the cavity style first. Cavity style is a more recent style of golf iron that has a gap in the backside of the club. This allows the weight of the golf head to be distributed around the perimeter of the golf club which will enhance the size of the sweet spot and make it easier for you to hit the club. Normally, cavity back irons are cast, which means that they may not be as durable as a forged iron but casting allows the iron to have a design that distributes the weight around the perimeter of the golf head.
One of the main advantages of having a cavity style iron is that these irons will help correct issues with your swing. Cavity style irons distribute the weight to the outside of the club head, which enlarges the sweet spot and allows the club to be more forgiving. This not only allows a less skilled golfer to get more distance with each of their hits, but these clubs can also correct issues such as a hook or a slice where the ball travels to either the left or the right.
Since the center of gravity is lower in a cavity style iron, you are more likely to get more altitude with each hit as well. This can help a beginner get a longer hit without having to have perfect technique on each swing. Many novice golfers will appreciate the iron’s ability to get them longer and straighter hits than what they might be able to get with a blade iron, which helps to make the game more fun. If you are a beginner or a casual golfer, then you will want to look for cavity style irons.
Blade irons are intended for skilled players. These irons are normally forged and have a solid head rather than a hollow one. They will distribute the weight of the head more evenly throughout the clubhead rather than pushing the weight to the perimeter. That will make the moment of inertia lower and push the center of gravity higher in the club head. For these reasons, blade irons have a smaller sweet spot than cavity irons.
A skilled player should choose a blade iron for a few different reasons. One of the reasons is that since a blade iron doesn’t correct issues with the swing, you are able to control the ball. That means if you need to have the ball fade to the left or to the right around an obstacle, you can do so more easily with a blade iron since it won’t attempt to correct a hook or a slice. You can also use these irons to control the landing of the ball better since you can aim more accurately. For example, if you have a fairway that leans left or right, you can land the ball on the higher side of the fairway so that it doesn’t roll into the rough.
However, blad irons require you to have a consistent swing. This is because they have a smaller sweet spot which means that you have to hit the ball in the same spot each time. When you miss the sweet spot, the ball will act in an unpredictable fashion which can lead to you landing in a hazard such as the rough or a sand trap. If you are not confident that you are ready for a blade iron, then you should choose a cavity iron.
You should always try and pick out the correct style of iron that is best suited to your skill level. Most people will want to go with a cavity iron since these irons are designed to correct issues with your swing and will be more forgiving. Experienced players will most likely want to use a blade iron since it will give them better control over the golf ball. It is important for you to get the right set of irons because it will mean the difference between a difficult and frustrating day of golf and an enjoyable and relaxing golf outing.
Durability
Cast or Forged
There are two processes used to make irons. One process is called casting and the other process is called forging. Both processes refer to how the liquid metal is formed into iron and it will have noticeable differences in how the golf head turns out. It is important for you to know the differences between a cast iron golf head and a forged golf head so that you understand what you are buying when you are purchasing a set of golf irons. This will help you have the proper expectations about the golf iron which will lead to you being more satisfied with your purchase and your clubs.
Forging is a process where you shape meeting using compression. Most of the time, the metal is hit in a repeated fashion using a hammer or a die and forging can be done at cold, warm, or even hot temperature. As the metal sustains the repeated blows, it will form a golf club head, usually with the use of a die to form the head properly. Golf club heads that are made of forged steel will be much stronger than heads that are cast due to the process in which the metal was formed into a golf club head.
One of the main advantages of owning forged irons is that they can be adjusted easier than cast irons. This is because the person who is working on your golf club only needs to heat the club up and then they can make adjustments to your golf club. This means that it is easier for them to adjust the loft or the lie of the club or even change the face angle. Forged irons are also more durable than cast irons and will last longer as a result.
However, it is nearly impossible to make cavity back irons using forging which means that most forged irons are blade-style irons. This means that forged irons are generally only suitable for highly skilled players who do not need the engineering used in cavity irons. This can be a benefit or a drawback since highly skilled players may love the fact that a forged iron can be better adjusted to their swing. However, a beginner may want to go with a casted golf iron rather than a forged iron.
Casting is the process of pouring liquid metal into a mold and letting it cool. This allows a manufacturer to make metal objects that have unusual shapes such as a hollow golf club iron that has a cavity back. Rather than beating the metal into shape using a die and a hammer, a mold is constructed that has the exact shape of the golf club head. When the metal is cooled, the golf head is formed into the proper shape and then it is sent off to get finished.
It is because an engineer can pour metal into any shape that a manufacturer can make golf heads that are hollow and can distribute weight around the perimeter of the club. This allows you to purchase golf clubs that have larger sweet spots and thin golf faces that create more of a bounce effect when the club strikes the ball. Casting also allows for odd shapes in the golf head such as cavity back clubs that push the center of gravity downwards. Although forging is normally used to make blade-style irons, these irons can also be made through casting as well so you are not limited to casted cavity irons.
You should keep in mind that casted steel is not as strong as forged steel which means that a casted iron may not last as long as forged iron. It is also harder to make adjustments to golf heads that are cast or it may not even be possible to adjust the golf head at all. Some people also feel that a casted golf iron does not have as good of a feel as a forged iron since casted metal is not as consistent as forged metal. In spite of these limitations, most irons on the market are cast irons so you will need to look for forged irons if this is the kind of iron that you want.
When you are shopping for irons, you will see that they are either made of cast metal or forged metal. It is important that you understand the difference between the two different manufacturing processes since this will produce different results. Forged irons tend to have a more consistent feel to them and are more durable than cast irons but you are limited to the amount of engineering that can go into the iron. Cast irons allow for advanced techniques such as cavity back irons or irons that have an enlarged sweet spot. It is important that you know the difference between the two so that you have the proper expectations about your golf club.
Shaft
Golf Shaft
The shaft of the golf club is typically offered in a variety of different options and it will be important that you know about the different options so that you know what you are buying. The shaft is a critical part of the golf club since it is what you grip with your hands and connects your hands to the golf head. Your swing will be influenced by the golf shaft as well and in some cases, you can have a better swing when you have the right kind of shaft on your golfing irons.
One of the first options that you may notice about a golf shaft is that it will either be steel or a graphite material. Steel is just as common as graphite and is still used on many irons today. Many people will choose a steel golf shaft because steel can be more durable than graphite. It also can provide a golfer with more control over the golf ball than what a graphite shaft can which can be advantages in some situations.
Graphite is the alternative to steel and is also a popular material used in golf iron shafts. Graphite is lighter than steel which can help to improve your swing speed and land you additional yards with each stroke. It also reduces the vibrations that you feel in your hands when you strike the ball as well. However, graphite typically costs more than steel and you may have to pay a premium price to have a iron set that uses graphite shafts as opposed to steel shafts.
Once you have decided on a material for your golf shaft, you will need to look at the flex rating. The flex rating refers to how flexible the golf shaft is and basically refers to how much the shaft will bend when it is exposed to a force. A stiff golf shaft does not flex much which means that you will need more force to hit the ball. The advantage of a stiffer golf shaft is that the ball will generally fly more accurately which is why people use stiffer golf shaft.
Stiff golf shafts require more physical strength so you may want to consider using a more flexible shaft if you are not strong enough to use a stiff shaft. A more flexible shaft will whip with less force than a stiffer golf shaft which will help you get more distance. A strong player should not use a flexible shaft because if you hit the ball too hard, the shaft will flex and torque which will cause you to lose accuracy. However, if you are someone who should use a flexible golf shaft, then you should not need to worry about such as problem as you are unlikely to hit the ball too hard and lose accuracy.
Golf shafts come in ladies (L), regular (R), senior (A), stiff (S), and extra stiff (X). These ratings will help you decide what kind of flex is recommended for your body type. They are guidelines only, so if you are a senior citizen who is in top-notch shape, then you may need a stiff or an extra stiff shaft. Likewise, there are some ladies who may hit too hard for a ladies golf shaft. As always, you will need to use your judgment to find out what kind of flexibility you will need in your golf shaft.
The length of the golf shaft is the final thing that you will need to think about when you are picking out a set of irons. Many golf irons have progressive length shafts where higher number irons and wedges tend to have a shorter golf shaft and lower numbered irons have a longer shaft. The short shaft will help you get more loft as your approach the green where the longer shafts will help you get more distance when you are further away.
When you are looking at the length of the golf shaft in irons, you have to consider the length of the club as it relates to the entire set. In other words, you will need to expect that some clubs will have shorter shafts and other clubs have longer ones. The important thing is that you are able to use the clubs and that the length of the shafts is generally not too short or too long. You do not want to have clubs that are so short or long that you are unable to use them.
When you are picking out golf irons, you will need to make a few decisions about the golf shaft so that you get clubs that are best matched to your needs. For example, you will need to look at the materials used in the shaft, the flexibility of the shaft, and its length. When the shaft of the club is matched to your needs, you will be able to use the clubs better and more successfully than what you can if the golf shaft is not suitable for you.
Features
Sweet Spot
One of the things that you see discussed a lot when you are picking out a set of golf irons is the center of gravity, forgiveness, and the sweet spot. All of the three terms are related and have to do with how much range you will get from the ball every time you hit it. A golf iron that has more forgiveness and a lower center of gravity will generally let you get more range when you make an error than a club that is less forgiving. Therefore, a beginner should look for irons that are forgiving while an experienced player should look for clubs that are less forgiving.
However, to understand what this means, you have to understand what is meant by the sweet spot. The sweet spot is the point where the center of gravity of the golf club strikes the golf ball’s center of gravity. This is a point that is smaller than the size of a pin but it is also where all of the energy from the club will transfer to the ball. When the club strikes the ball on the sweet spot, the ball will get the maximum amount of range due to the complete transfer of energy from the club to the ball.
Nevertheless, the sweet spot is only the size of a pin, so it is rare that you will actually hit the ball on the sweet spot and due to the laws of physics, it is not possible to make the sweet spot larger. When you strike the ball in any area other than the sweet spot, some of the energy from the club will get transferred to the spin of the ball which will cause you to lose distance. If the club hits the ball to the left or the right of the center of gravity, then you will cause the ball to spin in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction because the head of the club will actually twist when it strikes the ball. If the club strikes the ball above or below the center of gravity, then the ball will have forward or backspin. Either way, you will end up losing distance because some of the energy that should propel the ball forward gets directed into spinning the ball instead.
In order to compensate for this, club manufacturers will move the weight of the golf head to the outside of the head and distribute the weight further back on the head as well. This will help minimize the amount of energy that is lost to spin when you do not strike the club at the center of gravity and thus, the club is considered to be more forgiving. When a manufacturer refers to a club as having high forgiveness, this is one of the things that they are referring too. The tradeoff is that you will have less feedback when the club does not strike the sweet spot which means that you are less likely to notice when you miss the sweet spot and are unlikely to improve your swing. Another issue with more forgiving clubs is that it can be hard to estimate the range that the ball will travel. This is less of an issue when you are trying to go for distance, but as you approach the green you will want to know about how far your club will hit so that you do not overshoot the green.
The other way golf clubs can increase forgiveness is by using a variable thickness in the face of the club. This is normally referred to as enlarging the “sweet spot” and it will help increase the amount of energy that is transferred to the ball when you do not hit the sweet spot. It works by increasing the coefficient of restitution (COR) which in English refers to how much the face of the club will spring when it is struck. The more your club springs in certain areas, the less energy is lost and further, the ball will travel when it has been hit. So when you see that iron has an enlarged sweet spot, they are saying that the face has a variable thickness.
While there is no true way to increase the size of the sweet spot, manufacturers have figured out ways to reduce the amount of energy that is lost in an off-center hit. They do this by distributing weight to the sides and the back of the golf head and by using a variable face thickness. The more this is done to the golf head, the more correcting a golf club will be and it will be considered to be more forgiving. Beginners should look for irons that are highly forgiving while more experienced golfers may choose to have less forgiving clubs so they can work the ball better.
Materials
Quality of Materials
Quality is one of the most important things that you can have in a set of irons because a high-quality set of irons will be enjoyable to play golf with while poor quality irons will become a headache and will interfere with your game. The more that you spend on your irons, the more important it will be for them to be of high quality since you will have more money invested in the golf clubs. Even if you do not spend a lot of money on your irons, you will still want them to be of good quality so that you can enjoy playing the game. Golf is fun yet it can be challenging and while there are many reasons that will factor into how well you play, there is no doubt that the quality of your golf clubs will be an important part of your game.
When you are shopping for a set of golf irons, you should begin by looking at the head of the club because the head is the part that comes in contact with the golf ball and sometimes even the ground itself. You will need to make sure that the head is durable enough to withstand the forces that it will be subjected too. Most golf heads are designed to be thin and lightweight, but that means that it is possible for them to dent easier than a thick and heavy golf head. If you are concerned about the durability of the golf head, then a forged head is more likely to be stronger than a cavity head but as long as the club manufacturer is reputable, then most iron clubheads will be durable enough to play with but if there are obvious reasons to think that the clubhead will not resist denting or developing deep scratches, then you should look for another brand of irons.
The head of the iron also needs to resist corrosion as well. That is because it is only a matter of time before the head of the iron is exposed to moisture. Moisture can come from anywhere but since golf courses are always watered to maintain the grass, you can be on the fact that there will be moisture in the grass and the soil. You do not want to have a set of irons that start to look rusted, pitted, or corroded after only a few uses so you need to make sure that the golf heads are designed to resist corrosion. One way this can be done is to make the irons out of an alloy of metal that is less susceptible to corroding when it is exposed to moisture. The other way to protect against corrosion is to use a protective coating. When you are looking at the head of the iron, you should try and verify that it has features that will help it to stay looking new after a long period of time. Golf irons that continue to look new will likely continue to play as if they are new as well, so the better your club is protected against corrosion, the longer it will last.
Once you have finished inspecting the head of the iron, you should move onto to looking at how well the head has been connected to the shaft of the club. This is important for several reasons but the most important reason is safety. Nobody ever wants to experience having a club head fly off of the golf club and hit another person since this can cause serious injuries. In addition to safety reasons, you want your clubhead to be fastened securely because a loosehead will cause you to lose accuracy when you hit the golf ball. That can also affect your game but it can lead to safety issues also if your ball hits another person.
Finally, you should look at the grips of the irons to make sure that you are comfortable with them. The grips should be securely fastened to the golf shaft so that you do not lose control of the golf club. Additionally, they should have a non-slip design because this will help you maintain control as well. High-quality golf grips will be long-lasting and will not deteriorate over the lifetime of the club. You should make sure that the grips are not too thin or fastened too loosely to the golf shaft.
When you have inspected all of these areas, you can be reasonably confident that you have purchased a good set of irons. The better job you do of looking at the quality the golf clubs, the better you will enjoy the golf clubs. Your game will also be better and you will be able to play golf much safer than what you would be able to with lower quality golf clubs. It will also mean that you are happier with your purchase as well.
Golf Irons Reviews
1. Cleveland Launcher HB Set


Cleveland Golf makes a golf iron set that can be used by both amateur golfs and professional golfers. The irons have been designed to be lightweight yet highly stabilized which makes them great for just about any golfer. They have a deep and low center of gravity which allows them to have a forgiving sweet spot so that you can get the most distance out of each swing while using these clubs.
Read moreHollow Design
The clubs have been designed to have heads that are hollow and feature a low center of gravity. The lower center of gravity helps to enlarge the sweet spot of the golf head which makes the club more forgiving.
High Strength Face
Golf irons have to withstand a lot of impacts since there is a high chance that you will create a divot when you hit the ball. These golf irons have a face that is made out of strong steel so that they are long-lasting.
Cost and Value
You will notice that these golf clubs are sold at a price that is higher than the average price for a set of irons. The higher price is due to the high-quality materials used to make the clubs so that they are long-lasting.

2. TaylorMade M4 Iron Set


The M4 Iron Set is a great choice if you are looking to get a faster swing speed along with increased distance with each stroke. These clubs are designed to be lightweight but using shafts that weigh less and lighter grips so that you can swing the club faster. You will be amazed at how easy it is for you to launch the ball when using these irons.
Read moreLow Center of Gravity
The center of gravity has been moved to the bottom of the clubs so that you are more likely to hit the sweet spot when you are using these clubs. This will lead to improved distance and range.
High MOI
The clubs have been engineered to give you an MOI so that the head doesn't twist when it strikes the ball. This will help you have a straighter and truer shot because the club has been designed to resist hooking or slicing.
Cost and Value
You will see the Aeroburner series sold at a price that is lower than the average price for a set of golf irons. This makes it into an excellent value because you can get a high-quality golf set without spending a lot.

3. Callaway Big Bertha Iron Set


The Big Bertha Iron set is a premium set of golf irons that have been fine-tuned to provide you with the absolute best golf game. These irons have everything that you need to get your best game which includes features such as hollow head construction and the maximum amount of forgiveness. This allows any golfer to get their best possible golf game so that you have the best time on the course.
Read morePremium Shafts
The shape is just as important as the golf head so these clubs come with a premium shaft that is designed to be just as performant as the golf head. This helps to maximize your game while golfing with these clubs.
Progressive Design
The shorter irons have narrower heads then the longer irons. This allows you to have more accurate hits with the short irons where you need accuracy and longer hits with the long irons where distance is more important.
Cost and Value
The Big Bertha is a premium set of golf irons that has a price that is well above the average price. The high price is because the clubs have been fully loaded with features which accounts for the premium price.

4. Mazel Irons Set


This is a great set of irons that both amateurs and experienced golfers can use and enjoy. They have fully graphite shafts which make the clubs lightweight and allow you to have a faster swing speed. The irons are made from a 431 stainless steel allow that have a large sweet spot for improved distance and range for when you are golfing. Plus grips have been designed to absorb shock.
Read moreRubber Grips
The grips on the clubs have been designed to resist slipping and also absorbs shock to your hands. This will provide you with excellent control of the club on every stroke since you won't need to worry about it slipping.
Graphite Shafts
Each club uses the same graphite shaft which will provide you with a consistent feel throughout your entire set of irons. This is a great feature for beginners who are still learning the feel of the golf club.
Cost and Value
The Mazel Irons set is sold at a price that is lower than the average price for golf irons. This makes it into a great value because you get features such as high-performance grips without having to spend a lot.

5. Mizuno JPX Set


The Mizuno JPX is a set of lightweight golf irons that are designed to give you a faster swing speed and longer distance on each stroke. The golf clubs feature an enlarged sweet spot that will make them more forgiving. This can be an advantage since you never know exactly how the ball will lie between the tee and the green. These clubs have plenty of features to help you get the best from your game.
Read more1025 Boron Material
The heads of the club are made of 1025 Boron material, which is a metal alloy that is stronger than regular steel. This allows the club to be lighter and more durable at the same time which is perfect for irons.
Power Frame
The weight of the club head has been distributed to the for corners of the head, which allows for a larger sweet spot and a thinner face. The frame on the head supports the face and allows for longer hits.
Cost and Value
You will notice that the Mizuno set is sold at a price that is lower than the average price for golf irons. The best part about the cost savings is that the clubs are fully packed with premium features.

6. Single Swing Set


If you are learning or need a set of golf irons for instruction purposes, then you will want to take a look at these golf irons by Single Swing. This set of golf irons features a consistent length golf shaft which makes it easier for people who are learning because the clubs have a more consistent feel than golf clubs that have a variable length golf shaft.
Read moreUniform Specifications
The golf irons in this set are designed to have a uniform feel throughout the entire set which means that the 4-iron is supposed to feel the same as the pitching wedge. This can make it easier to learn to golf.
Mid-size Grips
The grips on the clubs have been designed to reduce the amount of pressure that you will feel on your hands. This will help make golfing more enjoyable because you are less likely to feel shocks and vibrations.
Cost and Value
You can purchase a set of Single Swing golf irons at a price that is lower than the average price for golf irons. The lower price is another reason why they are great for people who are learning how to golf.

7. Srixon Z 765 Iron Set


If you are looking for a set of golf irons that will help to lower your scores, then you will want to check out the irons made by Srixon. These irons have been designed to have a hollow construction that lowers the center of gravity in the golf head and enhances the size of the sweet spot. This will give you the extra distance that you need to get the best from your game.
Read moreBendable Hosel
You are able to adjust the lie angle of these clubs using the bendable hosel so that you can customize the golf set to your needs and get the best out of your golf game and your golf clubs.
Forged Face
These clubs have a face that has been forged so that you get the maximum amount of durability from these irons. The face will also improve the feel of the club and increase the speed of the ball on strike.
Cost and Value
You can purchase this set of golf irons at a price that is average for a set of golf irons. The average price is attractive because you find many premium features in these clubs without having to pay a lot.

8. TaylorMade M2 Iron Set


This iron set by TaylorMade has been designed to give you both distance and height while you are golfing. The distance is important because it is what will get you to the green in the first place, but the height also matters because it will keep the ball from rolling off of the green when you get there. These clubs have been truly designed to improve your golf game.
Read moreUndercut Golf Heads
The golf heads have an undercut design that has been designed to lower the center of gravity in the golf head and enlarge the sweet spot. It also expands the areas that are unsupported in the head to keep the ball speed high.
Speed Pocket
There is a speed pocket in the golf head as well. The pocket gives the golf head a thinner sole which will help launch the ball higher and give the ball a faster speed once it has launched.
Cost and Value
The M2 is sold at an average price for golf irons which makes it into a great value for the money when you consider that you are getting a set of clubs that leverage plenty of technology to improve your game.

9. Callaway Steelhead XR


Callaway is a golf club maker that you can fully trust to make sure that you are getting the best in your golf game. These clubs have a head that makes it easy for you to launch the ball and get the maximum possible distance that you can get from every single swing. This will help to improve your golf score and keep your game at its absolute best.
Read moreForgiveness
The club heads have wide soles so that you have more forgiveness in your swing. This will help you get more distance on each shot even if you make a mistake which will help lower your score by getting you to the green faster.
Progressive Lengths
The clubs for the short game have shorter shafts to help you get higher lofts and the clubs for long hits have longer shafts so that you can get more distance. These clubs are fine-tuned to every area of the golf hole.
Cost and Value
You will notice that the XR OS set is sold at a price that is slightly higher than the average price for a set of golf irons. The higher price is due to the better engineering and higher quality materials.

10. Cleveland Golf 588 MT


The 588 MT is a great set of irons that are easy to hit and will provide you with a long distance. The entire golf set has a consistent blade length with progressive length golf shafts so that you have the distance in your long game where you need it and high and loft in your short game. This will allow you to improve your scores since you can hit the ball further and more accurately.
Read moreVibration Dampening
The clubs have been engineered to reduce the number of vibrations that you feel when you hit the ball. The club uses multiple materials throughout the head, shaft, and the grips to absorb and reduce the vibrations that you feel.
Progressive Lengths
The higher number golf irons and wedges have a shorter shaft length that will give you more ball height while the lower numbered irons have a longer shaft length that will give you more distance in your long game.
Cost and Value
You will see these clubs sold at a price that is lower than the average price for a set of golf irons. This turns them into an excellent value since you can save money while enjoying many premium features
