Choosing the perfect golfing iron can be crucial for your overall experience on the golf course. Getting rid of unnecessary strokes and getting the most out of your irons can be important for your ball striking and confidence on the course, but choosing a golf iron can be difficult for many different reasons. I often get questions from readers asking which is the best golf iron, how much money they should spend, what brands to choose, or what new design and technology the club should have.
That’s why we in this article have constructed a list of the best golf irons for every type of golfer, budget, and need. We have spent hours of testing to give you a list of the best golf irons for you to crush on the course.
Our Top Picks
-
Best overall – Mizuno MP-20 HMB
-
Editors choice – Zrixon ZX5 MK II
-
Best for mid handicappers – Ping G425
-
Best for low handicappers – TaylorMade P7MC
-
Best game improvement irons – TaylorMade Sim2 Max OS
-
Best blade irons – Titleist 620 MB
-
Best distance irons – JPX 921 HM
Best Overall - Mizuno MP-20 HMB
Pros:
- More club speed
- Long irons.
- Great feel
- Great looks
Cons:
- The price tag
The Mizuno MP-20 Hot Metal Blade (HMB) has the proportions, topline, and offset transition that reminds us of the Mizuno’s classic blade models, but inside the club head hides several modern technologies that make this club significantly easier to play and therefore give you way more distance and forgiveness.
The club head is forged with Mizuno’s Grain Flow Forged process, which gives a fantastic feel, but instead of carbon steel, the club is made of chrome molybdenum steel. This steel is significantly more robust and more flexible, which makes it possible to make the hitting surface thinner, which makes it possible to get those high ball speeds and maximum distance. This combined with the hollow body construction creates an incredibly hot iron in a neat blade-inspired package.
Mizuno has also placed two tungsten weights behind the club face to create more stability and forgiveness when hitting the clubface. The short irons are forged in 1025E carbon steel for maximum feel and control. Just like the rest of the iron clubs in the MP-20 series, it has a hot metal blade and copper plating, and a protective layer of chrome nickel to create an even nicer feel when hitting the ball.
Conclusion
With Mizuno’s latest and greatest technology gives you longer irons with increased club speed, ball speed, and at the same time the forgiveness you need to crush on the fairway plus its dashing looks. That’s why the Mizuno MP-20 HMB wins the overall best golfing iron at least in our book.
Editors Choice - Zrixon ZX5 MK II
Pros:
- Forgiving
- Exceptional distance
- Gives good spin/control
- Smooth feel on impact
Cons:
- Smaller clubhead that can be intimidating looking down on
The Srixon ZX5 MKII has everything you need in an iron. It is fast, smooth, and powerful at the same time. It is a forged iron in soft 1020 carbon steel with a hotter hitting surface in SUP10 steel for increased length. The ZX5 has the ultimate mix of forgiveness, beauty, and length.
The ZX5 MKII also has progressive grooves. The grooves in the irons are sharper, deeper, and tighter for more spin and control, the longer irons should provide more consistent spin.
With Tour VT Sole technology the Srixon’s patented V-shaped sole glides more easily through the grass, which means that the club loses less speed and is less affected by the surface.
With both efficient and progressive design in the mainframe, the cavities on the back of the face maximize the trampoline effect when hitting the sweet spot, which results in higher ball flight more distance, and forgiveness on each shot.
Conclusion:
The Srixon ZX5 MKII is a beauty that also packs a punch. With all the modern technology and design that Srixon has to offer we couldn’t leave the ZX5 MKII off our list of the best golf irons, because maybe that’s just what they are. If you want to play with style whilst also having increased ball speed, more spin, and control. Then you should check out the Srixon ZX5 MKII.
Best mid-handicap irons - Ping G425
Pros:
- Very forgiving irons
- Light
- Large sweet spot
Cons:
- The design isn’t for everybody
The Ping G425 iron set has a more compact clubhead compared to its predecessor the G410. The shorter blade length from heel to toe means that weight has been saved which is now placed in the toe and hosel for increased stability through the stroke.
The updated hitting surface has VFT technology which is otherwise found in fairway woods. The VFT technology is the variable thickness of the hitting surface which results in a trampoline effect and faster ball speeds. Behind the hitting surface sits a tray in multi-material construction that reduces vibrations and provides good acoustics in the shot. The Hydropearl Chrome finish over the club head is to deflect moisture creating a consistent ball flight in all weathers.
The perimeter weighting, The compact blade length compared to previous models means that the weighting in the club head has been fine-tuned. By shifting weight towards the toe and into the hosel, the club head is stable through ball impact and delivers consistent results.
Better feel, By having a tray in multi-material construction behind the hitting surface, unwanted vibrations in the ball striking are dampened and give an increased feel. It also delivers a pleasing sound. The iron has a water-repellent Hydropearl Chrome finish.
Conclusion:
The Ping G425 is a great all-around golf iron for a mid-handicap golfer because of its balanced attributes. You get everything you need and more, with the latest and greatest technology from ping that gives you distance and forgiveness, consistent ball speeds, and control. If I was in the market for new ping irons or just a great set of golf clubs, these might be the best irons for you.
Best for low handicappers - TaylorMade P7MC
Pros:
- Great Distance and control
- well made
- Solid feel
Cons:
- The price tag
The tour-inspired TaylorMade P7MC has a look that appeals to those who like the finer things in life. This is a classic-shaped iron with minimal offset and perimeter balance for outstanding control and precision. A narrow sole and narrow forefoot provide consistent contact with the ground.
TaylorMade’s Compact Grain Forging process has a pressure of 2,000 tons, more than double the industry standard. The extra pressure used on both the P7MC and P7MB gave TaylorMade’s engineers precise micro-level control, providing a finer grain structure for the best possible feel and strength. Compact Grain Forging provides a refined composition inside and out. The craftsmanship is evident with a Satin finish and forged “Metal-T” in the cavity, providing the unmistakable aesthetic associated with a premium TaylorMade iron. Precision is the highest priority for the P7MC and therefore the hitting surface is still precision milled. The milled face ensures precision and quality with TaylorMade’s most aggressive groove geometry for precise control.
With machined Face & Grooves, Precision is paramount. Machining the face ensures precision and quality with TaylorMade’s most aggressive groove geometry for precise control.
Conclusion:
TaylorMade P7MC is one of the most well-made and balanced irons on the market today. The technology behind it is something that is rarely seen and is made for the lower handicappers out there that want to be able to shape shots or maybe get that penetrating ball flight. These are one of the best irons out there and are even trusted by some of the PGA tours, so just try them out for your self and you will see why these golf clubs are some of the best in their category.
Best game improvement irons - TaylorMade Sim2 Max OS
Pros:
- Very forgiving
- Great value
- Great feel
- Oversized head
Cons:
- Difficult to find with steel shaft
In the SIM2 Max OS, TaylorMade has developed and brought together several of its proven technologies to bring that extra distance, perfect ball flight, and forgiving iron.
With a low center of gravity in the club head, the Sim 2 Max helps you even with the worse hits and can simultaneously deliver both the length and height needed for optimal ball flight. The hitting surface is produced with a damping system that gives a soft feel like a forged club when hitting the ball and reduces vibration.
Just like the other models in the Sim family, the Sim 2 Max is equipped with a hot and flexible hitting surface to generate long shots and a Thru-Slot Speed Pocket, which is a pocket located just behind the hitting surface to be able to maintain ball speed even on poor hits.
Conclusion:
The SIM2 Max OS irons really will help you become a better player, they help you whit everything from more ball speed and extra distance to forcing the ball up in the air which makes them one of the greatest game improvement irons out there. This is a great set of irons for you higher handicap golfers. Try them out and see how much they really will improve your game.
Best blade irons - Titleist 620 MB
Pros:
- Great looking clubs
- Great turf interaction
- Great for shot shaping
Cons:
- Very difficult to play with
If you are an average golfer and want to play a round with these beautiful blade irons, you can keep on dreaming. But if you are a good golfer wanting a real solid tour-level iron and want to shape shots like the pros I think these might be the best golf clubs for you.
The Titleist 620 MB has reduced offset for the ultimate look tour players prefer. It offers progressive blade length for optimization throughout the set and a refined sole for improved grass interaction. These clubs suit the better player who wants to be able to shape the shots to the extreme.
The back of the club heads design has been slightly modified compared to its 2018 predecessor, along with reduced offset and a thinner top line.
Conclusion:
For The Titleist 620 MB, It is worth pointing out that only a few of Titleist’s best “ball strikers” on tour have these in their bag. Others choose simpler options. But if you have or have had a plus handicap and also a ball hit of rank, this is something to create golf art with. Or if you are looking for something nice to hang on the wall at home.
Best distance irons - Mizuno JPX 921 HM
Pros:
- Great distance
- Good distance and feel
- Great set of irons
Cons:
- Verry thick topline
The Mizuno JPX 921 Hot Metal iron set is made of chrome molybdenum steel (Chromoly 4140M) which is very strong and flexible steel, which has enabled a thin hitting surface.
With the Coretech technology in the hitting surface, the steel has now become thinner to create a hotter hitting surface that generates a high ball speed. A seamless construction of the club head means that the edges around the hitting surface can be of different thicknesses all around to give an increased trampoline effect.
Mizuno’s Stability Frame technology with a frame behind the face that is open at the heel provides more stability and more consistent ball flight, distance, and forgiveness. Mizuno has incorporated sound ribs that have been placed inside the club head to better control the vibrations at impact and create a soft feel. With the matte Pearl Brush finish, you avoid reflections when looking down at the club head.
Conclusion
The Mizuno JPX is a great option if you are looking for a forgiving iron that packs an extra punch when needed. The technology and build of this iron make it difficult to hate it because it gives you exactly what you want, a long iron that is forgiving and smooth like nothing else. Just try them out and you will understand exactly what we mean.
Buyers Guide
In this buyer’s guide, we are going to help you to locate what you are looking for when buying the best golf irons for you and your desired outcome on the course.
We are going to go through 11 of the most crucial points to find the best golf irons for you.
11. Tips for buying the perfect golfing irons
1. Budget
When looking at irons or just golf clubs, in general, it is important to find something that suits both your player level and the size of your wallet. There is a wide range of how much an iron set is going to cost. What you can keep in mind is that there are almost always bargains to be had if you can live with a model that is 1 or 2 years older. And we promise, even if there’s a red price tag on the clubs, they can still be really good.
2. Goal
What are your actual goals with golf? How much golf do you play? And maybe the biggest question of them all is, how much do you practice? If you play a lot and your handicap is creeping down, look at iron sets that suit you right now but which you can also develop with and play with for many years to come. Or if you are in a period of you’re life where golf is difficult to fit into the life puzzle more than before, it may be wise to invest in a more forgiving iron that gives you the maximum help when you play.
3. What do you want to get out of your irons?
In the age-old game of golf, most people want to hit longer, straighter, and become overall more solid in their golf game. Could a new set of golf irons be the differentiator in how you perform on the course? Absolutely. If you’re thinking about changing your set of irons to a new one, it’s a good start to think about what you don’t like about your current clubs and what you hope to get out of the new ones. If you are a mid handicapper you maybe want stronger lofts so you can add distance and forgiveness but that maybe looks completely different if you are a scratch golfer. Localize what you are looking for and it will be easier to find the right one.
4. Loft
It’s no secret that today’s irons generally have very strong lofts so that you can hit the ball longer. But also because modern technology allows it. It also means that you can get different gaps in your distances well out on the course compared to your previous clubs. Keep an eye on the loft, especially which loft your pitching wedge has, because you may need to re-mobilize your wedge setup a bit to cover all distances perfectly.
5. Setup
Today, most standard sets sold are from 5 to PW in men and 6 to SW in women. If you look at how it used to be back at the beginning of golf the iron set used to contain a couple more clubs than they do in today’s day and age, but since the hybrids came through and the loft on the iron clubs got stronger lofts, more clubs have been removed from the iron set. Here it’s important that you find your own wants and needs. Maybe you want to add an iron four? It is usually no problem to order one of these separately. Or do you feel that you almost never hit your five iron and it just takes up unnecessary space in your bag? In that case, it may suit you to order the set without the five iron. In addition, the total price will then be a little lower.
6. Challenge your favorite brand
Most people often have a favorite brand that they look for exclusively when it’s time to update the bag. But why really? As long as you are not a sponsored tour player, you can instead see it as an opportunity to pick and choose exactly what golf clubs you want. Our tip is to keep an open mind when choosing new irons. Different models perform differently for different players, trust what works for you and don’t focus so much on what is written on the clubs.
7. Find the right grip
The grip is the only part of the club that you feel. It is where you and the club become one. You may be comfortable with the standard grips that are on the clubs right from the start. But keep in mind that they can also be changed to you’re preference and liking. You may of course think that the grips on your clubs are comfortable, but keep in mind that the thickness of the grip also can affect your swing and control. If you are going to change iron sets you can might as well take time to find the right grip as well.
8. The combo set
To continue a little on what clubs you need in your bag, it has become increasingly common to combine one or more different models in a so-called combo set. For example, you can choose a more easy-to-play and forgiving model in the long irons like the 5 iron, 6 iron, and 7 iron, and then invest in a tougher set of short irons in the 8 iron, 9 iron, and PW to get the best of both worlds. This is something that the brands have adopted and therefore keep their models quite similar in design and appearance. Everything so that they can mix and match together nicely in a combo set if that is what makes sense for your golf game and preference.
9. Looks
It is a huge advantage to have a visually pleasing iron in your hands and look down when you are about to hit the golf ball. If you think your clubs look good, we think you will simply play better with them and take care of them better which makes the iron’s life span much longer which your wallet will thank you for later.
10. The Shaft
The largest part of your irons or golf clubs, in general, is the shaft. Choosing the right shaft flex is crucial to maximizing your performance on the golf course. The usual types of shaft flex are Regular for mid to high-handicap golfers with less power and swing speed. Stiff is for low to mid-handicap golfers and Extra stiff is for lower-handicap golfers with much higher swing speed. The most commonly used material for shafts on golf irons is steel or graphite shafts, the most common and is steel shafts but if you have a lower swing speed and want extra forgiveness and a lighter option you can always look at graphite shafts to see if it suits you better. Taking the time to choose the right shaft flex can impact the accuracy, trajectory, distance, and ball speed. So you might as well do it right and try out the right shaft when you are at it.
11. Custom Fitting
You are unique and there is no one in the whole world who has exactly the same body and swing as you. With a custom club fitting, the clubs can be completely tailored to you. Model, grip, shaft, loft, and length. And no, custom fitting is not only for the most skilled golfers, we would say it’s actually the contrary. It also has the greatest effect on the average golfer. It’s a nice feeling to know you have exactly the right gear, the only backside is that you get one less excuse after a bad round.
Summary
Choosing the best golf irons can be very difficult, but does it really have to be? You just have to be true to yourself and to your needs and ask yourself questions like. What’s my budget? How often do I play? How good am I actually? You can come a long way with some common sense. The only thing that really matters is how much you are going to enjoy your irons when you are on the course
