Best Golf Irons 2024

Best Golf Irons

Getting the best golf irons to suit your game could make all the difference to your on-course performance. Good iron play will give you scoring opportunities and the potential to knock strokes off your handicap. If you’re mid or high handicapper, you should probably look towards the best game improvement irons, or some of the most forgiving irons on the market to help your iron play. 

Alternatively, if you have a slightly lower handicap then the best compact mid-handicap irons and the best irons for low handicappers might give you a variety of models to consider because they give a blend of consistency and feel. Whatever style you’re looking for, you want to feel comfortable and confident with the irons you choose. 

A set of irons is one of the most expensive purchases in golf and it can be a minefield trying to make the right decision and knowing how to choose irons. However, we are here to help as we've tested lots of different irons from many brands, across a range of abilities to gauge performance. We have then collated our findings into this guide which is a look at the best models in various categories. (For more information on how we test irons, our process is explained towards the bottom of this page). 

VIDEO: Watch Joel Tadman test the latest game improvement irons on the market

Best Golf Irons - Best Golf Iron Sets

The Quick List

Most Forgiving Irons

Ping G430 Iron

If asked to consider the brand that offers the most user-friendly irons in the game, many will immediately think of the best Ping irons, specifically its G ranges. For 2023, we see the introduction of the Ping G430 iron, which has been billed by the company as being ‘distance competitive, scoring uncompromised’.

The overall shape may not have changed much from its predecessor, but Ping has introduced an extra one degree of bounce on the sole which not only helps to lower the centre of gravity, but also provides a little more insurance on those extreme misses where the club makes contact with the ground too early. This makes it one of the most forgiving irons anywhere on the market.

• Read our full Ping G430 Iron Review

Srixon ZX4 Mk II Iron

Another iron that falls into the forgiveness category is the Srixon ZX4 Mk II, which we also believe is one of the best game improvement irons that money can buy. The reason is because of the way this iron feels, with an energetic, solid, stable yet soft feel being created all at the same time.

Such was the impact experience, we felt it was up there with any iron we have tested in the last few years. Srixon will say this is down to the new PureFrame design forged into the body of the iron that the company claims reduces unwanted vibrations. It’s very hard to disagree.

• Read our full Srixon ZX4 Mk II Iron Review

Cobra King Forged Tec X Iron

The Cobra King Forged Tec X is a new entry within Cobra’s iron line up, said to open up a brand new ‘players’ game-improvement’ category with its strong lofts and shrunken profile. We believe it is one of the best Cobra golf irons on the market, and here we explain why.

To begin with, the 7-iron measures in at 27°, which makes it one of the strongest-lofted distance irons around and, because of the stability in the head, we found it produced a consistent, penetrating ball flight which many will love. Certainly, in the aesthetics department, it’s hard to fault and the performance has the wow factor that makes you want to hit more shots.

• Read our full Cobra King Forged Tec X Iron Review

Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Iron

A playable and forgiving iron that delivers excellent distance on long shots, the JPX923 Hot Metal Iron is perfect for any mid-handicapper looking to add more yards to their game. This is because the brand's engineers have utilised the Swing DNA data collected from its impressive Shaft Optimiser 3D technology to shape the new range of JPX923 irons. Specifically, they noticed a trend towards more shaft lean being presented to the ball across the handicap spectrum and, as a result, have added some bounce and camber to the sole to improve the turf interaction on offer.

Aesthetically, it looks very similar to the JPX923, but delivers a sleek look thanks to the 4335 Nickel Chromoly, which is a stronger material that allows a thinner face. We were also fans of  the interaction with the turf that this iron provided, with the JPX923 Hot Metal Iron one of the best Mizuno irons for 2023.

• Read our full Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Iron Review

Best Players' Distance Irons

Mizuno Pro 225 Iron

Mizuno has really stepped up the performance this year with the Pro 225 iron. It feels infinitely hotter off the face and will really suit those mid-to-low handicappers that want to play a slim, players-looking iron without giving up distance.

The hollow head provides the spring in the step of this club, whilst tungsten weighting provides the off-centre stability. It does it from a chassis that looks like a blade and sits compactly behind the ball. Manufacturers are able to cram in an awful lot of forgiveness into small iron heads these days and the Mizuno Pro 225 is arguably one of the very best examples.

• Read our full Mizuno Pro 225 Iron Review

TaylorMade 2021 P790 Irons

The TaylorMade P790 irons will appeal to a broad range of players as they offer a great blend of distance and forgiveness in a compact clubhead. The Speed Pocket in the clubhead helps to create greater forgiveness and consistency while the use of SpeedFoam dampens vibration, creating quite an unusual sound and feel at impact.

The results are impressive, with consistently long and straight ball flights. The use of tungsten weighting helps to further assist forgiveness, as does the inverted cone face. The ball is extremely fast off the face of these irons, like you would expect from a hollow club, and we like the slimline compact package. Overall, it’s a strong performer that will suit a range of handicaps.

• Read our full 2021 TaylorMade P790 Irons Review

Callaway Paradym Iron

From the rear, the Callaway Paradym iron impresses visually and, at address, it combines a compact blade length with a generous sole width and top line to inspire confidence over the ball. Certainly, it ranks as one of the best compact mid-handicap irons anywhere on the market, but the mirror chrome finish will continue to divide opinion.

Feel-wise, we thought it was just as explosive and stable off the face but with a far more appealing sound and feel than its predecessor, the Rogue ST Max OS, with the Paradym extremely forgiving on off-centre strikes in the heel and toe direction.

• Read our full Callaway Paradym Iron Review

Ping i525 Irons

The i525 iron replaces the i500 and occupies the space between the G430 iron and the i230 as a hollow, distance-orientated iron in a slimline chassis. In the i525 the theme continues, but Ping claims that changes inside the head should elevate the distance, forgiveness and feel to new heights. Notably, there are tungsten toe and hosel weights, a new maraging steel face for ball speed, four extra grooves to minimize fliers from the rough and an EVA polymer inside the head to provide a softer feel.

It may be one of the best compact mid-handicap irons out there, but it’s built for speed and power too. For those seeking a classic looking club with modern performance, we think this could be the iron for you.

• Read our full Ping i525 Irons Review

Mizuno JPX923 Forged Iron

Iron designs tend to have a set of hallmarks that appeal to a particular type of player - be it offset, sole width or the balance between forgiveness and workability. It’s rare that an iron has an appeal that crosses a major part of the handicap spectrum but the Mizuno JPX923 Forged iron is probably as close as we’ve ever seen.

It has a clean and classic look and, at address, it looks compact while inspiring confidence. The thinner top line certainly makes it look more like a better player iron than the previous generation, although the hint of offset will appeal to those who want to straighten up their ball flight.

• Read our full Mizuno JPX923 Forged Iron Review

Better Player Irons

Ping i230 Iron

Perhaps the most complete iron for any low-handicap player, the Ping i230 is a reliable, versatile iron that can strike all the right shots while delivering an extremely low margin for error given its compact shape. Tour pros, including Stewart Cink and Tyrrell Hatton, use the i230 irons and, if that's anything to go by, then if you're a scratch golfer you should also take a look at these high-performance clubs. 

At address, they boast a very slim profile that will appeal to the eye of the better player and improve your club delivery. The 431 stainless steel body, tungsten toe screw, shaft tip weight and concealed elastomer help the club to deliver a muscle- style look that helps players zip the ball off the clubface. While it looks incredible, the iron also feels great too, combining a lively, stable feel with a muted sound. Even poor swings felt responsive through the turf. What's more, distance is plenty and we loved the trajectory this iron offered. In truth, it was hard to find flaws in this iron which is one of the best irons for low handicappers. 

• Read our full Ping i230 Iron Review

Titleist T150 Iron

The T150 is a brand new model from Titleist, with its design fitting in nicely between the Tour used T100 and the more forgiving T200. Certainly, in our testing, it struck the balance beautifully, with the sole and topline noticeably wider and the blade length more generous. In terms of design, there’s also a muscle channel behind the face that is filled with a polymer to give it a more lively feel, along with a softer sound.

It's worth noting that the T150 does have slightly stronger lofts, but this resulted in longer distances that were very noticeable. What's more, we found the strike remained consistent in a lot of areas off the face, with the two D18 tungsten weights that sit in the dual cavity behind the bottom portion of the face working their magic in terms of forgiveness. 

Stable on off-centre strikes, the flight is very strong and, despite being stronger lofted, actually flew higher than the T100. This meant that, coming into the greens, they are more likely to hold, which meant we could be more aggressive in our approach shots. Overall, it is aimed at the more lower handicapper, but most will certainly appreciate the extra size of the T150 as well as the forgiveness. 

• Read our full Titleist T150 Iron Review

Mizuno JPX923 Tour Iron

The smallest iron in the JPX923 iron range, the JPX923 Tour, adds a copper underlay beneath the white satin-brushed finish for a softer feel. At address, it presents a thinner top line than the previous generation, with it certainly appealing to the low handicap golfer.

Mizuno’s goal was to create an iron that looks and feels like a blade but plays more like a players’ cavity back and it certainly delivers on this brief. In testing, we felt it was extremely consistent and repeatable, with it also affording creativity on the course if you’re looking to working the ball into pins that are tucked away.

• Read our full Mizuno JPX923 Tour Irons Review

TaylorMade P770 2023 Iron

TaylorMade claims to have made some minor tweaks to the design of the new P770 iron for 2023 that should subtly enhance the playing experience. Notably, less offset in the long irons and a slightly more compact look overall. The CG (center of gravity) locations have also been adjusted to improve the launch and playability in the long irons while increasing spin in the short irons.

We still see the stunning looks of the previous model, with the mirror chrome section on the back moving more towards the toe. What's more, you still get that playability and consistency, with a hollow construction packed full of technology. This includes up to 46g of tungsten, so it feels livelier than most.

One observation that many golfers will be pleased with is that the longer irons seemed to be more playable than the previous generation and, overall, it is a perfect traditionally-lofted, user-friendly iron for the competent player. 

• Read our full TaylorMade P770 2023 Iron Review

Cobra King Tour Iron

A model that is one of our absolute favorites in 2023, the Cobra King Tour is one of the best all-round packages we’ve tested this year. Featuring a lot of technology, including a 1025c forged body and a CNC Milled undercut, which removes weight from the center and repositions it to the heel and toe, its feel off the face was livelier than most compact cavity back irons married with a dense, soft feel at impact.

Compared to the best irons for low handicappers, this iron offers high forgiveness levels. We found it was noticeably playable out on the course, producing ample carry when shots were a little thin. Certainly the margin for error on offer will please everyone, but the extra distance will certainly appeal to good players that have seen the amount of time they’re able to dedicate to playing and practicing diminish.

• Read our full Cobra King Tour Iron Review

PXG 0317 ST Blade Iron

Put simply, we thought the 0317 ST Blade irons were a dream to play with, as they delivered above-average distance on a consistent basis. This came from a Triple forged 8620 carbon steel, which boasts a milled pattern on its back that enhances the aesthetic appeal. There is also the addition of tungsten weight behind the sweet spot.

What we enjoyed most here was the forgiveness on offer. Most blades feel a bit dead when not struck out the centre, but here we found marginally off-centre shots were compensated for thanks to the lively clubface. These are easily some of the best golf blade irons on the market and offer a definite option for your golf bag.

• Read our full PXG 0317 ST Blade Iron Review

Best Distance Irons

TaylorMade Stealth Iron

The Stealth iron became the single game-improvement iron option in 2022, which simplifies the range nicely for golfers that want even more distance and forgiveness than what is on offer in the P790 model. While the enclosed cavity concept continues, the Cap Back design has evolved to where the mid section of the toe has been completely removed to lower the CG of the iron, assisting with both ball speed and launch.

TaylorMade has made across-the-board improvements in Stealth and golfers should notice the extra forgiveness at play while being drawn in by the premium, elegant look on the shelf. The low spin might be a concern, but should be manageable via a custom fitting. We love the accuracy and distance this club provides, which should help mid and high handicappers find more greens.

• Read our full TaylorMade Stealth Iron Review

Wilson Dynapower Iron

Wilson make some of the most forgiving drivers and irons on the market, with their 2023 offering coming in the form of the Dynapower. The brand claims to have achieved forgiveness by using Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) to optimise the face architecture and reconfigure the Power Holes 3.0 on the sole to perform better for its target player. It specifically focuses on making the center and toe sections of the club faster as this is where 85 per cent of 10+ handicap players strike their shots.

In testing, we noticed it certainly felt faster than most irons on the market, with an almost metallic, metalwood-like feel translating into superb power that leaves you itching to hit another shot. The lofts are pretty strong, but this shouldn't be a problem.

• Read our full Wilson Dynapower Iron Review

Cobra Aerojet Iron

For maximum distance without the punchy prices, the best Cobra irons are among the standout choices in recent years. Along with their Aerojet range of drivers and fairway woods, the company has introduced new irons that offer a powerful feel that is consistently long.

Whilst we think it may not be the most aesthetically pleasing set of irons on the market, the flexible face has a slightly lower Centre of Gravity. This helps with launch and reduce spin, with the PWR Bridge, which is a fully suspended weight separated from the body, also helping aid performance.

• Read our full Cobra Aerojet Iron Review

Callaway Paradym X Iron

Like the Paradym model mentioned above, the Paradym X is also extremely easy to hit, with their X version also featuring all of the technology we see in the standard model. One of the key differences though is that the X will undoubtedly suit distance seekers and inconsistent strikers.

The reason for this is because of the stronger lofts, but also because it has a slightly bigger head shape and is even easier to hit (or it hides miss-hits better) yet it has a feel close to that of a forged play. The 7-iron measures in at 27.5°, making it one of the stronger lofted distance irons on the market.

• Read our full Callaway Paradym X Iron Review

How we test golf irons

Our testing and rating procedure for golf irons is built upon a comprehensive process combined with the knowledge and expertise of the Golf Monthly test team. As far as the specific procedure goes, before testing, the team will usually attend product launches and meet with the manufacturer's R&D experts to understand the new technology.

When it comes to testing, we often head indoors first to try the irons in a controlled environment. This usually takes place on an indoor simulator at Foresight Sports, with premium balls and the GCQuad launch monitor. Our outside testing normally takes place at West Hill Golf Club, a course with top-notch practice facilities.

We think it is vitally important to do both and continue to test the irons so they have been comprehensively put to the test in different conditions. It should also be mentioned that manufacturers cannot pay for a good review and we make our conclusions from the testing and our experiences. This is because we strive to give the best reviews possible so you can get a greater understanding of the irons themselves.

How to choose the best golf irons

As you have seen, the market for golf irons is crowded and confusing and being sure you're getting the most suitable iron for your game can be a minefield. Hopefully, this piece has given you an idea of what the best options are out there right now, but here is some more advice to help you in your quest to find the best golf iron for your game in this crowded and dense marketplace.

Your Handicap And Ability

This is probably the most important first step: knowing which type of iron best suits your game. This is by no means gospel, but higher handicappers tend to use cavity back irons that offer maximum forgiveness in a larger iron head, while mid-low handicappers tend to use more bladed irons that are forged, offer more feel and control but less forgiveness.

You'll know how good or perhaps not so good your ball striking tends to be, so make sure you invest in a set of irons that matches where your game is out now, not where you'd ideally want it to be. We have great guides that go into more detail on this, so check out our guide on the most forgiving irons if you're a higher handicapper and our guide on the best irons for mid-handicappers.

Price

This will be a major factor in anyone's decision of what irons to go for. As you'll have seen in this list, the price can vary dramatically between irons. Typically, for a set of cavity back irons - those that provide most distance and forgiveness - you'll be looking between $600-$800 for a set of seven irons.

This obviously can fluctuate between brands, and we've highlighted in this list the ones we think give the best value for money in this category. The price jumps quite significantly when looking at the forged and bladed options - up to and above $1000 - but this is par for the course and you'll be getting a high quality, premium product in return.

Custom Fit

This is probably the most essential part of the iron buying process, no matter the irons you're after or how good you are at the game. A custom fit session will make sure you get the right flex and length of shaft, correct lie angle and correct iron head for your game, meaning you'll finish with the best golf clubs that are as suitable as possible for you out on course.

Custom fits can be a daunting process if you're a true beginner or you aren't that confident hitting golf balls in front of people, but they're a vital part of the club buying process. We recommend having a shortlist of three or four iron heads you like the look of before entering a custom fit and then whittling them down to the best for your game during the custom fit process. Custom fits are provided by a number of golf retailers or club professionals at your local golf club.

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