The 10 best golf irons

Though the weather may disagree, we’re getting closer to spring with each day that passes. We’re probably guilty of saying this every year, but is there really any better time to invest in a shiny new set of irons?

If you’re preparing to get back in the swing (pardon the pun) when the season returns, there’s a good chance you’ll be in the market for new golf clubs – or at least doing some essential research beforehand.

Although a new set of irons can be rather expensive, the temptation is often too great – you need to scratch the itch.

Well, the good news is you’re in the right place. We’ve rounded up the 10 best golf irons on the market to help you narrow down that all-important search.

Whether you’re new to the game and need a forgiving model, or a pro golfer demanding superior feel and distance control, there are some excellent models to choose from.

Let’s check them out, shall we?

1. Tour Edge Hot Launch C521

Typical RRP: £360
Suitable for: Mid-handicappers

Made from extremely soft 431 stainless steel, the Tour Edge Hot Launch C521 irons provide an optimal feel for players of all levels, but their enhanced forgiveness makes them ideal for more competitive players.

With a more noticeable offset, thicker, chamfered topline and a longer face, C521 irons have traditional game improvement looks implemented throughout.

As well as this, the C521 cavity has been smoothed out, too, to make the iron appear less bulky, nicely complementing its slick black, silver and blue colour scheme.

C521 irons have a 15% wider sole than previous Tour Edge models, which results in cleaner interaction with the turf and more consistency in your shots.

What’s more – you’ll also notice the nifty toe-weighted design. This elongates the sweet spot, further ensuring consistent distance and feel with every shot.

2. Callaway Rogue ST Max Iron

Typical RRP: £850
Suitable for: Mid-high handicappers

Thanks to its combination of high-strength 450 steel and AI-designed Flash Face Cup technology, the Callaway Rogue ST Max irons are an industry first and some of the best golf irons for sure.

Callaway is known for pushing innovation as a brand, and the Rogue ST Max series, available with either a steel or graphite shaft, certainly continues this trend.

With refined game improvement shaping and the strongest lofts in the Rogue ST line, these irons are suitable for a wide range of golfers looking for speed, forgiveness, and all-round performance.

New to the ST Max is Callaway’s leading AI Face Optimisation technology. Unique for each model and loft, this creates total spin rate consistency across the face, creates high launch and COR, and makes for a more controlled landing angle to help hold on the green.

The signature Callaway-patented urethane microspheres have also been pushed up to the sixth groove to enhance sound and feel at fast ball speeds.

3. Ping i59

Typical RRP: £1,300
Suitable for: Low handicappers

Designed to replace the Ping iBlade players’ iron, golfers familiar with that particular model can expect a similar sole bounce, blade length and offset with the i59 – but with a 0.75mm thinner sole for increased precision.

The face, grooves, hosel, and toe geometry are all CNC milled and have undergone 100% quality control inspection, too, so there’s nothing shoddy about this series whatsoever.

Bringing additional forgiveness, the i59 comprises of three main parts:

• A forged 1025 carbon steel body
• 17-4 stainless steel face
• Aerospace-grade aluminium core (individually shaped to each iron in the set)

The combination of these three parts frees up 30g of material from the heart of the iron for repositioning to better control trajectory and tighten dispersion.

You’ll also find four extra grooves on each i59 model face. These help reduce fliers in the short irons and maintain spin in the longer sticks to maximise shot-to-shot consistency.

Granted, they’re not cheap – but can you really put a price on quality like this?

4. Wilson Staff D9

Typical RRP: £665
Suitable for: High handicappers

The powerful Wilson Staff D9 (the ‘D’ stands for ‘distance’, in case you were wondering) irons are engineered with Power Hole 2.0 technology. This means that holes have been placed on the leading edge around the bottom of the sole to deliver more face flexing.

This new arrangement of power holes increases deflection and provides more energy transfer at impact to increase ball speed. The end result? Greater distance performance.

Intelligent design personified, Wilson Staff D9 irons ensure more power throughout.

The D9 is also positioned with Wilson’s lowest ever centre of gravity to improve launch and spin. This means more stopping power and greater workability for you, the user.

Wilson’s Staff game improvement model is also a slightly more wallet-friendly option for higher handicap golfers. So, with those distance gains, you’re also going to save a few pounds versus if you bought from one of the other, perhaps bigger brands.

5. TaylorMade P790 Iron

Typical RRP: £900
Suitable for: Low handicappers

As a golfer, you’ll know that an iron is more than just the metal it’s made from. Your trusty set of irons is likely to be the product of countless hours of research, testing and feedback.

That’s certainly the case with the TaylorMade P790 series, anyway, and if you’re looking to push yourself to be the best you can be, these are the perfect irons for you.

With a thin wall construction made from new 8620 carbon steel, forged L-Face and redesigned tungsten weighting, this new generation of TaylorMade irons have been carefully crafted for optimal launch with more forgiveness.

TaylorMade’s newly engineered SpeedFoam Air is almost 70% lighter than its predecessor and provides around 3.5g of weight savings on average.

This makes for an ultra-thin iron face and unlocks an intelligent sweet spot that’s been cleverly repositioned to capture more shots and perfect performance in the areas you need it most.

6. Mizuno JPX 921

Typical RRP: £1,000
Suitable for: High handicappers

Mizuno JPX 921 irons are primarily designed to make you a better golfer.

If you’re already familiar with other Mizuno models on the market, you’ll ease into using the JPX 921 in no time, as it’s a combination of all the components that make Mizuno one of the best manufacturers out there.

Perhaps most notably, the use of Chromoly – a low-alloy steel, typically stronger and more durable than other types of steel. So, whether it’s high speeds, precision, balance, or all the above – this has you covered.

As is standard for Mizuno, the stunning JPX 921 boasts an impressive fusion of precision with stability, particularly from off-centre strikes. However, these newer irons now have even thicker behind impact for an enhanced but softer feel, as well as tour-refined short irons for a smoother interaction with the turf.

The straight flight and sharp look of the JPX 921 irons make them a solid choice for younger golfers, perhaps with less course experience – but in truth, they’re suitable for any golfer.

7. Titleist T200

Typical RRP: £1,000
Suitable for: Various levels and handicaps

In developing its T200 irons, Titleist has taken everything which made its previous iron generations so special and shrunk it into a much more compact, Tour-ready design.

However, previous models within Titleist’s renowned T-series have been somewhat criticised in the past for looking too much like game-improvement irons. So, with streamlined Max Impact technology and denser tungsten weighting, the T200 irons arguably showcase Titleist’s boldest shift yet within the series.

Visually, these irons now have a much slicker shape, shorter blade length, and a thinner topline than previous T models. The addition of a specially engineered muscle plate also improves acoustics, ensuring a crisper sound and feel, too.

The T200 irons offer a solid mix of performance attributes suitable for golfers of various handicaps.

Let’s say you’re a low handicapper but not the best ball-striker, or perhaps you’re an experienced golfer finding yourself in the low-teen handicap range – Titleist T200 irons will serve you well.

8. Cleveland CG Launcher CBX

Typical RRP: £650
Suitable for: Mid-high handicappers

Cleveland’s CG Launcher CBX irons make a significant difference to your performance as a golfer. That claim is, of course, according to the brand itself.

However, it’s difficult to see how this wouldn’t be the case, given the level of innovation and technology we’re working with here.

Offering perhaps a more stripped-back design to previous Cleveland irons, two of its wedge technologies (the V-shaped sole and tour zip grooves) combine here to provide golfers with a much more forgiving set of irons.

The tour zip grooves with laser milling enhance spin, making for wedge-like control. At the same time, the V-shaped sole – now synonymous with Cleveland after years of testing on its wedges –  allows you to cut through the turf much smoother and faster than you perhaps would with other irons.

Not to mention that its classy satin finish means you’ll look the part out on the course, too.

9. Cobra F-Max Airspeed

Typical RRP: £600
Suitable for: Mid-high handicappers

The super-lightweight F-Max Airspeed irons from Cobra are designed to help you deliver unrivalled speed, launch and distance. In fact, these irons are marketed as boasting the lightest ever design for maximum distance.

Three key technologies combine here to make these some of the best and most enjoyable golf irons to play with. These are:

• A deep undercut cavity
• Low profile shape
• Greater lofts

The offset club design will help you master the pin-seeker, and you’ll reap the benefits of perfect trajectories in every iron in the set, too. This is because Cobra cleverly makes its long irons more forgiving, scoring irons more accurate, and wedges more precise.

Although suitable for a wide range of golfers, the Cobra F-Max Airspeed irons have been more specifically designed to aid mid-to-high handicappers.

10. Callaway Mavrik

Typical RRP: £1,000
Suitable for: Mid-high handicappers

We conclude our round-up of the best golf irons with another solid entry courtesy of our good friends, Callaway.

Again, making use of its AI-designed Flash Face Cup technology, the Mavrik iron boasts a sophisticated face architecture that’s unique to every loft to create a noticeable boost in ball speed and increased spin robustness.

Flexing and releasing at every impact, the 360 Face Cup enhances ball speed even further.

The addition of custom tungsten-infused weights in each iron in the set also allows careful positioning of the centre of gravity while still maintaining your desired ball speed.

As is now typically standard for Callaway, its patented urethane microspheres also effectively absorb any unwanted vibration at high speed.

There are also several shaft options to choose from with the Mavrik, so you can tailor yours just how you like.

Specialist golf insurance from Golf Care

If you’re forking out for a new set of golf clubs, you’d be silly not to take out some insurance on them, too. After all, they can come at a high cost and high risk of damage.

At Golf Care, our golf insurance includes Equipment cover up to £7,500, Public Liability up to £10m, and much more. Not only that – it’s also underpinned by our ‘Ripe Guarantee’, which promises you great cover and exceptional service for the right price. Get a quote online today.