9 Best Golf Irons: 2023

We know that finding the right iron set can make or break your golf game, which is why we’ve put together this comprehensive review guide to help you find the perfect set of clubs. We’ve done all the research, so you don’t have to!

From beginner clubs to the most advanced models, we’ll help you find the best golf irons 2023 has to offer. We’ll provide details on the best of the rest in terms of materials, design, feel, and performance, so you can make an informed decision when it comes to upping your golf game.

The Best Golf Irons For 2023

Each of the best golf irons on our list has been meticulously trialed and tested by us, so you don’t have to.

Get ready to hit the greens and conquer the course with our list of the best golf irons of 2023:

1. Best golf irons overall: Mizuno Pro 225 Irons

This year Mizuno really knocked it out of the park. The Pro 225 iron has a forged iron face that is sure to please mid-to-low handicappers who are looking for a sleek look and plenty of distance. The Pro 225 is also ideal for experienced golfers who want to look and feel like a pro while still getting some extra distance.

With its hollow head and tungsten weighting, you’ll have the perfect combination of spring and stability with every swing. Plus, you get all that goodness in a sleek, blade-style design. So get ready to hit it farther and straighter than ever before.

Mizuno Pro 225 Irons: 2 to 9-iron, pitching wedge, and gap wedge

Specifications

• Shafts: A choice of 26 different graphite, chrome-steel, and steel shafts
• Grips: A variety of 32 different grips

Pros

• Forgiving
• Excellent ball speed
• Looks great

Cons

• Doesn’t have the largest head, which may put some off

Price

• The average retail price for these irons (steel shafts) is $1,311.99.

2. Best golf irons for elite golfers: Mizuno Pro MP 221 Irons

If you’re a lower handicapper looking for a set of blade irons with a great feel and performance, then the Mizuno Pro 221 irons are definitely worth checking out. They’re grain flow forged in Japan for a great feel and have a thicker muscle behind the impact position for reduced drag.

On top of that, they have an optimized tapered blade for a penetrating ball flight. The copper underlay and fine-tuned center of gravity give you increased ball speed and distance.

Mizuno Pro MP 221 Irons: 3 to 9-iron, and pitching wedge

Specifications

• Shafts: A choice of 26 different graphite, chrome-steel, and steel shafts
• Grips: A variety of 32 different grips

Pros

• Excellent feel
• Looks great
• Brilliant ball speeds

Cons

• Not best suited to high and mid handicappers

Price

• The average retail price for these irons (steel shafts) is around $1,500.

3. Best golf irons for player distance: TaylorMade P790 Irons

Golfers of all levels will love the TaylorMade P790 iron. With a compact clubhead, they provide the perfect combination of distance, forgiveness, and feel.

Plus, you get the added bonus of a unique sound and feel when you strike the ball. Are you ready to hit the ball further and straighter? These clubs use Tungsten weighting and a Progressive Inverted Cone to give you maximum forgiveness and a fast launch. What’s more, the slimline package is the perfect combination of distance and control.

TaylorMade P790 Irons: 3 to 9-iron, pitching wedge, and approach wedge

Specifications

• Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT Graphite, True Temper Dynamic Gold VSS Steel, and KBS Tour Lite Steel
• Grips: Golf Pride Z Grip 360

Pros

• Perfectly designed for distance and forgiveness
• Clean, crisp sound when striking golf balls
• Excellent for all golfing levels

Cons

• Has a thick topline that could put some golfers off

Price

• The manufacturer’s price for these irons is $1,299.99

4. Best golf irons for looks: Cobra KING TOUR Irons

The Cobra KING TOUR irons are certainly making a splash this year. Featuring a 1025 carbon steel body and CNC Milled undercut, it offers a lively feel off the face while still providing plenty of forgiveness.

Perfect for the experienced golfer who may not have as much time to practice, the extra distance it provides is sure to be a welcomed addition to the game. With this iron, the margin for error is increased, giving you the confidence to take on more challenging shots with the assurance that you’ll still find success.

If you’re looking for a luxurious feel and a soft touch, the KING TOUR irons are your go-to choice. With their five-step forging and two added features, a TPU insert (or thermoplastic polyurethane for the uninitiated), and an aluminum medallion, you’ll be sure to notice the softness of these irons.

So if you’re looking to be spoiled, these irons will be the perfect fit. But if you prefer a little bit of punishment with a slight mis-hit, then the KING Tour irons might not be for you.

Cobra King Tour Irons: 3 to 9-iron, pitching wedge, and gap wedge

Specifications

• Shafts: KBS $-Taper
• Grips: Lamkin Crossline (58R)

Pros

• Solid feel
• Excellent consistent flight of the ball
• Beautiful looking

Cons

• Can send the ball too far for some

Price

• The manufacturer’s price for these irons is $1,299

5. Best golf irons for consistency: PXG 0317 ST Milled Blades

The 0317 ST Blade provides awesome distance and consistency. This is thanks to the triple-forged 8620 carbon steel and the milled pattern on the back that not only looks fabulous but also helps with performance.

Plus, the tungsten weight behind the sweet spot helps with forgiveness – even when you don’t hit the center, you can still get a great result. Definitely one of the top blades out there, these beauties deserve a spot in your golf bag.

PXG 0317 ST Milled Blades: 3 to 9-iron, wedge, and gap wedge

Specifications

• Shafts: 17 different steel and graphite options
• Grips: 11 varying grip options available

Pros

• Very visually appealing
• Great playability for a blade iron
• Soft yet exciting feel

Cons

• The metal is prone to scuffing relatively easily

Price

Clubs in this iron set retail separately at $169.99 per iron

6. Best golf irons for mid-handicap golfers: Callaway Paradym Irons

The Callaway Paradym iron gives off a stunning visual impression from the back and provides confidence-inspiring features from the address position. It boasts a compact blade length and generous sole width, as well as a top line, making it one of the best mid-handicap golf irons available on the market.

Its mirror chrome finish may be a hit or miss for some, but the feel of the club is explosive and stable off the face, with a better sound and more ball speed than the Rogue ST Max OS. The Paradym is also very forgiving on off-center strikes, so you can hit with confidence.

Callaway Paradym Irons: 4 to 9-iron, pitching wedge, approach wedge, and gap wedge

Specifications

• Shafts: Aldila Ascent PL Blue 50 HB/IR Graphite, 2023 True Temper Elevate 95 MPH Steel, and Project X HZRDUS Gen 4 Silver 65 & 75
• Grips: Callaway Universal Grip

Pros

• Perfect stopping power on the green
• Consistent, so ideal for the mid-handicap golfer
• Powerful feel

Cons

• Short blade length that won’t appeal to everyone

Price

The Callaway Paradym iron set is listed from $1,399.99 on the manufacturer’s website

7. Best golf irons for building confidence: PING i230 Irons

The PING i230 Iron is designed with several features to help golfers of all skill levels improve their game and build their confidence. The forged maraging steel face is thinner for increased face-flex at impact for faster and higher ball launch.

Tungsten weights are added to the toe and tip of the shaft for increased perimeter weighting and, hence, increased MOI. PING irons also use a polymer compound on the back of the face of the club. The result? Improved sound and feel while not interfering with face deflection.

The MicroMax Face Grooves are cut tightly together to allow for an additional four grooves to be added to the clubface. This helps to mitigate fliers in short irons and preserves spin in long irons. The styling of the club head is compact with a hollow body construction slightly thicker topline and sole, and minimal offset.

PING i230 Irons: 3 to 9-iron, pitching wedge, and utility wedge

Specifications

• Shafts: 9 different steel and graphite options
• Grips: Lamkin Crossline Black, and Golfline 360 Tour Velvet & Tour Velvet Cord

Pros

• Very good speeds
• Superior aesthetics
• Perfect to help improve the game

Cons

• Not always the easiest to align

Price

• These iron sets (steel shafts) range between $1 444,29 and $1 649,99

8. Best golf irons for forgiveness: TaylorMade P770 Irons

TaylorMade has made some minor changes to the design of its 2023 P770 iron in order to improve forgiveness and the playing experience. This includes less offset in the long and mid irons, a more compact look, and adjusted CG (center of gravity) locations to improve launch and playability in the long irons while increasing spin in the short irons.

The Mirror Chrome on the back has moved closer to the toe while maintaining the stunning look of the previous model. The hollow construction helps to make the iron feel livelier, with up to 46g of Tungsten included.

Many golfers have noted that the longer irons in this new model seem to be more playable than the previous generation, making it a great and forgiving choice for the competent player.

TaylorMade P770 Irons: 3 to 9-iron, pitching wedge, and approach wedge

Specifications

• Shafts: KBS Tour Steel 120/S
• Grips: Golf Pride Z Grip 360

Pros

• Shapes shots well
• Forgiving
• Elegant

Cons

• Compared to the previous model, there are limited gains.

Price

The TaylorMade P770 Iron set is listed on the manufacturer’s website for $1,224.99

9. Best value for money: Wilson Dynapower Irons

Wilson creates some of the most forgiving drivers and irons available, and their 2023 offering is the Dynapower. By using AI to perfect the face architecture and reconfigure the Power Holes 3.0, they’ve achieved incredible forgiveness for the target player.

Aiming to make the center and toe sections of the club faster, 85% of 10+ handicapped players will benefit from this remarkable tech. This iron has a relatively flat ball flight, which could make it difficult for golfers with slower swing speeds to get the most out of it. However, it’s very fast from most areas and fairly consistent.

Wilson Dynapower Irons: 5 to 9-iron, pitching wedge, and gap wedge

Specifications

• Shafts: KBS Max Ultralite Steel and UST Recoil Dart 65 Graphite
• Grips: Lamkin Crossline 360

Pros:

• Quick off the face
• Straightforward to draw
• Excellent value for the price

Cons:

• Stopping power could be better

Price

This seven-club iron set costs $879.99 at a respected online retailer.

The Types of Golf Irons

As you’ll no doubt be aware, golf irons are a key component of any golfer’s bag.

Let’s explore the different types of golf irons.

Cavity Back Irons

Cavity back irons are the most popular type of iron. They are often the optimum choice for many recreational players. They have a large, hollowed-out section on the back of the club head. This makes them more forgiving than other types of irons. This also means that even if your swing isn’t perfect, you can still hit a pretty decent shot.

Blade Irons

Blades are the old guard; the classic type of iron. They have a smaller head than cavity back irons and don’t have the hollowed-out section on the back. The downside to these irons is they’re often more difficult to hit than cavity back irons. This is because they require a more precise swing.

These irons tend to be best suited for low-handicap players who want to shape their play with shots and hit draws and fades.

Hybrid Irons

Hybrid irons combine the best of both worlds. They have the heads of fairway woods and the shaft of irons. This makes them much easier to hit than blade irons and more versatile than cavity back irons. Hybrid irons are the best golf irons for those golfers looking for a club that can be used for a variety of shots.

Wedge Irons

Wedge irons are the most specialized type of iron. They have a higher loft than other types of irons and are designed for shots around the green. These irons are great for hitting high approach shots or for getting out of the sand.

There are many different types of wedges. These include the sand wedge, gap wedge, and pitching wedge. While they have the same clubheads as irons, wedges have more severe angles.

How to Choose the Best Golf Irons: A Buyers’ Guide

Consider your skill level

If you’re a novice, you’ll want some game-improvement clubs that will help you increase accuracy and reduce your chances of slicing or hooking. But if you’re a seasoned player, you’ll need players’ irons that will give you greater control and precision. So choose wisely and have fun!

Choose your shaft

The shaft of the golf iron is one of the most important factors to consider. Shafts can be made of either steel or graphite and come in a variety of flexes. The shaft will influence the feel of your irons. Not only this, however, it directly impacts the launch, spin, landing angle, and distance of your golf shots.

Look at the loft

The loft of the golf iron determines how high the ball will fly. If you’re a beginner, you’ll want to choose a set with a lower loft. This will help you get the ball in the air more easily. Experienced golfers may want to choose a set with a higher iron loft, which will help them hit the ball farther.

Consider the size of the head

The size of the head of the iron will affect the accuracy and forgiveness of the club. If you’re new to the game of golf, opt for a larger head, which will give you more forgiveness. Experienced players may want to opt for a smaller head, which, in turn, will provide more accuracy.

Consider the price

It’s also very important to consider your budget. Sets of golf irons can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, so make sure you find a set that fits within your budget. Also, remember that quality doesn’t always mean expensive. There are plenty of great sets of golf irons available at more affordable prices.

Look for other features

If you’re looking for a set of irons that offers extra features, there are lots of options available for 2023. Some sets come with variable face thickness (VFT) which can help increase ball speed. Others come with Tungsten weights, which provide more stability and control. 

And if you’re looking for a set of irons that can be used in wet conditions, look for a set that offers waterproof construction.

Check out the warranty

Before you buy a set of golf irons, make sure to check out the warranty. Most sets come with a one-year warranty. Others, however, may offer additional coverage.

Ask around

Lastly, it’s a good idea to ask your fellow golfers for advice. Look for reviews from other golfers who have already tested out the clubs and find out what they liked and disliked about the set. 

This will give you an idea of how the clubs will perform on the golf course and help you make a more informed decision. However, just be mindful that everyone will have an opinion, and, ultimately, the choice is yours.

FAQs

What are the best iron brands?

It really depends on the individual golfer and their needs. However, some of the top brands when it comes to golf irons in 2023, as you’ll see from our comprehensive guide, are Callaway, TaylorMade, Mizuno, Titleist, and Ping.

What irons are the easiest golf irons to hit?

Unfortunately, there is not a single “easiest iron to hit” as it is ultimately a very individualized decision. As we’ve seen, there are a variety of different golf irons on the 2023 market to suit different golfers’ needs and preferences. Generally speaking, however, for beginners, a forgiving iron will be the easiest to hit.

The best way to find out is to get booked in for a professional club fitting from a local golf shop or golf professional. This could help you determine the best irons for your game.

What’s the difference between irons for mid-handicap and low-handicap?

Low-handicap irons are designed to provide more control and accuracy, while mid-handicap irons provide more forgiveness and are more suitable for players who don’t hit the ball as consistently.

What are forged irons?

The craftsmanship involved in forging irons is what sets them apart from regular ones. They’re made of superior steel, shaped with precision, and polished to perfection.

What is the difference between graphite and steel shafts on golf irons?

Steel shafts are generally heavier and stiffer than graphite shafts, which can provide more power and distance. Steel shafts also tend to be more durable and less prone to breakage than graphite shafts.

The choice between graphite and steel shafts will depend on the golfer’s individual swing speed, desired trajectory, and accuracy. Generally, slower swingers or those with a higher handicap will benefit more from graphite shafts, while faster swingers or those with a lower handicap will benefit more from steel shafts.

What is a game improvement iron?

Game improvement irons are golf clubs designed to help golfers of all levels improve their game. They feature larger, more forgiving heads, wider sole designs, and more advanced technology than blades or players’ irons.

These irons are usually much more forgiving on off-center hits. They also launch the ball higher, as well as provide more distance and accuracy than traditional irons.

What is the best way to practice with golf irons?

If you struggle to hit irons, the best way to practice is to work on your setup and swing. Start by focusing on your stance and grip. Then practice slowly and consistently, making sure to hit the ball in the center of the clubface. Once you have mastered your form and are confident in your swing, practice with increased speed and power.

Lastly, practice on the range and on the course in order to get used to the feel of the golf club and the different types of shots you will encounter.