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A golfer is only as good as his clubs, and even the pros dedicate plenty of time to finding a set that fits them perfectly. You might tee off with a driver, but your irons and wedges are what get your ball safely into the hole. Whether you're a beginner looking for a reasonably priced set to help you learn the ropes, or a seasoned pro after something with a little more lift or distance, it pays to ensure your irons are the best they can be.
This buying guide will discuss everything you need to know about buying the best golf irons, from swing weight to shaft flexibility. We'll then count down ten of our favourite sets, including irons from popular brands like Mizuno and, of course, Callaway's Apex series, all of which can be purchased online from Amazon and Decathlon. With options to suit every budget, from affordable to luxury, there's something here for every golfer.
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A set of irons usually includes a wide range of clubs, but it's extremely unlikely to have every iron available. This is okay - you don't need to fill every gap, and even the pros aren't allowed to carry more than 14 clubs. Besides, a complete set of irons would be much too heavy to carry! Still, it's wise to know what clubs a set includes to ensure you get a range that fits your play style.
Manufacturers will usually use ranges to inform you of what clubs you get in their set. A set listed as '5-PW', for example, will include 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 irons and a pitching wedge, while a more comprehensive 4-GW set will also include a 4-iron and gap wedge. The trick is to pick a range of clubs that suit your play style, but for the most part, the majority of sets will cover most bases.
Some brands (particularly premium ones) prefer to sell their irons individually, requiring you to select which one you would like. Mimicking the ranges offered by popular sets is a safe bet, and the 5-PW range is always a good choice. That is, of course, unless you're a pro who knows exactly what they want, or you're simply looking to upgrade a single club in your bag.
That bag full of clubs can get a little heavy. Why not take a look at the Best Golf Trolleys?
Why is it that two golf clubs can look exactly the same but feel completely different? The answer is swing weight. Swing weight considers four attributes - the clubhead's weight, grip and shaft, and the club length. This offers a general indication of how heavy a club feels when you swing it. Every golfer has preferences, hence why you feel instantly 'at home' when using certain clubs.
The measuring of swing weight isn't an exact science, and the first machine to measure swing weight was invented only a century ago by clubmaker Robert Adams. It records swing weight using letters ranging from A to F, with numbers from 0 to 9 giving even more exact measurements. For reference, the average men's club is around D1, while the average women's club is around C6.
Finding the perfect swing weight requires looking back at your previous golfing experience. If you frequently get tired when swinging, go for something lighter. On the other hand, if you struggle to control the club or keep it on the proper swing path, go for something heavier. If you're a beginner with little to no experience, start with an average swing weight and see how you go from there.
Did you know that a golf glove can increase your grip and improve your swing? Take a look at the Best Golf Gloves.
Clubmakers can use one of several different materials when creating iron shafts. The material used will significantly alter how a club feels, affecting club weight and, perhaps most importantly, flexibility. Two of the most common material are steel and aluminium, with the latter being considerably more flexible than the former.
Manufacturers often indicate a club's flexibility by assigning it one of five categories: extra stiff, stiff, regular, senior and ladies. Senior and Ladies' clubs are the most flexible, and, despite their name, golfers of all ages and genders can take advantage of their ability to add power to your swing. There's also 'uni-flex', a unique blend of stiff and regular shafts.
The ideal shaft flexibility for you all depends on your swing speed. If you have a slow swing and require some extra power, a flexible shaft will help you achieve extra distance. However, a flexible shaft is likely to overpower the shots of stronger golfers, leaving them prone to slicing. Here, a stiffer shaft is the better choice.
Every golfer knows what the 'sweet spot' is. It's that elusive part of the clubface that, when it makes contact with the ball, sends it hurtling effortlessly through the air with a perfect trajectory. Essentially, every shot is an attempt to hit the ball with the sweet spot, although this can be especially difficult for beginners.
Fortunately, many manufacturers attempt to combat this problem by making the sweet spot more accessible to players. This is called increasing the 'forgiveness' of a club. Essentially, they try and make the sweet spot as large as possible, meaning a higher chance of straight, powerful shots and less chance of slicing and mishits.
It goes without saying that forgiving clubs are worth seeking out—they're not a handicap, and even some pros use them. Unfortunately, forgiveness is not measurable and isn't given as a specification. Manufacturers will mention how forgiving their clubs are in the product description, but your best bet is to consult reviews written by golfers who have hands-on experience with just how forgiving a club is.
Looking for the perfect way to tee off? Check out our list of the best Golf Drivers!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mizuno JPX921 Forged Irons Set | £1,100.00 High | Unbeatable Chromoly Clubs for Advanced Players With a Need for Speed | ||
2 | TaylorMade M2 | £549.99 Mid | Mid-Range Irons With Built-in Speed Pockets for Those Looking to Improve Their Game | ||
3 | Ram EZ3 | £119.99 Low Mid | An Affordable Set With a High Level of Forgiveness That’s Perfect for Beginners | ||
4 | TaylorMade Stealth | £839.00 High Mid | Premium Clubs With Incredible Accuracy and Plenty of Feel and Forgiveness | ||
5 | Wilson D9 Irons Set | £555.99 Mid | High-Performing Irons With an Excellent Flight Speed Without the Premium Price Tag | ||
6 | Callaway Apex Pitching Wedge | £202.00 Low Mid | A Modern Update of a Legendary Set of Irons With an Impressive Feel and a Stunning Look | ||
7 | Fazer XR2 | £129.99 Low Mid | An Affordable and Forgiving Set of Clubs That’ll Inspire Confidence in Beginners | ||
8 | Callaway Rogue X Irons Set | £429.00 Mid | Maximise Your Shot Distance and Improve Your Accuracy With These Elongated Irons | ||
9 | Mazel Set of 9 Single Length Irons | £269.99 Low Mid | A Reasonably-Priced Set for Beginners With a Particularly Large Sweet Spot | ||
10 | Inesis 900 Irons Set|Size 1 | £649.99 High Mid | A Forgiving Set With Superb Feel That Competes With the Top Brands |
Japanese brand Mizuno is well-known for making some of the finest irons in golf, and the JPX921s are no exception. Professionals favour them, but their incredible blend of control, power and forgiveness can assist players of various levels.
The secret ingredient is Chromoly - unique steel that enables some of the fastest ball speeds Mizuno has ever produced. Combine this with their versatility and their classic look, and you've got a set of clubs that are almost guaranteed to improve your score.
TaylorMade's M2 irons are perfect for golfers looking to improve their distance and forgiveness. The built-in 'speed pockets' on the back of the clubhead work to increase distance, while the clubface offers plenty of forgiveness, even when you don't hit your shot quite as you meant to.
TaylorMade has given their irons a low loft to make up for their low centre of gravity, which means they're more suited to intermediate golfers than beginners. The M2s still offer plenty of height, though, and this, combined with their forgiveness, makes them ideal mid-range clubs.
It doesn't get much better for beginners than Ram's EZ3 irons, as they're reasonably priced and flatten the learning curve by excluding any advanced tech. That said, they still perform well, with a forgiveness that'll inspire confidence in new players.
Despite their low price, they feature a cavity-backed head that's usually found on pricier sets and is excellent for increasing shot power. Essentially, the EZ3s combine three things every beginner needs - distance, feel and forgiveness - into a set that's easy to play with.
The Stealths are TaylorMade's premium clubs, and they come with an elegant look to match their price tag. The KBS shaft offers a nice feel and plenty of forgiveness, but the main appeal of the Stealths is their incredible accuracy.
They're also nice and soft when hitting, with a pleasant 'snapping' sound. The Stealths' main drawback is their lack of spin, which means very little stopping power when you need it. In every other way, however, the Stealths are a great choice.
The 'D' in these D9 irons' name stands for 'distance', and they achieve this through a series of power holes - small slots in the club's sole that transfer more energy to the ball, raising its flight speed. Their low centre of gravity and high loft also give you higher, longer ball flights.
Their considerable sweet spot increase accuracy and they're excellently priced, especially when compared to premium brands. The low spin rate is a minor drawback when using higher clubs and wedges, but otherwise, this is a fantastic set of clubs perfect for virtually any skill level.
Callaway's Apex irons are some of the most popular clubs available, and their performance more than matches their reputation. The impressive feel and beautiful looks are still there, with the 2021 model adding new technologies to increase forgiveness.
All in all, Callaway's Apex irons are fantastic, but there's no ignoring that price — a pitching wedge alone will set you back more than entire sets by other brands. However, if you've got the disposable income, we recommend treating yourself to a set of these legendary clubs.
It's clear that Fazer had the novice golfer in mind when crafting these irons. First and foremost, they're incredibly affordable, making them an excellent option for those who want to get into golf without investing too heavily.
They're also incredibly forgiving, with a large sweet spot and a sizeable head that'll enable consistency, even among the inexperienced. No, they don't have the luxurious feel of pricier clubs, but they offer decent distance and high forgiveness, making them perfect for their target audience.
Callaway states that their Rogue irons offer the best combination of distance and accuracy ever. The Rogue X irons provide these same qualities but with a longer shaft length that gives the clubs a deeper centre of gravity and increased forgiveness.
Distance is the name of the game here, and the amount you'll gain from a set of Rogue Xs depends on your swing. They're probably not for you if you struggle to get height and carry behind your shot, but if launch is not an issue, the Rogue Xs are guaranteed to give you some extra distance.
Mazel's irons are single length, meaning a consistent swing weight and feel for every club in your bag. That makes them great for beginners, especially as they're incredibly forgiving with a large sweet spot. This set gives you nine clubs, including an interesting 4/5-iron hybrid.
There's not a lot of info available on Mazel, and the likelihood is it makes these clubs in bulk, unlike brands such as Callaway and TaylorMade. That said, they're perfect for those looking for a decent set of irons to start with.
Inesis is sporting goods retailer Decathlon's in-house golfing brand. They provide consistently excellent clubs, and the 900s are no exception. They combine feel and forgiveness in a way that other premium brands would be jealous of, and they look pretty good too.
Distance is impressive among lower irons, as is the feeling of control when using the utility clubs. The main problem is the price tag because, while there's no doubt that these irons perform well, their considerable cost will tempt most golfers to go for similarly-priced clubs by a better-known brand.
No. 1: Mizuno|JPX921 Forged Irons Set
No. 2: TaylorMade|M2
No. 3: Ram|EZ3
No. 4: TaylorMade|Stealth
No. 5: Wilson|D9 Irons Set
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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