The best golf irons for approximately 20 handicapper are typically known bets golf clubs for mid handicapper game-improvement irons. They tend to have a wider central hitting zone that enables. Our top picks · Ping G (all-round performance) · Mizuno HMB (great feel & forgiveness) · Ping i (great distance, high launch) · TaylorMade. All reputable brands will make great irons for HC whether it's Srixon, Titleist, Mizuno, TaylorMade, Callaway or Cobra. It's really a feel. Best Mid Handicap Irons of · Callaway Rogue ST Max Irons · Cobra LTDx Irons · Mizuno JPX Hot Metal Irons · PING G Irons · TaylorMade Stealth Irons.
The most-forgiving iron set offered by Titleist. An incredibly stylish set of irons that could easily be mistaken for players' irons. Delivers great forgiveness while improving looks, sound, and feel. Feels like a super-premium iron, but at a normal price point. The most affordable mid-handicap irons perform exceptionally well.
An iron that shoots the ball out like a rocket. We invited major equipment manufacturers to submit their entire ranges for testing. Across seven weeks of testing, we created a controlled environment indoors at Keele Golf Centre and used a premium tour-level golf ball the Titleist Pro V1x. We collected a ton of data from every shot hit, using a Foresight GC Quad launch monitor.
To ensure fairness we like to switch manufacturers for the Top Gear test ball each year. Speak to any golf club engineer about product testing and they all talk about needing a repeatable, reliable strike to offer any sort of valuable comparison. So, whilst we accept not all of the equipment included within our tests was designed for our test pro, what our data shows is a great comparison of how clubs in each particular category differ, which is hugely valuable in helping you narrow your choice as a consumer.
We tested 83 different 7-irons, during which our test pro missed a target green at to yards no more than a dozen times. He got a hole-in-one, lipped out, and hit the flag several times, he also loves hitting golf balls all day long. In short, Neil Wain is the perfect club tester due to his consistency in delivering accurate and reliable comparative data.
We would of course always recommend attending a proper fitting session, to ensure any purchase is tailored to your game. See more about how TG tests golf clubs and other equipment. You can contact Simon via email and follow him on Twitter for loads more golf equipment insight. Best overall mid-hanicap irons.
View Offer. Bets golf clubs for mid handicapper The Qi has a huge amount going for it. The model has a really attractive and desirable head shape and profile, yet it maintains good levels of hosel offset to help flight shots higher for additional carry distance. The idea allows golfers to see before they buy the effect loft and lie adjustments have on performance and data which means this versatile model is well suited to a vast audience of abilities, speeds, and deliveries.
If you do then the Qi will help hit shots a little straighter and closer to your target as long irons are inherently tough to hit accurately, especially from the turf. At yards it was tied at the top of the pile as the longest mid-handicap iron we hit this year. Those headline numbers are all well and good, but my eye is drawn to how the model launched and flew higher than our test averages.
That performance led to shots hitting the green at a steeper angle which makes the Qi playable in a way traditional strong lofted irons never were a decade ago. Read our full TaylorMade Qi irons review. Pros Available in stronger and weaker lofts for gapping purposes A bulletproof iron that will stand the test of time Extremely good-looking forgiving iron for mid-handicap golfers. Cons Offset could be off-putting for some golfers.
Fastest mid-handicap irons. Having learned the error of their ways and the effect their decision had on reducing iron sales last year their thinking has dramatically changed for Thanks to producing the fastest ball speed The cavity back short irons are jus as easy to hit. Distance was much longer than most irons I tried.
I was around 10 yards longer on average compared to other models on the list. It is partially because of lower lofts, but Cleveland are known for making irons that travel higher despite lower lofts and that is what I noticed. My friends who play the Launcher models all notice much softer landings on the greens. Conclusion : Any time a mid handicapper friend asks me for recommendations on new irons, I have to gauge how much golf they play and their expectations.
The Cleveland Launcher series is perfect for a golfer who is between a 10 and 18 handicap who plays around 4 times a month without any ambitions of being a scratch golfer. These irons are fun to hit, and help you enjoy your weekly game of golf more than most sets on this list. Changes from G are minor, mainly in aesthetic, and performance of the clubs is very similar.
Look and feel : Ping have shortened the heel to toe distance since their last model by creating a more classic shaped head with a thinner top line. That was my main gripe with Ping irons before. Accuracy and performance :The G irons have been designed to behave more like fairway woods by making the face of the club variable in thickness. I noticed that the irons suited more of a sweeping swing as opposed to my typical steep swing which digs into the ground.
I noticed that with a more sweeping swing, the ball pops up into the air much better than when i struck hard down onto the ball. A lot of people who are scared of taking divots will definitely benefit from a set of G which allow you to sweep and elevate the ball easily, to help you get on or around the green more often.
PING removed some of the unwanted frequencies of sound by dampening the club behind the face with epoxy. A tungsten screw in the toe creates strong perimeter weighting which makes them very forgiving. Conclusion : These are the type of mid handicap irons that do not dig into the turf and suit a sweeping style of swing.
If you do own the G, then I would not consider an upgrade but if you have a sweeping swing and are playing thin soled irons, I would suggest picking up a set of G If you're in the 12 to 20 handicap range, these are great. As always, Mizuno forged golf irons are buttery soft and while the new JPX look like a forgiving muscle back , they are actually a cavity back.
The version feels higher quality on off-center hits and center hits really feel soft compared to the Look and feel : The look of the Mizuno JPX is similar to the prior JPX model and with minimal colors, combined with matte finish, they are easily the best looking iron on the list. They have the look of PGA Tour professional clubs with more forgiving and bigger clubs heads in the long irons moving into more compact shorter irons for precision shots.
There is a very small offset to the clubs for added forgiveness. Accuracy and performance : The sole of the Mizuno has a more U-shaped appearance for less digging in the turf interaction in a similar way to the Srixon ZX5. In my experience with the clubs, there is almost no difference between them and the Srixon ZX5.
Conclusion : You'll be able to shape the ball both ways with these. There are a lot of mid handicappers who were once single figures who still like a fade or draw into a tight pin. It's fun to shape shots if you can. For high-mid handicappers, I would suggest the Hot Metal version because the sweet spot has been moved lower in the face specifically to help inconsistent striking.
Cobra irons are definitely mid handicap irons but have a much more mid-sized club heads. The top line when you address the ball is not as chunky as most mid handicap irons. Like with most of the new irons in this category, they've made the club face thinner to promote more ball speed off the flexible face to hit it longer.
Behind the face Powershell Hot Face first seen in the Radspeed is the updated Pwr-bridge insert they've created to not only increase distance, and improve the forgiveness, as they always do, but also create a very pleasing sound at impact. The head looks really long as well so don't expect a small blade face. The light weight of the clubs and decreased lofts can help your swing speed and distance enough to prevent you from moving to softer shafts.
The cavity back is 3D printed which some people may find cool and hip, but to be fair, it's aesthetics. I care about the performance Cobra continue to create some of the easiest to hit clubs on the market. Cobra continues offering the Arccos Caddie GPS system with sensors in the butt of the club, which can be paired with the Cobra Connect feature. The biggest difference however is the coloring and club head aesthetics.
I've included the Stealth irons on this list because they are older, you can find them used or new, at a very decent price. I like TaylorMade irons. I never play them in the player's irons because I prefer Srixon. Betting favorites masters But I have tried their irons every year since RSi clubs and would rank them up there with Srixon ZX5 range for forgiveness and ease of use. They are SO easy to hit and straighten up your ball flight.
The sweet spot is so wide; it extends over almost the entire groove area so when you mishit the ball it still goes a long way and straight as an arrow. The offset on these irons is a lot more moderate than a lot of mid handicap irons and you don't feel like it's going to hit the ball way left. The short irons get up quickly and mid irons are so forgiving, you'll think they're wedges.
With that increase in height, the ball comes down soft on the mid irons to stay on the green and give you more birdie and par putts. Balls launch high when you hit them and the wide soles help to get under the ball especially in deep rough to get your golf ball moving toward the green and out of the weeds. The heavy perimeter weighting means you can swing it and trust the club to do the work for you.
There's no stress wondering what's going to happen next. They're extremely accurate golf irons and with the offset hosel, cavity back design, they tick all our boxes. One top tip is to get yourself some cavity back wedges if possible if you're going to play these types of irons.
We tested the irons in the review using a mid handicap golfer with a moderate swing speed 98 mph with the driver. We used a Trackman bay with a 7 iron from each set of irons. You will notice the lofts range from Hit the golf clubs, preferably outdoors but indoors works too. Pick the budget you need and understand that boutique brands create clubs in the same factories as the big name manufacturers, but do not spend many on sponsorships and wasteful adverts.
The big name manufacturers price their clubs so high because they sponsor pros and produce tens of thousands of sets at one time, so they need to make sure even if many go unsold, they make a profit. Muscle back blade - Traditional iron heads with most of the steel mass behind the sweet spot, without any cavity back.
You may struggle to hit muscle back or blade irons initially but with a lot of practice, you can find the sweet spot. You will receive a lot more feedback on your shots with a blade iron because when you hit it bad, you can feel it. Cavity back - cavity backs are blades without the mass behind the sweet spot. The manufacturers grind out a cavity in the back of the club, to redistribute the excess steel to the perimeter of the iron.
The cavity backs are much easier to hit than blades and a recreational mid handicap will enjoy the forgiveness that they offer. I recommend mid handicap golfers play with cavity back irons, preferably forged because a fitter can bend forged irons to fit your lie angle without breaking the club.
The cast iron can be bent only one time. The second attempt cracks the club. Shaft flex dominates as the key factor to consider when you purchase a new set of irons. Which flex you use can change your ball flight drastically. The actual flex of each shaft will vary between shaft manufacturers because no standard flex ranking scale exists.
I consulted Tour fitter and expert club builder, Eric Chong of Impact Golf Malaysia about iron shafts to get his insights. Bets golf clubs for mid handicapper Eric points out that the shaft you select needs to match your tempo and transition more than your swing speed. He recommends to always get a fitting with a qualified club fitter to ensure you play the perfect equipment for YOU.
You can even change your trajectory, distance and even your ball flight shape with the correct shaft. Steel or graphite shafts dominate the market. You will see mostly steel shafts in the bags of golfers at the local course. Graphite shafts are less popular but there is no recommendation from me or Eric on this because it would be irresponsible to recommend without seeing your swing.
We suggest making your decision based on your ball-striking ability today and not where you want your game to be. For slower-swinging players, manufacturers often release a HL high-launch version of their latest model to promote steeper landing angles and more stopping power.
Faster players can naturally achieve the same results from increased spin generation. You can learn more about whether stronger lofted irons are best suited to your game in our video below. It is often overlooked, but dialing in your optimal set-up through a custom fitting session will likely be of more benefit than the slight performance edge you hope to achieve by selecting one set of irons over another.
As with most things in the golf world, prices for irons can vary considerably. Value for money is subjective and therefore you should spend however much you feel comfortable with, be it a premium set, or one with a more competitive price point. Many of these recently replaced models are now available at reduced prices and still deliver a modern and competitive performance package.
The best golf irons to use will be highly dependent on many things including ball striking ability, handicap level, and the value each golfer places on particular performance characteristics such as distance, forgiveness, or feel. The confidence-inspiring head size and technology on offer make these clubs as easy as possible to get airborne and sailing towards the green.
The best game improvement irons are typically aimed at mid-handicap players seeking a good blend of distance and forgiveness, but in a package that has the look and feel of a premium quality iron. Both Tiger and Rory game TaylorMade irons. He spent a large part of his career as a golf club maker and product development manager, and has worked in the golf industry for more than 30 years.
You can contact Simon via email and follow him on Twitter for loads more golf equipment insight. Best Golf Irons Buy Now. It amazes me when golfers say they want to play the same equipment as tour pros and then bemoan how an iron like the original Blueprint comes with such narrow soles and toplines and a particularly unforgiving look. Essentially tour pros get what tour players want and if you decide to mimic their equipment you have to accept all the quirks the best players desire.
Forged irons and Ping have never really been easy bedfellows as the company insisted for decades that cast irons could feel just as good as forged models. Read our full Ping Blueprint T iron review. Pros Very good-looking iron. Minimal offset will suit good players.
More forgiving than the original Blueprint. Cons Some may be put off by the toe screw and notched hosel. PXG knows a thing or two about making great irons. As is their calling card throughout their iron family the s have delicious straight-line head shapes, throughout the set and a really premium satin finish.
Speed and distance should never be factors when buying in the blade category but surely the has to score points for producing above-test average levels of ball speed and ranking tied 2nd longest for carry distance. Golfers can go lighter or heavier which can boost ball speed, distance, and consistency , longer or shorter without moving the center of gravity location and thus altering feel.
Pros A beautiful traditional blade profile. Can be weighted up or down without changing the CG location. Even decent ball strikers will appreciate the cavity-back long irons. Cons Unforgiving on off-center hits, so they're for high-skill ball strikers only. They explained how lots of work has been poured into additional toe weighting to hold the blade open and eliminate the smothered left shot for right-handers that seriously good golfers hate.
As impressive as their dedication to the cause may be, my bet is many golfers will barely be able to tell this model apart from the previous generation. Proof if you need it of how hard it is to update muscleback blades without turning off the intended audience. If your game happens to be good enough to consider employing a set of blades this year the Staff Model is one of my three best-performing blades in Read our full Wilson Staff Model Blade iron review.
Pros Feel and impact are sensational. For an iron of this quality, the cost is very reasonable. Head shapes and profiles don't come any more traditional. Cons These are amongst the least forgiving irons on the market. Comparing the two sets the pair are almost identical in terms of data bar the four yards carry distance gain in favor of the S. In terms of distance, the S carried shots comfortably above our test average 3 yards , with the carry distance drop-off and shot area being just below and above the test averages respectively.
That sort of performance says to me the model is well decked out to perform across the board for consistent ball strikers. Any decision between the S and i is likely to come down to how much premium you put on playing forged irons. Out on tour, this is huge, hence why the Blueprint S is seeing such success in the hands of the best players in the world. Read our full Ping Blueprint S iron review.
Pros This is Ping's first forged cavity back iron in a decade. An excellent blend of sound, feel, and forgiveness within the chassis of a tour iron. Toe and shaft tip weights cleverly up MOI. Cons Ping forged irons always represent a sizeable investment. Why do we like it so much. A fourth-best carry distance, plus a On top of everything else, our test pro thought the feel and feedback from the ZX7 was out of this world good, and right up there alongside the Mizunos of this world.
Pros Exceptional feel. Brilliant all-round performance. Fantastic looking with its timeless design. Cons Slightly more speed and distance to be found in the ZX5. It was only back in when the company first sprung onto the scene that the brand championed how hollow-body iron constructions allowed the brand to combine the looks of a blade with the forgiveness of a cavity back.
As good as hollow body constructions are, with their fast faces, many of the best players in the world just want consistency from their irons. So, fair play to PXG for listening to their team and creating a family just for elite players. Yes, the slightly stronger lofted, hollow body T was 2. From a 7-iron loft bang on our test average the one-piece forged CB head produced a ball speed faster than the test average, yet launched and flighted shots higher, with a steeper descent angle so hitting shots into a green will be much like throwing darts at a board.
Great work, with congratulations being due to PXG for their first forged cavity back iron endeavor. Pros Excellent control and shot consistency. High flights with steep decent angles. Strong carry distances. Cons Not the fast ball speeds within the family. Yet our test pro was adamant the model felt quick and powerful it produced a faster-than-average ball speed and offered him the ball flight, control and look he wanted from a forged cavity back tour-level iron.
Read our full Mizuno Pro irons review. Pros Expect beautifully shaped heads. Guaranteed great feel and feedback. Lots of shaft options at zero upcharge.