Whether you are new to the sport of golf or a seasoned veteran, having a good set of irons is absolutely essential. With the right irons, you are one step closer to constructing the ultimate pathway to victory.
Want to make up for a bad drive or set up for the perfect putt? Then your irons are your most valuable asset, and you’re going to need them.
But what makes a good set of irons and why? In this article, you’ll learn about a selection of different offerings and get one step closer to choosing the best golf irons for you.
Cleveland Golf Men's Launcher HB Iron Set
The Cleveland Golf Men’s Launcher HB Iron Set is an affordable set of clubs that are well received amongst most users.
Cleveland has said that their goal with the Launcher series is “to bring the recreational player a better combination of performance and simplicity with a focus on higher launch, straighter shots, and more forgiveness”.
This is good news for mid to low swing speed players who struggle to come to a stop on the green, as these irons deliver on their promises, with a high launch being especially notable.
The hollow construction of the clubs causes the weight to be relocated into the lower, deeper areas of the clubhead, to achieve a high level of forgiveness. It also improves impact stability, which is something to consider if you’re a player that struggles on impact.
These clubs are described as a “progressive design”, with a high strength Ht1770 steel face. This steel face promotes increased flex at impact and higher ball speed.
The HiBore crown feature helps the club achieve a low center of gravity and high MOI, and once again contributes to the previously mentioned and coveted high launch.
These clubs are easy to use and should definitely be considered by players with a slower swing speed who are looking to get out and enjoy the game.
Pros
- High launch
- High forgiveness
- Good control
- Strong face
- Affordable
Cons
- Some users report little improvement from previous models
TaylorMade Golf M6 Iron
The TaylorMade M6 Iron set features clubs with the Speed Bridge, a structure that combines with the Speed Pocket to enhance ball speed and distance, essential when making your way through any course.
The speed bridge and speed pocket also create a great sound and feel to this set of irons, making them satisfying to play with. The advanced HYBRAR compression damper increases stability and allows for solid shots.
The fluted hostel and 360 degrees undercut make for a low center of gravity to ensure that all shots have a good height to them, which is important for getting the ball to travel the necessary distance.
Due to the speed bridge and strong iron structure, they have a high MOI, high launch, and a massive sweet spot, which all contribute to its forgiveness.
With a 90mm length blade and inverted cone technology, this is a cutting-edge piece of kit that employs many technological treats that will please golfers old and new.
The design is simple yet does the job, and it comes in both steel and graphite. With TaylorMade being one of the leading golfing equipment companies, many pro golfers use their products, meaning they’re a safe bet in terms of quality and reliability.
Pros
- Speed Bridge enhances energy transfer
- Speed pocket increases speed
- Massive sweet spot
- Massive forgiveness
Cons
- Some users find it too light
TaylorMade Golf P790 Iron Set
The TaylorMade Golf P790 Iron Set are popular clubs, and there are many reasons for this. For a start, their forged hollow body construction is designed to increase both distance and forgiveness.
To create this effect, TaylorMade designed a thin, wrap-around forged 4140 face and soft carbon steel body. The clubs also come with SpeedFoam, which is an injection of ultra-light urethane foam inside the head.
This technical feature is designed to increase comfort whilst looking good, despite the design limits that come with increased face speed in certain clubs.
The clubs come with low profile tungsten weighting, which makes for a lower center of gravity and higher launch. The level of height you manage to shoot at is important for achieving the distances needed to get across the green.
As if this wasn’t enough, the clubs have a Thru Slot Speed Pocket, a flexible speed pocket design. This greatly increases ball speed and provides high forgiveness on those tricky low face shots.
Finally, another feature is Progressive Inverted Cone Technology, located in each iron.
This was added with the intention of improving shot accuracy and protecting off-center ball speed from lagging when a shot might not be as clean as you’d like.
Pros
- Forged hollow body construction for distance and forgiveness
- SpeedFoam increases comfort and looks good
- Low profile tungsten weighting
- Low CG and high launch
Cons
- Not budget friendly
TaylorMade Golf M5 Iron Set
With the TaylorMade M5 Golf Iron Set, there are certain similarities to the M6 Iron Set, but for a slightly more expensive price, it offers some features that differ from the M6. Every player is different, so it really comes down to what works for you.
For example, the M5 Iron set tends to be used by lower handicap players and they are described by some as being the more traditional set. The shaft is 80mm long, and they have tungsten weighting like the P790 set, offering a low center of gravity and high launch.
They also have a 180 degree fluted hosel which, like tungsten weighting, results in a lower center of gravity. The 360 degrees undercut feature is also implemented in this club set, allowing for more face flex.
The M5 set features the previously mentioned speed pocket and speed bridge of the M6, improving the sound and feel of the clubs, whilst directing the impact vibration to the lower area of the clubface.
This is the area of the face at which most players strike the ball. If you are a low to mid handicap player looking for a compact set of irons, this set would be a good fit for you.
Pros
- Increased speed with speed bridge
- Sounds and feels great
- High forgiveness and playability
Cons
- Some users struggle with level of control
Callaway Golf 2020 Mavrik Max Iron Set
The new range of Callaway Mavrik irons offers us the Callaway Mavrik Max set. While the Mavrik Standard set is more suited to the average golfer, some players may struggle to achieve a high enough launch if they have a slower sing.
That’s where the Mavrik Max steps in, as it is designed to offer the highest launch and forgiveness of the Mavrik series. The clubs also have a larger body, with a deep center of gravity.
Across the Mavrik range, cutting edge technology has been used, as the creators have used artificial intelligence in the designing process.
This is the first time that Mavrik has used artificial intelligence in their irons, and it’s clear that the clubhead has benefited from this. The face architecture is quite impressive, using the Flash Face Cup, which is designed to get optimum launch and ball flight.
Although the Mavrik Max set is an impressive piece of kit and is great for a higher spin and maximum forgiveness, some users have reported that it doesn’t offer much in terms of distance.
The title “Max” could be somewhat misleading in this respect, as reports have shown that the distance achieved by this set is the same, and sometimes less than the standard Mavrik.
Pros
- Powered by A.I
- Comfortable feel
- High launch
- High forgiveness
Cons
- Standard distance
- Marks appear on the head too easily
As was mentioned previously, a good set of irons are a necessity for golfers old and new. Irons are probably the most expensive set of golf clubs you will purchase, and the market is always changing, so it’s important that you keep up to date with what to look out for.
Lucky for you, in this section, we’re going to help you do just that. So, what should you be looking out for when you’re ready to purchase that crucial set of clubs?
Loft
Irons make up the bulk of a set of golf clubs. Generally, a standard set of irons are designed for usage in all manner of different terrain you might encounter, and an average set tends to range from a 4 to a PW (pitching wedge) or an SW (sand wedge).
Most of the time, the lower the number in the set, the lower the loft. With a lower loft, you’re likely to get more distance on your shots, but these shots will be harder to control.
You might hit a ball a great distance but fail to get anywhere near your target if there is a high level of spin involved. Due to this, many sets are sold from 4 and above, and hybrid clubs are being implemented more and more.
Overall, golf irons are your go-to for all manner of situations, and the loft of a club is very important.
You will want to use your irons to get yardage and reach your final destination, so you probably want to consider getting a set that is easy to use based upon your own ability level and allows you to combine height and distance effectively.
Shaft
Shafts can come in different sizes, lengths, and materials. Each of these elements offers their own advantages and disadvantages, so it comes down to the preferences and ability of the player who chooses to use them.
Steel: The most common material used to make shafts in irons is steel. Steel tends to be strong and less flexible than alternatives, but still offers a good deal of flex.
Steel shafted irons tend to be cheaper, but also quite accurate, comfortable and fairly consistent, which makes them a popular selection amongst buyers.
Graphite: Graphite is not as commonly used as steel when it comes to irons, but you tend to get a faster swing speed when using graphite, which can in turn increase distances.
This is due to it being a more flexible and lightweight material than steel. Graphite shafts feel different to steel, with some users describing it as less stable, so it might be recommended for more experienced and niche players.
It is also less affordable than steel, which is a drawback if you have a lower budget.
Head
The head of an iron is the part of the club that is used to hit the ball. There are varying types of iron clubheads that have different pros and cons, and they are all manufactured in different ways.
Cast-Iron: This is how the majority of iron clubheads are made. It involves a process of molding molten metal into a certain shape and size to produce a head.
As this is the most common type, there are many variables, but it’s important to look for a club head with a decent loft and face. Cast-iron heads are known for being easy to use and having a high launch.
Forged Iron: The process of making a forged iron head is more complicated and therefore more expensive. Some say that these types of heads require more accuracy but achieve greater results.
As a result of this, forged iron used to be more favored by professional golfers as it was described as harder to use, but these days, cast iron is popular amongst players of all levels.
Titanium Iron: A strong material that is only half the weight of steel, titanium clubheads can be larger but lighter than others. This results in a larger sweet spot and lots of forgiveness, and this makes them very easy to play with.
Of course, with all good things, there are downsides, and it’s no surprise that titanium irons tend to be the least affordable of all. Due to this, they are also perhaps the most uncommon on the market.
Our Pick
Recap
With all factors in mind, there are clearly many wonderful sets of golf irons out there, but which one do we think is the best out of the products we’ve listed?
While they are all undoubtedly good clubs, it’s better to be safe than sorry when making such a crucial purchase, and in light of this, we would suggest going with the TaylorMade M6 Iron Set.
TaylorMade has proven time and time again that they are at the forefront of great golfing equipment, and the M6 Irons are no exception. With comfortable playability and a satisfying feel, there is a reason that these clubs are one of the best sellers on the market.
The speed bridge and speed pocket combination are an important asset. Together, they will have you making your way across the green in no time.
As well as this, the advanced HYBRAR compression damper ensures stability. This means you won’t struggle to achieve those solid shots that we all crave, with maximum forgiveness to boot.
The design is simple and straightforward, yet sleek and technologically impressive.
So, that’s our choice for the best golf irons out there. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic and look forward to seeing you out there on the green with a fantastic set of irons at your side.
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