When you’re out on the course, irons are the clubs that will take up the majority of your strokes. From the tee shot (on shorter holes) to the chip shot and everything in between, you need the right irons to get the desired distance and accuracy that’ll set you up for success.
This guide will explain everything you should know about buying the right irons in 2023. We’ll cover our favorite sets of irons and helpful tips to pick the best ones for your golf game. Keep reading to get all the details.
To start things off, here are our five top picks for the best sets of golf irons in 2023.
There’s a lot to break down with each of these options, which we’ll detail in the following sections.
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The PING G430 Irons are a good all-around set of clubs. The irons that come in this set are:
This set will be best for intermediate to advanced golfers who are looking to invest in high-quality clubs. These clubs are very customizable for those with different techniques and swing speeds, so you’ll benefit from getting them properly fitted before purchase.
These irons feel very sturdy and give you an excellent sense of control to dial in your swing for the right accuracy and distance in varying situations.
You also benefit from getting a complete set of wedges, which you don’t always see with sets of irons. Carrying multiple types of wedges helps optimize your short game and chip shots for different situations.
The Mizuno 225 Irons are an extremely high-quality set of clubs. In this set, you get:
These clubs will be best for relative pros or those who are very experienced and want to dial in their swing immensely.
These are the only blade-back clubs on this list. There is some debate about whether you should use blade-back or cavity-back irons.
Without getting too technical, blade-backs allow you to get more control over your shots, but they’re also less forgiving if you hit incorrectly. On the other hand, cavity back irons are more forgiving for amateur players who don’t have perfect technique. So we only recommend going with these if you have really top-notch technique.
When you use these irons, the swing is very smooth. You’ll feel like you have complete control over your aim and distance on each shot. While they are more expensive, players who want to invest in their game will benefit from using these.
Out of the women’s options, the TaylorMade Stealth HD Irons come out on top in our rankings. This set includes:
This is a great all-around set of clubs. Players of any skill level can use these effectively, but they’ll be an especially nice investment for more advanced golfers with their technique down.
These irons are sturdy and should last you for many years. When you swing with them, they’ll feel smooth and provide a lot of control over where you land the ball. You can also customize them quite a bit when you get a proper fitting.
The LAZRUS Premium Golf Irons will be a good choice for men who want a reasonably priced starter set of clubs. This set includes:
Beginners don’t need anything flashy to get out on the course and learn proper technique. It can even be beneficial to wait to buy higher-quality clubs until you have your swing down so you can get them fitted right for your game.
If you’re looking for a good, reliable choice, these ones from LAZRUS will get the job done. They’re pretty sturdy and have a good amount of control for a set of irons priced under $300. So your golf game will be off to a good start with these.
Women who want a budget-friendly starter set will get good use out of the Ram Golf Accubar Irons. This set includes:
Like the previous men’s option, this set serves the same purpose for women just starting with golf. It contains all the irons you should need, with a couple of long-range hybrids at a very reasonable price.
These clubs feel pretty sturdy, so they should hold up well while you’re learning proper form. Plus, the swing feels smooth for clubs in this price range. They’ll definitely help you get off to a good start before investing in a more advanced set.
Now that we’ve covered our favorite sets of irons, you should consider a few things to pick the right ones.
Typically, the amount you should invest in irons will depend on your skill level.
Of course, if you’re advanced, you can still get good performance from a lower-priced set of clubs. So don’t overspend if you can’t afford it. That said, investing in a quality set of clubs will keep you going for years, so your money is well-spent on them.
You’ll likely come across the term “flex” frequently when shopping for irons. Essentially, it’s the ability for the club’s shaft to bend during the swing and impacts how you make contact with the ball. Players with faster swings will want a stiffer flex, whereas players with slower swings will want a softer flex.
The spin rate is the amount the ball spins right after you hit your shot. It affects distance and accuracy. Clubs like wedges will have higher lofts and more spin, which is why they’re used for close-range shots. Your longer-range irons, like the 4-iron and 5-iron, will have lower lofts and less spin, so they’ll hit the ball farther.
The speed of your swing also affects the amount of spin on the ball. You want to find the perfect balance between swing speed and the loft of your club to get the right amount of spin for your golf game. That’s why having your clubs properly fitted is very beneficial.
While getting clubs fitted helps a lot, not every player needs to get their irons fitted. Specifically, beginners who don’t have their technique down yet don’t really need fitted clubs. That’s why investing in a lower-priced set early on isn’t a bad idea. It avoids having to buy and fit high-quality clubs twice, as your technique varies early on.
However, if you’re investing in an expensive set of clubs, you should definitely get them fitted if possible. It simply sets you up for the best results from your new irons.
There you have it, a complete guide to picking the best irons for your needs.
Considering all the tips in this article will have you on your way to buying a great set of irons.
Good luck out on the course!
