So where do mid handicappers look to find clubs that can continue to improve their game?
One of the best areas to attack to push their golf game to that next level is finding a new set of irons that fit their game by improving accuracy and extending distance.
With all that in mind, below are some of the best game-improvement irons 2019 has to offer. Best Game-Improvement Irons 2019 Ping G410. Ping G410 irons review. Getting the ball up on a nice trajectory with any of the clubs was not an issue so as far as these being a game improvement irons these should be considered as top rung. Today the weather was 49 degrees with a WSW wind around 10 mph. Went through the bag and honestly I could not tell any difference in a distance increase over my old XR's but what stood out was the ball dispersion was so much better with the Rogues.
The best irons for mid-handicappers have several characteristics that will help boost ball height on shots as well as dramatically decrease the length of birdie putts.
For those golfers who have handicaps that sit between 10 and 18, they can push themselves to improve by taking the time to find the right irons for their game.
Here are three of the best iron sets for mid-handicappers that offer a variety of features that will delight and upgrade their golfing experience.
Table Of Contents
- 1 Best Irons For Mid Handicappers
- 2 Questions & Answers: Best Irons For Mid Handicappers
- 2.10 What are the different types of irons available?
- 2.11 What are the designs available for irons?
Best Irons For Mid Handicappers: forgiving & very long high-quality contruction irons
- Extremely high launch angle off the clubface
- Hollow construction of clubhead makes the Launcher light and fast throughout the swing
- Very forgiving with perimeter weighting around the clubface
- Lightweight irons improve distance through boosted clubhead speed
- May take an adjustment period for golfers who are used to irons from the fairway
The Cleveland Launcher HB Iron Set can change your game overnight.
These are some of the longest, highest and most forgiving irons we’ve ever played for the intermediate golfers.
More sophisticated than your typical game-improvement iron, the Launcher HB iron set is a terrific option for golfers breaking into the mid-handicap level. What makes the Launcher HB such a fantastic iron set for the mid-handicapper is due to the high-quality construction.
Cleveland has hollowed out the center of the clubhead to move more weight around the perimeter, so off-center strikes stay straight and with the same punch that a normal hit would make. These are great irons that all mid-level players should consider for their next set.
One of the more unique club sets on the market is the Cleveland Launcher HB Iron Set.
With a hybrid-like design, Cleveland has elevated the level of the Launcher set through creative engineering that has made one of their longest and most forgiving club sets to date.
For the Launcher HB irons set, it all begins with their appearance. The hybrid design improves contact and allows the golfer to get the ball into the air faster for long and straight shot-making ability.With the lack of mass inside the clubhead, Cleveland has moved the weight around the incredibly strong club face.
As a result, the Launcher has terrific forgiveness that reduces side spin preventing those score-killing hooks and slices that can ruin an afternoon.All the Launcher clubheads utilize Cleveland’s patented HiBore Crown technology.
Now why this important for the average golfer is because the technology has moved the center-of-gravity to a low and deep area on the clubhead.
This design feature helps give the golfer a high ball flight and longer distance. For the beginning golfer or mid-handicapper, this improved launch angle will give the player a tall and soft entry into the green.
Another reason that the ball jumps off the clubface of the Launcher irons is a high-strength steel insert that flexes on impact.
Now that may sound like a negative, but it helps on off-center shots. By flexing, the clubface reduces side spin and delivers the distance that golfers are expecting from the Launcher irons.
Cleveland has also given the Launcher iron set a progressive shape as the irons increase in number. For longer irons, such as a 4-iron, the shape of the clubhead is lower and wider than the higher irons.
By shaping these longer irons differently, golfers find that their ball flight is higher than they typically see from their previous long irons.
With cutting-edge technology, the Cleveland Launcher HB is an excellent set for the mid-handicapper looking for longer distance and more forgiveness.
Most forgiving iron set: most forgiving set we’ve seen packed with latest technology
- Speed pocket at the bottom of the club keeps shots straight and long
- Face slots behind the clubface aid in boosting ball speed
- RIBCOR Technology help correct off-center strikes through flexible clubface
- Beginning golfers may want to find a less expensive starting iron set
TaylorMade has created an impressive set with the M4 Irons.
Showcasing a host of features that help the golfer keep the ball long and straight, the M4 irons utilize patented TaylorMade technology to provide a golfing experience that will vastly improve the game of mid-level players.
With RIBCOR technology, the M4 iron set will increase distance, boost your launch angle for higher and softer entry shots into the green and provide maximum forgiveness for less side spin. All of these features result in one of the best upper-tier iron sets we’ve hit in a long time as the M4 irons delivers the goods.
TaylorMade has created a dynamic new set of irons that raise the stakes for mid-level golfers looking to improve their distance and launch angle.
The M4 Irons have been built to increase accuracy to help lower scores via closer entry shots into the green.
Dependable construction is at the heart of all TaylorMade products and this attention to detail is what sets the M4 apart from other game-improvement irons.
With the company’s strong research and development department, TaylorMade has produced a set with the M4 irons that is a terrific experience on the golf course.
For the M4 irons, every feature utilizes TaylorMade’s patented RIBCOR technology.
Starting with the clubface, the company has introduced a variety of details that increase the areas of the game that most mid-handicappers are looking to improve. From longer distance, higher ball flight and increased accuracy, the M4 brings the muscle to any golfer’s game.
The first feature on the M4 irons is a Speed Pocket seen on the sole of the iron. Placed directly behind the clubface, the Speed Pocket primarily boosts ball speed.
This feature helps on shots struck on the lower half of the clubface to propel forward without the punishment that lesser irons would place on the golf ball.
The second feature on the M4 that uses the RIBCOR technology is the face slots placed alongside the grooves on the clubface.
The face slots are two vertical bars that run from the top of the clubhead to the sole of the club. The slots stiffen the clubhead but allow for flexibility at impact that help direct more energy to the golf ball.
And the final notable specification on the M4 irons is a lower center-of-gravity that improves launch angle. By increasing backspin, shots with these irons fly high and land soft.
With outstanding features, the M4 irons are an excellent set for the golfer looking to make the leap to lower their handicap.
Runner up choice: Well-crafted with exceptional playability:
- The Speed Pocket technology imparts maximum swing speed onto the golf ball
- Very forgiving club that keeps ball straight by minimizing side spin
- The club face has the patented Twist Face Technology for high launch angle and increased distance
- Not for mid-handicappers that are inexperienced with shaping shots
The M6 irons from TaylorMade are an exceptional set that brings a needed boost in distance and accuracy to golfers with low-to-mid handicaps.
The secret of the M6 lies behind the company’s patented Speed Bridge technology. The Speed Bridge is a bar that binds the upper portion of the clubface while allowing the lower half of the face to twist with freedom and provide more energy to the golf ball.
If you are looking to continue your improvement as a golfer, then the M6 really does deliver fantastic gameplay and excellent shot-making ability. We recommend it for serious golfers.
With the Speed Bridge helping the M6’s Speed Pocket, the irons are the company’s longest and most forgiving set they offer. The Speed Pocket allows the M6 irons to generate head-turning speed for incredible distance.
The face on the irons also has a massive sweet spot that when coupled with TaylorMade’s Twist Face technology allows the golfer to get away with a lot of mistakes due to the reduction in sidespin and lift in forgiveness.
When we got the M6 irons on the range, we were blown away by the feel and sound the M6 produces with each shot. For low-handicappers, you’ll have a blast using these irons to craft shots of any height or flight path. After hundreds of balls hit, we were in love with the response and direction the M6 takes on every swing.
The M6 set does come in a variety of options with most revolving around how many wedges you want in your bag. Golfers can start with a 4 or 5-iron and add anywhere from one to three wedges. For mid-handicappers who like to buy and play a different group of wedges, the 4-iron through pitching wedge should do the trick.
If you are just entering the mid-handicap category, then the M6 iron set should definitely be tested before buying. That’s not to say they are an acquired taste, quite the contrary. Instead, the M6 set is a collection that gives you special tools to shape shots. When looking at your skill level, if you feel that you don’t have that skill set, then the M6 set might not be ideal for your game just yet.
Runner up choice: full forgiving set at half the price of what it would cost otherwise
- The large sweet spot on the X-Series irons promotes forgiveness by reducing side spin that destroys distance and accuracy
- Factory steel shafts are incredibly strong and enhance the feel on each shot
- One of the longest irons that we’ve tested for game-improvement golfers
- Perimeter-weighted clubheads give your shots maximum forgiveness on off-center shots
- Not as sophisticated as other irons marketed for mid-handicappers, but delivers solid shot-making from a budget set of clubs
Callaway has designed a high-quality set of clubs for mid-handicappers with their latest version of the X-Series irons.
Emphasizing distance with increased clubhead speed, the X-Series takes advantage of their perimeter-weighted cavity-backed design to promote exceptional shotmaking.
The company has designed the X-Series irons with a low center-of-gravity to increase forgiveness without hurting your distance.
Balls come off the clubface of the X-Series with a great feel for confidence that will carry you through a round. For a solid set that will assist the mid-handicapper in a variety of ways, the X-Series is a terrific set that provides a high performing experience.
The X-Series irons from Callaway deliver power and accuracy to the mid-handicapper by using a newly designed club face to enhance forgiveness and boost distance. For golfers who are struggling with distance, the X-Series will give the weekend warrior several more yards of length with each shot.
The best feature of X-Series is the perimeter-weighted clubhead. What we mean with perimeter-weighting is that the weight of the clubhead is evenly distributed around the back area located behind the clubface.
This particular design helps with forgiveness because the weight isn’t placed in one location that would make the margin of error much smaller. Instead, the weight keeps the club moving smoothly through the golf ball so that there isn’t a reduction in clubhead speed and the potential to impart ugly side spin.
Callaway has also extended the sole of the X-Series irons so that the clubhead effortlessly moves through the grass to cleanly contact the golf ball. Smaller soles tend to bounce when they strike the turf causing inconsistent contact with the golf ball.
The X-Series has a wider sole that keeps the iron balanced as it enters the turf and makes a path into the golf ball. Less bounce means consistent solid contact for the X-Series.
Another area of improvement on these irons is the steel shafts that Callaway is using with this model. Made from stainless steel, these uniflex shafts are sturdy and stay true throughout the swing for enhanced feel and improved contact.
The X-Series irons deliver a quality experience for the mid-handicapper by boosting their distance and keeping the ball on target throughout the round. From the additional forgiveness to the exceptional feel, the X-Series irons continually provided an excellent experience for the golfer looking to upgrade their equipment.
Best for distance: low center of gravity with state-of-the-art technology
- The lower center-of-gravity on the M2 irons forces shots to soar higher for greater distance and softer landings
- Face Slot technology is coupled with TaylorMade’s speed pocket for a thinner clubface that increases distance and forgiveness
- One of the cleanest looking game-improvement irons on the market
- There are a lot of options available on the M2 irons, and that could potentially overwhelm an inexperienced golfer.
The TaylorMade M2 iron set is ideal for players looking to dip their toe into the lake of shot shaping. Most entry-level clubs are sledgehammers in that they have one single function; to get the ball up into the air and with distance.
But the M2 irons have moved weight lower behind the clubface to provide incredible launch and dynamic control. TaylorMade’s Face Slot technology also corrals those errant tee shots that start on the toe or heel for exceptional forgiveness. Without a doubt, these M2 irons will boost your entry game into the green in considerable ways.
The M2 iron set is one of the best irons for mid-handicappers due to its innovative approach and enhanced technology.
What TaylorMade set out to do with the M2 irons is help mid-handicappers with the accuracy of their shots. They attacked this common problem with the invention of Face Slot technology.
What Face Slots do on an M2 iron is very important because it assists in keeping the ball headed toward the target. More specifically, these redesigned Face Slots maintain ball speed on off-center shots so that your shot doesn’t fall victim to elements such as wind or that dreaded sidespin that causes slices or hooks.
Another alteration the company made with the M2 is relocating the center-of-gravity by moving weight lower behind the clubface. Simply put, a lower center-of-gravity forces the ball higher into the air. For mid-handicappers, by moving the weight lower, the M2 guarantees that golfers will get the maximum distance, height, and backspin when using the irons.
TaylorMade has also given more attention to how the M2 irons react when they interact with the turf behind the golf ball. Irons react differently when then cut into the grass on the downswing, but what the M2 irons do is smoothly glide through the divot to enable clean contact with the golf ball.
This clean contact is created through a unique design along the sole of all M2 irons. As a result, the M2 irons smoothly move through the turf and focus maximum clubhead speed onto the golf ball, where it belongs.
By utilizing cutting edge technology, the M2 irons are a terrific option for mid-handicappers. With increased clubhead speed and maximum forgiveness, the M2 irons will help bridge the gap until your handicap reaches single digits.
Forged Feel and Consistency: Callaway Apex CF16 Iron Set
In the world of golf clubs, the brand Apex can be considered a legend, known for its high-end quality and beautiful design.
The brand Apex was recently re-launched under the Callaway brand, and Callaway has combined their touch of technology with the premium looks and overall quality, giving birth to a beautiful iron set that is not only good-looking, but also excellent in performance.
The Callaway Apex CF16 Iron Set features a multi-material forged head made of six different pieces, mainly a 17-4 stainless steel face, a 1025E forged carbon steel body, and other supporting parts to improve sound and feel.
Callaway APEX CF16 Iron Set
Credit Photo: esprinkmann
Pros of the Callaway Apex CF16 Iron Set
- Beautiful design, one of the best available in the market
- Great, loud sound
- Excellent and consistent feel throughout the set
- Very responsive with excellent feedback
Cons of the Callaway Apex CF16 Iron Set
- Not very forgiving with compact head and no cavity back design
The CF16 adopts Callaway’s Cup Face technology in the 3- to 7- irons, which was first introduced in their 2015 fairway woods.
The center of gravity (CG) placement is moved further backwards than your usual irons, which is achieved with a rounder rear edge on the sole.
This CG placement allows an easier time to lift the ball and offers more forgiveness. This rounded edge is a little noticeable from 4-iron and above, but shouldn’t be a major compromise to the design.
While the Cup Face is missing in the 8-iron all the way to the included wedges, it is replaced by an especially engineered face plate that feels just as good, giving you a consistent feel throughout the set.
All clubs in the set have beautiful chrome and matte satin finish that is very beautiful and expensive-looking, as you can expect from a Callaway club set.
Regarding looks, the Callaway Apex CF16 Iron Set is simply one of the most beautiful club sets available.
The Apex clubs are always famous for their sound and feel, and they are retained in the Apex CF16.
All the clubs in the set are very responsive with sharp, pleasing sounds. Even among forged irons, the Apex CF16 clubs are some of the best in this category.
Regarding forgiveness, the Apex CF16 is more forgiving than out-and-out blade irons. The club faces are relatively small, especially with the shorter irons.
Therefore, the Apex CF16 set is more suited for better mid-handicappers that are more consistent with their shots. The set will reward consistent players in feel, distance, and shot-shaping ability.
The standard shaft for the set is the lightweight True Temper XP95 steel shafts. It feels very solid with excellent feedback, and is well-suited with the forged club heads.
It is excellent in feel, sound, looks, and performance both in distance and shot-shaping ability. The multi-material forged heads are rewarding, especially for mid-handicap players that can produce consistent well-struck shots.
It is not the most affordable set available, but the price is justified with the excellent quality. The relative lack of forgiveness can be a downside, making the Apex CF16 Set more suited for better mid-handicappers with a handicap of 15 and below.
High-Tech Forgiveness: Callaway 2018 Rogue Iron Set
The new Callaway Rogue can be considered as a spiritual successor to the famous XR-series clubs, combining forgiveness with a relatively compact head, giving you the ‘pro’ look.
This is arguably what made the XR clubs so successful, and those qualities -and more- are present in the Rogue Iron Set.
The latest XR iron set, Steelhead XR Pro was an excellent set, but many Callaway fans were discouraged with its black matte finish. Thankfully, Callaway chose to go back to their classic chrome silver with the Rogue.
Pros of the Callaway 2018 Rogue Iron Set
- Excellent forgiveness with the updated Cup Face and cavity back design
- Great looks with chrome silver finish and classic Callaway design
- Great sound
- Excellent feel with a lot of feedback
Cons of the Callaway 2018 Rogue Iron Set
Being a newer club, the Rogue features an updated, thinner 360 Face Cup technology, allowing the face to flex even more during impact compared to the Apex CF16.
It also features a cavity back design, moving the weight distribution of the face along its perimeter, which will give you more forgiveness.
The thing about cavity back clubs is that the sound and feel are often compromised due to the specific design.
Callaway tackled the sound issue by utilizing Urethane Microspheres in the cavity back, and as a result, the Rouge irons sound very similar to forged blade irons.
A minor downside, however, is that as the cavity goes bigger in the longer irons, causing the sound to be louder.
The Rogue is Callaway’s current flagship model for high and mid-handicappers, while the Callaway Rogue Pro Iron Set is designed for better high-handicappers with below 12 to 15 handicap, and the Epic Pro is their current better-player set.
It is worth noting that the main difference between the standard Rogue and Rogue Pro is the weaker loft on the Pro due to the more compact, deeper head.
It is still reasonably easy to launch the ball with the Rogue Pro clubs, however, especially when compared to the even weaker Epic Pro.
So, the Rogue Iron set is an ideal match for high-handicappers with around 12 to 20 handicaps, while those with slightly lower handicaps will benefit more from the Rogue Pro set with its better shot-shaping playablity.
The Rogue offers a great feel throughout the set, and paired with its decent forgiveness, you get a very beautiful iron set with excellent performance.
Another plus point is its versatility, as you can easily control various height trajectory with the irons. The irons are also relatively light, thanks to the True Temper XP 95 ST 15 shaft which is very light while being stable enough to maintain consistency.
Regarding head size, it is a little bigger than the Apex CF16, while being a little smaller compared to the Callaway Steelhead XR Pro, its spiritual predecessor. In our opinion, the head size is perfect for mid-handicappers who want more forgiveness without sacrificing looks with bulky clubheads.
Although the head is relatively compact compared to most super game-improvement irons, it is surprising to find how the clubs felt powerful during impact, giving a lot of feedback without the annoying vibrations, again thanks to the very stable shaft.
The design of the clubs, and especially on the cavity back part, is relatively simple, as you may expect from the classic Callaway.
The Rogue comes in Callaway’s classic chrome silver finish, which is the favorite of many players and especially mid to low-handicappers.
Newer Callaway clubs often feature colorful design on the back of the heads, but that’s not the case with the Rouge, which features simple black patterns and logo, giving it a classier look.
It features a cavity back design for more forgiveness but still sports a relatively compact head prefered by better players. It produces great sound and feel, and is very versatile on the course, giving you excellent control of trajectory.
A minor downside is that it doesn’t have the shot-shaping ability of better-player iron sets, including the Apex CF16 discussed above. Yet, a pretty decent iron set for mid-handicappers offering well-rounded package.
Forged-Cast Hybrid Head: TaylorMade Golf 2018 P790 Men's Iron Set
While the TaylorMade P790 is marketed as a forged iron set, it is technically not forged, at least not all of it.
Most of the body is made from cast carbon steel, except for the face and the perimeter which uses forged carbon steel.
So, the part that hit the ball is forged, and you will feel it during impact, especially on well-struck shots. But that’s not the only special thing about the P790 head.
TaylorMade P790 Irons
Credit Photo: golfwarehousenz
Pros of the TaylorMade Golf 2018 P790 Men's Iron Set
- Excellent ball speed with low spin, producing excellent performance in carry distance
- Very beautiful clubs, if not some of the best available today
- Excellent forgiveness for mid-handicappers
- Forged face with hollow head combining the feel of the forged iron with the lightness of cast irons
Cons of the TaylorMade Golf 2018 P790 Men's Iron Set
- Muted sound and feel
- Lack of consistency due to the less responsive feel
The space behind the forged part is hollow, filled with 4 grams of foam, dubbed the SpeedFoam, and is screwed in the toe.
The SpeedFoam expands to four times its normal size inside the space, supporting the very thin forged face that is only 1.75 mm thick.
This might sound as a new technology for TaylorMade, but they already used a foam inside the head with their RS irons back in 2009.
Being very thin with a hollow head, you might wonder if the lightweight will be an issue. So, the 3- to 7-irons are weighted with high-density tungsten.
The weight is placed on the lower-back part of the head, just below the cavity. This allows the center of gravity to move lower and further back, increasing the MOI and thus, forgiveness.
TaylorMade’s answer to Callaway’s Cup Face technology is their Speed Pocket.
The concepts are similar: allowing the face to flex more during impact, and so allowing faster ball speed even during off-center hits.
Although it does have a cavity back design, the recessed part is very modest, giving the P790 a premium, professional look that will cater to many.
TaylorMade P790 Irons vs green
Credit Photo: kayuzaaa_golf
The blade size is thicker than average, which is typical TaylorMade, but we have to say that the P790 irons do look very good when you put it down at address.
The name ‘P790’ comes from the length of the blade, which is 79 mm, and the thick head does feel and look powerful with a modern high-tech design but classy, premium look. We have to say that regarding looks, the TaylorMade P790 irons are some of our favorite ever.
The P790 is not all about looks either, and as expected from TaylorMade clubs, the irons are built for better performance in distance with high ball speed and low spin.
This is thanks to the SpeedPocket technology and the relatively high lofts throughout the set. The head is relatively big without looking bulky, and so it has decent forgiveness. The highlight of the P790 is really the distance and impressive ball speed.
To accompany the very fast head, there is the True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 shaft, which is ultra light and flexible. It does produce great feel, but if you have a swing speed above 110 mph, you might want to switch to a slightly heavier shaft with more stiffness.
TaylorMade P790 Irons Shafts
Credit Photo: grahammcc20
While the whole set feels and plays excellent, the 7-irons and upwards are on a whole other level. With the bigger head, we can feel the combination of tungsten weighting, Speed Pocket, and cavity back together, giving excellent performance and forgiveness.
The 8-irons and wedges do feel a little lacking due to the loss of the tungsten weighting. The wedges, especially, feel a little to light, and might be an issue for better players with decent swing speed.
The downside? Being a hollow club, the sound and feel does feel muted, although they do offer decent response on solid impacts. The hollow feel might also hinder consistency, and will take some time getting used to.
It does offer proper forgiveness level for players around 12 to 20 handicaps, and they are really good looking clubs. In short, the P790 set is one of the best choices available on the market for mid-handicappers.
With the hollow design, there is the compromise on sound and feel. With the ‘muted’ feel, the P790 set does lack consistency sometimes due to lack of response. Still, an excellent iron set especially if distance is your priority.
Mid-Sized Head for Maximum Forgiveness and Playability: Titleist 718 AP3 Iron Set
Titleist AP1 and AP2 iron sets are some of the most famous iron sets for better players and mid-handicappers.
The AP1 series have more forgiveness with bigger heads, while the AP2 clubs offer more rewarding playability on well-struck shots.
Yet, a lot of golfers felt that the gap between the two set was really big, especially with their 716 AP1 and AP2.
Titleist answer for this issue? The AP3, which is their newest entry in their 718 AP series.
Pros of the Titleist 718 AP3 Iron Set
- Decent forgiveness with the mid-sized head
- Great looks, again with the size of the head and the overall design
- Great feel and sound, similar to the popular AP2 clubs
- Progressive design for the heads and shafts, giving you more consistency of feel throughout the set
Cons of the Titleist 718 AP3 Iron Set
The key highlight of the AP3 is indeed the mid-sized head, which offers more forgiveness while still being compact enough for your classic better-player look down at address.
The head is made up of a hollow blade design with a cavity just behind the Titleist logo.
Also unique is the undercut design that is progressive throughout the set, with the 3- to 7- irons featuring high density tungsten weight, similar to the Titleist P790.
This helps with the stability of the 17-4 stainless steel cast body. It has an L-shaped face insert, which is designed for more ball speed during low strikes.
The 8- and 9-irons use the same 17-4 chassis, but the insert is also a 17-4 stainless steel for a more solid feel. For the wedges, both the body and face use a solid 17-4 steel. These rather unique face constructions allow for more ball speed throughout the set.
What about forgiveness? The AP3, while not as forgiving as the AP1, is very decent in forgiveness, thanks to the pre worn leading edge with a heavy sole with low center of gravity. So, it is quite easy to launch with the AP3 clubs.
While the AP1 and the new AP3 are cast irons, the AP2 irons are forged with excellent sound and feel. We are pleased to report that the feel and sound are not much different with the AP3, which is very responsive with nice, pleasing sound. The 5-iron and upwards do sound a little more muted thanks to the bigger cavity, but it is still a manageable downside.
Similar to the progressive approach used with the heads, the shafts are also progressive, with the default shaft choice being the True Temper AMT Tour Black: lighter in the long irons, and heavier in the short irons. Of course, you can also choose other options through Titleist’s custom fitting service.
For mid handicappers, now there is the Titleist 718 AP3 where you can get the same sound and feel, equally good-looking clubs, with more forgiveness and bigger head without being too bulky.
With this excellent forgiveness, consistent performance and good looks, it’s hard to find any fault with the Titleist 718 AP3. If any, the AP2 and other true blade irons do provide more playability and versatility, but the AP3 is simply and excellent choice for mid-handicappers and even single-digit handicappers.
Questions & Answers: Best Irons For Mid Handicappers
What players are considered as mid-handicappers?
To answer this question, let us first briefly discuss the USGA handicap index. The handicap index is a rather complicated system to balance out a golf game between players of different skill levels.
The result is a simple one or two digit number. So, for example, if you have a handicap of 12, and you are playing against a friend with a 10 handicap, he must give you three strokes during your match.
Now, back to our topic.
Although there is no official definition of handicap levels between low, mid, and high handicappers, the golf community generally agrees that you are a mid-handicapper if you have a handicap index between 11 to 20. According to USGA handicap statistics, there are over 40% of male golfers that belong to this category, so you are definitely not alone.
A mid-handicapper is capable of hitting good shots with decent or even excellent distance.The issue here is consistency, as mid-handicappers often make plenty of mishits in between their decent hits.
What actually are the game-improvement irons?Will they be good for beginners? How do I choose the right game-improvement iron set for me? Those are the typical questions I will answer during the course of this article.
Without further ado, let us begin by reviewing the game-improvement irons and their characteristics.
Table Of Contents
- 2 10 Best Game Improvement Irons
- 3 Questions & Answers
Best Game ImprovementIrons: the Super forgiveness iron
- Excellent forgiveness
- Good distance with light graphite shafts
Callaway’s Rogue irons are an attractive-looking game improvement set with a lot of technology hiding under its fairly straightforward looking surface.
From a 360 Face Cup to Variable Face Technology to strategically placed tungsten weighting to urethane microspheres, it’s clear the engineers at Callaway have been hard at work producing these irons. They’re solid performers from one of the industry’s top manufacturers.
Clubface Tech
Hiding under the sort-of-hexagonal “Rogue” badge on the back of the irons is Callaway’s patented 360 Face Cup and Variable Face Technology (“VFT”). The face cup is a lining around the sweet spot of the iron, implemented to maximize the area that has a trampoline effect and gives really breakaway distance. And the VFT thins out the face at the middle, while thickening it at the edges, to expand the sweet spot and provide optimal forgiveness.
Tungsten Tech
Tungsten is a dense metal, twice as heavy as steel, that’s used to manipulate the center of gravity of each iron to improve its launch. The use of tungsten is still fairly new in iron construction, and I think the reason it’s not quite catching on yet is that it really firms up the feel of the club. Even pure contacts feel overly stiff, and if you catch it out closer to the toe with a long iron, it really stings.
Callaway has implemented urethane “microspheres” that are designed to soften the feel, but the combination of cast iron steel and tungsten weights makes for a feel that’s just not as soft as I’d like.
Results
The feel may be lacking, but the results are quite good. These are some of the most forgiving irons available, with a very large sweet spot that rewards mediocre swings with good shots. So even though the shots feel a bit heavy and stiff coming off the clubface, the shots that result are always better than expected.
The 60 gram Synergy graphite shafts are an attractive upgrade option. Much lighter than the stock 95 gram steel shafts, the Synergy shafts offer higher swing speeds and good forgiveness. They help soften the stiff feel of the tungsten. I’d recommend going graphite if you decide to buy the Rogue irons, as they help mitigate the issues described above.
Best For Intermediate Golfers: forged feel and elite technology
- Lively face provides great feel
- Good forgiveness
- Shafts feel great
- Very strong lofts
- Not as long as some other clubs
The TaylorMade M4 iron set is an excellent choice for players who value great feel and may actually want to work the ball just a little bit.
If you’re not quite ready for blades but you may want to bridge the gap between game improvement irons and blades, the M4s are worth a look. They provide solid performance and elite feel.
Buttery
I don’t know how TaylorMade did it, but these M4 Irons are a cast set that feels awfully close to forged. They’re soft and buttery, with a large sweet spot that really sends the ball. While overall distance and accuracy are good-but-not-great, they make up for it in feel. The sound, which is a major and underrated aspect of feel, is excellent: a good strike is rewarded with a click that sounds like it was produced in a studio.
RIBCOR
TaylorMade’s version of a springy, large sweet spot is called RIBCOR technology. It reinforces the perimeter of the club, making the hitting area large and lively. The weighting is spread out nicely to the heel and toe, giving the irons a high moment of inertia, which transfers more forward motion to the ball and gets it started in the right direction. A high moment of inertia means good forgiveness and ball speed.
Strong lofts
But some of the distance found in the TaylorMade M4s is simply achieved by them making the lofts exceptionally strong. What used to be a 5-iron is now called a 6-iron. A 43-degree loft, formerly known as a 9-iron, is called a Pitching Wedge. So some of this distance is a sort of ill-gotten gain. Long irons will be a bit harder to hit because of the stronger lofts, but with the proliferation of hybrids replacing long irons, that may not be an issue for many golfers.
The hosel
If you want confirmation about how much thought TaylorMade put into the M4, look no further than the fluted hosel. They’ve shaved a tiny bit of metal off of each hosel, giving them a few more grams to use to provide a better center of gravity. This minor detail shows how far the engineers are having to go to maximize every bit of technology available to them. It’s a small but impressive detail.
Overall
The TaylorMade M4 irons are a great option for players who have started breaking 90 regularly and are looking for irons that’ll help them elevate their game. With excellent feel and good all-around performance, they’ll stay in your bag a long time.
Best For Distance On A Budget: forged feel and elite technology
- Excellent distance
- Large clubhead for increased confidence
- Good vibration dampening
TaylorMade’s Rocketbladez are built for pure distance. Even slower swing speeds will find the ball jumping off the clubface thanks to TaylorMade’s Speed Pocket technology and extremely thin face.
While the feel and sound are a little muted thanks to urethane foam filling the speed pocket, they’re one of the top performing game improvement irons tested.
Good vibrations
Thanks to a proprietary polyurethane foam courtesy of 3M, the TaylorMade Rocketbladez have excellent vibration dampening on mis-hits. This may seem like a minor feature, but if you play in cooler weather or hit a lot of thin shots, you’re used to irons that really sting. The foam in the Rocketbladez helps absorb the vibrations that result from bad strikes and help save your hands.
For older players and cold weather golfers, this is an important consideration.
Rockets
These irons are called Rocketbladez for good reason: they’re loooong. Like, really really long. The ball absolutely leaps off the club face when you hit the giant sweet spot. And if you miss the sweet spot or catch the ball thin, it still really gets out there. The best miss with these is a thin strike; with the low center of gravity, strikes low on the clubface still travel fairly high with minimal distance loss.
This extreme distance is produced primarily by the Speed Pocket combined with a super-thin clubface. These two features work in tandem to create a trampoline effect on the golf ball, launching it high and far with ease. The only drawback is that the Speed Pocket naturally creates an off-putting, hollow sound. To mute this, they’ve filled it with a foam that gets closer to a satisfying click, but isn’t quite there.
Pronounced offset
The Rocketbladez have a noticeable offset, which aids golfers who have a tendency to slice the ball. Together with a bit of a high heel, it’s an odd-looking iron at address; it has a fairly thin topline like a traditional blade, but with the squared high heel and offset of a game improvement iron.
Value
Since the Rocketbladez are a slightly older model, they’re priced very low. But their performance matches that of many of the latest models, so at this price, they represent a great value. They come stock with True Temper steel shafts, the industry standard. Slower swingers or senior golfers may want to find a set with graphite shafts, but most players will do just fine with the steel shafts.
The longest irons tested: great feel and distance with a price tag to match
- Extraordinary distance
- Great sound and feel
- Good forgiveness on thin shots
TaylorMade’s newest offering in the game improvement category is the M6 iron set.
They’re a lovely set, reminiscent of recent Titleist irons, with a distinctive “Speed Bridge” that links the sole and topline to reinforce the clubface and allow for a deeper Speed Pocket. This results in a long, great feeling iron that any player would be happy to play.
Speed Bridge
The “Speed Bridge” is a raised metal bar that runs from the sole to the topline, hovering over the area where the sweet spot is. This provides reinforcement to the topline so TaylorMade can cut their Speed Pocket deeper and thinner than ever before, and the resulting distance gain is noticeable. The M6 irons are a few yards longer than any of the others tested this year.
It does make the back of the club difficult to clean, as there’s a gap under the bridge than tends to collect dirt and grass clipping. I’d suggest carrying a small brush if you’re a fan of clean clubs, which you should be: clean clubs inspire confidence and perform better.
Low CG
The center of gravity is as low as you’ll find in a set of irons, thanks in large part to the continuation of the fluted hosel feature found in the M4s reviewed above. The stabilizing bar in the bridge lets them focus the weight very low without sacrificing structural integrity. Impacts low on the face might result in low bullets have better results with the M6, actually getting some height and backspin.
Fine-tuned
The Speed Bridge bar apparently plays a role in optimizing the sound of the club. Along with HYBRAR compression dampers (that’s TaylorMade’s term and I have no idea what exactly it means, but it sure sounds good), the Speed Bridge results in a loud and immensely satisfying “thwack” on any half-decent impact. It’s the type of sound that’ll make your playing partners turn their heads and say “sounds like you flushed it!”
Conclusion
The TaylorMade M6 is one of the finest iron sets being made today, with a price tag to match. If you’re looking for pure performance and money is no object, these will be right up your alley. However, there are other iron sets that cost half as much and still come through with performance close to the level of the M6. If you’re willing to pay a premium for a few extra yards, the M6 is for you.
Best all-hybrid iron set: if you love hitting woods and hate irons
- Hybrid-style is very easy to hit
- Very forgiving
- Good lift for slow swing speeds
Some golfers stand over the ball with a 3-wood and hit it perfectly every time, but shudder at the thought of trying to nip a ball off the ground with a 9-iron.
The Cleveland Launcher HB is a set of all-hybrid clubs that give the feeling of hitting a wood, even with the high-lofted short irons. It’s very forgiving but sacrifices distance and workability.
Hollow construction
The Launcher HB has faces that look like normal irons, with hollow bodies that resemble woods or hybrids. You can tell by looking at them that they’re designed with a low center of gravity and they’ll have no trouble popping the ball up into the air. Like most drivers and fairway woods, the hollow bodies offer a good amount of forgiveness. Heel and toe shots fly straight and nearly as far as contact on the middle of the clubface.
However, the hollow bodies also mean the ball won’t curve at all. If you’re used to playing a bit of a slice or a draw, you’ll need to adjust to these. The ball flies straight with very little curve, so make sure you’re getting that clubface square at impact. Wherever it’s facing, that’s where the shot will go.
High launch sacrifices distance at mid-to-high swing speeds
For higher swing speed players, the high launch of the Launcher HB will tend to mean less overall distance. They start out high and tend to float before deflating towards their target.
Slower swingers, however, may actually find that these increase the yardage they’re able to achieve. They’re great for beginners as well, as the forgiveness level is very high. As you start to get better, though, you’ll likely want to find more workable irons.
Bag chatter
Since these are painted, hybrid-like clubs, you’ll probably want to use headcovers for all of these or they’ll get seriously scratched up. With most iron sets, headcovers aren’t necessary, but with these hybrid irons they’re important.
Best All-Around Performance: Accuracy, distance and control
- High launch thanks to low center of gravity
- Great spin from Zip Grooves
- Good distance
- Could be more forgiving
- Thin topline may be intimidating for poor iron players
The Cleveland Golf Launcher CBX Iron Set is a game improvement iron set that’ll help a wide range of golfers, from beginners to better players trying to break 80 regularly.
It’s a classic cavity back design with a “Cup Face” and highly effective heel-to-toe weighting that creates a large sweet spot, resulting in long, high shots.
“Launcher” brand comes to irons
Cleveland had been out of the iron game for a few years before the Launcher CBX Irons made their debut in 2018, focusing instead on their Launcher woods and their legendary wedges. But with the introduction of the Launcher CBX line of irons, they’ve put a very strong foot forward. The Launcher aspect of the name is visible when you look at where the weighting is: a thick sole designed to get the ball up off the ground easily with a nice high launch.
The low center of gravity and perimeter weighting make for a large sweet spot and good performance on shots that miss the sweet spot. What I love about these irons is that they hide all that tech behind a simple, elegant topline. When you stand over the ball, it feels like you’re using a beautiful set of blades. But the results are the forgiveness and extra yardage that you get from true game improvement cavity-backs.
The thin, blade-like topline may actually be intimidating if you’re used to thicker, chunkier toplines. They don’t necessarily look like they’ll provide much help to off-center strikes, but they do.
Zip Grooves
Cleveland is known best for their wedges, so it’s a no-brainer for them to bring their wedges’ Zip Groove technology to the Launcher irons. Precisely laser-milled, the Zip Grooves impart an amazing amount of backspin on the ball. This helps iron shots land softly and improves accuracy. Players with low swing speeds who are used to the ball landing on the green and rolling over the back will be pleasantly surprised to hold more greens and have more birdie opportunities.
Jack of All Trades
The Cleveland Launcher CBX irons are a great all-around set of irons. While some irons may be longer and others more forgiving, these are a good combination of all the attributes you should look for in an iron set.
Best Single-Length Irons: clever tech makes single-length really work
- Same length and weight for all irons
- Forged face feels excellent
- Single-length isn’t for everyone
- Long wedges can be tough to control
Cobra is the first major manufacturer to offer single-length irons at the mass-production level. Their King F8 set is a set of irons all set to the length and weight of a 7-iron.
With progressive-length hosels and variations in grooves, the performance of each iron is fine-tuned to ensure good distance gapping. You can make the same swing on every club and see great results.
Single length
Bryson Dechambeau is the face of single-length clubs, and his winning ways have golfers all around the world wondering if single-length irons are right for him. His first set of single-length irons was made by Edel, but when he turned pro he signed on with Cobra and they developed a set with him. The King F8 is the result of that collaboration.
All the irons and wedges in the King F8 line have shafts that are 7-iron length. The theory is that you’ll be able to practice one setup and one swing and use it for all of your clubs. I’m a supporter of experimentation and giving everything a shot, and there’s a lot to be said for single-length irons.
I think in the coming years, we’ll see more and more players going single-length, especially if they do so from a young age.
Hosels
One issue with single-length irons is that the long irons go too low and short, and the short irons go too high and far. Cobra has played with the center of gravity of each iron to rectify this issue, moving weight around from the hosel to the sole so long irons have short hosels and very lower centers of gravity. Short irons have long hosels and a high center of gravity to keep ball flight down.
Grooves
The grooves are cut deeper in short irons to give better spin on short shots. V-grooves on the long irons reduce spin, resulting in higher, longer shots with more roll-out. It’s a clever twist that helps control the trajectory even further.
Final thoughts
I think these Cobra irons are worth looking into for players who struggle with long irons and don’t have a lot of time to practice. You do have to have a pretty good swing speed, and you may have an adjustment period. The long 9 iron and pitching wedge definitely look weird, but the short 4- and 5-irons are so much easier to hit. I don’t know if they’ll catch on or not, but I think there are a lot of golfers out there who would benefit from trying the Cobra King F8 out.
Budget option: for those curious about single-length irons
- Lower cost option if you’re interested in trying out single-length irons
- Overly high ball flight in short irons
- No 4-iron option
- Poor grips
If you’re interested in single-length irons but don’t want to spend the money to get a premium brand like Cobra, Orlimar has offered the Intercept Single-Length Irons at under $300. They’re well-made irons that serve as a decent introduction to the single-length concept. However, some technological limitations keep them from performing as well as the Cobras.
Moonshots
Cobra’s clever center-of-gravity adjustments with the hosel and weighting help to keep ball-flights low with short irons, but Orlimar doesn’t have that feature. The intercept irons all have the same weight and center of gravity, so the short irons and wedges give you extremely high trajectories.
Some players may hear this and say “I wish I could hit the ball higher, this sounds great!” but believe me, the trajectories are almost unmanageably high. If there’s even a breath of wind, the ball flies so high that the wind effects are magnified. A 9-iron that normally flies 140 will balloon into the wind and come up under 100 yards. When you try to choke down and flight the ball down, it still flies super high.
No 4-iron
One of the advantages of single-length irons is that long irons are easier to hit, but unfortunately Orlimar doesn’t offer a 4-iron. I’m guessing that the reason behind this is that the center of gravity and short length made the 4-irons too hard to get up off the ground. Without the hosel adjustments of the Cobras, the 4-iron of the Orlimar would probably be unhittable. So you’ll need to carry a hybrid to replace the 4-iron, which starts to defeat the concept of single-length clubs and just one swing needed.
Get a grip
The grips included on the Orlimar Intercept are not very good. They feel slick out of the box and wear down quickly. I’d suggest re-gripping them soon after purchasing them, but that starts to mitigate the fact that they’re a low-cost option.
The good
Having gotten all the nitpicking aside, these are decent-feeling irons that provide very good distance and decent forgiveness on mis-hits. I can see why golfers would be hesitant to pay a steep price for what’s essentially an experimental set of clubs, so these are a good option that provide decent performance at a great price. Curious golfers may well find enough to like here to stick with them and become single-length devotees.
Budget single-length option: sacrifices distance for trajectory
- Better trajectories than Orlimar
- Includes 4-iron and sand wedge
- Solid option for beginners
Mazel Single-Length irons are another budget option for players interested in single-length irons. I’d recommend them to those just starting out: the price is right and the irons are easy to hit with nice trajectories. The distance you get from them isn’t very good, but beginners won’t know that. Instead, they’ll be pleased with the ease of using one swing for all shots and hitting the ball straight every time.
Lightweight
Mazel’s irons come with lightweight graphite shafts, which you’d think would help with the swing speed. I think that we’ve just become used to irons with ultra-thin, cupped faces that have trampoline-like sweet spots. These, being a budget option, don’t have that type of tech built in. But the light weight makes it possible to swing the long irons fast enough to get a great, penetrating trajectory.
Low CG Long Irons
The 4 and 5 irons are hollow-bodied with very low center of gravity, allowing them to launch the ball high enough to be useful. Many players are concerned that the short length won’t let them generate enough speed to give the ball lift, but the Mazel clubs are definitely hittable.
Wide Soles
The Mazels have a nice wide sole, which will help beginners who may have issues digging the club into the ground and hitting it fat. The thick sole is very forgiving and encourages good contact even on poor swings. It also helps for chipping around the green, which is something beginners often have difficulty with.
Overall
Experienced golfers who try these out may be soured on the single length concept if they lose yardage with the Mazel irons. That’s why I recommend these for beginners: they’re easy to hit and they do a good job of keeping the ball in play. That should be the primary concern for someone just starting out.
Once they’ve been hooked and are willing to make an investment in their game, then it may come time to upgrade to a single-length set that provides better distance. A beginner golfer won’t have any problem making the transition, and they’ll be pleased to suddenly be hitting the ball a lot further.
- Hybrid design for poor iron players
- Good for beginners
- Only good for beginners
- Overly high trajectory
- Not great durability
The WaZaki WL-IIs All-Hybrid iron set is a beginner’s set designed for players with slow swing speeds. Maybe you’ve been to a driving range and hit your friend’s hybrid great but couldn’t hit an iron to save your life. WaZaki has a set of all-hybrids at a price that won’t scare you away.
Hybrids or woods?
To be honest, these are more like high-lofted woods than hybrids. The design is that of a set of fairway woods with increasingly higher lofts. They’re forgiving but not very long, and I found that the design of the 9-iron and wedges wasn’t conducive to the high, soft shots that you usually look for from short irons.
They’re also very difficult to hit out of the rough, as the sole is just too broad to dig through thick grass.
Who are these for?
These are clubs made for beginners or seniors who have trouble getting the ball up into the air. Very slow swing speeds will find a good ball flight, but anyone swinging 80 mph or faster will just hit pop-ups. It’s hard to review these properly as they’re made for a very narrow subset of golfers.
The bottom line
For senior golfers who can’t get the ball into the air any more, these clubs are ideal. And beginners who can’t hit irons but don’t want to spend the money for the Cleveland Launcher HB hybrid irons may find these to their liking. Otherwise, I wouldn’t recommend these.
They do come with a full set of headcovers. They’re glossy and a little tacky-looking, but they’re necessary as these aren’t very durable without protection.
The name iron originated from the material golf irons used to be made with.
Back then, drivers and fairway woods were made from, as you may guess, wood materials, and thus they were (and are) called woods, with the driver also often deemed as 1-wood.
Thus, we can guess that irons were made with steel materials.
They are typically smaller, clubhead size-wise, and shorter in shaft lengths compared to the woods, and are designed to propel the ball towards the hole, anywhere after your tee shots and before roughly 200-yards to the hole, where you will switch to your putter.
While wood clubs, especially the driver are designed with the emphasis on distance, irons are designed to be more well rounded, with accuracy and control on the green being the emphasis.
The number in front of the iron indicates the relative angle of its loft, with 1 being the steepest, and 9 being the highest.
The higher number represents a higher loft angle, and the higher the loft angle, the ball will fly in a shorter distance, but higher launch trajectory.
Generally, Irons come in sets that include six to eight individual irons.
The typical iron set consists of, but not limited to the 3-,4-,5-,6-,7-,8-, and 9-irons. A Gap/Approach Wedge (AW), and/or a Pitching Wedge (PW), is also included in the set.
Thus, when shopping for an iron set, you will see them listed as something like 3-PW, 5-PW.AW, or 4-PW.
PW or AW indicates whether a Pitching Wedge (PW), Approach Wedge (AW) or both is included, and the number upfront indicates the smaller iron included in the set, and will always include every number until the 9-irons. For example, a 3-PW would include all irons from 3- to 9- and will include a Pitching Wedge.
To answer this question properly, we should first discuss the three different categories for irons available on the market:
- Cavity Back: Also often known as the Max Game-Improvement Irons, and is characterized by a large hollow cavity in the back of the clubhead. The sole and toplines are significantly larger, to allow easier and more forgiving hits. Designated for beginner and those with higher (25+) handicaps.
- Game Improvement Irons: The most popular type of the bunch can fit a wide range of players from 5 to 25 handicap. The cavity is smaller, and the sole and toplines are more compact and thinner.
- Blades: Also called Player’s Irons, Cavity Muscle Back (CMB) or simply Muscle Back (MB), blades are designated, and used, by professionals and single-digit handicap players (below 5). Blades have a flat back with no cavity, making them less forgiving, yet producing better feeling and control when hit properly.
Our focus today is the game-improvement irons, which is suitable for players with handicap ranging from 5 to 25.
Are There Prerequisites To Using A Game Improvement Iron?
The game-improvement irons will truly be beneficial for players with 25 handicap or below.
If you currently have a handicap above 25, you are better off with cavity back irons, as the higher forgiveness will help you in improving your game.
On the other hand, many players with the handicap of 5 and below chose to stay with game-improvement irons, rather than upgrading to blade irons.
The reason is simple, in the past, blades tend to have the better overall feel, control, and shot-shaping abilities. However, newer technologies, especially in the past few years, allow game-improvement irons to close that gap.
As a result, many professional players opt to have the better consistency and forgiveness of the game-improvement irons today, with fewer sacrifices over feel and shot-shaping compared to say, a decade ago.
With that being said, your game-improvement iron set could be a sustainable investment, even after you went below 5 handicaps.
What Are The Qualities Of A Great Game-Improvement Iron?
To answer this question, let us take a look at how the three different categories of irons are classified:
- Cavity Back: or often known as Super Game-Improvement Irons are designed for maximum forgiveness. We can often see an overly large club head designed for big sweet spot and MOI.
- On the other end of the spectrum, the Blade irons, or Player’s Irons are designed for maximum responsiveness, control, and shot shaping
- Then, we can understand that the Game-Improvement Irons are designed to sit in the middle and to have the balance between both worlds, and that is the exact quality you should look for.
The ideal Game-Improvement Irons should have both the maximum forgiveness and maximum control.
What Type Of Player Should Use Game Improvement Irons?
The game-improvement irons will be suitable for a lot of players with handicap ranging from 5 to 25.
That is a very broad range, and we can imagine there are a wide array of different types of players within the range.
Players striving for a well-rounded, balanced game will definitely benefit from using the game-improvement irons.
Do any PGA tour players using the Game-Improvement Irons? Yes! Based on PGA Tours’s official report, there is an increasing trend of using game-improvement irons on tour, especially the long irons.
Keegan Bradley, Graeme McDowell, Brian Harman, and Sean O’Hair are some notable examples of such players using Game-Improvement Irons.
Let us see Keegan Bradley’s statistics during 2016 for example. Bradley is exceptionally strong on the Tee-to-Green game, ranked 17th overall for Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green.
Using a game-improvement iron for his 3-iron helped him achieved such feat, boosting his overall flight height will reducing mistakes.
To summarize, if you are looking for a balanced and well-rounded game, especially between the tee and the greens, the game-improvement irons might improve your game further.
How Do I Choose The Right Game Improvement Iron For Me?
This is a tough question to answer, as there are many different factors that can determine an iron’s strengths or weaknesses, even more than other club types.
However, for a general rule of thumb, here are several key qualities you should focus on before making your purchase:
Forged VS Cast, and The Materials
Which one is better, forged irons or cast irons? What materials should I look for?
These two questions are often treated as two separate ones, but the truth is, it should be asked together. Forged is a better method with certain materials, as do cast irons.
To answer the question, we should first understand the basic principle behind the two:
Forged Irons
In forged irons, the roughly-shaped metal material is hammered into shape, just like we often see from medieval blacksmiths in the movies. The hammered, commonly carbon steel clubhead is then finished by grinding, milling, and polishing.
Thus, forged method is better for an iron with a singular, one-piece material. Purists will claim that forged irons have better feel, and to some extent, it’s true.
Cast Irons
In this method, the liquid metal is poured into a mold. This method allows more complex shape, as well as using multiple materials at once. Not to mention, cast irons are also cheaper to make.
Thus, cast irons are typically better if your club is multi-material in nature.
However, as with many technologies today, there is rapid development in casting technology, allowing cast irons to close the gap in feel to forged irons.
The basic principle, however, still stands. If you are looking for a solid, one-piece iron, forged is the way to go.
You should also take into considerations that multi-material technologies today allow new ways to improve forgiveness and distance. I bet in the near future, cast irons will reach their perfection, and will be better, as well as more affordable.
Sole and offset size
The general rule of thumb is the wider the sole, the lower the center of gravity. Lower center of gravity will translate to a higher natural trajectory of your shots and will bounce more rather than dig at impact.
On the other hand, narrow sole translates to a better feel and control.
The offset is the face behind the hosel, and the larger the offset, the more forgiving the club will be. The smaller the offset, however, will give you more shot-shaping ability.
It’s important to find the right balance between both sizes, that will suit your overall playstyle and needs.
Shaft Flexibility
Choosing a proper shaft suitable for your current ability will be highly beneficial to your overall game. If you’d like to go deeper, we’ve written an in-depth guide on picking the best golf shafts.
Here are some pointers:
- If your 6-iron swing speed is 90mph or higher and carry distance 175 yards or more, go with X flex.
- If your speed is 80-90mph and carry 155 to 175 yards, go with S flex.
- For 70-80mph and 130 to 155 yards, go with R flex.
- For 60-70mph and 100 to 130 yards, go with A flex.
- And for speeds under 60mph and carries less than 100 yards, go with L flex.
Should A Game Improvement Iron Replace The Golf Irons Currently In My Bag?
In this modern era of golf, with seemingly you will get new technologies and new trends in club developments every few months, it’s true that the clubs in your bag can be outdated faster than half a decade ago.
It’s hard to judge whether it is time for an upgrade, but as a consideration, here are some questions you should ask yourself.
Are Your Golf Irons At Least 3-years old?
Three years of a club age has been deemed as the average benchmark for obsoleteness. If your irons are at least 3-years old from when it was released, you will definitely feel the upgrade in buying new ones.
Has Your Game Changed?
Do you have a significant increase in your swing speed or accuracy in hitting the sweet spot? (Hey, congrats!)
If you feel you are hitting a wall to improve more as a player, then it’s definitely the time for a change.
On the other hand, you might be hitting your ‘senior’ year, and your swing speed is simply not what it used to be. It’s maybe time to switch from that blade to game-improvement irons with more flexible shafts.
Are Your Irons Still in Good Conditions?
It may be obvious, but if you see too much wear and tear, then it’s definitely the time to buy new ones.
You might want to check Golf Digest’s obsolete list, and see whether your current iron set already deserved the upgrade.
Can I Use Game Improvement Irons With Any Golf Balls? If Not, What Are The Best Golf Balls For Game Improvement Irons?
Yes, If you are using high-quality game-improvement irons, you will definitely get the benefits by using any golf balls.
Golf balls have different qualities to each other and will suit different types of player. As we have mentioned, game-improvement irons can cater those with 5 to 25 handicap, a very broad range.
Golf Balls
And within that range, we can expect all sorts of different types of player. Some might have a problem with straightness and will need the ball to help them with that issue. Others might need more distance to improve their overall game.
Check out our previous guide on the best golf balls for high handicappers. Although the article is mostly focused on high-handicap players, any players can get some insights on choosing their golf balls.
Should I go for graphite or steel shafts on my game improvement club?
Both graphite and steel shafts are viable options in game improvement irons. Traditional knowledge dictates that faster swing speeds and better players will prefer the accuracy of stiff or extra stiff steel shafts. Indeed, you see most professionals using steel iron shafts. Graphite is typically for slower swingers who are looking for lighter, more flexible shafts.
However, current graphite shafts such as the UST Recoil combine the best of both worlds, with steel-like weight and accuracy but the soft feel and vibration absorption of graphite shafts.
If you typically hit your 5-iron longer than 175 yards, I’d go with steel or a steel-like graphite shaft. If you’re hitting 5-iron less than 175, I’d suggest graphite shafts to get more distance.
Most irons neither include a head cover nor do they need them. Perfectionists may purchase headcovers to keep their clubs looking brand new, or people just trying out clubs who might want to re-sell them might as well. But most players don’t use head covers on their irons. The minor marks, known as “bag chatter”, don’t affect performance and add a bit of character to the clubs’ look. And even if you do use head covers, they’ll still get marked up from normal use. So it’s mostly just an unnecessary expenditure that slows play down.
The exception would be if you use hybrids or hybrid-style irons such as the Cleveland Launcher HB reviewed above. These have black paint that will get scratched up and look bad if you don’t use headcovers. But for 99% of iron sets, they’re unnecessary.