This is Golfer Geeks’ review of the best game improvement irons in 2024.
I’m an avid golfer, 8ish handicap on my way to a 2 (been a 5.6) and frequent tester of golf clubs and equipment since 2015. (and longtime user of game improvement irons – though, not anymore)
I’ve personally tested every iron on this page on the range and on the course.
Note – The newest models don’t get preferential treatment on our lists.
In this review, I detail my experience with the clubs, unique features and benefits, my recommendations, and any deals I’ve been able to work out.
Our Top 3 Recommendations for 2024 (so far)
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Best for 10ish - 20ish Handicaps
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Best Value
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Best for Beginners & High Handicaps
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Primary Rating:
4.8
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Primary Rating:
4.9
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Primary Rating:
4.8
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~$200/club
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~$150/club
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~$200/club
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Pros:
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Pros:
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Pros:
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Cons:
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Cons:
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Cons:
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- Superb Sound & Feel
- Plenty Distance & Forgiveness
- Easy Launch & High Trajectory
- A little pricey
- Superb forgiveness & distance
- Best sound & feel in golf
- High launch
- Best clubs for the price
- Nada
- Launch the ball High & Straight
- Forgiving & Long
- Beautiful Clubs
- Pricey
Complete List (Updated for 2024)
- Callaway Apex i300 Irons (Best for 10ish to 20ish Handicaps)
- Mizuno JPX 925 Hot Metal Irons (Best Value – Awesome for Mid & High Handicaps)
- Titleist T350 Irons (Best for Beginners & High Handicaps)
- Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Irons (Best for 8ish to 12ish handicaps)
- TaylorMade Qi Irons
- Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Irons
- Ping G430 Irons (Former Editor’s Pick – Beginner & High Handicaps)
- Cobra Darkspeed Irons (Best For High-Ball Hitters)
- Mizuno Pro 245 Irons (Best For High-Ball Hitters)
- Srixon ZX5 MK 2 Irons (Best for Better Mid Handicaps)
- TaylorMade Stealth Irons (Best for Mid to High Handicaps)
- Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Pro Irons
- Srixon ZX5 Irons (Best for Better Mid Handicaps)
#1 Mizuno JPX 925 Hot Metal Irons
- Superb forgiveness & distance
- Best sound & feel in golf
- High launch
- Best clubs for the price
- Nada
The new JPX 925 Hot Metals are our new favorite Mizuno game improvement iron.
What we like:
- Still the best sound and feel in golf.
- Loads of forgiveness and help with distance.
- Helps you get the ball up quickly, even with marginal contact.
- Really hittable long irons.
What we don’t like:
- Nada.
JPX 925 Hot Metal Iron Specs
- Set: 4 iron – GW
- Shaft: Nippon NS Pro 950 NEO
- Shaft flex: Stiff
Club | Loft | Lie Angle | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
4 | 19* | 60.5* | 38.75″ |
5 | 22* | 61* | 38.25″ |
6 | 25* | 61.5* | 37.75″ |
7 | 28* | 62* | 37.25″ |
8 | 32.5* | 62.5* | 36.75″ |
9 | 37* | 63* | 36.25″ |
PW | 42* | 63.5* | 35.75″ |
GW | 48* | 64* | 35.25 |
Launch Monitor Data (Average #s)
Notes about the data:
Yardage gaps between long irons are likely off due to inconsistent ball striking. But, those are the averages I got.
Club | Club Speed | Ball Speed | Carry Distance (yds) | Peak Height (ft) | Spin Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GW | 77 | 93 | 119 | 83 | 8355 |
PW | 78 | 102 | 138 | 93 | 6586 |
9 | 80 | 109 | 154 | 87 | 5755 |
8 | 83 | 113 | 173 | 94 | 4278 |
7 | 83 | 120 | 188 | 71 | 3458 |
6 | 84 | 123 | 194 | 75 | 3729 |
5 | 85 | 127 | 198 | 60 | 2905 |
4 | 89 | 131 | 204 | 64 | 3057 |
I started testing Mizunos with the 921s and they’ve been at the top of all my lists since then.
Dollar for dollar you can’t beat their performance, and no other manufacturer matches their sound and feel.
They tick every game improvement box and do it at a reasonable price.
You can read the full review here.
Conclusion: Another winner from Mizuno for the mid and high handicapper.
Recommendation – Performs with the best of them and at a better price.
#2 Callaway Apex i300 Irons
- Superb Sound & Feel
- Plenty Distance & Forgiveness
- Easy Launch & High Trajectory
- A little pricey
The new Callaway Apex i300 irons are Callaway’s most forgiving irons.
What we like:
- Superb Sound & Feel. Much improved over every Callaway we tested last year.
- They launch easily with high trajectory.
- Forgiving and long.
- Consistent distance for better accuracy.
- Excellent launch, trajectory, and distance control out of the rough.
What we don’t like:
- Nada.
All the Callaways we tested last year got generally good marks, but they all lacked something in the sound and feel department.
So, I expected much the same from the new Apex i200s. Well…
I didn’t get the same. Callaway must have gotten feedback from somewhere because the sound and feel from these i200s are in another universe from 2023 models.
And, they perform as well as they feel. High and straight are the order of the day. Even from dicey lies in the rough – of which I got to test more than my share.
Conclusion: Callaway knocked it out of the park with the i300s. Long, forgiving, easy launch, high trajectory, great out of the rough.
Recommendation – Put the Apex i300s on your list to test if you’re in the market. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
#3 T itleist T350 Irons
- Launch the ball High & Straight
- Forgiving & Long
- Beautiful Clubs
- Pricey
The new Titleist T350 irons are the most forgiving irons from Titleist.
- We recommend them for 13ish handicaps up to beginners.
What we like:
- Easy to launch and elevate. (crucial for high handicappers)
- Loads of forgiveness and help with distance.
- Great-looking irons. Large forgiving clubheads without being cartoonish or awkward-looking.
What we don’t like:
- The price – Very expensive for beginner and high handicapper irons.
I’m always worried when I test game improvement or super game improvement irons like the T350s. They usually come with light whippy shafts because they cater to higher handicaps with slower swing speeds.
The T350s come with a host of good shaft options that will serve you well as your game progresses.
The clubheads are large, but their design blends this in well. They’re about as sleek as you’ll see in this iron category. (Titleist knows how to build attractive irons)
They feel and sound “clicky” with solid contact, but have zero harshness
Conclusion: Excellent performers in all aspects. But, they aren’t cheap.
Recommendation – Our former #1 recommendation for game improvement iron for beginners and high handicaps. Make sure to test them if you’re in the market.
#4 Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Irons
- Exceptionally Soft & Solid Feel
- Loads of Distance & Forgiveness
- Absolute Eye Candy
- Great Price
- Nada
Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal irons are our former #1 recommendation.
Ideal for better ball-striking mid-handicaps to high single-digit handicaps – 8ish to 12ish.
What we like:
- They’re the best feeling irons in the game. Incredibly soft (yet solid) feel.
- Incredibly forgiving and exceptionally long.
- Exceptional value – You get a whole LOT of club for the price.
- You can play any shot you want if you’ve got the game.
What we don’t like:
- Nada.
For this year’s JPX 923s, Mizuno combined Chromoly and Nickel to form Nickel Chromoly which allowed them to make the clubface 8% thinner, yet 35% stronger than last year’s JPX 921s.
- So, the sweet spot is bigger for more forgiveness and distance over a larger portion of the face.
ALLL the good things I had to say about the 921s apply to the 923s.
Conclusion: Continued exceptional feel, performance, forgiveness, distance, and value out of the JPX line.
Recommendation – A LOT of club for the price. They need to be on your list to test if you’re in the market.
#4 TaylorMade Qi Irons
- Solid forgiveness & distance across the face
- Launch well w/ good trajectory
- Good sound and feel
- Looks...Ok, but not great
- Not a big improvement over recent Taylormade models
The Qi irons are successors to the Stealth & Stealth 2s. We like them for better ball-striking high handicaps.
What we like:
- Good distance and forgiveness across the face.(little to no loss of distance with strikes towards the toe)
- Well-struck shots elevate the ball well.
- Sound and feel are a little “clicky”, but good overall.
What we don’t like:
- More refined looks than Stealths, but they are still lacking.
- Not much improvement over recent TaylorMade game improvement models.
7-iron Launch Monitor Data
Club Speed | Ball Speed | Carry Distance | Vertical Launch | Peak Height | Descent Angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
82.6 | 113.6 | 168.3 | 13.2 * | 51ft | 29.2* |
I’m well familiar with TaylorMade game improvement irons and TaylorMade irons overall. I expected good results from the Qi irons, and that’s what I got.
I tested the Qi Combo Set because I wanted to try the new Qi10 hybrids too. (Love them)
The lofts are quite strong – up to 5 degrees stronger than my everyday set. But, you can still launch the ball with quality contact. I was able to hit them high, low, and in between when I needed too.
Low ball hitters should test these before you put your money down.
Conclusion: Solid game improvement irons. I’d be surprised if you’re disappointed in their performance.
Recommendation: Test before you buy. Especially if you’re a low ball hitter.
#5 Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Irons
- Good distance, especially noticeable on mishits
- Good forgiveness
- Good sound and feel
- Elevates the ball easily with high trajectory
- No noticeable improvement over prior model - Paradyms
The 2024 Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke irons.
What we like:
- They launch easily and carry on a high trajectory.
- Solid sound and feel with good impact.
- Good forgiveness.
- Mishits got full distance nearly every time.
- Accurate, consistent, and workable.
What we don’t like:
- Nada – they deliver.
I’ve played 3 rounds with the Ai Smoke irons, and they get better the more I get used to them. They flew sky-high and far with good contact for me.
But, they really stood out when I mishit long irons – which is common for me. I usually hit them a little fat and towards the toe. I got every inch of distance on these every time it happened. I wasn’t on the green, but I ended up pin-high repeatedly.
Conclusion – I don’t see any downside to these irons. They perform well and are priced fair.
Recommendation – Solid game improvement irons that perform as advertised. Worth a look if you’re in the market.
#4 Ping G430 Irons
- Easy to hit & Elevate
- High trajectory & Straight Ball Flight
- Great distance & forgiveness
- Can shape & flight the ball as well
- Looks, not the best
Ping G430s replace the G425s (which we loved).
- We think they’re ideal for mid to high handicaps & beginners.
What we like:
- They’re easy to hit and elevate.
- They want to fly high and straight.
- They’re ALL about forgiveness.
- You can still work them left or right, flight them down, or take off distance to a degree if that’s part of your game.
What we don’t like:
- Don’t look so good.
They have some of the same playing characteristics of the G425s but in a larger – more forgiving package.
The lofts are stronger in the G430s and they’ve added more tech for distance. Well-struck shots were about half a club longer for me on the course and I got a couple of crazy-long numbers on my launch monitor.
As with the G425s, center contact is stellar, but slight mishits will get you good results too. I was on or around the greens all day.
Conclusion: Not a significant improvement over the G425s. I don’t think that would be realistic. The G425s are too good.
Recommendation – Keep your G425s. Test both sets if you own neither and you’re in the market.
#5 Cobra Darkspeed Irons
- Incredible feel
- Tons of distance & forgiveness
- Chews through the turf
- Low ball flight
Cobra Darkspeed irons are next on our list. (I wish I could recommend them more enthusiastically)
What we like:
- Crazy long with ample forgiveness.
- Surprisingly good sound and feel. (I’d never hit Cobra irons before)
- Exceptional turf interaction. Slightly fat shots seemed to lose nothing.
- Great price.
What we don’t like:
- Low ball flight thanks to strong lofts (2 clubs more than my set of Hogans) Low-ball hitters should probably avoid these. (Never hurts to test, though)
7-iron Launch Monitor Data
Club Speed | Ball Speed | Carry Distance | Vertical Launch | Peak Height | Descent Angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
80 | 113 | 173 | 14 * | 57 ft | 31* |
The Darkspeeds are beefy irons with a thickish topline and thick soles. The heads are game-improvement size, but they aren’t overly big. They look hittable.
They are game improvement clubs, and the target audience is likely looking for help with launch and distance. They’ve got distance figured out…for sure.
My quibble is with their lofts. They are about 2 clubs stronger than my set – so you’ll be looking down at straighter faces than you’re used to. And I had trouble getting the ball up, which isn’t usually a weakness of mine. I’m a high-ball hitter.
Their low trajectory didn’t affect green-holding for me. But, I’m not sure this would be the case for their target market – 12 to 20 handicaps.
Conclusion: I like these clubs, and I love how they feel. I’m not sold that they’re a good option for the game-improvement market.
Recommendation: Test these before you put your money down. Especially if you have trouble getting the ball in the air.
#6 Mizuno Pro 245 Irons
- Superb Feel
- Loads of Forgiveness & Distance
- Sticker Shock
- Some may have issues with low launching mid and long irons
The Pro 245s are blade-looking irons for mid and high handicaps.
What we like:
- Exceptional Mizuno sound & feel we’ve come to expect and love.
- Explosive distance on center contact.
- Some forgiveness on minor mishits.
- Short irons launch the ball well. Mid and long irons require good contact.
- Accurate & consistent.
What we don’t like:
- Not the biggest fan of the cosmetics.
- Low launching mid and long irons.
Pro 245 Club Specs
- Model: Pro 245
- Set: 5 iron – gap wedge
- Iron Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid 100g
- Shaft flex: Stiff flex
Club | Loft | Lie Angle | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
5 | 24* | 60.5* | 38.25″ |
6 | 27* | 61* | 37.75″ |
7 | 30* | 61.5* | 37.25″ |
8 | 34* | 62* | 36.75″ |
9 | 38* | 62.5* | 36.25″ |
PW | 43* | 63* | 35.75″ |
GW | 48* | 63* | 35.5″ |
Launch Monitor Data
NOTE: I hit the 5-iron terrible off my mat. (It’s mostly a 4-iron). I had much better luck during my round off of nice fairways with the ball sitting up. I striped more than a few.
Club | Club Speed | Ball Speed | Carry Distance (yds) | Peak Height (ft) | Spin Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GW | 75 | 93 | 123.8 | 70.7 | 7211 |
PW | 79 | 104 | 146.5 | 77.7 | 5736 |
9 | 78 | 110 | 162 | 74.6 | 4670 |
8 | 81 | 113 | 171 | 72.8 | 4042 |
7 | 84 | 118 | 181.5 | 68.6 | 3726 |
6 | 85 | 123 | 190.38 | 59 | 3342 |
5 | 85 | 119 | 181.5 | 53 | 3314 |
I enjoyed hitting the Pro 245s, especially the short and mid irons. I think the long irons – 6, 5, 4- will be a challenge for mid handicappers (their target audience) to elevate and get their true distance.
They are explosive off center contact and preserve good distance when you miss by a little.
Feel is off the charts good as expected. And, all of this comes at a premium price. Especially for game improvement irons.
Bottom line: Superb feel and distance. Beware if you are a natural low-ball hitter.
Recommendation: Outstanding irons if you have the game. Worth testing, for sure.
#7 Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Pro Irons
- Unbelievably Soft & Solid Feel
- Plenty Distance & Forgiveness
- Premium Looks
- Outstanding Value
- Nada
The Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Pros are for more accomplished players, but their exceptional forgiveness and other attributes put them on the list.
- Ideal for better ball-striking mid-handicaps to mid-single-digit handicaps – 6ish to 10ish handicaps.
What we like:
- Exceptional feel.
- Loads of forgiveness and distance.
- You can still play shots of that’s part of your game.
What we don’t like:
- Smallish heads for game improvement category.
The 923 Hot Metal Pros aren’t made to be or advertised as game improvement irons. They just happen to be very forgiving, plenty long, and launch high. These are all attributes the game improvement iron seeker looks for.
They play remarkably similar if not exactly the same as the 923 Hot Metals. During my rounds, both sets gave me the same feel, performance, and forgiveness—the same everything, as far as I could tell.
Conclusion: Awesome-feeling and performing irons in a slightly, very slightly, more compact package than the JPX 923 Hot Metals.
Recommendation – A LOT of club for the price. Do yourself a favor and test them at you local golf store.
#8 Srixon ZX5 MK 2 Irons
- Long & Forgiving
- Improved Sound & Feel
- Stable, Accurate & Consistent
- Nada
Srixon ZX5 MK 2 irons are our new favorite irons for better mid-handicappers.
- We think they’re ideal for better ball-striking mid-handicaps to mid-single-digit handicaps – 6ish to 10ish. (Srixon agrees – Wouldn’t hurt to test if you’re a little above a 10)
What we like:
- Long & forgiving
- Improved sound & feel
- Still accurate, solid, & consistent for better scoring.
- Player iron looks with game improvement features.
What we don’t like:
- Nothing
They took everything good about the ZX5s and improved on it. We found they have game improvement features without the look of pure game improvement irons.
I found them easy to hit and hit consistently. They’re stable through impact and show off on slight mishits.
The ZX5 MK 2s are second only to Mizuno Hot Metals in feel.
Conclusion: Player iron looks with game improvement tech hidden away.
Recommendation – Better ball-striking mid-handsappers should give them a try. You will not be disappointed in their performance and the looks are among the best in class if not the best.
#9 TaylorMade Stealth Irons
- Long & Forgiving
- Good Sound & Feel
- Elevates ball easily
- Easy to hit
- Looks...not the best
The TaylorMade Stealths irons remain.
- We think they’re ideal for most mid-handicaps (say, down to a 10ish)…and even some high handicaps.
What we like:
- Easy to launch and elevate.
- Good distance and forgiveness.
- Good sound and feel.
What we don’t like:
- Looks, not too good.
Stealth irons feel great in my hands. Look great at address. And, hit the ball a ton. You can hit ’em high. You can flight them down. You can play any shot you want with these irons.
Taylormade Stealth irons are money and exactly what you want out of game improvement irons. They happen to be better looking than the SIM or SIM2 irons too.
Conclusion: Neck and neck with the G425s. Ever so slightly behind in feel and looks.
Recommendation – Need to be on your shortlist if you’re in the market for game improvement irons.
#12 Callaway Mavrik Irons
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- Good Distance ALL over the face
- Tons of forgiveness
- High & straight ball flight
- Good sound & feel
- Looks...not the best
The Mavriks are a few years old at this point, but you can still find them new…so they’re still on this list.
- We think they’re ideal for most mid-handicaps (say, down to a 10ish)
What we like:
- Loaded with forgiveness and easy distance.
- Solid feel at impact.
- You can still play shots if that’s part of your game or it will be there waiting for you when playing shots becomes part of your game.
What we don’t like:
- Looks, not so good.
- Getting harder to find.
Prepare for some serious “pop”…You do not have to catch these to get tons of performance. I got surprising distance and accuracy out of my mishits.
I found the Mavriks set up well behind the ball, were easy to make good contact with, got the ball up fast and required no extra effort to get the distance I needed.
Recommendation – Still a solid choice, especially if you want to save a little money.
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#13 Taylormade SIM2 Max Irons
New & Used clubs available
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SIM2 Max irons are still available new, thus remain on our list..
- We think they’re ideal for mid to high handicaps & beginners.
What we like:
- Max forgiveness and help with distance.
- Easy to elevate with good carry and soft landing.
- Ultra-forgiving looks behind the ball at address.
SIM2 Max irons get the ball up easily, launch your golf ball a long way, and land softly so you can hold the green.
Recommendation: The SIM2 Max irons are worth a try if you want help with distance and added forgiveness.
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FAQs
What are the more forgiving irons?
Cavity back irons are more forgiving. We like the Mizuno JPX 925 Hot Metal irons and Callaway Apex Ai300s for this year.
What is super game improvement irons?
Super game improvement irons have the largest clubheads. The thickest toplines and soles. They have the most offset and the most perimeter weighting to increase forgiveness, help you get the ball in the air quickly, and keep it there for more distance.
Are game improvement irons good for beginners?
Yes, game improvement irons are good for beginners. That’s the whole reason they make them.
Can you shape golf shots with game improvement irons?
Yes, you can shape shots with game improvement irons. I did with mine for years and years and years.
The Verdict
Mizuno remains near the top of the heap and is joined by one of our favorites for this year – the Callaway Apex Ai300 irons.
My #1 suggestion is to test before you buy. Either at your local golf store or take advantage of Global Golf’s Utry trial program. I use it and recommend it.
Thanks for checking our review of the best game improvement irons in 2024.
|
Best for 10ish - 20ish Handicaps
|
Best Value
|
Best for Beginners & High Handicaps
|
|
Primary Rating:
4.8
|
Primary Rating:
4.9
|
Primary Rating:
4.8
|
|
~$200/club
|
~$150/club
|
~$200/club
|
|
Pros:
|
Pros:
|
Pros:
|
|
Cons:
|
Cons:
|
Cons:
|
- Superb Sound & Feel
- Plenty Distance & Forgiveness
- Easy Launch & High Trajectory
- A little pricey
- Superb forgiveness & distance
- Best sound & feel in golf
- High launch
- Best clubs for the price
- Nada
- Launch the ball High & Straight
- Forgiving & Long
- Beautiful Clubs
- Pricey
