How to choose golf irons
Work out which of three categories you are in. Super game improvement irons have the widest soles and the most offset, and they are built to get the ball airborne from anywhere. Game improvement irons are the middle and where most club golfers belong. Players irons are thin, compact and unforgiving, and they suit single-figure handicaps.
Steel or graphite shafts. Graphite is lighter and helps slower swings generate club head speed. Steel is heavier and tends to be more consistent for faster swings. If your driver swing speed is under 85 mph, try graphite before you assume steel.
Decide how many irons you actually need. A traditional set runs 4 iron through pitching wedge. Plenty of golfers are better off starting at a 5 or 6 iron and filling the gap above with hybrids. There is no rule that says a set has to start where the manufacturer says it does.
Which irons are for you
- Super game improvement. The widest soles, the most offset and the strongest lofts. Built for high handicappers and slower swings who need help getting the ball up. Often sold in graphite as standard.
- Game improvement. TaylorMade Qi Max, Callaway Quantum Max, and the equivalent from every major brand. Forgiving, high launching, and where the majority of club golfers should be looking.
- Players distance. TaylorMade P790, Callaway Apex AI150. A players shape with distance technology hidden inside. For mid handicappers who want a cleaner look without losing forgiveness.
- Players irons. TaylorMade P770 and P7CB, Callaway Apex AI300, Mizuno and Titleist forged models. Thin toplines, minimal offset, maximum control and no hiding place. Single figures.
- Combo sets. Long irons in a forgiving head, short irons in a players head, matched through the set. The best of both and increasingly common. Ask in store, because they are not always merchandised as sets.
Our take on irons
Irons are the most expensive part of the bag and the slowest to show a gain, which is why they should usually be the last thing you replace. The exception is moving from a players iron into something more forgiving. That change is immediate and most golfers who make it wish they had done it years earlier.
Common questions
How many irons come in a set?
Traditionally 4 iron to pitching wedge, which is seven clubs, though 5 to pitching wedge is increasingly common. You can buy fewer and fill the top of the set with hybrids, and plenty of golfers should.
Steel or graphite shafts?
Graphite is lighter and helps slower swings generate speed. Steel is heavier and more consistent for faster swings. Under about 85 mph driver speed, graphite is worth trying.
What handicap should be playing players irons?
As a rough guide, single figures. Players irons punish strikes away from the centre and they will not make you a better ball striker. If you are not consistently finding the middle, a game improvement iron will score better.
Should I buy irons as a set or individually?
As a set. Gapping between irons matters more than the individual heads do, and a matched set keeps the lofts, lies and shafts consistent all the way through.
You may also like
Not sure which is right for your game? Every Drummond Golf store offers free MiMatch custom fitting. Our team analyses your swing and matches you to the right specs, at no cost and with no obligation to buy. Find your local store and book a fitting.
