If you’re new to the game of golf and you’re trying to find the best irons for beginners, then you definitely want to keep reading. Below we have put together everything you need to know when considering buying the best golf irons for beginners.
We’ve gathered the most important details about the best golf irons for beginners and high handicappers. We took into consideration swing speed, sweet spot, face cup technology, ball speed, distance, and forgiveness while choosing the best golf irons.
It was essential for us to also take into consideration the launch angle, shaft flex, cavity back, and the low center of gravity when putting together our list for the best golf irons for beginners.
You also find our buyer’s guide and some frequently asked questions following our top picks. Scroll down to find the answered to the questions you may have to find the best golf irons to improve your game.
Highly Recommended
TaylorMade SIM 2 Max OS Irons
- Very forgiving
- Easy to launch
- Solid Feel
- Super Game Improvement Irons
Our Top Picks: Golf Irons For Beginners
- Top choice: TaylorMade Sim 2 Max OS Iron Set
- Best for game improvement: Callaway Mavrik Max Iron Set
- Premium Pick: Mizuno JPX 921 Forged Iron Set
- Best Value: Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Iron Golf Set
- Great for seniors: Cobra F-MAX Airspeed Combo Irons
- Top pick for women: TaylorMade Golf M6 Women’s Iron Set
- Great for slower swing speeds: Callaway Apex Iron Set
Quick Answers: Golf Irons For Beginners and High Handicappers
1. TaylorMade Sim Max OS Iron Set
Top Choice
TaylorMade has really stepped up to the tee with its latest sets of the golf irons, with one, in particular, standing out for beginners is the TaylorMade Sim 2 Max OS Golf Iron Set. There is the perfect combination of golf clubs in this iron set, including a mix of irons and hybrids for maximum game improvement.
We were impressed by how easy it was to hit with this iron set from almost every lie. You also can get rid of your five when using the three rescue in this set of irons. We especially liked how they combined the degree gap, giving you every option you’ll need for all types of shots.
What we liked most:
- The reduced friction with the grass at impact from its v-shaped designed soleplate.
- These are basically long irons created to harmonize; the sound is off the charts with these golf clubs.
- From heel to toe on the face, you’ll enjoy the ECHO Damping System, which provides exceptional distance with its forged steel.
- Optimized accuracy with the inverted Conte technology designing.
- Well-made Lamkin Crossline 360 long-lasting grip.
Specs
| Available Irons | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, PW, GW, SW, LW |
| Finish Options | Chrome |
| Stock Shafts | KBS Max 85 MT Steel Fujikura Ventus Blue Graphite |
| Shaft Flex Options | Steel: Reg or Stiff Graphite: Senior (A), Regular, or Stiff |
| Stock Grip | Lamkin Crossline 360 |
| Orientation | Right and left hand versions available (RH-only on Lob Wedge) |
2. Callaway Mavrik Max Irons
Best for game improvement
With the Callaway Mavrik Max Irons being the first irons Callaway designed using Artificial Intelligence, you won’t need to wonder how they perform and help beginner golfers with game improvement.
This set of irons is impeccable, starting with the sophisticated architecture of the iron’s face to the tungsten-infused weights in every iron offering perfect precision.
We thoroughly enjoyed the optimal launch and ball flight while using the entire iron set. It was amazing to see how these irons continued to maintain ball speed in the Flash Face Cup each time.
There are four different versions of these golf clubs, be sure to stick with the game improvement irons if you’re a beginner golfer.
What we liked most:
- Callaway went all out on the design of this iron set, giving it the perfect feel.
- Long-distance shots were made easily, with some claiming they gained ten to fifteen yards while using these irons for beginners.
- Choice of high-quality shafts, graphite or steel.
- Minimal vibration due to the patented urethane microsphere.
- They are known as the ‘super game improvement club’ for an excellent reason!
Specs
| Available Irons | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, PW, AW, SW |
| Finish Options | Chrome |
| Stock Shafts | Project X Catalyst HL Graphite KBS MAX 80 Steel |
| Shaft Flex Options | Steel: Reg or stiff Graphite: Light, Regular or Stiff |
| Stock Grip | Callaway Diamond Universal Golf Pride Align CHEV Tour Velvet IOMIC Sticky 2.3 Lamkin Comfort ST |
| Orientation | Right and Left |
3. Mizuno JPX 921 Forged Iron Set
Our Premium Pick
The Mizuno JPX 921 Forged Iron Set is for the beginner golfer who wants more power than the average set of irons provides. This iron set doesn’t fall short of any of the most popular specs and leaves the beginner golfer feeling more experienced. The combination of high-speed launches with controllable soft landing angles makes these golf clubs one of the most elite.
We were impressed with the larger cavity in the back designed with ‘Chromoly 4120.’ The integration of Chromoly 4120 allowed the clubface to be up to 0.5mm thinner, which ultimately delivers the fastest ball speeds.
We saw a nice bonus with some increased yards while using these golf irons for beginners, which is always welcomed.
What we liked most:
- These irons have a superior, sleek design that is better looking than most other brands that specialize in game improvement irons with its pearl brush finish.
- Provides excellent feedback about the player’s game from the Harmonic Impact Technology.
- Maximized results stemming from the off-center strikes.
- High ball speed thanks to the seamless construction of the cup face.
- Easily control your shots while heading towards the greens.
Specs
| Available Irons | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, PW, GW |
| Finish Options | Chrome |
| Stock Shafts | Aerotech Steelfiber Graphite UST Mamiya Recoil Graphite KBS $-Taper Steel KBS Tour Steel Nippon N.S. Pro Steel True Temper Dynamic Gold Steel True Temper Project X Steel |
| Shaft Flex Options | Steel: Reg or Stiff Graphite: Reg or Stiff |
| Stock Grip | Mizuno J112 Golf Pride Tour Wrap 2G Golf Pride Tour Velvet Full Cord Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 Golf Pride Z Grip ALIGN Golf Pride |
| Orientation | Right and left hand versions available |
4. Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Iron Golf Set
Best Value
When Cleveland introduced the 2020 version of the Cleveland Golf Men’s Launcher HB iron set, they gave beginners the best golf irons for hitting the ball with ease and faster than ever before. This iron set is geared towards players who have low to mid swings speeds and are looking for the best golf irons to enhance their game.
We loved how easy it was for our balls to take flight with the excellent forgiveness found in this iron set. These are the best golf clubs for beginners who aren’t ready to put in a lot of extra effort and still want to enjoy the sport of golf. The launch angles are superior in providing great overall distance.
What we liked most:
- This iron set has a great feel and sound regardless of any mishits.
- These golf clubs’ compact size gives you control over the ball, thanks to being mainly to their progressive shape.
- It easily cuts through the fairway grass with the raised center section and large sole.
- Offers incredible forgiveness and overall distance.
- The hollow construction provides effortless higher straight shots.
Specs
- Hand Orientation – Right
- Material – Graphite
- Shaft Material – Graphite
- Flex – Regular or Senior
5. Cobra F-MAX Airspeed Combo Irons
Top Pick for Seniors
The Cobra F-MAX Airspeed Combo Iron Set is the perfect set of irons for seniors who are just starting to get into the game of golf. These golf clubs are lightweight and have a natural swing that is easy to connect to the ball with.
In fact, these are Cobra’s lightest irons and hybrids that were designed to assist moderate swing speeds in swinging faster.
These are the best golf irons for beginner seniors because they offer game improvement specs throughout the entire design. They will send your ball sailing with minimum effort and are incredibly forgiving with mishits.
If you’re looking to get your ball up quickly, look no further; this set of irons doesn’t disappoint.
What we liked most:
- Low profile design that put the center of gravity near the back of the clubhead.
- It helps minimize slicing and hooks with its incredibly designed offset head.
- Easy to hit with hybrids compared to other brands.
- Maximum forgiveness from the low center of gravity on mishits from any angle.
- The short irons launch high, fly straighter and have a nice soft landing.
Specs
- Hand Orientation – Left or Right
- Material – Graphite
- Shaft Material – Graphite
- Flex – Regular or Senior
6. TaylorMade M6 Women’s Iron Set
Top Pick For Women
The TaylorMade Golf M6 Women’s Iron Set is perfect for the beginner golfer who has quality golf clubs in mind. The exclusive speed bridge technology used in this set of irons makes these the ideal iron set for women golfers who are just starting and want to continue to improve their game.
TaylorMade is one of the best-known golf clubs’ manufacturers, and we were thrilled to see this set of irons explicitly designed with ladies in mind. They recognize the difference between swing speeds and created these irons specifically for women.
The speed pocket has the potential to really boost the ball’s speed, and the extra stiffness in the clubhead makes it perfect for controlling the impact of the swing.
What we liked most:
- These golf clubs are optimized for playability and maximum forgiveness.
- Made with the new speed bridge structure enabling the fastest thru-slot speed pocket for maximum distance.
- Reduced low-frequency vibrations are giving a satisfying feel and sound at impact.
- 360° undercut and the fluted hosel lowers the CG to help assist the launch angle and ball speed.
- Low-face impacts have strong ball flight thanks to the increased launch angle.
Specs
- Hand Orientation – Right
- Material – Steel
- Shaft Material – Steel
- Flex – Ladies or Regular
7. Callaway Apex Iron Set
Top Pick For Slow Swing Speed
Callaway is a leader when it comes to providing some of the best golf irons for beginners and high handicappers. The Callaway Apex Iron Set comes in the traditional ‘chrome’ style and a sharp-looking smoke color that adds character and appeals to the entire iron set.
These golf clubs are designed to fit a wide range of players with multiple skill levels.
These mid handicap irons feature a sleek multi-piece construction that is precision engineered that delivers an unmatched forged design, with incredible and innovative ball speed technology with an optimal trajectory that sends your ball sailing through the air.
We were especially impressed with the forged 1025 mild carbon steel body and, for sure, with Callaway’s urethane microspheres. These are over one million microscopic air pockets that absorb any unwanted vibration without reducing or slowing the face.
What we liked most:
- 360 Face Cup that promotes high ball speeds across the entire face
- Strategically positioned tungsten weights that produce an optimized center of Gravity in each golf club
- Produces an excellent distance with an incredibly soft feel
- It combines power and control nicely together to compliment any golfers swing
Specs
- Hand Orientation – Left or Right
- Material – Graphite or Steel
- Shaft Material – Graphite or Steel
- Flex – Regular, Stiff, or Light
What You Need To Know When Choosing The Best Golf Irons For Beginners
Consistency is the biggest challenge for beginners and high handicappers; that’s why finding the best irons for beginners is imperative to how you play the game of golf.
Many irons are designed with ball speed and distance in mind; however, a set of irons designed for beginners needs to have more game improvement as the main focus and stop thinking about high performance.
When you first decided to play golf, you probably thought it was all about hitting the ball flawlessly and watching it sail through the air, landing perfectly next to the hole.
Don’t worry, we all start out thinking golf is an easy sport, but we soon find out that golf is more about skill than meets the eye.
Below we have put together everything you need to know when considering buying the best irons for beginners; check out our buyer’s guide now.
Buyer’s Guide for Golf Irons for Beginners
How to Choose the Best Golf Irons for Beginners and High Handicappers
As we mentioned above, the most crucial factor when choosing the best irons for beginners and high handicappers is both consistency and forgiveness.
If you look for a set of irons that can deliver both of these, you’re well on your way to enjoying the next round of golf. Have accuracy and consistency trumps every other feature a golf club can offer to beginners.
If you’ve been dreaming about launching higher and hitting the ball much farther with your set of irons, then you’ll need to consider a few other things when choosing the best irons for beginners.
Key features to look for in golf irons for beginners
Shaft Flex
Knowing your swing speed will help you in deciding which shaft flex to use. However, most beginner’s swing speed that ranges between 90 to 100 mph usually benefits from the regular flex. But if you have some power behind your swing and are swinging above 100 mph, you could consider going for the stiff flex.
Shaft Material
You’ll want to look for a lightweight material when it comes to the shaft on your golf clubs. Typically, graphite is the top choice for beginner golfers because it tends to be the lightest material used with shafts. This will help you achieve further distance, even if your swing speed is slower than the average.
Clubhead Design
When you’re a beginner at golf, you might have some issues with adjusting properly for getting the correct angle lined up. This makes connecting the ball to the club a bit more complicated and why most of the best irons for beginners have a larger head. You’ll be able to strike the ball more efficiently without the stress of not knowing if you’re angle is okay.
Iron Types
The most forgiving iron is going to have a cavity back that makes hitting the ball much more manageable. We recommend staying away from an iron set that uses muscle irons until you have more experience under your belt. The cavity back irons will assist with slower swing speeds and high handicappers.
Hybrids
If you find hitting the ball with a long iron difficult, then you should consider using a hybrid. Many golfers who are working on improving their golfing skills are benefiting from the utilization of some hybrids in their golf bag. Even some more experienced golfers have hybrids because, in reality, they’re just easier to hit with.
Forgiveness (Center of Gravity)
The center of gravity (CG) is much lower with the best irons for beginners because they offer the most forgiveness. You’ll find that tungsten weighting has been used in some of the best irons for beginners to support the lower CG.
Along with the CG, you should also look for a large sweet spot and a wide sole. This definitely will assist with the forgiveness and makes the game more enjoyable for beginners.
What are the Advantages of Using Graphite Shafts for Beginners?
The main advantage of using a graphite shaft is to create greater swing speed for more overall power. Since graphite shafts are much lighter than steel shafts, many of the best irons for beginners are made with graphite shafts weighing between 50 and 85 grams.
However, steel shafts are more durable than graphite shafts, and many golfers choose to use steel over graphite. Not to mention, the steel shafts are far less expensive compared to the graphite shafted irons.
The Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Iron Golf Set is a great iron set that uses graphite primarily due to it being lightweight and offers the golfer more forgiveness. This is one of the best iron sets for beginners of any age. It provides a lot of ease while achieving incredibly faster swing and ball speed.
What is Considered a High Handicap in Golf?
You will fall into the group of ‘high handicappers’ if your handicap is above 20. However, if you’re coming in at 18, you could benefit from using a set of irons that are designed for mid to high handicappers. The goal in any golf game is to ensure that the golf clubs match the player’s level.
In the USGA, the highest allowed handicap is 36 for men and 40 for women. Many things are considered when calculating a professional golfer’s handicap. Still, the two most important factors are their recent golf game scores compared to the difficulty of the golf courses they’ve played.
Beginner golfers typically have on average 108 for their handicap, which is perfectly normal for anybody just beginning to enjoy the pleasures of playing golf regularly.
Over time, the beginner golfer will see that number decline and could quite possibly fall into a different handicap category once they have played enough golf to make a difference.
Note: A handicap between 10 and 18 is considered to be decent and puts the golfer in a different bracket than the high handicappers.
Understanding Shaft Flex
Many beginner golfers are confused by the different choices of shaft flex’s; however, once you know the difference between the different types, it will be easier to determine which one will work best for you and your golf game.
The most common types of shaft flexes
Flexible Shaft – If you require a higher launch, then the flexible shaft will give you that. However, keep in mind that with higher launches comes challenges achieving more distance. There is a fine line between which type of golfer can benefit from the flexible shaft. When in doubt, always test it out first before buying a golf club with a flexible shaft.
Stiff Shaft – Any golfer with a swing speed under 100 mph should not attempt to use a stiff shaft regularly. The stiff shaft’s primary purpose is to keep the ball from launching too high, but the downside is that a stiff shaft could impact the direction your ball takes. Having more control of your ball is more admirable than trying to keep the flight straight and lower.
Senior Shaft – This shaft is not only designed with senior golfers in mind, but it also works exceptionally well for any golfer with a slower swing speed. If your swing speed is generally somewhere between 60 mph and 85 mph, you could benefit from using a senior shaft.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many Irons are in a set of clubs?
Generally speaking, there usually are seven irons in a set of clubs, plus the pitching wedge. However, some golfers prefer to carry some additional hybrids. The standard irons carried in a set of clubs are:
● 9 Iron
● 8 Iron
● 7 Iron
● 6 Iron
● 5 Iron
● 4 Iron
● 3 Iron
There is also the pitching wedge included in every standard set of golf clubs. Keep in mind that the higher the number on the iron, the easier it will be to hit the ball with.
With that in mind, the nine iron and the eight iron will be the easiest to shoot with, and the three iron and the four iron will be the most difficult.
If you’re looking for a complete set of the best irons for beginners, including the bag and all the other necessary golf clubs for making a complete set, check out the Callaway Men’s Strata Ultimate Complete Golf Set. It’s both high-quality and reasonably priced.
What is the easiest iron to hit?
The higher the number on the iron, the easier it will be to hit the ball with. So, the nine iron is definitely the easiest iron to shoot with. But outside of the 9 iron, you will have ease with hitting the ball when using your 7 iron, 8 iron, and wedge as well. This is mainly because these irons are among the shortest clubs in your golf bag.
When you consider an iron easy to hit, it is typically considered to be one of the best irons for beginners, the game improvement irons. You can produce a much better trajectory and maximum forgiveness when using a game improvement iron.
What are the most forgiving irons?
When considering the most forgiving irons, aka game improvement iron set, you will want to look for the best irons for beginners that are cavity backed and also have offset hosel to fight any slicing. Many manufacturers have actually removed the 3 iron from their iron sets due to the fact that it is the most challenging iron to hit with.
Taking it one step further, you could easily remove both the 3 iron and the 4 iron from your iron set altogether and add two hybrids to replace their space among your golf iron set. Hybrids are known for their forgiveness and are much easier to hit with.
Should I get the three, four, and five irons, or the hybrids?
When we look at these irons as a whole, we already know that these three irons are the most difficult to hit the ball with. So, if you’re looking for the best irons for beginners, you might consider replacing at least the 3 iron and the 4 iron with hybrids.
Remember, as a beginner golfer; you want to focus on consistency and accuracy, both of which the hybrid can offer you.Our first runner up in our top seven, the TaylorMade Sim Max Golf Iron Set, gives the beginner golfer the perfect combination of irons and hybrids, all within the same set of golf clubs.
Should I get graphite or steel shafts?
When looking at the best irons for beginners, it’s crucial to take into consideration your strength and swing speed. For example, senior golfers who have found themselves struggling with steel shafts have switched to the lighter opponents, the graphite shafts.
Steel shafts are heavier than graphite shafts, but they are also less expensive. When deciding which shaft will work better for you, graphite or steel shafts, consider the way you plan on using them.
If your swing speed can support the heavier weight of the steel shaft for the long haul of the game. We suggest any beginner golfer with a swing speed under 100 mph opt for the graphite shaft.
What shaft flex is right for my game?
Due to all the latest technologies, the flex of the shaft has gained more attention. This, however, is a grand concept since the shaft flex can quickly determine the quality of your game. When you strike the golf ball, your swing energy is transferred to the clubhead to produce a strong impact.
The most crucial factor about the flex of the shaft is that it actually determines the forgiveness or the measure of bend that the shaft engages during the swing of your golf club. Therefore, you will want the shaft flex to match the skill of the golfer and their overall swing speed.
If your swing speed is under 100 mph but over 80 mph - you can easily get away with using the standard ‘regular’ flex shaft. However, if your swing speed is ranging consistently over 100 mph, you should consider going with the ‘stiff’ flex.
In Conclusion
We took every liberty in deciding which iron sets were the best irons for beginners, and we believe that we found what many golf professionals would consider being the best set of irons based on the golfer’s needs. With that being said, our number one pick, the TaylorMade Sim 2 Max OS Golf Irons, will help the beginner golfer with hitting the ball faster and with much more ease than all the other competitors.
Our first and second runner up’s have both earned their spot on our Top 7 Best Irons For Beginners because they both brought something unique to the golfer’s game. The Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo set has the perfect combination of irons and hybrids to bring maximum game improvement to the player.
Whereas the Cobra F-MAX Airspeed Combo Iron Set is our top pick for senior golfers who are just beginning and want the best irons for beginners that match all of their needs, including a lightweight shaft. Regardless of which set of irons you choose, just be sure they are the right ones for you.
