Best Golf Irons 2024: Buyer's Guide and things you need to know

GolfMagic reveals everything you need to know about the best golf irons in 2024.

21 Aug 2024

In the market for some new golf irons but want all the inside information before splashing the cash? Well you have arrived at the right place as we have been getting our hands dirty testing out all the latest sets to hit the shelves in 2024.

There are hundreds of new irons out there for better players, mid-to-high handicap players and even golf beginners, and each of them achieves very different things when it comes to helping us hit a golf ball.

The same can be said when it comes to the best golf drivers, which we've also tested out.

With so many different golf iron sets to choose from in pro shops and retailers such as American Golf, that all-important purchasing decision can prove something of a minefield.

But fear not, because here at GolfMagic we have crunched all the numbers in both the studio and on the golf course to reveal the irons we think you need to be taking a very close look at this season.

We have divided all of the irons we have tested out into three key categories:

For this guide, we have picked out our favourite three irons from each category, but if you want to see our full lists, head to the links above.

To break these iron categories down further, we encourage the mid to high handicap golfers among you to scroll down to our 'Most Forgiving' list.

If you consider yourself a better player with a single-digit handicap, or someone striving to get there soon, then we recommend you go straight to our 'Better Player' and 'Best Player Distance' iron categories.

Okay, without further ado , let's get stuck into our test, starting with what we consider to be the 'Most Forgiving Irons' currently on the shelves for mid- to high-handicap golfers.

As always, if you do take the plunge on any of the irons below, we highly recommend you opt for a custom fitting to get the most out of your game. Right, here goes...

Best Golf Irons 2024

Best Game Improvement Irons 2024

TaylorMade Qi

Key Features:

Integrated System Design: a suite of technologies aimed at optimising each individual iron head
FLTD CG: easier launch with long irons and better control with short irons
Cap Back Design with Toe Wrap Construction: blends the advantages of a hollow-body iron with those of a traditional cavity back
HYBRAR Echo Dampers: reduces unwanted vibrations while maintaining a desirable sound and feel.

Price: £999

VIEW DEAL

Pros:

One of the best-looking game improvement irons on the market
Outstanding all-around performance
First-class distance and forgiveness

Cons:

Low spin on long irons proved difficult to stop on greens

Arguably the most forgiving irons we've tested this year, the TaylorMade QIs offer an exceptional complete package for golfers looking to improve.

During testing, we found these irons incredibly easy to hit, with offline dispersion and ball speed retention kept incredibly tight even from poor strikes.

Each individual head has been optimised to deliver ideal ball flight and spin rates, and we noticed during testing that our gapping was also remarkably consistent throughout the set.

A fresh new design is also a big upgrade from the Stealth range, with a sleek black back panel complimenting the attractive topline and head shape.

While aimed at beginner golfers and those looking to improve, these irons could also be utilised effectively in a combo set with TaylorMade's P790 Irons. Thanks to the updated aesthetics, the two models blend well with each other, and thanks to the added level of forgiveness on offer from the QI line, they could be an ideal long iron replacement for those who struggle to strike their four or five-iron consistently.

All in all, the QI irons are one of the best game improvement sets of 2024 and also the most forgiving we have tested.

READ OUR FULL TAYLORMADE QI IRONS REVIEW

Titleist T350

Key Features:

Max Impact Technology, a new dual taper forged face with dual tungsten weighting
Multi-material hollow body construction provides maximum forgiveness while retaining a pure player's feel
Variable bounce sole allows the clubhead to move faster and smoother through the turf

Price: £1,069

VIEW DEAL

Pros:

Best-looking irons in the category
Solid and satisfying feel at impact

Cons:

Most expensive in the category

Titleist's T350 iron, designed for ultra-game improvement, successfully combines the brand's renowned classy aesthetics with an ultra-forgiving head shape. Unlike typical game improvement irons that can appear clunky, the T350s maintain a sleek and appealing profile despite their larger head size. The blended top line reduces the overwhelming look, making them one of the best-looking heads in this category.

In terms of feel, the T350 features a forged, dual-taper face that delivers a solid, satisfying impact sensation. While not as soft as traditional Titleist irons, it still ranks favourably compared to its competitors.

When it comes to performance, the T350 delivers on its promise of forgiveness. These irons are easy to launch, making them an excellent choice for high handicappers. While they may be slightly less controllable than more refined models, they maintain ball speeds across the face, which is crucial for golfers struggling with consistent ball striking.

Highly recommended for high-handicap golfers, the Titleist T350 irons stand out as one of the best-looking game improvement options on the market. Offering forgiveness and sleek aesthetics, they should be seriously considered during your next fitting session.

READ OUR FULL TITLEIST T350 REVIEW

Best Golf Irons 2024: Buyer's Guide and things you need to know

Srixon ZX4 Irons

Key Features:

MainFrame construction maximises flex at impact creating faster ball speeds as well as improved consistency and forgiveness
Tour V.T Sole helps maintain clubhead speed through contact and improves turf interaction
Progressive Grooves for long and short irons designed to optimise spin rates for different length shots

Price: £999

VIEW DEAL

Pros:

Very forgiving on off-centre strikes
Refined topline looks great behind ball

Cons:

Top end for price in this iron category
While distance and ball speed were retained on off-centre hits, you really feel it when you hit a bad shot with more unwanted feedback that you would expect from a game-improvement iron

Srixon has made these irons incredibly easy to hit and the strong lofts produce excellent carry distances for those who need help getting the ball to the target.

Although we noticed a drop off in feel from off-centre strikes, the performance more than made up for it.

These game-improvement irons are some of the best we have tested in their category and they should sit right at the top of your list for consideration if you’re looking to upgrade your irons this season.

Another positive for us is that Srixon has also blended all of its irons so well that the ZX4s can easily be combined with the ZX5s for those golfers looking for a bit more feel with their shorter irons.

If you’re looking for premium performance in a compact and good looking iron, then make sure you check out the Srixon ZX4 MK II irons when you next get custom fit.

READ OUR FULL SRIXON ZX4 IRONS REVIEW

Better Player Irons 2024

PING Blueprint S

Key Features

Elastomer insert: concealed in the pocket of the irons, ensuring the solid feel and sound expected in a forged player iron
Precision Pocket Forging: forged into the cavity of the 3, 4 and 5 irons. The pocket saves 10 grams of weight, which is reallocated to increase the MOI and optimise the centre of gravity position for more distance and trajectory control.
Forged 8620 carbon steel head: provides premium levels of feel and performance

Price: £1,129

VIEW DEAL

Pros

One of the best-looking irons of 2024
Incredibly consistent performance
Lovely forged feel

Cons

Mis-hits suitably punished in terms of feel
chrome strip may not be to everyone's taste

The Blueprint S irons by PING target better players seeking a forged players iron with enhanced forgiveness. Designed with inspiration from PING's renowned “S” series, these irons boast a sleek appearance and a well-crafted cavity back profile.

The irons feature a short blade length, appealing primarily to elite players. The satin and chrome finish combined with the cavity back design combine for one of the best looking irons of 2024. While minimal offset and a sharp topline may be intimidating, they align with the demands of Tour feedback.

The feel of the irons has markedly improved, offering a soft sensation on well-struck shots. Tour pros swiftly adopting these irons speaks volumes about their performance. They excel in workability, consistency, and turf interaction, which allowed us to shape shots and control spin effectively during testing.

While distance isn't the primary focus of a players iron, these deliver bags of power and provided us optimal gapping throughout the set.

Their balanced blend of power, spin, and workability makes them formidable on the course. With multiple Tour winners already trusting them, the Blueprint S irons are our top pick in the category for 2024.

For superior ball strikers seeking an upgrade, these irons should be a top consideration. Their combination of aesthetics, feel, and performance makes them stand our favourite irons for low handicappers in 2024.

READ OUR FULL PING BLUEPRINT S IRONS REVIEW

Callaway Apex CB Irons

Key Features

Body and face forged as one-piece: with 1025 carbon steel to produces a buttery soft feel at impact
Strategically placed MIM weights: create a perfectly balanced design for enhanced workability
Dynamic sole design: engineered to improve turf interaction with a pre-worn leading and trailing edge

Price: £1,109

VIEW DEAL

Pros

Excellent forgiveness for an iron aimed at elite ball strikers
The polished satin finish looks beautiful in hand and at address
Blend seamlessly with MB and Pro ranges

Cons

Noticeable wear on the face and back after only a few rounds

With a slightly thinner topline and weaker lofts than Callaway's Apex Pro irons, the CBs are best suited to truly elite ball strikers.

The tour cavity back design is an update to the Apex TCB that has been incredibly popular with the world's best players, most notably Jon Rahm.

The compact blade length and thin profile look beautiful behind the ball, albeit a little intimidating to us mere mortals, but in the hands of a low single-digit to scratch handicapper, it will look just right.

Similar in looks to both the MB and Pro irons, the CBs have a polished satin finish with the back featuring a shallow cavity with a textured design.

Struck from the middle, these irons produce that buttery soft feel you can expect from a fully forged head, and even on mis-hits, while there is more feedback, you don't get that stingy sensation that can often come from a pure blade.

Improved turf interaction was one of the key areas of development for these irons, and they do move beautifully through the ground. Taking healthy divots, the sole glides effortlessly through the turf for an all-around excellent striking experience.

READ OUR FULL CALLAWAY APEX CB REVIEW

TaylorMade P7CB

Key Features:

Optimised perimeter weighting: delivers a blend of workability and stability
Compact Tour shaping: every aspect of shaping designed to fit the eye of the elite ball striker
Precise milled face and grooves: deliver an optimal launch and spin combination for the ultimate control and precision

Price: £1,074

VIEW DEAL

Pros:

Super soft feel at impact
Updated aesthetics ooze shelf appeal
Five star control and responsiveness

Cons:

Soft forged steel does mark up quite easily

TaylorMade's newest players iron the P7CB is the brands latest Tour inspired iron, that is designed to deliver optimla performance for the best players in the world.

In terms of aesthetics, TaylorMade has opted to slightly enlarge the profile of the head compared to the P7MCs making it slightly less intimidating down at address.

TaylorMade has also opted to utilise classic RAC styling on the rear of the head, a move that will undoubtedly appeal to those who love a bit of nostalgia from their irons.

In terms of feel, the P7CBs are without a doubt one of the softest forged irons we have tested from TaylorMade and considering they have withstood 2,000 tons of force during the forging process, it's not hard to see why.

That softness translates beautifully into a wonderful forged feel and crisp muted sound at impact that we absolutely love.

When discussing players irons it's less about power and forgiveness and more about control and workability, and the P7CBs excel in both disciplines.

We found these irons incredibly easy to work through the air, and they delivered outstanding results out on the course, holding greens with pin point accuracy.

A very impressive offering from TaylorMade and without a doubt one of the best players irons of 2024.

Best Players Distance Irons 2024

TaylorMade P790 Irons

Key Features:

SpeedFoam Air: is 69% lighter than its predecessor to save 3.5g of weight, which is then redistributed for a better launch
FLTD CG: a strategic design that positions the centre of gravity (CG) lowest in long irons and progressively shifts it higher throughout the set
Thru-Slot Speed Pocket: is engineered to maximise forgiveness and provide additional ball speed on miss-hit low strikes off the face
AI-optimised internal structure: ensuring every gram of weight is strategically placed to deliver the best possible result with each specific iron.

Price: £1029

VIEW DEAL

Pros:

Sleek new design is absolutely stunning
Five-star power and forgiveness
Premium feel and sound at impact

Cons:

Performance improvement from 2021 is minimal

TaylorMade had a tough task on its hands improving the 2021 P790s, but somehow it managed to do it.

The fourth generation of P790 irons are absolutely fantastic. Featuring an AI-engineered internal structure and FLTD CG, which strategically positions the centre of gravity differently in each club, these irons offered outstanding distance and forgiveness right through the set.

A freshly designed aesthetic sees the irons retain the popular satin finish from 2021, with a new chrome bar that spans the length of the blade. looking superb both in hand and at address, these are without a doubt, some of the best irons we have tested this year.

It's honestly hard to find fault with these new P790s, even when put up against the third generation on Trackman there was a slight increase in carry distance, which is very impressive considering the 2021 iteration were some of the longest irons we've tested.

In terms of feel, these irons provide a buttery soft sensation at impact. The Speed Foam Air teams up with the forged 4140 high-speed face, to provide excellent feel across the face, preventing the slightly dead feel you can sometimes experience from a pure blade.

Offering outstanding performance, feel and aesthetics, the new P790s are the ultimate player's distance irons for 2024.

READ OUR FULL TAYLORMADE P790 IRON REVIEW

Cobra Forged Tec Irons

Key Features:

Hollow Cavity delivers low CG and helps to maximise the distance, forgiveness and playability
Flexible foam in the cavity generates a powerful rebound effect that also fine-tunes the sound and feel
PWRSHELL face increases ball speed and its large sweet spot adds forgiveness and high launch
Tungsten weight in the toe centres the CG to help you on off-centre hits

Price: £999

VIEW DEAL

Pros:

One of the most forgiving better player irons
Above average distance
Look superb at address
Very consistent numbers throughout bag
Lovely sound and feel on centre strikes

Cons:

Minor improvements on last Forged Tec line

The latest Cobra Forged Tec irons are so good, they make our list again!

While we have already noted their impressive feel and forgiveness in the previous category, there is plenty of distance to get excited about with these, too.

They aren't as long as the Cobra Darkspeed irons for game improvers, but their strong lofts still deliver plenty of power for you.

Cobra Forged Tec irons are also aesthetically pleasing to look down on at address with a moderate topline that should appeal to all.

As we mentioned previously, we noted a pleasing sound and feel with every club in the bag, testament to the flexible foam placed in the cavity design.

This iron has a bit of everything for better players. Low or mid handicap, we think you'll love these.

READ OUR FULL COBRA FORGED TEC IRON REVIEW

Wilson Dynapower Forged

Key Features:

Variable face thickness: optimised for increased ball speeds across the face and improved forgiveness
Power hole design: featured from 4-7 irons to improve face flexion
Low CG and high MOI: the centre of gravity has been pushed lower, and weight has been moved towards the toe for greater forgiveness and high launch

Price: £769

VIEW DEAL

Pros:

Feel and sound are incredible
Plenty of power and forgiveness on offer
Chrome finish looks great

Cons:

Power holes detract from the overall visual appeal

One of the most impressive irons of 2024, Wilson's Dynapower Forged line offers stand out performance, sleek visuals and feel and sound that will leave you wanting to hit balls until the sun goes down.

Benefitting from variable face thickness, the Dynapower Forged irons deliver outstanding ball speeds from across the face, aiding both performance from the centre of the club face but also forgiveness from poor strikes.

The low CG and increased MOI also delivers a towering ball flight that ia accompanied by an incredibly satisfying noise and feel through impact.

Wilson has really upped it's game in recent years, and these irons are a perfect example of the best work the brand can do.

Coming in at under £800, these irons also offer excellent value for money, and would be an ideal fit for golfers who's handicap ranges from 8-20.

Our only issue with the irons is the power holes on the sole, as we believe they diminish the visual appeal, however that's only our personal preference.

How we test golf irons

GolfMagic tests irons both indoors and outdoors.

All testing is led by our Equipment Editor Alex Lodge, and Review Editor Johnny Percival, both single-figure handicap golfers.

To test irons in both settings is very important because one provides us with statistical data and one provides a real-life experience on the golf course.

Testing irons in an indoor studio, such as Custom Golf Works is important because this is how we discover the differences between old models and new models. We find out what improvements have been made and ultimately why we should spend our money on these clubs.

Whether it is launch angle, ball speed or overall distance, we use data gathered from the indoor environment to gather pros and cons about all iron sets.

But it is also important to hit the irons out on the golf course. We need to feel these new irons interact with the turf and gain a view of how they perform in real-life situations.

We hit these irons both from wooden tees and off the deck. We want to give you accurate reports on how these irons perform and which golfers they are aimed at to ensure you spend your money wisely.

Learn more about how we test golf equipment

What is a player's iron?

Player irons, or better player irons as they are also known, are usually built with precision and feel in mind for players who want an added feature of workability in their game.

With a player's iron, they often feel and look like a blade, but they also come with a little forgiveness which helps ball-striking and accuracy.

If the aim of your game is to control your ball flight and work the ball in the air, you should definitely consider buying a set.

They suit low handicappers and confident ball strikers.

Better player irons usually feature a thin sole with a thin top line too which slightly reduces forgiveness.

Game-improvement irons are much easier to hit. But the feel is often reduced.

What is a game-improvement iron?

A game improvement iron is suited to golfers in the early stages of their careers or higher handicappers who want to build confidence in their ball-striking and overall game.

Traditionally, the design of a game improvement iron is larger and thicker than a player’s iron.

The larger sole creates a larger sweet spot, so even if you miss the middle of the club face, you won’t be punished as heavily as a better player iron.

With a player’s iron, you will know if you’ve hit the ball from the heel or the toe. A game improvement iron increases your confidence and gives you good results with off-centre hits.

The benefits of being custom fitted for your irons

In the modern game, it is absolutely essential to be custom fitted for your irons.

Your golf clubs need to suit your swing speed, body shape and swing path.

Fittings are free at various places, so there is no extra expense on top of the clubs you are buying.

You will be fitted with the correct grips, heads and shafts based on your game.

It is now more important than ever to be custom fitted for your clubs. It is risk-free and it will serve your game better than buying your new irons off the rack.

Things to consider with your irons

Moment of Inertia (MOI)

This term refers to the behaviour of our club face and how the club resists opening and closing. It is a measurement of a club’s resistance to twisting.

A high MOI golf club will be more forgiving than a low MOI golf club because it will be less likely to twist by the time the face connects with the ball.

When your club face hits the ball from the heel and the toe, this causes the club to twist and this ends in a loss of distance in most instances.

High MOI makes the club more resistant to twisting and increases the success and quality of off-centre strikes.

Centre of gravity (CG)

This term is the point in the club head where the weight is concentrated and balanced. This is usually found in the middle of the club head.

The centre of gravity is placed lower in the club head in bladed and player’s irons which is why it is so hard to hit these clubs. This is because if the CG is off-centre, this puts more side spin on the ball.

Players with high handicaps or slower swing speeds are suited to irons with a higher CG. These details essentially summarise why it is so important to be custom fitted and in possession of all the facts.

Loft and lie

Loft refer to the angle of each of your irons. This is fairly straightforward. For example, the most lofted club you can get your hands on is a 64-degree wedge and at the other end of the spectrum, you can buy drivers of eight or nine degrees.

The lie in an iron refers to the angle made by the line of the bottom of the shaft and the ground. A club with more lie has a shaft that points towards the ground at a steep angle.

The lie can impact how steep your swing is. A high lie angle could cause you to stand closer to the ball than an iron with a lower lie angle.

If you have a steep swing plane, you will want more lie in your irons. If you have a steep swing plane, this is suited to irons with a lower lie.

An indication of the correct feel of your irons is simple. If you look down at address and the bottom of the club is lying perfectly flat and the middle is facing the target, then this is the lie for you.

If your irons lie at an angle where the heel or the toe hits the ground before the middle of the club face, this is when your ball flights can be skewed. Once again, this is another feature that can be altered in custom fitting.

Sound and feel

The feel of your irons is very important. Regardless of whether you find the middle of the club face, you want a buttery feel from the irons and a satisfying connection.

Many features can contribute to the feel of your irons such as the type of shaft, the grip and the materials used in the club head.

The sound of your irons might not seem like an important aspect, but you don’t want to spend a fortune on your new collection and have them sound like a frying pan.

It is a feature that can become annoying if you play a lot of golf. When you hit an iron out the middle and the ball is soaring towards the hole, the last thing you want is the echo of a horrible sound that lingers each time.

Which irons are in your bag this season? What do you make of our results? Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels or come and visit us over on the GolfMagic YouTube Channel where you can check out all of our latest reviews.