10 Best Irons For High Handicappers in 2023

Looking for the best irons for high handicappers? As a high-handicap golfer, your main priority is scoring, so check out these recommendations for the best golf irons on the market in 2023.

Each iron set has been tested and reviewed by me, a PGA professional and coach, looking at my preferences before recommending the best steam irons or cavity back sets based on each set’s benefits to high handicap amateur players.

Learn all you need to know about the best golf irons for high and low handicappers in our in-depth guide. To come up with our list of the finest golf irons, we looked at factors including swing speed, sweet spot, face cup technology, ball speed and distance, and forgiveness.

When compiling our list of the best golf irons for beginners, we couldn’t ignore factors like launch angle, shaft flex, cavity back, and low center of gravity.

Following our top recommendations, you’ll discover a buyer’s guide and answers to commonly asked questions. If you’re looking for the finest golf irons to help you improve your game, go no further than the information provided here.

IMAGE PRODUCT DETAILS  
Best Lightweight Irons Best Lightweight Irons
TaylorMade SIM MAX Irons
  • Ultra-thin face
  • Lightweight
  • Impressive forgiveness
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Best Budget Iron Best Budget Iron
Callaway Golf Mavrik Iron Set
  • Impressive forgiveness
  • Easy and comfortable
  • 3 Year warranty
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Best In Quality Best In Quality
Callaway Golf 2022 Men’s Rogue Irons Se
  • Rogue Performance
  • Easy Improvement
  • High Rated
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Hot and thin face Hot and thin face
Cleveland Golf Launcher Turbo HB Iron Set
  • Ultimate forgiveness
  • Easy to hit
  • High ball flight
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Stainless steel built Stainless steel built
TaylorMade SiM 2 Max OS Iron Set
  • Fast forgiving face
  • Progressive face height
  • Straighter ball flight
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Premium Iron Set Premium Iron Set
Cleveland Golf Launcher UHX Iron Set
  • Variable high strength
  • Increased distance
  • Low Weight
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Lightweight Irons Lightweight Irons
TaylorMade Golf P790 Iron Set
  • Speedfoam
  • Thru slot speed pocket
  • Used to improvement
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High Rated High Rated
The Tour Edge Hot Launch C521 Iron Set
  • High rated
  • sleek design
  • Easy to feel comfortable
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Best Iron for Women Best Iron for Women
Cobra Golf T-Rail Combo Set
  • Hollow construction
  • High-strength steel face
  • Much more consistent
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Enhance Stability Enhance Stability
Mizuno JPX919 Forged Golf Iron Set
  • Increased ball speeds
  • Ultimate soft
  • Improve stability
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Top 10 Best Irons For High Handicappers

1. TaylorMade SIM MAX Irons – Best Irons for High Handicappers

TaylorMade SIM MAX Irons, Steel Shaft, KBS Max 85, 5-PW, AW, Right Hand,...
  • Speed Bridge: Revolutionary Speed Bridge technology strategically supports the topline of the iron...
  • ECHO Damping System: Designed with energy channeling geometry to quickly eliminate harsh vibrations...
  • Speed Pocket: Patented TaylorMade technology engineered to maximize face flexibility for increased...


TaylorMade’s SIM MAX irons are designed with a revolutionary Speed Bridge technology for a faster face. The technology provides more flex for a faster ball speed. The irons feature a thinner 1. 5mm face for great distance and stunning looks. The irons have a new and unique ECHO Damping System, which creates a softer feel with a crisp, penetrating sound.

The Irons are made from a titanium shaft material, and the low center of gravity aids in higher launch and more consistent distance. The irons come with a standard length of 38 inches. The clubs also feature TaylorMade’s Inverted Cone Technology (ICT), designed to provide increased ball speeds and higher forgiveness on low-face strikes. The clubs are available in right-hand orientation in a black/blue color combination.

Features:

  • Hand Orientation – Right
  • Golf Club Loft – 1 Degree
  • Brand – TaylorMade
  • Shaft – Material Alloy Steel
  • Color – Titanium, Black, Blue

Pros

  • Patented TaylorMade technology
  • Ultra-thin face
  • Lightweight
  • Impressive forgiveness
  • 1. 5mm face design

Cons

  • Echo damping speed is not enough

2. Callaway Golf Mavrik Iron Set

Callaway Golf 2020 Mavrik Iron Set (Set of 8 Clubs: 5 Iron - PW, AW, SW,...
  • Due to unprecedented demand across the industry, causing a shortage of shafts and grip, we may need...
  • With MAVRIK, we’re using Artificial Intelligence for the first time in an iron. Ball speed is...
  • We’ve created a sophisticated face architecture that’s unique to every loft, so we can create a...


The Callaway Golf Mavrik Iron Set helps you play long, deep, high-flying iron shots with a lightweight and flexible new shaft that gives you explosive ball speed. This iron set features a 360 Face Cup that flexes, releases, and rebounds to generate more backspin.

The new shaft has less drag, ball speed, and COR. Its lighter weight helps you swing faster and generate more club speed. The Mavrik Iron Set has a sleek, responsive look and feels, making it easy to build confidence at the address for better ball striking.

The clubs feature a longer, Streamlined hosel, which has been engineered for flexibility and includes a Tool-less Shaft Change that allows you to switch shafts easily. Mavrik irons come with a 3-year warranty against warping.

Features:

  • Hand Orientation – Left/Right
  • Golf Club Flex – Light
  • Material – Graphite/Alloy Steel
  • Item Weight – 1 Kilogram
  • 360 Face Cup

Pros

  • Impressive forgiveness
  • Easy and comfortable
  • Low center-gravity feature
  • 3 Year warranty
  • Easy to handle powerful swing

Cons

  • Clubhead marks easily

3. Callaway Golf Men’s Rogue Irons Set

Callaway Golf 2020 Mavrik Max Iron Set (Set of 7 Clubs: 4 iron - PW, Left...
  • Due to unprecedented demand across the industry, causing a shortage of shafts and grip, we may need...
  • With MAVRIK, we’re using Artificial Intelligence for the first time in an iron. Ball speed is...
  • We’ve created a sophisticated face architecture that’s unique to every loft, so we can create a...


Rogue irons are suited to the golfer who desires forgiveness in the long irons, together with precise and long iron play, in a lightweight and forgiving cavity-back design. The irons’ 360 Face Cup is forged from 17-4 stainless steel and features Precise Flight Technology (PFT) to unlock more distance in all irons.

The clubs’ VFT internal standing wave, thin-wall casting, and precision CNC milling enhance feel and control. The hollow body design reduces weight to optimize performance across the face. A lightweight Urethane Microsphere design delivers a softer, more responsive feel.

The long and strong construction of the irons is ideal for any golfer, from the budding player to the competitive professional seeking a high-performance set of irons. It is the best choice to enhance your golf skills.

Features:

  • Golf Club Flex – Regular
  • Hand Orientation – Left/Right
  • Material – Urethane
  • Brand – Callaway
  • Shaft Material – Alloy Steel
  • Item Weight – 7 Pounds

Pros

  • 360-face cup technology
  • Urethane microspheres for great feel
  • Rogue performance

Cons

  • Heavyweight

4. Cleveland Golf Launcher Turbo HB Iron Set

Cleveland Golf Launcher Turbo HB Iron Set 4-D GR R RH
  • TURBOCHARGED FACE - Each Launcher HB Turbo Iron features a turbocharged, high strength steel face...
  • HIBORE CROWN - The redesigned HiBore Crown features low, deep weighting to produce an easy to hit,...
  • HOLLOW CONSTRUCTION - Fully hollow construction along with internal stabilizing ribs provides...


The 4th best iron for high handicappers is Cleveland Turbo Iron set. Cleveland Golf Launcher Turbo HB Irons Set The Cleveland Launcher Turbo HB irons set is designed to give players a fast, high ball flight with a high launch angle and extreme forgiveness. The launcher Turbo HB irons are available in a 20-degree loft with a regular or stiff flex graphite shaft to suit your game.

The golf irons are available in left and right-hand sets and a 4-iron through to a pitching wedge configuration. Every club in the launcher Turbo HB iron set features a high-strength steel face with a thinner and hotter for increased ball speeds with explosive distance. The high-strength steel face is also introduced with a high-bore crown to provide the ultimate forgiveness.

Features:

  • Color – Silver/Black
  • Golf Club Flex – Regular/Senior/Stiff
  • Hand Orientation – Left/Right
  • Golf Club Loft – 20 Degrees
  • Material Other
  • Brand Cleveland
  • Golf Shaft Material Graphite

Pros

  • Ultimate forgiveness
  • Easy to hit
  • High ball flight
  • Hot and thin face

Cons

  • No warranty

5. TaylorMade SiM 2 Max OS Iron Set


TaylorMade Golf’s SiM 2 Max OS Irons are designed with a faster, oversized head shape that benefits golfers who use the clubface’s perimeter. Oversized heads create a larger sweet spot, while the increased size is designed to increase forgiveness by eliminating inconsistent contact between the clubface and the ball.

The new ECHO damping system is constructed of a proprietary rubber material that absorbs vibrations produced during impact to reduce turf interaction, increase forgiveness, and increase energy transfer to the ball through a larger, faster face.

The progressive, inverted cone technology on the clubface is designed to maximize the reward for players who make good contact and position their strikes in the center of the clubface. The large, drilled face and clubface are designed to increase ball speeds and maximize forgiveness. TaylorMade Sim 2 Iron set is one of the best for high handicappers.

Features:

  • Color – Steel
  • Golf – Clubflex
  • Hand Orientation – Right
  • Golf Club Loft – 48 Degrees
  • Material – Titanium
  • Brand – Taylormade
  • Shaft Material – Graphite
  • Item Weight – 2.3 Pounds

Pros

  • Fast forgiving face
  • Progressive face height
  • Straighter ball flight
  • High-strength stainless steel

Cons

  • Costly

6. Cleveland Golf Launcher UHX Iron Set


Cleveland is always ahead in manufacturing the best irons for high handicappers. Cleveland Golf Launcher UHX Irons bring the famous Cleveland utility iron design to the distance-seeking player. Featuring the classic Cleveland utility iron design with a lower, deeper weight distribution and a V-shaped sole, the Launcher UHX Irons are long, high-launching, forgiving irons that will provide the maximum distance for players of all levels.

Cleveland Golf’s patented Uniflex Sole is incorporated into the Launcher UHX Irons to promote optimal launch conditions to ensure distance consistency with every strike. Launcher UHX Irons are available in a wide range of lofts, perfect for matching players of all levels with the ideal utility iron.

These sets are perfect for players who want the high launch, high spin, and forgiving play that has become synonymous with the Cleveland Golf’s utility iron. This right-handed set features a silver finish and a graphite shaft.

Features:

  • Color – Silver
  • Golf Club Flex Hand – Regular/Senior/Stiff
  • Hand Orientation – Left/Right
  • Golf Club Loft – 20 Degrees
  • Material – Other
  • Brand – Cleveland Golf
  • Shaft Material – Graphite

Pros

  • Hollow and cavity back construction
  • Variable high strength
  • Increased distance
  • Laser Milling delivers maximum spin

Cons

  • Iron is quite short

7. TaylorMade Golf P790 Iron Set


Create a superior look in your golf game with the TaylorMade 790 Irons. Engineered in the United States to perfectly complement the game of golfers at all skill levels, these clubs were improved over previous models with the addition of SpeedFoam Technology, which increases swing speed through the impact zone.

With this technology, the clubs deliver a truer distance so every golfer can hit the ball exactly where they want. The clubs are available in left-handed and right-handed orientations. Also, they come in a chrome finish.

Additional features include a 1-degree golf club loft, T-Track technology, tungsten weighting, and hollow body construction. They also include a grip wrap and a shaft material of graphite. The grip tape is a wraparound.

Features:

  • Color – Chrome
  • Golf Club Flex – Regular
  • Hand Orientation – Left/Right
  • Golf Club Loft – 1 Degree
  • Material – Other
  • Brand – TaylorMade
  • Shaft Material – Graphite
  • Grip Type – Wrap

Pros

  • Forged hollow body construction
  • Speedfoam
  • Low-profile tungsten weighting
  • Thru slot speed pocket

Cons

  • The face is not hot

8. The Tour Edge Hot Launch C521 Iron Set


The Tour Edge Hot Launch C521 Iron Set is an iron package built for precision, speed, and forgiveness. This iron set is designed to improve golfers’ distance and accuracy. The exclusivity of this iron set is that it comes equipped with Aldila Rogue Graphite Shafts.

Rogue Shafts are designed to have low torque and forge a high flight. In addition, the new C521 iron set is attached to a Tour Edge Hot Launch C521 Forged Shaft. This shaft is crafted from high-strength steel and has a forged heaviness. The forged heaviness of this shaft allows for the ability to swing fast for more distance.

Features:

  • Golf Club Flex – Regular
  • Hand Orientation – Right
  • Material – Graphite
  • Brand – Tour Edge
  • Shaft Material – Aldila Rogue Graphite

Pros

  • High rated
  • Sleek design
  • Easy to feel comfortable

Cons

  • High cost

9. Cobra Golf T-Rail Combo Set


If you have been looking for a versatile golf club set for your senior father, husband, or friend, this new Cobra Golf combo set is exactly what you need! The Cobra Golf T-Rail Combo Set is the next generation of golf clubs for the golfer looking for the best possible performance in various situations.

Cobra Golf has designed this new set to offer the maximum level of performance to the most experienced golfers while maintaining a simple design that a beginner can easily handle. The combo set includes a driver, a hybrid club, a sand wedge, a putter, and a stand bag with several useful pockets. You can also check out some best golf drivers under $200 here.

The Cobra Golf T-Rail Combo Set is available in both left and right-hand orientation and offers performance, quality, and style to make any golfer happy.

Features:

  • Hand Orientation – Left/Right
  • Color – Black/Blue
  • Golf Club Flex – Regular/Senior/Stiff
  • Golf Club Loft – 44 Degrees
  • Material – Other
  • Brand – Cobra Golf
  • Shaft Material – Graphite Hybrids with Graphite Irons
  • Grip Size – Midsize

Pros

  • Hollow construction
  • Always has a great shot outcome
  • High-strength steel face
  • Much more consistent

Cons

  • Most suitable for women

10.Mizuno JPX919 Forged Golf Iron Set


Are you looking to improve your game but are worried that the discomfort of a new set of golf irons will slow you down? Mizuno introduces the JPX919 forged golf iron set. These are the best irons for high handicappers. Experience the advantages of Mizuno’s Grain Flow Forging process, which creates a soft, solid, consistent feel that improves your game.

The JPX919 forged golf iron set is also made with a beautiful pearl finish to soften the look of the irons, which are precision-forged by Mizuno’s state-of-the-art forging press. Designed with a high-strength steel head and a reliable, lightweight graphite shaft, the forged JPX919 is a set of golf irons built to perform.

Features:

  • Golf Club Flex – Regular
  • Hand Orientation – Right
  • Material – Alloy Steel
  • Brand – Mizuno
  • Shaft Material – Alloy Steel
  • Item Weight – 8 Pounds

Pros

  • Increased ball speeds
  • Minimum face thickness
  • Enhance stability and launch
  • Ultimate soft, solid, consistent feel

Cons

  • Heavyweight

How to Choose the Best Golf Irons for Beginners and High Handicappers

Taking care of the shaft material, flex, forgiveness, and all the details are important when choosing the best golf irons for high handicappers. Check out the information below to choose the perfect golf iron for you.

  • Different Irons Options

So many alternatives are there to choose from! Irons may be divided into three types: irons for improving your game, irons for enhancing your game, and irons for becoming a better player. Game Improvement irons are ideal for beginners because of their huge sweet spot and significant perimeter weighting, which makes it easier to fix mishits. With their low center of gravity, they are also better at launching balls swiftly.

  • Shaft Flex

Your swing speed will help you choose the right shaft flex. On the other hand, those with swing speeds of 90 to 100 mph frequently benefit from flexing their muscles regularly. You might, however, go with a stiff flex if you have considerable force behind your swing and are swinging at or over 100 mph.

  • Shaft Material

The choice between graphite and steel shafts might often be a difficult one. They are lighter and more flexible than steel shafts, while graphite shafts tend to be less rigid than steel shafts. Off-center impacts are muted because they have less “feel” than steel shafts.

A benefit of this is that your hands and forearms will not get exhausted from mishits in the cold, but better players frequently desire that input to learn more about the nature of the miss. Inquiries will be made as to whether or not it was delivered from the toe, the heel, or a thin spot.

This is because graphite is far more costly to produce, both in terms of raw material costs and the amount of time it takes to finish a single shaft. As a result, they may be prohibitively expensive. On the other hand, slower-swinging players may find the additional cost of the graphite shafts well worth the increased performance. The smaller weight makes higher swing speeds possible, and the shaft’s kick point may be lowered to aid in high ball launch.

  • Hybrids or Irons?

Many think long irons (3 to 5) are tough to hit. 1- and 2-irons were common in iron sets when I was growing up, but they’ve gone out of favor due to the difficulty in striking decent shots with those irons. Even God can’t hit a 1-iron, according to Lee Trevino.

Hybrids have made long irons more approachable for new golfers. They are called hybrids since they have the best of both worlds: wood and iron. Beginners, for example, learn that smooth swings generate high-flying shots that are practically difficult to execute with long irons since long irons need high swing speeds to put the ball in the air.

Replace a bad 4-iron with a good 4-hybrid if you’re having trouble hitting it. You’ll improve your shots and have a better time playing. Many players may use hybrids up to a 6- or 7-iron. Hybrids make up the majority of one of the sets I’ve analyzed in this post.

  • Forgiveness (Center of Gravity)

The center of gravity (COG) for equipment producers has become a primary concern since it focuses on the iron’s launch angle. For most golfers, a higher launch and a longer carry will result in more overall distance.

It is essential for high handicappers and novices to use irons with a lower center of gravity (COG). Instead of struggling to hit the ball high, irons equipped with this function use technology to assist force the ball upward and ahead.

To achieve this shot form, most game and super-game improvement irons have broad soles and a lower center of gravity (COG).

In addition to the CG, you should seek a broad sole and a big sweet spot. This will help the game’s forgiveness and make it fun for new players.

  • Budget

Finding the right pair of irons for your game and financial well-being. Maximizing the worth of your golf equipment will allow you to purchase the rest of your set without breaking the bank.

Most manufacturers, such as Ping, provide a wide variety of options when it comes to iron sets. With a 5-iron in the mix, you should have no problem finding an entry-level set with a cheaper pricing point.

Professional players may need more costly equipment if they get the most out of their abilities. As a result, they should set aside a larger portion of their budget for their clubs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What should beginners look for in a set of irons?

A. Beginners should look for forgiveness; a forgiving iron lets you miss and not punish you as much. In other words, a forgiving iron will not send the ball flying into the woods. The best way to do this is to look at a chart showing the sweet spot’s size. Another thing they should look for is an iron with a cavity.

This means that the top is thinner than the bottom. This is because beginners will tend to miss higher more often than low. A thinner top makes it easier to miss high. This is why golfers like to use smaller irons.

Q. What are the Advantages of Using Graphite Shafts for Beginners?

A. Graphite shafts are relatively new in golf. Golfers have been using steel shafts for decades and have been quite satisfied with them.  However, golfers are always looking for new technology to improve their game, and graphite shafts have been on the market for some time now. While made of graphite, graphite shafts have a significant amount of weight, like steel shafts. This is usually a level weight. Heavier graphite shafts are also available.

Q. What should high handicappers look for in a set of irons?

A. If you are a high handicapper, you should look for a set of irons that provide forgiveness, more distance, and easy alignment. Good irons do not need to cost a fortune; they are available in all price ranges. However, the more expensive irons provide a better performance, so if you can afford them, you should go for them.

Irons which need to be hit high for maximum distance and forgiveness include the Cobra S3, which comes in both regular and stiff flexes, and the Adams SpeedLine, which comes in regular, stiff, and X-Stiff. Irons designed to be more forgiving on off-center hits include the TaylorMade Burner, which comes in both regular and stiff, and the Mizuno JPX-800 Pro. Both sets are forged.

Q. Should I get the three, four, and five irons or the hybrids?

A. Consider a hybrid if you have a very tight swing and cannot get the ball airborne. Your best bet is to get all three. It would be best if you did not have too much difficulty hitting the three iron, and it still can get you out of trouble at times from the rough.

As you hit the ball better and better, you will see the benefit of the 5-iron and the 4-iron. They are generally easier to hit than their hybrid counterparts. If you do not have the strength to drive the hybrid, then opt for the 5-iron or the 4-iron.

Q. What are irons made of?

A. In the golf club industry, irons refer to golf clubs designed for hitting the ball straight instead of far. Irons designed to strike the ball straight and far are called “woods.” The material used to make irons is largely dictated by the club’s length, weight, and flight trajectory.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed our article about the best irons for high handicappers. With this knowledge, we know you have the knowledge you need to pick just the right set of irons that will help you improve your game and make you a better player. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and make your game better today!

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