When it comes to player’s irons, there are brands we expect to see at the top of the leaderboard: household names with Tour presence and a long track record of elite performance. Every so often, though, a few unexpected names crash the party. Whether it’s a direct-to-consumer brand, a value-priced option or a company that simply flies under the radar, these are the irons we didn’t necessarily expect to shine. Here are the three player’s irons that surprised us in this year’s testing.
Vice VGI01
Vice was the best player’s iron for distance in 2025. The Vice VGI01 blew past expectations by posting a distance score of 9.7, the highest in the entire field of 22 irons.
What makes this performance stand out a bit more is the price. At $799.99, the Vice VGI01 is one of the most affordable irons in the test. Accuracy and forgiveness lag slightly behind but if you’re a confident ball-striker who wants distance out of a traditional profile, this one could be a good fit.
✅ Longest iron in the test (Distance Score: 9.7)
✅ Direct-to-consumer pricing under $800
❌ Weak accuracy score compared to peers
❌ Not ideal for players who need help with consistency
Toura SCB-1
At just $750, the Toura SCB-1 came into the test value unknown. What it delivered was top-three marks in both accuracy (9.4) and forgiveness (9.5). Despite being dead last in distance, this club’s combination of precision and consistency makes it a standout in this player’s iron category.
If you’re prioritizing greens in regulation over raw yardage, this club quietly outperformed some of the biggest names in the test. It’s also worth noting that it tied the best forgiveness score in the entire test field.
✅ One of the most accurate and forgiving irons tested
✅ Best value ($750 for a forged, tour-caliber CB)
❌ Not ideal for players who want stronger lofts or distance help
❌ Limited brand exposure or tour validation
Orka RS10 CB
Third overall in the entire player’s iron test, the Orka RS10 CB was a complete surprise. The Orka iron put up a 9.3 for accuracy and a 9.4 for forgiveness. It finished ahead of Titleist, Mizuno and PING in overall score!
While its distance performance was below average (8.1), that’s not going to disqualify a player’s iron. The Orka was consistent and had tight shot patterns. One thing to keep in mind with the Orka is that it had more visible offset than other top player’s irons.
✅ Top-three overall finish in the entire test
✅ Elite combination of accuracy (9.3) and forgiveness (9.4)
❌ Below-average distance score
❌ One of the more expensive irons in the test ($1,350)
Final thoughts
The player’s iron test is always an interesting one. We see some non-mainstream names break through and offer unique choices for players. If you don’t think any of these irons are a fit for your game, check out our complete list of the best player’s irons of 2025.
Lefthack
1 year ago
I had the TourA MB’s and they were fantastic and only $550. Not that there is any tech or anything in an MB, but they felt awesome and performed perfectly. Not surprised the CB’s were that good.