Can You Get A Good Used Iron Set Under $500?

I’ve always found iron sets to be one of the more difficult pieces of golf equipment for amateur golfers to buy used.

With a driver, you are mainly checking loft, shaft, flex and condition. An iron set adds club makeup, shaft weight, length, lie angle and grip condition across several clubs. The process can quickly become overwhelming and exhausting.

I wanted this to serve as a starting point for golfers trying to determine whether a good used iron set is even within their price range.

I searched 2nd Swing for iron sets around $500 or less and compared some of the most interesting options with previous MyGolfSpy testing.

The answer is yes.

You just need to know where to look.

Used inventory changes quickly. The prices and configurations below were available during my research but may no longer be listed. Each model name links to 2nd Swing’s current inventory page.

The sweet spot is about three to four years old

Based on the inventory I looked at, the best combination of price, performance and availability generally came from irons released about three to four years ago.

That range included former MyGolfSpy test winners and irons that originally sold for $1,300, $1,500 or more.

We did find some newer models below $500. However, they were more likely to have noticeable wear, unusual specifications or a less common shaft setup. The real target is a three- or four-year-old iron in average condition with specifications that fit your game, if you want to try and spend less than $500.

Used player’s irons under $500

Player’s irons were some of the newest models we found around the $500 mark.

One of the best examples was the TaylorMade 2023 P7MC. The P7MC won the 2024 MyGolfSpy player’s iron test, earning particularly strong scores for accuracy and forgiveness.

I found P7MC configurations ranging from $336.99 for 7-PW to slightly more than $500 for 5-PW. The least expensive options were generally in below-average condition.

Other player’s irons we saw included:

• TaylorMade 2023 P7MB — A 5-PW set for $497.99 in below-average condition.
• PING Blueprint S — Several configurations around $485.99.
• Tour Edge Exotics Pro 723 — A 4-PW set in average condition for $437.99.

If you play player’s irons, $500 may buy something newer than you expect. Just be prepared to find heavier shafts, X-stiff flexes, and customized specifications.

Used player’s distance irons under $500

Player’s distance irons may offer the strongest overall value at this price.

The standout was the Srixon ZX5 Mk II. It won the 2023 MyGolfSpy players-distance iron test and returned in 2024 as one of the most accurate irons in the category.

I found a 7-PW set in average condition for $455.99. Larger configurations were also close to $500 but generally came with more wear.

Other player’s distance examples included:

• PXG 0311 P GEN6 — Multiple configurations between approximately $414 and $475.
• Callaway Rogue ST Pro — A 5-PW and approach-wedge set for $482.99 in below-average condition.
• TaylorMade 2023 P770 — A standard-length 5-PW set for $450.99 in poor condition.
• PING i525 — Several sets close to $500, depending on condition and setup.

Used game-improvement irons under $500

There were plenty of game-improvement options below $500, especially from the 2022 and 2023 model years.

The COBRA LTDx was the longest iron in the 2022 MyGolfSpy game-improvement iron test. It came with some accuracy issues but it was strong from a distance perspective. I found a standard-length 4-PW set for $499.99 in below-average condition. You’ll go over $500 to get a full set like that in better condition.

Other options included:

• XXIO 2022 X — Several 5-PW sets in average condition for $379.99.
• COBRA Aerojet — A 7-PW and gap-wedge set for $337.99 in average condition.
• Wilson Staff Launch Pad 2 — Several configurations between approximately $329 and $453.

COBRA and Wilson both have a lot of inventory and value in this category.

Condition and grips can change the real price

Average-condition irons will typically show normal face wear, scratches and bag chatter damage but should still have plenty of useful life. With poor-condition irons, groove wear becomes a bigger concern.

The grips also need to be included in your budget.

Replacing six or seven grips can add roughly:

• $42 to $49 for basic grips
• $78 to $91 for mid-priced grips
• More than $100 for some premium options

That does not include installation.

A $475 iron set that needs new grips may turn into a $550 purchase. When comparing two sets, look at the face wear and grip condition before assuming the less expensive option is the better deal.

What can $500 really buy?

A $500 budget is enough to buy a good set of used irons.

Looking three to four model years back gives you access to former MyGolfSpy winners, modern player’s distance irons, recent forged player’s irons and plenty of forgiving game-improvement options.

From what I found, the best value will usually be a set that is:

• About three to four years old
• In average condition
• Built with shafts that fit your game
• Close to your preferred length and lie
• Equipped with grips that do not need immediate replacement

If you want a simple place to begin, start with models released in 2022 and 2023.

That appears to be where $500 stops feeling like a restrictive budget and starts giving you some genuinely good options.