For the best game-improvement irons 2023, overall rankings are a compilation of accuracy, forgiveness, and distance. Each scoring category is weighted to achieve the overall score. We understand each iron category is different. Therefore, weighting is spread more evenly over the three scoring categories with accuracy receiving a slight edge.
Our overall rankings are a compilation of accuracy, distance and forgiveness. Each scoring category is weighted to achieve the overall score.
Accuracy
Accuracy plays a vital role in overall performance. Our Accuracy score is strictly based on one metric:
Strokes Gained
Forgiveness
Forgiveness is a measure of consistency. As such, our Forgiveness metrics seek to identify the clubs that provide the most consistent result. Please note: “Consistent” doesn’t always mean “consistently good.” Our Forgiveness metrics include:
Ball speed consistency
Spin consistency
Carry consistency
Dispersion area
Distance
We realize distance is one of the main goals for game-improvement irons. However, because a game-improvement iron is long doesn’t necessarily make it good. Our Distance metrics are simple:
Carry distance
Total distance
Best Game-Improvement Irons 2023 Buying Considerations
Performance should be your primary concern when buying new irons but there are some additional things you may want to think about before you make your decision.
Shaft Selections
Steel or graphite? Which do you choose? Well, it is relative to what you have access to and what fits you as an individual. Most game-improvement irons come stock with steel shafts. True Temper Dynamic, Project X, KBS Tour and Nippon Shaft make up a majority of stock steel shaft offerings. You’ll find graphite stock shaft options more prevalent in the game-improvement iron category than in other categories. Of course, there are after-market options. Selecting the appropriate shaft can help tighten dispersion and enhance launch conditions. This is a critical ingredient to bettering your golf game.
Distance Versus Forgiveness
Game-improvement irons generally boast a blend of distance and forgiveness. However, as we continue to see, there’s a trade-off when either distance or forgiveness takes precedence. The game-improvement irons that perform well offer a consistent blend of distance and forgiveness. They provide consistency across all three metrics: accuracy, distance and forgiveness.
Cost
Despite rising costs, the game-improvement iron category offers competitive pricing across the board. The most expensive set is the Callaway Paradym X at $1,399.99
The best game-improvement iron of 2023, TaylorMade Stealth, is $999.99 for a seven-piece iron set. The second-best game-improvement iron for forgiveness, Ram Golf FX77, is $399.99.
How We Test – Best Game-Improvement Irons 2023
For the Best Game-Improvement Irons 2023, we utilized 20 testers to collect 10,560 total shots. Throughout the testing process, testers hit 5-iron, 7-iron, and pitching wedge from each participating model.
We limit variables by collecting data using Titleist ProV1 as our official testing golf ball and Foresight GCQuad as our official ball launch monitor.
Best Game-Improvement Irons 2023 – FAQ
BUYING NEW IRONS
Q: How often should I buy new irons?
A: While on rare occasions there are quantifiable year-over-year breakthroughs, typically it takes three to five years for manufacturers to make significant performance gains. With the USGA further tightening restrictions on manufacturers, it’s possible, even likely, that it will take longer still moving forward. Our recommendation is to buy new irons only when they appreciably outperform what is already in your bag. Of course, if you want new irons because you want new irons, that’s fine, too.
Q: How do I determine the right category of irons for me?
A: The four categories of irons we test are player’s (cavity-backs), player’s distance, game-improvement and super game-improvement. While there is some overlap between categories, your search should begin with an honest assessment of your skill level (handicap) as well as what you need in your game. While there are always exceptions, if your handicap is above 10 and ball striking is not a legitimate strength, we’d recommend avoiding the player’s iron category. For more skilled players who hit the ball more consistently, a set of player’s or player’s distance irons may benefit your game the most. For those on the bubble, especially for those seeking a few more yards, the player’s distance category is typically the most versatile.
Q: Does the shaft matter?
A: Absolutely. While changes to spin and launch differences are rarely massive, shaft changes frequently lead to improved accuracy, tighter dispersion and greater overall consistency. Finding the right shaft and dialing in your lie angles is reason enough to get fitted.
Q: What should I look for when testing irons?
A: While golfers have been conditioned to consider distance to the exclusion of nearly everything else, even within the player’s iron category we recommend looking at the little numbers and looking for small circles. When comparing metrics like distance and ball speed, be sure to look at your standard deviations (the small numbers usually found under the big ones on the launch monitor data screen). Smaller numbers mean better consistency which will usually mean more than an extra yard or two on the golf course. Similarly, look for tighter dispersion ellipses (small circles). We can’t overstate the importance of consistency with irons.
MOST WANTED
Q: How are the irons in the test fitted to each golfer?
A: We use a fitting process that we call fit from stock. Irons are fitted to each tester using the stock, no up-charge options from each manufacturer. We test one short iron, one mid iron and one long iron from each set. While there are no irons in our testing that feature adjustability, we fit to flex for each tester in the pool. Occasionally, manufacturers will send multiple sets with different stock shafts that we can utilize to improve launch conditions.
Q: How do you determine in which category to test a given set of irons?
A: To ensure that we’re testing irons as alike as designers allow for, in addition to the design of the head itself (profile, sole width, etc.), we sort by length and loft. Our goal is to keep differences as minimal as possible within any test cohort. When an iron reasonably fits in more than one category, we defer to the manufacturer’s category choice.
Q: How are the Best Game-Improvement Irons 2023 determined?
A: To determine our rankings, we collect key performance metrics with Foresight GCQuad Launch Monitors. After eliminating outliers, we utilize a proprietary methodology to calculate overall scores for three key metrics: accuracy, forgiveness and distance. The Most Wanted winner is determined by the overall score after weighting these three metrics.
Q: How is the “Best for Distance” iron determined?
A: The process to determine the longest game-improvement iron is similar to how we arrive at our overall rankings. For distance, our critical metrics are carry and total yards. We identify distance scores for each iron: 5, 7 and PW. From there, an overall score is calculated.
Q: How is the “Best for Forgiveness” iron determined?
A: Forgiveness scores are calculated based on four key metrics: spin delta, ball speed delta, carry delta and dispersion. A forgiveness score is generated, like distance, for each iron: 5, 7 and PW. From there, an overall score is calculated.
Q: You discuss subjective feedback for things like looks, sound and feel. How much do those ratings factor into your rankings?
A: ZERO. Our rankings are based purely on launch monitor data and quantifiable performance metrics.
MyGolfSpy Testing Toolkit
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TaylorMade Stealth iron is the best game improvement iron for 2023. This isn't the first time it has captured an award. It was the best game improvement iron for 2022 as well. If you're in the market for a game improvement iron that is forgiving, accurate and offers enough distance, TaylorMade Stealth iron is for you. It is the best game improvement iron overall and the best for forgiveness.
Pros
TaylorMade Stealth iron is the best for forgiveness. Think of forgiveness as a measurement of consistency. Golf clubs are either consistent with producing similar shot outcomes or they are not. TaylorMade Stealth iron is a model of consistency. It produces consistent ball speeds, carry distances, backspin numbers, and dispersion. Our testing pool does rate it highly for looks, feel, and likelihood of purchase.
Cons
Compared to the field, TaylorMade Stealth iron is slightly below average for distance. It places 7th for distance. If subjective items such as sound, feel, and looks are important to you, the Stealth iron ranks below average for sound.
COBRA AeroJet One Length iron claims 2nd place overall in our best game improvement iron 2023. Sure, it might not be the first golf club on your radar, but perhaps that changes today. AeroJet One Length's performance speaks for itselt. It is one of the most consistent performers across all three scoring categories - accuracy, forgiveness, and distance.
Pros
COBRA AeroJet One Length places Top 5 for accuracy, forgiveness, and distance. The best of these performances is accuracy where it ranks 3rd overall. These performances attest to its consistency and make it one of the best game improvement irons for 2023.
Cons
Performance wise, there are barely any weaknesses for COBRA AeroJet One Length. But the fact that each iron is 7-iron length will turn people away. Our testing pool wasn't too keen on hitting a 5-iron and pitching wedge that were abnormally shorter or longer than standard length. Subjectively, COBRA AeroJet One Length rates below average for looks, feel, sound, and likelihood of purchase.
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COBRA AeroJet iron places 3rd overall for the best game improvement irons 2023. It possesses slightly stronger lofts than the One Length offerings. This and its variable, standardized lengths attribute to its distance scores, which is 4th overall and its greatest attribute. COBRA AeroJet's accuracy and forgiveness rankings are within the top 6, which balance out its overall performance. It also ranks 3rd for sound and above average for feel and looks.
Pros
COBRA AeroJet is the 4th best game improvement iron for distance. Traditionally, COBRA is near the top of the game improvement iron distance leaderboard. So, its performance here is not surprising. COBRA AeroJet also produces above average performances for accuracy and forgiveness. The combination of distance, accuracy, and forgiveness makes COBRA AeroJet one of the best game improvement irons of 2023.
Cons
COBRA AeroJet is one of the most well balanced golf irons in the game improvement iron category. One of the biggest knocks against it comes in the form of subjective feedback. COBRA AeroJet's feel is middle of the road.
Srixon ZX4 Mk II iron places 4th overall for the best game improvement irons 2023. It also claims a clean sweep for our testers' choice awards. Srixon ZX4 Mk II rates as the best game improvement iron for sound, feel, looks, and likelihood of purchase. ZX4 Mk II's best performance characteristic is accuracy. It ranks 2nd overall for accuracy. ZX4 Mk II also places in the top 4 for forgiveness.
Pros
Srixon ZX4 Mk II is one of the best game improvement irons for accuracy and forgiveness. It places 2nd and 4th respectively for these scoring categories. Furthermore, it is the best game improvement iron for sound, feel, looks, and likelihood of purchase.
Cons
Srixon ZX4 Mk II's biggest weakness is its distance, which is surprising. It finishes 8th for distance.
Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal iron finishes 5th overall in our best game improvement irons 2023. Traditionally, Mizuno's Hot Metal iron performs exceptionally well as a game improvement iron. This year is no different as it ranks as the best for accuracy. Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal also ranks as one of the best irons for feel, sound, looks, and likelihood of purchase.
Pros
JPX 923 Hot Metal is the best game improvement iron for accuracy. For us, accuracy boils down to strokes gained, and the JPX 923 Hot Metal iron excels in this area. Additionally, if you prioritze subjective items, such as, sound, feel, and looks, 923 Hot Metal is one of the best for each of these.
Cons
Although it rates well for accuracy, JPX 923 Hot Metal is slightly below average for forgiveness. Furthermore, it ranks towards the bottom for distance. Ultimately, these two results keep it from a higher placement in our best game improvement irons 2023.
Choose a club category and pick two options to compare head-to-head. We'll show the stats from our testing side-by-side to see which ranks highest on the aspects that matter to you most. May the best club win!
Distance is one of the main goals for game-improvement irons. However, because a game-improvement iron is long doesn’t necessarily make it good. Our Distance metrics are simple:
Forgiveness is a measure of consistency. As such, our Forgiveness metrics seek to identify the clubs that provide the most consistent result. Please note: “Consistent” doesn’t always mean “consistently good.” Our Forgiveness metrics include:
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Everything we do and say is based on cold, hard data. We challenge any and every claim with scientific measurement and analysis. If a product performs well, you'll hear about it. We'll tell you the truth and list the shortcomings if it doesn't.
Everything we do and say is based on cold, hard data. We challenge any and every claim with scientific measurement and analysis. If a product performs well, you'll hear about it. We'll tell you the truth and list the shortcomings if it doesn't.
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I see higher ball speeds for player’s distance irons compared to game improvement irons. Are the same golfers hitting the different type of clubs? In other words are lesser skilled players hitting game improvement clubs compared to higher skilled players hitting player’s distance clubs. If so, that discrepancy probably explains the discrepancies between categories, and data is more useful when comparing across same category.
I really don’t think that most players looking for game improvement irons hit a 7i more than 185+ yards with ball speeds 116-118. I think that using testers with swing speeds higher than the average, for this category, provides results that are less applicable than they could be. Also, none have a descent angle greater than 39* which is pretty bad.
I agree. They need to have a bunch of us hackers (bogey golfers) test game improvement clubs. Having a guy that can hit a 7 iron 185….which means he’s a guy that doesn’t need GI irons.
I can’t help but notice a lot of inconsistencies. For one example, last year the stealth was ranked low on forgiveness and said to have “pleasing acoustics”, yet this year those are opposite. What gives?
Don’t know if this makes you feel better or not about going for the Stealth, but there are tons of consistencies across MGS’s yearly testing. Another I can think of off the top of my head was comparing the JPX 921 Hot Metal results from 2022 and 2021. The only way to know for sure what clubs will work best for you is to demo each of the ones you are interested in and see the results for yourself.
Leo Redstone
1 year ago
Great information as usual, thank you MGS!
My suggestion for future iron tests of all categories would be to improve on the already good formula of 5i-7i-pw; keep the long-mid-short approach but instead of a fixed club, select the ones that have a similar distance. This way if one model’s 6i is another’s 7i and yet another’s 8i in terms of distance, they are compared together as the mid-iron for that model. And then scoring can be based on best accuracy and best forgiveness at a similar distance. And distance by itself is no longer needed as a comparative metric.
Then people can stop complaining about lofts being jacked, which is irrelevant as long as accuracy and forgiveness don’t suffer.
And a simpler suggestion too: since ball speed is not factored into the total scoring (and it shouldn’t), maybe don’t give it so much visibility?
XXIO. For us older guys that lost their swing speed, XXIO are the clubs. I used to hit it 300 but now at age 69, and after a broken back from a car wreck and a horrible encounter with GBS (look it up) my swing speed dropped down into the 70’s. HS golf coach for 15 years, previous had JPX921s, E523s . Went from using a 6 iron to a PW at the local par 3. Yes they are very expensive at $220 a stick. Some vendors like Curated have a try and buy policy. If you’re struggling to get that ball in the air because you’ve lost your swing speed XXIO is your answer.
I’m not sure why we even consider distance a factor. There is no standard for lofts – the #5 Ranked Distance club, Cobra Aerojet loft on the 7-iron is 26.5 degrees, while the Taylormade Stealth 7-iron is 28 degrees of loft. I really wish MyGolfSpy would figure out an average per degree of loft or something along those lines so we could really tell which iron gives you the most distance without making a 7-iron into a 6+-iron. We all know less loft means more distance, so why even consider this factor when there is no standard?
“Srixon ZX4 Mk II’s biggest weakness is its distance, which is surprising. It finishes 8th for distance.” It was actually 17th for distance, 8th for forgiveness.
You should also consider the Ball Height and Descent angles and Ball Spin instead of just ball speed and distance – I played the Cobra’s and they went a long way but I could not keep my Premium ball on the green with my 7 iron or with the longer clubs. My 7 iron swing speed is about 82 mph so it may be just slightly under the average golfer but this is an important stat that should be considered with these types of test.
I second the motion. Need to know not only the launch and flight characteristics but also the landing related characteristics. And for every make/model. Was sold on the Stealth until I read the spin info. Next up, G430. No spin info at all.
I did not see the Tour Edge E723 irons on your list. In the last three years I bought a set of Callaway DCB GI irons three years ago and the next year I bought the Mizuno JPX 921 irons. Both of those were professionally fitted for me INSIDE on artificial turf. Hitting them outside was totally different. They did not work. Last winter in Florida I went to three demo days trying the Cobra GI clubs and the Wilson GI irons. The demo days were done outside on very tight lies but in REAL conditions. Neither one worked for me. Then I gave it one more try at a Tour Edge demo day. I tried the super improvement irons first but they were no better than my current Cleveland Turbo irons. Then the guy said try this one. The E723 Tour Edge irons. When I look at it I thought there is no way I can hit these as they looked like a players iron. After several swings I was amazed how well and especially how far they were going. So I bought a set right there. I’m 77 but still have a decent swing. Four months later they are still working great. I highly recommend anyone who is struggling with their current irons to give them a try regardless of your age.
Thanks for the test! Any way to see the loft differences? I’d like to be able to compare stated lofts vs the ball speed and distance categories, since they carry so much weight in the testing.
Also just a suggestion for future web site updates- would it be possible to have dramatically smaller stock photos next to the results? I have a 32 inch monitor and each pic is larger than the available space on Chrome. It looks like things have been optimized for phone-viewing, but it’s really made it hard to look at on a desktop browser.
Do different testing categories (Blades, Players Irons, Players Distance Irons, etc…) use a different caliber of player that “fits” into who would play those irons? In other words, is the median handicap of the testers for Blades lower than the median handicap of testers used for Players Irons and are they lower than the median handicap of the Players Distance, etc…?
The reason I ask is that when I use your Head to Head tool to compare irons from different categories, the scores don’t seem to compare fairly. For example when I compare the forgiveness of a Ping G430 and Ping i230, the i230 shows as 7 points more forgiving. The only way this would seem to make sense would be if better players tested the i230 than did the G430.
Thanks,
JM
Agreed. It seems like they’re trying to infer more results than the raw data necessarily supports. I get that a lot of people just want to know “what club should I buy,” but that’s almost an impossible question. You have to think a large portion of the site’s core readership just wants to see the raw data and all that it entails. Some of the test results and format changes seem like a big step backwards for gearheads reading the site. But what do I know? I’m sure the team knows best how to make the site sustainable- can’t be easy!
IM TRYING TO FIND OUT WHICH IRON FOR 2022- 2023 HAS THE BIGGEST HEAD…CAN YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW THE ANSWER.. I TALKING THE WHOLE OVERALL SIZE…THANKS SO MUCH
Not surprised to see Cobra’s one length scoring so well yet again. It does feel weird at first with the 5 or PW, but once you get used to it, the clubs perform amazingly well, and you will hit less fat or thin shots since your setup is constant with all the irons. Plus in a fitting they were the only set with which I could legitimately test the 5i and 9i with alternative shafts, because fitters only have the shafts in 7i length, which is exactly what you get with all clubs. I do think they are limited to 5i for distance; I have a one-length 4i which is great because it’s easy to hit and goes much lower, but it does not go further than the 5i, so keep that in mind if you do get a set.
As crazy as this may sound to some. I have a low single-digit handicap and use stealth irons. They can be customized with most steel or graphite shafts. I have used Mizuno blades, P790s & Various forged irons and most recently callaway apex pros. I most recently tried the stealth, ordered them custom and have played with them 20+ times. No worse scoring difference in fact I’ve gotten a little better. The sound and feel are there. These homies that believe they need these refined club heads, forged this, forged that as mentioned above…..Horse hockey
Nah. If you are hitting whatever club you use to where you want to hit then how you want to hit them at the yardages you want to hit them it doesn’t matter what kind of head it is, it’s down to the skill of the player to just hit them at the target and you’re still only allowed 14 clubs total so whatever your driver goes everything else falls behind that in distances so break down the yardages accordingly, that’s all you can do in this game. LOL
Really great article. Glad to see PXG up near the top. I play with 2021 0211 irons and love them! However, I see some irons ranked as low as 24th, though there’s only 11 irons listed in the table. Where’s the data on the other clubs??
Hey Dean, thank you for your comment. Best way to check out each product individually is through our review page – https://mygolfspy.com/reviews/irons/
John
1 year ago
The rankings seem to be mixed up.
A distance and ranking listed for each club is not accurate.
Need the raw data??!!