Buyer's Guides

Best Driving Irons of 2025

Phillip Bishop
Phillip Bishop
Director of Testing

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Best Driving Irons of 2025

Today, we are highlighting the best driving irons on the market. Driving irons might be the most niche golf club on the market. Most average golfers probably don’t use one. Yet some of the best golf clubs we’ve ever tested come from this category. 

If you haven’t considered a driving iron before, today might change that. 

MyGolfSpy is the leader in independent golf club testing. Each test we release is backed by more than a decade of testing experience and expertise. There is no sugar coating. No marketing BS. Just results driven by data and objective testing.

For this test, we have seven driving irons. In total, our team conducted 60 hours of testing. Our testers were responsible for accumulating 2,520 shots’ worth of data. 

The results of this test serve as an indispensable guide for the off-the-rack buyer or for anyone looking for a bit of extra insight before your next fitting. Whatever you’re looking for from your next driving iron, you’ll find it here.

These are the best driving irons of 2025.

The best utility iron of 2025

Best Driving Irons of 2025

Titleist U•505 driving iron review

Best Overall: Titleist U•505

Titleist U•505

PING iDi driving iron review

Runner Up: PING iDi

PING iDi

Srixon ZXiU driving iron review

3rd Place: Srixon ZXiU

Srixon ZXiU

Titleist U•505 driving iron review

Best for Accuracy: Titleist U•505

Titleist U•505

Titleist U•505 driving iron review

Best for Distance: Titleist U•505

Titleist U•505

Titleist T250•U driving iron review

Best for Forgiveness: Titleist T250•U

Titleist T250•U

Show All

Best overall driving irons

Good driving irons are “easy” to hit. We use the term “easy” lightly. But, when you hit a driving iron and see the difference in performance, it is drastic. The ones at the top are that much better. They produce consistent shot outcomes. The golf ball launches with ease, pop and accuracy. 

If price isn’t an issue for you, there are four specific driving irons from this year’s crop that you should consider.

These are the best overall driving irons of 2025. 

Best Driving Iron Overall Titleist U•505

Titleist U•505

score icon Review Score
8.8
accuracy icon Accuracy
8.8
distance icon Distance Score
9.2
forgiveness icon Forgiveness
8.3
dollar icon Price
$279.99

Buy This If

  • You want a driving iron that performs:

    Prior to reading this article, you may have been on the fence about trying a driving iron. Well, we are here to tell you, they're worth trying, specifically, Titleist U•505. In most scenarios, you'll be hitting a driving iron off the tee box. Titleist U•505 delivers accuracy and distance. Even at 18°, we saw Titleist U•505 produce playable peak heights and descent angles. This suggests you could even consider this driving iron as a direct long iron or hybrid replacement. It is the best for accuracy and distance, so the performance is there. It is up to you whether or not it is a viable option for your golf bag.

Don't Buy This If

  • You want forgiveness:

    Driving irons have an Achilles heel – forgiveness. Mishits are brutal on these golf clubs. Relative to the field, Titleist U•505 has a performance drop off in our forgiveness scoring category. This is surprising as Titleist U•505's design suggests it is a "forgiving" driving iron. If you are considering this driving iron and we highly suggest you do, be wary that it might not be consistent shot-to-shot.

Bottom Line

best We have a new Most Wanted Driving Iron – Titleist U•505. Some of the best golf clubs we’ve ever tested have come from the driving iron category. Titleist U•505 sets a new standard of performance. It is the best driving iron for accuracy and distance for 2025. If you are in the market for a driving iron, U•505 is a must try. This model continues to get better with each iteration and this performance solidifies such improvements.

Testers' Feedback

Performance is great, it’s hot. I could easily replace some clubs at the top of the golf bag with it.”

Based off today, I am a fan. It performed great with amazing forgiveness, seemed really hot off the face and had great feel.”

The best Titleist driving iron to date. Enhanced feel over the previous model.”

More of a driving iron. Best of the grouping.”

Expert Take

utilitTitleist U•505 is a driving iron worth trying. Even if you aren’t using it specifically off the tee, it is an absolute weapon for the top end of your golf bag. It produces ball flights that are playable even into a green. Perhaps, you are looking to replace a 3-iron or hybrid. If you are, you should consider Titleist U•505 as a replacement option. It is the best driving iron from Titleist to date.

Runner Up PING iDi

PING iDi

score icon Review Score
8.6
accuracy icon Accuracy
8.3
distance icon Distance Score
9
forgiveness icon Forgiveness
8.7
dollar icon Price
$268.99

Buy This If

  • You want a proven winner:

    Look, this wasn't the year for PING's newest driving iron – iDi. But, PING has a tremendous track record of excelling in the driving iron category. Although PING iDi doesn't win the category, it is still a rock solid performer. If you want distance, it offers plenty of it. If you want consistent shot outcomes, it is one of the best for forgiveness. Overall, it is worth testing out.

Don't Buy This If

  • You want accuracy:

    Ultimately, this is what keeps PING iDi from claiming the top spot. Accuracy is our highest weighted scoring metric and a poor performance in it can derail any hope of being number one. The lack of adjustability might be the cause for below average accuracy. If you are considering this driving iron, go through a fitting, especially for lie angle and playing length to ensure optimal performance.

Bottom Line

PING’s driving irons are top performers. PING iDi has gigantic shoes to fill as it replaces arguably one of the best golf clubs we’ve ever tested. It is a tall task to live up to expectations and PING iDi falls just short. That being said, it is a good, but not great, driving iron. It claims second place overall in testing. PING iDi shines for distance and forgiveness. However, it misses the mark for accuracy relative to the field. Unlike its predecessor, it isn’t adjustable, which may have led to a below average performance for accuracy. Ultimately, it is still a high performing driving iron and should be among your top choices.

Testers' Feedback

y “Hits like a hybrid, effortless. Misses feel incredible. Looks are “hybrid-like.”

Other than looking like a hybrid, the performance is outstanding. On par with the Crossover, but not as good looking.”

Why does anyone else try? PING is the best.”

Out the the bunch so far this was the best for launch , ball speed, distance.”

Expert Take

It is rare for a golf club to perform well overall while producing a subpar accuracy score. PING iDi squashes that tendency by being both long and forgiving. PING iDi might not be at the standard of the PING iCrossover, but don’t be fooled, it is a damn good option in the driving iron space. The absence of adjustability might hurt the PING iDi in the long run.

3rd Place Srixon ZXiU

Srixon ZXiU

score icon Review Score
8.6
accuracy icon Accuracy
8.6
distance icon Distance Score
8.6
forgiveness icon Forgiveness
8.4
dollar icon Price
$249.99

Buy This If

  • You want balanced performance:

    Srixon ZXiU won't knock your socks off like the two competitors that finish ahead of it, but it is a well balanced performer. It ranks third overall for accuracy and distance, which are our two highest weighted scoring categories for driving irons. You can't go wrong with this driving iron and much like the other two above it, it could easily replace a long iron or hybrid with the appropriate loft selection.

Don't Buy This If

  • You want forgiveness:

    Srixon ZXiU is below average for forgiveness. Forgiveness is where we evaluate how consistent a golf club is for certain measurable golf ball data metrics. Ball speed deltas, carry distance deltas, backspin deltas, and dispersion are all ingredients for our forgiveness scoring category. Golf clubs that produce tight standard deviations tend to rise to the top in this category.

Bottom Line

We know Srixon’s irons are damn good. Does that carry over to the driving iron category? Absolutely. They’ve actually won our driving iron category in the past. Srixon ZXiU ranks third overall in our 2025 Most Wanted Driving Iron. It performs well in the two scoring categories that matter most in our testing – accuracy and distance.

Testers' Feedback

Performs very similar to the irons – extremely consistent both in direction and performance off the face.”

Right there with PING. Very impressive.”

Felt smooth, easy to deliver consistently, very appealing.”

Phenomenal feel and performance. A Srixon iron in the form of a driving iron. Super consistent.”

Best driving irons of 2025

Best driving irons for accuracy

Accuracy is paramount. Without it, you’ll be discovering parts of the golf course you didn’t know existed, especially off the tee. This is why it is the most important of our three scoring categories. 

In our driving iron testing, accuracy is similar to driver and mini driver testing: Which driving irons produce the straightest shot outcomes? But it ultimately boils down to Strokes Gained. 

These are the best driving irons for accuracy. 

Best for Accuracy Titleist U•505

Titleist U•505

accuracy icon Accuracy
8.8
distance icon Distance Score
9.2
forgiveness icon Forgiveness
8.3
score icon Review Score
8.8
dollar icon Price
$279.99

Buy This If

  • You want a driving iron that performs:

    Prior to reading this article, you may have been on the fence about trying a driving iron. Well, we are here to tell you, they're worth trying, specifically, Titleist U•505. In most scenarios, you'll be hitting a driving iron off the tee box. Titleist U•505 delivers accuracy and distance. Even at 18°, we saw Titleist U•505 produce playable peak heights and descent angles. This suggests you could even consider this driving iron as a direct long iron or hybrid replacement. It is the best for accuracy and distance, so the performance is there. It is up to you whether or not it is a viable option for your golf bag.

Don't Buy This If

  • You want forgiveness:

    Driving irons have an Achilles heel – forgiveness. Mishits are brutal on these golf clubs. Relative to the field, Titleist U•505 has a performance drop off in our forgiveness scoring category. This is surprising as Titleist U•505's design suggests it is a "forgiving" driving iron. If you are considering this driving iron and we highly suggest you do, be wary that it might not be consistent shot-to-shot.

Bottom Line

We have a new Most Wanted Driving Iron – Titleist U•505. Some of the best golf clubs we’ve ever tested have come from the driving iron category. Titleist U•505 sets a new standard of performance. It is the best driving iron for accuracy and distance for 2025. If you are in the market for a driving iron, U•505 is a must try. This model continues to get better with each iteration and this performance solidifies such improvements.

Testers' Feedback

Performance is great, it’s hot. I could easily replace some clubs at the top of the golf bag with it.”

Based off today, I am a fan. It performed great with amazing forgiveness, seemed really hot off the face and had great feel.”

The best Titleist driving iron to date. Enhanced feel over the previous model.”

More of a driving iron. Best of the grouping.”

Expert Take

Titleist U•505 is a driving iron worth trying. Even if you aren’t using it specifically off the tee, it is an absolute weapon for the top end of your golf bag. It produces ball flights that are playable even into a green. Perhaps, you are looking to replace a 3-iron or hybrid. If you are, you should consider Titleist U•505 as a replacement option. It is the best driving iron from Titleist to date.

Best for Accuracy (Runner Up) Titleist T250•U

Titleist T250•U

accuracy icon Accuracy
8.6
distance icon Distance Score
8.2
forgiveness icon Forgiveness
8.8
score icon Review Score
8.5
dollar icon Price
$279.99

Buy This If

  • You want reliability off the tee box:

    A driving iron will be mainly used as an alternative off the tee box. Titleist T250•U excels in accuracy and forgiveness. This combination makes it extremely reliable on a shot-to-shot basis. Another key performance metric is that Titleist T250•U produces decent peak height, which suggests its playability into a green complex. Driving irons can be multi-purposeful and T250•U fits the bill.

Don't Buy This If

  • You want distance:

    Titleist T250•U isn't the longest driving iron in this year's batch. Based on the raw data, it was actually one of the highest spinning driving irons. It is roughly 6-7 yards shorter than the two best driving irons for distance. Distance isn't everything if you already hit it a mile, so take this with a grain of salt.

Bottom Line

Titleist T250•U is more of a traditional driving iron from a design concept. It is accurate and forgiving, but doesn’t quite meet the distance standard some other driving irons offer. If you’re a traditionalist and love a thinner profile at address, this is the driving iron you might want to consider. Accuracy is a key performance trait throughout our testing categories. Titleist T250•U is the second best driving iron for accuracy. It also claims the title of being the best for forgiveness. T250•U offers reliability on a shot-to-shot basis, which makes it a great option, especially if you foresee yourself using a driving iron off the tee box a majority of the time.

Testers' Feedback

Checks all the boxes, I’d change the shaft option.”

Feels great when hit in the center but mishits are punished.”

Looks great, felt great, and felt controllable and popped off the face.”

A pure driving iron. Phenomenal profile, good performance overall. But, you better be a ball striker as misses are severely punished.”

Expert Take

If you’re looking for consistency and accuracy with a driving iron, Titleist T250•U is one of the best options. Unlike other driving irons highlighted in this test, Titleist T250•U possesses a truer iron profile. It is sleek and sexy. Surprisingly, it does lack distance overall relative to other options in the category. Ultimately, you have to determine if the accuracy and consistency is what works for your game.

Best driving irons for accuracy

Best driving irons for distance

Distance is king. It is certainly a selling point in the driving iron market, especially since you’ll be using the driving iron mainly off the tee. There are driving irons in this category that meet that standard. There are others that do not. In our opinion, distance isn’t everything, but it helps, and that should factor into your driving iron buying decision.

These are the best driving irons for distance. 

Best for Distance Titleist U•505

Titleist U•505

distance icon Distance Score
9.2
accuracy icon Accuracy
8.8
forgiveness icon Forgiveness
8.3
score icon Review Score
8.8
dollar icon Price
$279.99

Buy This If

  • You want a driving iron that performs:

    Prior to reading this article, you may have been on the fence about trying a driving iron. Well, we are here to tell you, they're worth trying, specifically, Titleist U•505. In most scenarios, you'll be hitting a driving iron off the tee box. Titleist U•505 delivers accuracy and distance. Even at 18°, we saw Titleist U•505 produce playable peak heights and descent angles. This suggests you could even consider this driving iron as a direct long iron or hybrid replacement. It is the best for accuracy and distance, so the performance is there. It is up to you whether or not it is a viable option for your golf bag.

Don't Buy This If

  • You want forgiveness:

    Driving irons have an Achilles heel – forgiveness. Mishits are brutal on these golf clubs. Relative to the field, Titleist U•505 has a performance drop off in our forgiveness scoring category. This is surprising as Titleist U•505's design suggests it is a "forgiving" driving iron. If you are considering this driving iron and we highly suggest you do, be wary that it might not be consistent shot-to-shot.

Bottom Line

We have a new Most Wanted Driving Iron – Titleist U•505. Some of the best golf clubs we’ve ever tested have come from the driving iron category. Titleist U•505 sets a new standard of performance. It is the best driving iron for accuracy and distance for 2025. If you are in the market for a driving iron, U•505 is a must try. This model continues to get better with each iteration and this performance solidifies such improvements.

Testers' Feedback

Performance is great, it’s hot. I could easily replace some clubs at the top of the golf bag with it.”

Based off today, I am a fan. It performed great with amazing forgiveness, seemed really hot off the face and had great feel.”

The best Titleist driving iron to date. Enhanced feel over the previous model.”

More of a driving iron. Best of the grouping.”

Expert Take

Titleist U•505 is a driving iron worth trying. Even if you aren’t using it specifically off the tee, it is an absolute weapon for the top end of your golf bag. It produces ball flights that are playable even into a green. Perhaps, you are looking to replace a 3-iron or hybrid. If you are, you should consider Titleist U•505 as a replacement option. It is the best driving iron from Titleist to date.

Best for Distance (Runner Up) PING iDi

PING iDi

distance icon Distance Score
9
accuracy icon Accuracy
8.3
forgiveness icon Forgiveness
8.7
score icon Review Score
8.6
dollar icon Price
$268.99

Buy This If

  • You want a proven winner:

    Look, this wasn't the year for PING's newest driving iron – iDi. But, PING has a tremendous track record of excelling in the driving iron category. Although PING iDi doesn't win the category, it is still a rock solid performer. If you want distance, it offers plenty of it. If you want consistent shot outcomes, it is one of the best for forgiveness. Overall, it is worth testing out.

Don't Buy This If

  • You want accuracy:

    Ultimately, this is what keeps PING iDi from claiming the top spot. Accuracy is our highest weighted scoring metric and a poor performance in it can derail any hope of being number one. The lack of adjustability might be the cause for below average accuracy. If you are considering this driving iron, go through a fitting, especially for lie angle and playing length to ensure optimal performance.

Bottom Line

PING’s driving irons are top performers. PING iDi has gigantic shoes to fill as it replaces arguably one of the best golf clubs we’ve ever tested. It is a tall task to live up to expectations and PING iDi falls just short. That being said, it is a good, but not great, driving iron. It claims second place overall in testing. PING iDi shines for distance and forgiveness. However, it misses the mark for accuracy relative to the field. Unlike its predecessor, it isn’t adjustable, which may have led to a below average performance for accuracy. Ultimately, it is still a high performing driving iron and should be among your top choices.

Testers' Feedback

Hits like a hybrid, effortless. Misses feel incredible. Looks are “hybrid-like.”

Other than looking like a hybrid, the performance is outstanding. On par with the Crossover, but not as good looking.”

Why does anyone else try? PING is the best.”

Out the the bunch so far this was the best for launch , ball speed, distance.”

Expert Take

It is rare for a golf club to perform well overall while producing a subpar accuracy score. PING iDi squashes that tendency by being both long and forgiving. PING iDi might not be at the standard of the PING iCrossover, but don’t be fooled, it is a damn good option in the driving iron space. The absence of adjustability might hurt the PING iDi in the long run.

best driving irons for distance

Best driving irons for forgiveness

“Forgiveness” is a nebulous term in the golf industry. It’s used often but rarely defined. As a golfer, do you want a driving iron that performs consistently? Your answer should be a definitive “yes.” You should desire a driving iron that produces similar results off the clubface shot to shot. Are the ball speed deviations tight? Are the carry distance deviations minimal? Are the dispersion ellipses compact? Does it produce consistent backspin? These are metrics we analyze when it comes to forgiveness within each of our driving iron tests.

These are the best driving irons for forgiveness.

Best for Forgiveness Titleist T250•U

Titleist T250•U

forgiveness icon Forgiveness
8.8
accuracy icon Accuracy
8.6
distance icon Distance Score
8.2
score icon Review Score
8.5
dollar icon Price
$279.99

Buy This If

  • You want reliability off the tee box:

    A driving iron will be mainly used as an alternative off the tee box. Titleist T250•U excels in accuracy and forgiveness. This combination makes it extremely reliable on a shot-to-shot basis. Another key performance metric is that Titleist T250•U produces decent peak height, which suggests its playability into a green complex. Driving irons can be multi-purposeful and T250•U fits the bill.

Don't Buy This If

  • You want distance:

    Titleist T250•U isn't the longest driving iron in this year's batch. Based on the raw data, it was actually one of the highest spinning driving irons. It is roughly 6-7 yards shorter than the two best driving irons for distance. Distance isn't everything if you already hit it a mile, so take this with a grain of salt.

Bottom Line

Titleist T250•U is more of a traditional driving iron from a design concept. It is accurate and forgiving, but doesn’t quite meet the distance standard some other driving irons offer. If you’re a traditionalist and love a thinner profile at address, this is the driving iron you might want to consider. Accuracy is a key performance trait throughout our testing categories. Titleist T250•U is the second best driving iron for accuracy. It also claims the title of being the best for forgiveness. T250•U offers reliability on a shot-to-shot basis, which makes it a great option, especially if you foresee yourself using a driving iron off the tee box a majority of the time.

Testers' Feedback

Checks all the boxes, I’d change the shaft option.”

Feels great when hit in the center but mishits are punished.”

Looks great, felt great, and felt controllable and popped off the face.”

A pure driving iron. Phenomenal profile, good performance overall. But, you better be a ball striker as misses are severely punished.”

Expert Take

If you’re looking for consistency and accuracy with a driving iron, Titleist T250•U is one of the best options. Unlike other driving irons highlighted in this test, Titleist T250•U possesses a truer iron profile. It is sleek and sexy. Surprisingly, it does lack distance overall relative to other options in the category. Ultimately, you have to determine if the accuracy and consistency is what works for your game.

Best for Forgiveness (Runner Up) PING iDi

PING iDi

forgiveness icon Forgiveness
8.7
accuracy icon Accuracy
8.3
distance icon Distance Score
9
score icon Review Score
8.6
dollar icon Price
$268.99

Buy This If

  • You want a proven winner:

    Look, this wasn't the year for PING's newest driving iron – iDi. But, PING has a tremendous track record of excelling in the driving iron category. Although PING iDi doesn't win the category, it is still a rock solid performer. If you want distance, it offers plenty of it. If you want consistent shot outcomes, it is one of the best for forgiveness. Overall, it is worth testing out.

Don't Buy This If

  • You want accuracy:

    Ultimately, this is what keeps PING iDi from claiming the top spot. Accuracy is our highest weighted scoring metric and a poor performance in it can derail any hope of being number one. The lack of adjustability might be the cause for below average accuracy. If you are considering this driving iron, go through a fitting, especially for lie angle and playing length to ensure optimal performance.

Bottom Line

PING’s driving irons are top performers. PING iDi has gigantic shoes to fill as it replaces arguably one of the best golf clubs we’ve ever tested. It is a tall task to live up to expectations and PING iDi falls just short. That being said, it is a good, but not great, driving iron. It claims second place overall in testing. PING iDi shines for distance and forgiveness. However, it misses the mark for accuracy relative to the field. Unlike its predecessor, it isn’t adjustable, which may have led to a below average performance for accuracy. Ultimately, it is still a high performing driving iron and should be among your top choices.

Testers' Feedback

Hits like a hybrid, effortless. Misses feel incredible. Looks are “hybrid-like.”

Other than looking like a hybrid, the performance is outstanding. On par with the Crossover, but not as good looking.”

Why does anyone else try? PING is the best.”

Out the the bunch so far this was the best for launch , ball speed, distance.”

Expert Take

It is rare for a golf club to perform well overall while producing a subpar accuracy score. PING iDi squashes that tendency by being both long and forgiving. PING iDi might not be at the standard of the PING iCrossover, but don’t be fooled, it is a damn good option in the driving iron space. The absence of adjustability might hurt the PING iDi in the long run.

Best driving irons of 2025 for forgiveness

How to choose a driving iron or utility iron

Our mission is to cut through the subjective BS and encourage golfers to buy based on performance. Performance should be your top priority. Having said that, there are other things you need to consider when purchasing a new driving iron or utility iron.

Custom fitting 

If you’re here, you are a club junkie or you’re in the market for a driving iron. Going for a custom fitting will help you determine subjective things like which feels better and/or looks better to your eye. But, most importantly, you’ll be able to fine-tune things like spin rate, launch angle and more to get your golf game to the next level. 

A custom fitting will allow you to do just that, especially if you’re torn between a few driving iron options. And, trust us, there are plenty of worthwhile options. 

Cost

Pricing will always impact a purchasing decision. Most driving irons fall in the $250-$300 range. Sub 70 options are $130 with a stock steel shaft offering. But you can upgrade to one of the more expensive graphite shafts for an additional $40. So, for $170, you can get a decent option.  

We are seeing the tariff situation starting to impact pricing from various retailors. For example, there are two different price points for PING iDi right now between PGA Tour Superstore and Golf Galaxy.

The best driving irons often take some time to go on sale. If you have your eye on a specific club, don’t forget to check our coupons and deals page for all the latest and best savings options. (MyGolfSpy Coupons/Deals and Promo Codes)

Shaft selection

Selecting the right shaft is critical for optimal performance. The proper shaft can positively impact launch conditions and overall accuracy.

Shafts typically are made from graphite or steel with the former being lighter and potentially aiding in faster swing speeds. The shaft flex corresponds to swing speed and affects the trajectory and ball flight. It can also help or hurt with how consistently you can deliver the clubhead to the golf ball. You want what allows you, or at least helps you, to be consistent. 

Why choose a driving iron?

Driving irons are a niche golf club. They aren’t for everyone but they are an intriguing option at the top of the golf bag. They are targeted towards high swing speed golfers. However, mid swing speed golfers can consider them. If you are a slow swing speed golfer, we advise you to avoid them. 

For some, a driving iron might offer more appeal over a hybrid or fairway wood. It provides you with a more controllable option for off the tee or approaching the green. Some golfers might not be able to achieve certain yardage gapping needs with a hybrid or fairway wood. This is where a driving iron can slot right into the golf bag. It is a versatile golf club. Similar to a mini driver, but not as long.  

Ultimately, you have to determine if you can hit a driving iron consistently. They are one of the least forgiving golf clubs we test. Mishits are severely punished. Getting fitted for one is paramount.  

How we test driving irons

Our 2025 Most Wanted driving irons test took 60 testing hours and included seven different driving iron models.

MyGolfSpy’s test program is powered by three crucial components.

  • Foresight GC Quad – Foresight is the gold standard in camera-based launch monitor technology because it produces data we can rely on with every shot hit. And since we can’t say it enough, for this test, our GC Quads captured 2,520 shots.
  • Titleist Pro V1 golf balls are a key component in testing. Every shot hit in Most Wanted Testing utilizes these golf balls. It is one of many ways we try to eliminate variables and Titleist Pro V1 is our trusted golf ball.
  • The Indoor Golf Shop’s SIGPRO Premium – All of our testing is done indoors at our HQ in Yorktown, Va. With each test, our screens take an absolute beating. Thus, we need high-quality, durable impact screens to handle the workload. SIGPRO Premium exceeds our expectations.

Our 2025 driving iron test consists of 2,520 shots’ worth of data. Testers hit each participating driving iron, most of which were 18 degrees in loft. That being said, lofts vary slightly based on manufacturer.

Best driving irons of 2025 – Scoring

Providing you, the golfer and consumer, with insights into the best driving irons on the market is our No. 1 goal with this test. We can’t do that without taking a diligent, in-depth approach to analyzing the data we collect throughout this process.

Overall scores are now labeled as an MGS Score. The MGS Score is on a 10-point scale.

 Driving irons testing consists of three scoring categories.

  • Accuracy
  • Distance
  • Forgiveness

These three categories are weighted with accuracy taking a strong priority.

Accuracy

Accuracy is a game-changer. Getting the golf ball in play off the tee is critical as is hitting the ball near or around your intended target. Accuracy is the most important metric when shopping for new driving irons. For our accuracy category, we analyze one specific metric.

  • Strokes Gained

Distance

Our distance category analyzes two specific metrics.

  • Carry Distance
  • Total Yards

Forgiveness

We identify forgiveness as how consistent a driving iron is at producing consistent shot outcomes. For our forgiveness category, we assess three specific metrics.

  • Carry Distance Deltas – The difference between the longest and shortest carry distance for a given driving iron.
  • Ball Speed Deltas – The difference between the fastest and slowest ball speed for a given driving iron.
  • Backspin Deltas – The difference between the highest and lowest backspin for a given  driving iron.
  • Dispersion – Previously called Shot Area, dispersion is a measurement (yards/squared) of the elliptical distribution of a series of golf shots.

Best driving irons of 2025 – Results

Driving Iron ModelMGS ScoreAccuracy ScoreDistance ScoreForgiveness Score
Titleist U•5058.88.89.28.3
PING iDi8.68.39.08.7
Srixon ZXiU8.68.68.68.4
Titleist T250•U8.58.68.28.8
Orka RS1-U8.48.58.48.2
Sub 70 699 v3 Utility8.48.48.38.6
Sub 70 699 Pro v3 Utility8.28.27.98.5

How the MGS Score is calculated

Scores are derived strictly from ball launch monitor data by way of our Efficiency Values. Efficiency Values represent a cleaner version of raw averages as they remove certain outliers from the equation.

With this being said, scores are weighted with 50 percent of the score coming from accuracy metrics, 35 percent from our distance metrics and 15 percent from our forgiveness metrics. You can reference the specific metrics within each scoring category in the previous heading section.

With our driving iron test, we stress the importance of accuracy. We do this because driving irons are multipurpose. You can hit them off the tee, use them for strategic positioning or hit them into a green. Whether you are hitting fairways or hitting greens with a driving iron, you need to have straight shot outcomes. You can’t achieve this without accuracy.  

Finally, we reserve a very small percentage of the score to account for things like fitting considerations, excessive outliers and other details that fall outside the scope of the data.

Best driving irons of 2025 – Data

Below, you’ll see the raw average data for each participating driving iron. Key performance metrics are highlighted in the table. The numbers are raw averages. Not the efficiency values that are mentioned above, which account for actual testing results and scores. Please keep this in mind when you’re observing the table below.

Driving Iron ModelAvg. Ball SpeedAvg. CarryAvg. TotalAvg. Back SpinAvg. Launch AngleAvg. Peak HgtAvg. Descent AngleAvg. OfflineShot Area
Orka RS1-U138.44216.95232.452,79210.0421.8232.092.663,584
PING iDi140.46223.54237.442,93610.9725.4635.413.543,671
Srixon ZXiU139.12221.14234.443,10111.6226.9737.142.003,296
Sub 70 699 Pro v3 Utility137.41215.44229.443,03310.7223.8834.600.023,233
Sub 70 699 v3 Utility137.94216.05231.922,81010.0521.8232.21-1.753,399
Titleist T250•U138.40218.33231.053,21911.8327.4837.770.043,032
Titleist U•505139.91223.53237.253,00411.8627.5537.111.043,451
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Phillip Bishop

Phillip Bishop

Phillip Bishop

Cancer Survivor. Amputee Golfer. Essentially, a OneLeggedBoss. When he isn't facilitating testing or analyzing data, Phillip enjoys his family time, practicing and playing golf, unwinding with video games, capturing photos of nature, or devouring pretzels.

Phillip Bishop

Phillip Bishop

Phillip Bishop

Driver Titleist GT3 3 Wood Titleist GT3
7 Wood Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond Irons (5-PW) Srixon ZXi5
Wedges (46, 50, 54, 58) Titleist Vokey SM10 Putter L.A.B. MEZZ.1 MAX
Ball Titleist Pro V1x  
Phillip Bishop

Phillip Bishop

Phillip Bishop





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      Andy

      9 months ago

      Great article! I purchased the T200 2-iron last year and absolutely love it. For non-driver holes, fairway woods were too long off the tee for me and 4-iron wasn’t quite enough. Many of my local courses are heavily wooded with lots of turns, which require placement and distance control. The driving iron has kept more balls in play for me and would recommend to anyone that has a higher swing speed and finds woods/hybrids have too much variability (distance/dispersion/forgiveness).

      Reply

      Samuel

      9 months ago

      Bummer the New Level driving iron was left out. These tests with so few clubs are not very meaningful. 7 clubs and 4 are from 2 manufacturers.

      Reply

      Bri

      9 months ago

      So in other words, buy last year’s Ping Crossover as it is still the best.

      Reply

      MarkM

      9 months ago

      Would LOVE it if you guys would include the previous years winner in these Best of the Year tests!! How does the iCrossover compare?!?!

      Reply

      Sean

      9 months ago

      THIS!

      Reply

      John

      9 months ago

      What about Taylormade? Y’all did a great article on one of the best looking driving irons available in 2025: https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/this-new-taylormade-driving-iron-might-be-the-coolest-thing-youll-see-all-year/
      It seems like it performs pretty well too.

      Reply

      Storm3

      9 months ago

      Taylormade’s current P-UDI/DHY were tested in 2024 (really nothing new from them in this category in 2025). These tests generally include new/current product that had not been previously tested and what is available from the big OEMs at the time of the test (Callaway’s exclusion was based on timing).

      Reply

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