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The bridge between player’s irons and game-improvement irons is known as player’s distance irons. They provide workability, distance and forgiveness. They feature more appealing aesthetics than game-improvement irons, appealing to low and mid handicap golfers.
With that target audience in mind, we tested 15 different player’s distance irons to the test. Here’s what we discovered.
| Product | Overall Score |
|
|---|---|---|
 | Srixon ZX5 Mk II Check Price | 97.6 |
 | Inesis 900 Forged Check Price | 96.2 |
 | New Level 902-OS Forged Check Price | 94.5 |
 | Mizuno Pro 225 Check Price | 92.1 |
 | Fourteen TB-5 Forged Check Price | 91.3 |
 | Edel SMS Check Price | 90.9 |
 | Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Pro Check Price | 87.5 |
 | TaylorMade P-770 Check Price | 86.6 |
 | Sub 70 699 Pro V2 Check Price | 85.9 |
 | Mizuno JPX 923 Forged Check Price | 84.6 |
 | MacGregor MT86 OS Check Price | 80.0 |
 | Tour Edge Exotics C723 Check Price | 77.1 |
 | Callaway Paradym Check Price | 76.1 |
 | COBRA KING Forged Tec One Length Check Price | 75.6 |
 | PXG 0311 XP Gen6 Check Price | 58.9 |
Our overall rankings are a compilation of accuracy, distance and forgiveness. Each scoring category is weighted to achieve the overall score. We understand each iron category is different. For player’s distance irons, score weightings are tighter, with accuracy taking slight priority over distance.
Accuracy plays a vital role in overall performance. Our Accuracy score is strictly based on one metric:
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:
We realize distance is one of the main goals for player’s distance irons. However, because an iron is long doesn’t necessarily make it good. Our Distance metrics are simple:
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.
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 player’s distance 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 sprinkled into the player’s distance iron category. 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.
The best player’s distance irons showcase a balance of accuracy, distance, and forgiveness. However, there are irons that excel in only one or another of these three performance traits. Determine which performance traits are important to you before you go to your next iron fitting.
Cost is always a touchy subject. Pricing for player’s distance irons varies. This year, Inesis 900 Forged finished second overall in testing and won Best Value with a $699 price point. On the other end of the scale, the Edel SMS costs $1,750.
For the Best Player’s Distance Irons of 2023, we utilized 20 testers to collect 14,400 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.
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.
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 Player’s Distance Irons 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 player’s distance 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.
Srixon ZX5 Mk II iron is the best player's distance iron 2023. If you value accuracy in your irons, ZX5 Mk II is the best for accuracy in 2023. Not only is it accurate, but it offers consistent performance off the club face and respectable distance. In an iron category that stresses workability and distance, Srixon ZX5 Mk II meets both of these expectations. Our testing pool rates it as the best for sound and most likely to purchase. ZX5 Mk II also recieves high praise for feel and looks.
ZX5 Mk II is the best player's distance overall for 2023. Additionally, it ranks 1st overall for accuracy. For forgiveness and distance, it finishes 7th and 5th respectively. All of these rankings attest to the consistency of ZX5 Mk II.
If there is one negative regarding ZX5 Mk II, it is its forgiveness ranking. Out of 15 products, it placed 7th, which is slightly above average compared to the field.
| OVERVIEW | PERFORMANCE | RANKING | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Accuracy evaluates if a player’s shots with each club are above or below what’s expected based on that player’s skill level. |
|
1st |
|
Our distance scoring is a metric ultimately telling you the total yards achieved by the club |
|
5th |
|
Forgiveness measures how well a club corrects for hits that are center or off center off the face of the club. |
|
7th |
|
Ball speed measures how fast the ball is traveling off the face of the club. |
|
4th |
Inesis 900 Forged iron places 2nd overall in the best player's distance irons 2023. From the beginning, the data was suggesting Inesis 900 Forged might be a darkhorse. It shines in the forgiveness category by placing 1st overall. This means Inesis 900 Forged excels at producing similar shot outcomes via tight deviations for ball speed, carry distance, backspin, and disperion.
Forgiveness is Inesis 900 Forged's number one strength. It finishes 1st overall for forgiveness. Not only is Iness 900 Forged forgiving, it is also accurate. A 2nd place finish for accuracy helps propel it to 2nd overall for the player's distance iron category.
Distance is not Inesis 900 Forged's greatest performance trait. It places 14th for distance, which is 2nd to last in the player's distance test category
| OVERVIEW | PERFORMANCE | RANKING | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Accuracy evaluates if a player’s shots with each club are above or below what’s expected based on that player’s skill level. |
|
2nd |
|
Our distance scoring is a metric ultimately telling you the total yards achieved by the club |
|
14th |
|
Forgiveness measures how well a club corrects for hits that are center or off center off the face of the club. |
|
1st |
|
Ball speed measures how fast the ball is traveling off the face of the club. |
|
14th |
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New Level 902-OS Forged iron ranks 3rd overall in our best player's distance irons 2023 test. Forgiveness is its greatest strength where it finishes 2nd overall. Not only does it provide consistency off the club face, it also ranks well for accuracy. The 902-OS Forged ranks 4th overall for accuracy. Testers rate it highly for feel. New Level 902-OS Forged ties with Mizuno Pro 225 as the best for feel.
A top 3 finish overall is made possible with its excellent forgiveness and accuracy scores. Additionally, it rates well across all subjective feedback metrics. This includes a tie as the best feeling player's distance iron 2023.
Distance is New Level 902-OS Forged's noticeable weakness. It places 10th overall for distance, which is below slightly below average. In a category where distance may take precedence, New Level 902-OS Forged may lose out on interest from golfers.
| OVERVIEW | PERFORMANCE | RANKING | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Accuracy evaluates if a player’s shots with each club are above or below what’s expected based on that player’s skill level. |
|
4th |
|
Our distance scoring is a metric ultimately telling you the total yards achieved by the club |
|
10th |
|
Forgiveness measures how well a club corrects for hits that are center or off center off the face of the club. |
|
2nd |
|
Ball speed measures how fast the ball is traveling off the face of the club. |
|
11th |
Mizuno Pro 225 iron ranks 4th overall for our best player's distance irons 2023. It was included again as the best player's distance iron of 2022. Pro 225 holds it own against a new crop of competitors. For accuracy, Mizuno Pro 225 finishes 3rd overall, which is its strongest scoring category. Pro 225 ties as the best looking and best feeling player's distance iron of 2023.
Accuracy is Mizuno Pro 225's strength. By placing 3rd overall for this scoring metric, it shows just how good this player's distance iron is and can be for golfers. Pro 225 iron is also one of the best feeling and looking player's distance irons of 2023.
Forgiveness is Mizuno Pro 225 iron's poorest attribute. It places 9th overall for forgiveness, which is just a tick below average.
| OVERVIEW | PERFORMANCE | RANKING | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Accuracy evaluates if a player’s shots with each club are above or below what’s expected based on that player’s skill level. |
|
3rd |
|
Our distance scoring is a metric ultimately telling you the total yards achieved by the club |
|
7th |
|
Forgiveness measures how well a club corrects for hits that are center or off center off the face of the club. |
|
9th |
|
Ball speed measures how fast the ball is traveling off the face of the club. |
|
7th |
Fourteen TB-5 Forged iron finishes 5th overall for our best player's distance irons 2023. The TB-5 Forged offers tremendous balance for golfers with forgiveness being its highest scoring category. It places 5th overall for forgiveness. It ranks 4th for distance and 8th for accuracy.
Fourteen TB-5 Forged is a top 5 player's distance iron for forgiveness and distance, which help propel it to 5th place overall in the best player's distance irons 2023. It receives encouraging subjective feedback from our testing pool as well for looks, feel, and sound.
Accuracy is Fourteen TB-5 Forged's poorest scoring metric despite placing above average. Keep this in mind while considering this player's distance iron.
| OVERVIEW | PERFORMANCE | RANKING | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Accuracy evaluates if a player’s shots with each club are above or below what’s expected based on that player’s skill level. |
|
8th |
|
Our distance scoring is a metric ultimately telling you the total yards achieved by the club |
|
4th |
|
Forgiveness measures how well a club corrects for hits that are center or off center off the face of the club. |
|
5th |
|
Ball speed measures how fast the ball is traveling off the face of the club. |
|
6th |
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!
See Head-to-HeadWe realize distance is one of the main goals for player’s distance irons. However, because an iron is long doesn’t necessarily make it good. Our Distance metrics are simple:
Accuracy plays a vital role in overall performance. Our Accuracy score is strictly based on one metric:
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:
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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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.
Looking for more detailed information on the player's distance irons?
Looking for more detailed information on the player's distance irons?
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| Driver Ping G30 | Hybrids PXG 0317 |
| 3/4 IRON PXG 0311XF | 5-GW Srixon Z 565 |
| SW PXG 0317 | LW PXG 0311 |
| Putter EVNROLL |
7 months ago
Would love to know where the new Titleist T200’s and New P790’s would fit in here. I am looking at both of those as well as the Srixon ZX5’s.
8 months ago
It is very odd the the Zx5 irons were in the game improvement category in 2021 and now in the players distance category on 2023!
8 months ago
Thanks for another year of bastardized data. These results mean nothing. All you have found out is what works best for 35 golfers. Back in the early days of mygolfspy you would use a robot to hit balls with each club. With each club you would test off center and center contact. I know we’re not all robots, but the data wasn’t bastardized. You would know which club would preform better under precise conditions. Now all you do is introduce more variables resulting in pointless results for consumers. I gurantee if you did the whole test over again with the 35 golfers there would be a wide range of different results… I wish we could go back to the good ol days. Sincerely, Andy Griffith
PS Could we please get another golf ball test with robot data not 35 golfer bastardized data.
7 months ago
Yeah, I kinda of agree… Amateur golfers swings are going to vary widely. For instance, as for myself, I need distance… I would like to know which of the irons have more distance when struck exactly the same. I also think that hitting in a booth on a Trackman is completely different than hitting off grass out on the course when it comes to irons.
5 months ago
Yep, gotta take the results with a grain of salt. Just ordered the JPX-923 Forged, and have a hard time believing it ranking 11th in accuracy, although I do believe the high ranking in the forgiveness category. I put on a clinic in the hitting bay with a 7 iron, averaging:
187 carry
134 ball speed
16 degree launch
6400 spin
And I hit every shot high toe. Turns out they accidentally gave me a 2 degree upright head haha Can’t wait to replace my old MP-63s!
10 months ago
What club is used to provide the data in the iron distance chart?
11 months ago
Are iron tests still 5 iron, 7 iron and PW ?
11 months ago
Multiple comments about loft-jacking and complaining that MGS isn’t comparing similar lofts miss the point entirely.
When a company designs and markets an Iron, there is always give and take. Surprise surprise, most of the super-jacked clubs throw the ball longer but come up short on consistency/forgiveness. 90% of the Tech going into these clubs is to pull more out of the bottom of the bag – most of them don’t even put the nifty stuff in a club above an 8I. The problems come when you have to try to blend one of those single-minded sets into your Wedges – if the Manufacturer has to invent a new name for their wedge because there is too large a gap between the PW and what a normal person would consider a specialty wedge, then you’re typically going to end up with a wonky compromise somewhere.
People who think they can just cross-shop a ‘power’ 43deg PW with someone else’s 42deg 9I are in for a real surprise when they actually try to hit them. I alternate between two different ‘Player’s Distance’ bags depending on the mood, and if I tried to mix the clubs just according to loft, I can’t imagine maintaining any kind of consistency.
11 months ago
Agree. That makes no sense. Having demo’d both clubs, the results aren’t THAT different.
11 months ago
The New Levels are truly a great feeling club. They routinely go on sale, and the whole set can be had very reasonably. They are slightly stronger lofted, but nowhere near that of modern game improvement irons.
11 months ago
Is it me or does every test, whether it’s putters or irons always have DTC or cheaper brands coming out on top! In putters it’s always like Cleveland or Sub70, Wilson and the like and irons it’s 14, Inesis, New Level etc.
11 months ago
It is not just you.
It is many who refuse to believe a DTC can produce a quality product and won’t consider what they are missing.
I currently game the New Level 902-PD. Replaced my previous Titleists 3 weeks ago. They feel much better and are more forgiving.
I’m currently a 9.2 HDCP and shot 74 on Friday with a birdie, birdie, par, birdie finish.
Without MyGolfSpy (or PluggedInGolf) giving DTCs a fair shot I’d probably still ne feeding from the big names trough like so many others.
Also currently game the Maxfli Tour X instead of my long-standing Pro VIx. Another tip of the cap to MyGolfSpy testing.
Great ball. Greater price.
11 months ago
Can the results be compared across categories? in the Head to head iron comparison, the ball speed of the 923 Hot metal Pro is 126.7, and the 923 Hot Metal is 117.6. I can’t believe this speed gap across the same player.
Thanks.
11 months ago
Even if true, the P would be less forgiving than the XP, which finished dead last in forgiveness and accuracy in these tests. So unless you think the P is more forgiving then the XP, PXG would just be losing distance and have even worse results in this test, right?
11 months ago
Kenny,
I recently asked a PXG fitter why he does not prescribe 0311 XP for guys like me (newer golfer who do not swing fast). His response was pretty interesting:
“1) The lofts are so strong that it doesn’t fit most golfers. The head doesn’t create any spin and it launches low.
2) For someone who wants to get better, if you “learn” the game with the XP you’ll learn to deliver the club in the wrong way. My 7-y/o son uses the 0317 blade. Everyone thinks the XP is more forgiving, it’s not.”
11 months ago
Agree. Gen 6 0311P are not in the MW Players or MW Players Distance tests? Then where do you place them?
11 months ago
This does seem like an odd fit for this comparison. The P is the players distance model, always has been. I know they removed the T series (players iron), but that is no reason to lump the XP in the distance category.
The XP line is a solid line, but it is closer to a game improvement iron with Similar weighting to the 211 line.
11 months ago
Providing distance without also listing the loft of the club is worthless. I would favor a separate test result that compared all 32 degree clubs regardless of number.
11 months ago
That’s up to Takomo. Not MGS!
11 months ago
Excuse me, I noticed that the Ping i525s are not listed. I happen to own this set of irons and absolutely adore them!
7 months ago
same!
11 months ago
Not to sound like a PXG salesman, but why would you include the 0311 XP? That is their mid-to-high handicap iron set, not a Player’s set by any stretch. The 0311P is their Player’s Distance iron set.
11 months ago
As well they pride themselves on being a custom fit company hence the big weight in the back. Also I find it ridiculous the New Level OS is their game improvement where their “PD” model literally stands for player distance. 🤦🏼♂️
11 months ago
Interesting results. I play the original ZX5/ZX7 combo and love them. TM, Calloway and Cobra, where you at 🤔
11 months ago
Curious to see that Titleist didn’t seem to be listed anywhere on any of the iron tests. I know there is some reliance on them sending you product to test, but curious if that was just because there was not a new model for this year?
11 months ago
I can’t state anymore how unbelievably happy I am in my fitter putting me in the Srixon Zx5s last year. I know these are the “new” iteration, but the irons are unbelievably good. Very forgiving, and totally workable irons. If your fitter isn’t putting these (and Mizuno woods) into your hands at a fitting then they are doing you a disservice!
11 months ago
I puzzled by the distance “rankings”. The longest iron, PXG 0311 XP, has a 7-iron loft of 27 degrees. The “shortest” iron, Inesis 900, has a 7-iron loft of 32 degrees. Another one of the “short” irons, TM P770, has a 7-iron loft of 33 degrees, a full 1.5 CLUBS weaker than the PXG. And the accuracy metric is just the inverse of distance. The more accurate irons tend to be the ones with more loft. PXG comes in last. So, I understand that bending the clubs to the same loft may not be feasible for testing, but it would be very helpful if you listed the lofts prominently in the data for each club so that the reader can contextualize the distance numbers.
11 months ago
That’s the deal with buying iron sets. Sadly you aren’t buying a 27* iron, 31* iron, 35* iron, etc. when you go look at sets. You are buying a 5-PW or whatever set. The player themselves should be reviewing the set and lofts for what fits their game. Like filming a documentary, you don’t want to get involved in or tamper with what you’re studying.
11 months ago
True, but when filming a documentary, you also want to provide all of the relevant information. MYGOLFSPY should provide information about the lofts of each of the tested irons so the consumer can interpret the data presented here and make an informed decision.
11 months ago
Disagree. I understand why MGS doesn’t normalize the lofts (because it would be incredibly difficult to do it with any degree of consistency, and be much more of an expensive undertaking), but comparing the distance and forgiveness of different lofts/lengths/lie angles just because the number on the top of the club is the same, is pretty useless. It would be like adding a Ferrari with a V12 into a 4-cylinder SUV test, just because Ferrari decided they wanted to call their mid-engine supercar, a 4 cylinder SUV.
Titleist ProV1 Golf Balls
Bob Kirkwood
2 months ago
There appears to be a serious disconnect with the Forgiveness And fairways hit for the Srixon ZX5 MK IIs. The former is rated 1st and the latter 12th. Please explain.