Most golfers have a budget when purchasing new golf clubs. If you are looking for better performance for your golf game but need to keep price in mind, you are in the right place. We looked at the results from the testing of our best golf irons in 2024 and selected the four best golf irons for the money.
Best Super Game-Improvement: Tommy Armour 845+
Who Is It For?
✅ Golfers who want forgiveness: One of the most consistent super game-improvement irons in producing similar shot outcomes.
✅ Players who value accuracy. The most critical aspect of choosing a golf iron is accuracy; the Tommy Armour 845+ is the second most accurate super game-improvement iron.
Who Is It Not For?
❌ Anyone who needs maximum distance: In the bottom half of the field for distance, not as long as PING G730 or Callaway Big Bertha 23.
❌ Golfers looking for premium pricing: If you think the price of a golf iron determines the performance, the $399 Tommy Armour 845+ is not for you.
Why Buy
It’s not often that the best iron in the test is also the best-value iron. We were surprised to see this. The Tommy Armour 845+ are the best overall super game-improvement irons of 2024.
Tommy Armour is the second most accurate iron and best for forgiveness. They cost just $399.
As you’ll notice throughout this guide, any time a price is considered fair or average you have to sacrifice somewhere. With the Tommy Armour irons, that sacrifice is distance.
The Tommy Armour irons are about five to six yards shorter than the best super game-improvement irons for distance. However, the tradeoff for accuracy and forgiveness may be worth those extra yards.
Score: 9
Best Value Game-Improvement Irons: MacGregor MACSPD
Who Is It For?
✅ Players who want to hit more greens. The best game-improvement iron for accuracy, the MACSPD can help you get closer to your target.
✅ Anyone looking for playable shot outcomes: One of the most consistent (forgiving) golf irons in the test for ball speed, carry distance, backspin and dispersion.
Who Is It Not For?
❌ Golfers who need maximum distance: Not a long iron, ranked dead last for distance.
❌ Players who don’t want a darker clubhead: Some testers loved the dark finish on the clubhead but it’s not for everyone.
Why Buy
The MacGregor MACSPD irons are the most accurate game-improvement irons in 2024. When we measure accuracy in a golf iron, we look at Strokes Gained. The MACSPD will help you hit the ball closer to the target and save you strokes. The tradeoff for the accuracy is distance.
The MACSPD was the shortest iron in the 2024 Best Game-Improvement iron test so it’s not a great fit if you struggle with distance. One tester described it as “shorter, but super accurate.”
Score: 8.9
Best Value Player’s Distance Irons: Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Pro
Who Is It For?
✅ Golfers who care about distance. The Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Pro placed third overall for distance.
✅ Players who value accuracy. Above-average finish for accuracy in the 2023 and 2024 Best Player’s Distance Irons test.
Who Is It Not For?
❌ Anyone who needs forgiveness: The JPX923 Hot Metal Pro irons are near the bottom for forgiveness.
❌ Golfers who want a new release: This is not the newest release from Mizuno.
Why Buy
When it comes to player’s distance irons, it’s difficult to find an iron on the list priced less than $1,000 for a set. In fact, we didn’t even really name a “Best Value” player’s distance iron of 2024.
However, since the time of testing, the Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Pro has dropped in price, making it a pretty good deal for the performance you get.
The JPX 923 Hot Metal Pro was the seventh-best overall player’s distance iron in 2024. We tested a total of 18 irons. The best category for the Mizuno Hot Metal Pro was distance. It’s the fourth-longest iron in the test.
Accuracy was also above average with a seventh-place finish. The real problem for the Hot Metal Pro was forgiveness. It ranked near the bottom for forgiveness so don’t expect the Hot Metal Pro’s performance to be overly consistent.
Score: 8.7
Best Value Player’s Irons: Ram Axial Forged
Who Is It For?
✅ Players who want to maximize distance. Most golfers who game player’s Irons don’t look for distance but if you need a few extra yards, you’ll find it here.
✅ Golfers looking for a great deal. Most player’s irons range from $1,100 to $1,400. These are $499.
Who Is It Not For?
❌ Golfers buying off subjective appeal: The testing pool ranked the Ram Axial Forged near the bottom for sound, feel, looks and likelihood of purchase.
❌ Golfers who avoid offset: Testers found the Ram Axial Forged to have more offset than other options.
Why Buy
The Ram Axial Forged was a surprise standout in the 2024 Best Player’s Iron testing. It’s not often a $499 set of irons can compete against irons priced $1,200 or more built for players with a discerning eye.
It finished third overall and second overall for distance. The accuracy and forgiveness numbers from the Ram irons are acceptable. The only real issue is their subjective appeal.
Testers were not thrilled with the Ram Axial Forged’s looks, sound and feel. If you buy based on subjective appeal rather than performance, this is not your set of irons.
Score: 8
More great golf irons to consider
Don’t see the product you are looking for and want to see where it stacked up? Find the full results of the Best Golf Super Game-Improvement Irons here: MyGolfSpy Best Super-Game Improvement Irons, Best Game-Improvement Irons here: MyGolfSpy Best Game-Improvement Irons, Player’s Distance Irons here: MyGolfSpy Best Player’s Distance Irons, Player’s Irons here: MyGolfSpy Best Player’s Irons.
Nathan DeGroff
2 years ago
As someone who plays those same Mizuno irons they are very forgiving. Until I got the lies adjusted was hitting everything way on the toe. Did not lose much distance if any. May not of been some of the straightest shots but did not miss my target line by much. Phenomal irons, Nothing feels like Mizuno.