As a high handicapper, you may not have bought more than one set of golf clubs in your life. If you are new to the game, you may not have bought any.
In my career I have bought about 8 sets of irons, and with each purchase, there is hope that my game will be changed forever.
To be blunt, in some cases…..the irons were incredible and I wanted to sleep with them.
Other times, I was extremely disappointed.
Now that you have started your search for the best golf irons for high handicappers, you are going to presented with a ton of choices and options. If I could share one piece of advice…..
Buy a good set of irons, but you don’t need the best. Don’t settle for junk, but you don’t have to spend $2,000 on your next set. As you get better, and as your game progresses, you are going to buy another set of irons in a few years. That is the way this obsession works.
We want to help you buy a great set of irons that you will enjoy, look great, and will help you enjoy the game more.
Best irons for high handicap golfers
TaylorMade Sim Max Irons
The TaylorMade Sim Max irons are the best for high-level handicappers. TaylorMade has done a great job in improving its quality in recent years. A fluted hosel removes the extra weight from the neck. Speed pockets in the soles of the irons maximize the ball speed for shots hit lower on the face, and progressive Inverted Cone technology helps minimize sidespin on mishits with the longer irons, resulting in straighter shots.
The Sim Max irons have a thick top line, chunky profile, and plenty of offset. The sound and feel of TaylorMade irons are beyond explanation. The sound is loud and definite. It has an improved Speed Bridge and ECHO damping system for better sound and a forged-like feel. The thru-slot speed pocket disconnects the lower portion of the face from the sole of the iron and allows a free-floating face.
The face also maintains stability while delivering Maximum ball speed. The head shape provides a perfect combination of distance, forgiveness, and playability. A wide sole, lightweight fluted hosel, 360° undercut, and ultra-thin face shifts mass from high to the bottom of the sole, which results in penetrating ball flights.
What We Liked
- These irons have an ultra-thin face.
- The design allows for much forgiveness.
- These irons possess a low center of gravity.
- ECHO Damping System allows for a better and forged-like feel.
- The Bridging Performance feature helps players.
- Its good vibration enhances the confidence of the players.
- The amazing feel makes the players comfortable while playing.
- These irons provide great distance.
What We Didn’t Like
- These irons are a little bit expensive.
Cobra F-Max Airspeed Irons
Cobra F-Max Airspeed irons are lightweight, designed to help you create effortless speed, launch, and distance without any hurdle. The lightweight design allows you to generate more club speed and distance with moderate swing speed. Meanwhile, the irons possess a deep undercut at the back, low profile shape, and more loft throughout the set.
The clubhead weighting is low and wide. Hence, this allows the golfer to hit the ball at a distance, which offers forgiveness. The weighting toward the heel of the club helps you to control the flight and direction.
These irons are famous because of progressive hosel design. Long irons promote a high launch from the face because of the short hosels, since short hosels deliver a low center of gravity. As you work through mid and short irons, the hosel eventually lengthens, providing a high center of gravity that offers a flatter trajectory with more control.
These irons have a premium chrome finish that looks utterly amazing, and it also increases their durability. These irons are the lightweight champions. They have a lighter shaft and grip. On the whole, every component of the F-Max clubs helps to make golf easier by faster swing and increased distance without making swings harder.
What We Liked
- Its lightweight design helps in more club speed and distance with a moderate swing speed.
- It has a super lightweight design; the shaft is 5 grams lighter than the previous model.
- It has a deep undercut and offers high forgiveness, high launch, and more distance.
- The weighting towards the heel helps to control accuracy and produce more shots.
- Progressive hosel lengths and progressive offset through the set improve launch in the long and mid irons and wedges. They also make the irons forgiving.
- Not only is it a great-looking set, but it’s very durable too.
- The driver and hybrids have a good sound.
What We Didn’t Like
- It’s a bit more expensive than some of the alternatives.
- These irons don’t have a complete set of headcovers.
- The high handicap driver can get scratched easily.
Callaway Rogue X Irons
Callaway always aims to improve to be better than the competition. These irons aim to improve the distance without spending much energy. This set of irons offers more forgiveness from a deeper center of gravity. The offset is excellent, and the sole has a raised trailing edge to get the weight. These irons have a thin top line. The sound and feel of Rogue X are really good.
The urethane microspheres help to enhance the vibration and make the sound quality better. These are inserted into the Cavity behind the face and have spheres to absorb unwanted sounds.
The Rogue X uses a high ball speed and low spin to get a long-distance. You can also choose the flex. Four types of flex are available: stiff, regular, ladies, and light. You also have a choice in material. You can choose steel or graphite material.
The 360° Face Cup technology aims to provide great speed with a greater face area. The face cup has a flexible shallow rim, which you can also find around the perimeter of the face of the iron. These irons are easy to swing and hit. They are ideal for people who are looking for greater distance with an easy shot.
What We Liked
- These irons have a lighter, longer, and stronger body.
- These irons allow high-launch and great distance.
- The 360° Face Cup technology gives it incredible speed.
- The tungsten-infused internal standing wave allows great distance.
- Urethane microspheres absorb unwanted vibration and provide a great feel.
- The radical distance package helps achieve great distance.
- The irons have a sleek and stylish look, which makes them attractive.
- It has a forgiving off-center for maximum distance.
- Rogue X is highly suitable for high-level handicappers.
What We Didn’t Like
- These irons are very costly.
- They are similar to others within the Callaway collection.
Ping G700 Irons
Ping G700 irons provide great forgiveness through a hollow body design and a steel face. The stainless steel hollow body construction allows for an internal design that takes the weight away from the face. This creates a frame for metal-wood-like flexing and a high center of gravity to increase ball speed and good launch.
The G700 aims at high ball speed and great distance with a high degree of forgiveness from the clubhead. The G700 gives a little hollow ring sound, which is good and louder than normal. There is a white bottom groove. The function of the white bottom groove is to provide alignment.
The G700’s large head means more face flex and ball speed. Its hollow body construction and cavity back promote high launch. Additionally, the C300 steel face increases ball speed and distance by creating a good flex. The combination of sole width, bounce, and offset enables better turf interaction for enhanced forgiveness. Moreover, the hydropearl plating and polished surface looks great and give an attractive look.
What We Liked
- The thin face and oversized head provide lots of forgiveness.
- Its specialized hydropearl plating gives a glossy look.
- These irons have excellent workability.
- The stainless steel body construction helps make the irons lightweight.
- The clubhead is not filled with foam.
- Its design enables it to create a high launch without much effort.
- It’ll provide extreme forgiveness for high handicappers.
- It has a great look due to the satin finish.
- These irons allow great launch and distance with good swing speed.
What We Didn’t Like
- These irons are not suitable for low-level handicappers.
- It makes a slight pingy sound, which is irritating sometimes.
TaylorMade M6 Irons
The M6 irons offer the thru-put slots, which is a rare thing in irons. Its topline allows the variable face connected to the body, which moves down to the point of deflection. The weight towards the head is also reduced, which helps to make them a lot smaller with keeping its effect high. The thru-slot, with the help of the Speed Bridge structure, generates amazing ball speed.
The iron set has an extra stiffness in the clubhead. The head has an ultra-thin face design with Inverted Cone technology that transfers ball speed over the face’s complete surface.
The iron has a better sound and feel, which TaylorMade achieved with its Speed Bridge technology, which reduces the low-frequency sound of impact. The undesirable vibrations are compressed through an HYBRAR compression damper. This iron provides great forgiveness and playability.
What We Liked
- Its variable thickness face is only connected to the body.
- The open cavity is a really great feature for high handicappers.
- These irons have a simple and practical design.
- The irons have an improved sound quality, which is good for feel.
- These irons are optimized for forgiveness and playability.
- It has patented off-center Inverted Cone technology that transfers ball speed to the face.
- Its HYBRAR compression damper absorbs undesirable vibrations.
- These irons possess additional stiffness in the head.
- These irons have a massive sweet spot.
- The Speed Bridge modifies energy transfer.
What We Didn’t Like
- These irons are quite expensive.
- They are a bit light for some users.
Buyer’s Guide for the Best Irons for High Handicap
In this section, we have made a list of the things you need to consider before buying a new set of irons. These things will help you to understand the workability and durability of irons. So, fasten your seat belts.
1. Price
Money is the thing you should consider before anything. And one should pay attention to whether he’s spending money on the right thing or not. So, the price of irons matters a lot. You should ask yourself a few questions before buying a new set of irons.
What are you hoping to gain by changing the irons? Are you aiming at getting more distance through the new set? Is money going to make that difference?
People spend thousands of dollars on buying a new set of irons without paying the least attention to their needs and preferences. The gratification of mind and soul is more important than anything because golf is a hobby, and hobby means pleasure.
One can improve the game by getting a few lessons and classes instead of buying a whole new set of irons.
2. Forgiveness
In golf, forgiveness means the construction and design elements in irons that lessen the effects of a bad swing. Irons which offer these features are said to have forgiveness. The design elements forgive the mistakes of the players. The irons with large clubheads and club faces provide forgiveness.
How much forgiveness do you need to improve your game or make it stable? This is the question everyone must ask before buying a new set of iron. You should look at blades and cavity backs. Before buying, you should also visit some clubs and check how much speed and distance you need to gain for stability.
3. Distance
Distance is an important thing in golf. Are you looking to improve your distance by changing the irons? Consider the loft you are going to purchase. Do you need to opt for power lofts, or should you go for standard lofts, or are you in need of retro lofts? But the central conflict is which loft is going to help you to gain distance?
4. Workability of the Iron
The working criteria are important when you are going to spend a handsome amount of money on irons. What do you want from your irons? Do you like to shape the ball, or do you like to fade, or do you prefer the forgiveness aspect? Don’t forget to consider these questions.
5. Trajectory
The distance of the ball is decided by the height at which your hands will go. At what height do you want your arms to go? It’s important for you to consider this aspect before purchasing an iron.
6. Appearance
It is common to see people judging something by its cover and appearance. If an item doesn’t appear good and attractive despite its countless qualities, we don’t feel confident about it. Whenever you play, the irons must look good to give you confidence. If you don’t like the appearance, don’t buy the irons. You need confidence while playing, and you also need to enjoy your hobby to refresh yourself.
7. Brand
The selection of a brand to buy new irons is a matter of sheer consideration. You need to consider whether you are comfortable with this brand. Do you have fond and loving memories of this brand? Is this brand reliable, or does it give you confidence while holding the iron? Do you have struggle or success stories with this brand, i.e., do you have a sentimental and emotional relationship with that brand? If not, it’s the right time to move towards another new brand to enjoy a new experience.
8. Condition
The condition of your irons decides whether you need a new set of irons or not. Are they really in bad condition, or do you need to get them repaired to make them work properly once again? Look at this point, too, before spending your money.
9. Shape
By shape, it doesn’t mean only the external shape but also the overall design and features. Fix up lines, fin top lines, thicker soles, thinner soles, long blade, short blade, color, and the overall styling are essential when you aim to gain confidence.
10. Parts of the Set
Usually, iron sets consist of seven or eight clubs: the 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9-iron, and not to forget pitching wedges, a Lob wedge and sand wedges and for those looking for a club in between, the gap wedge. Some golfers prefer to buy these other clubs separately and will look for more forgiving wedges.
11. The Loft and Length
You can divide irons into three categories: long, mid, and short irons.
Long Irons
Long irons are designed in a way that they are able to hit the ball with a short loft. These include the 2, 3, and 4-iron.
Short Irons
Short irons aim to attain high loft. The higher loft helps in the perpendicular ball launch from the moment of commencement to the final drop. Short irons are the 8 and 9-iron and the pitching wedge.
Mid Irons
Mid irons are the 5, 6, and 7-iron.
12. Shaft
Your selection of shaft will highly influence the feel, the distance it produces, and your speed. If you want to expand the speed, you should select the lighter graphite material to generate a lovely swing. But if you are good with swing speed but want to gain control over the clubhead, then without any doubt, go for the heavy steel shaft for the balance of your choice.
13. Flex
Swaying of the shaft during the swing is known as flex, and it is predicted by your playing style and your ability to cover distance. Swing speed is responsible for classifying the shaft flex into five types: Ladies, Senior, Regular, Stiff, and X Stiff.
How do the irons for high handicappers differ from standard irons?
Game improvement irons, which are for beginners and high-level handicappers, are different from standard irons. Super game improvement irons are bigger and thicker than the standard irons available in the market. The top line is a little bit thicker than the standard one.
The significant difference is between the sole. The sole of the club is large enough to get you through difficulty with much ease. The more substantial sole can also help you get the golf ball up in the air if you struggle with the launch. Improvement irons can be your source of joy on a fall day at the golf club. These irons help you to keep your shot straight and at a distance.
So, it’s better to keep these points in your mind before you spend a huge sum of money on that new set of irons. Hopefully, this value editorial will guide you in choosing the right option for your game’s betterment and stability.
Final Word
Golf is a game that is becoming popular day by day among youth as well. The reason for this popularity is that it challenges you to be better than ever.
Every iron is different from one another and offers excellent features, but if there is the question of choosing one, I would be selecting the TaylorMade Sim Max Irons. These irons help you create effortless speed, launch, and distance. Moreover, the lightweight design enables you to generate more club speed and distance with moderate swing speed.
Hopefully, our article will help you clear your confusion and help you choose a set of irons according to your taste and requirements.