Mid handicappers are those with handicaps between 9 and 20. If you are a mid handicapper, chances are you are interested in getting more distance, a bit more forgiveness, and having a chance at one day breaking eighty. Being a mid handicapper is a great place to be for an average golfer.
The majority of equipment releases are geared towards the mid handicap golfers. This means that you will have more than enough options to choose from when you decide to upgrade your clubs. We have put together eight of the best irons on the market for the mid handicapper. There will, without a doubt, be an option on this list for your game.
Best golf irons for mid handicap
Callaway Golf 2021 Apex DCB Iron Set
Best Overall
The best set of golf irons for the mid handicapper is the brand new Callaway Golf 2021 Apex DCB Iron Set. The Apex clubs have been around for a few years now, but the new Apex DCB is a new and unique technology. The most important thing about these irons for mid handicappers is that they have the look, feel, and performance of a forged players club, but they are much easier to hit.
The Apex DCB is an option that was never before included in the Apex line. All of the Apex irons were always geared toward the lower handicap players. Callaway finally realized that the mid handicapper wants the same feel that the low handicappers want. Even if that means that irons for mid handicappers need just a bit more forgiveness, they still want feel.
The deep Cavity back, larger sole width, and forged 1025 mild carbon body all add to the distance and forgiveness that you can get with this iron in play. In addition, the Callaway urethane microspheres are still included in this iron head. When you find a technology like that, you likely won’t want to let it go!
Pros
- Deep cavity back
- Mild carbon steel body for great feel
- Forged feel and high launch
Cons
- New technology priced a bit high
Cobra Golf 2020 Men’s Speedzone Iron Set
Best Value
If you are a mid handicap player that is concerned with budget, Cobra is always a great company to consider. The 2020 Men’s Speedzone Iron set is a very smart choice for the budget-conscious golfer. This iron features a carbon topline, lightweight steel, and a very forgiving center of gravity.
Cobra does a great job of combining power and speed with feel and touch. The Speedback shaping of these best golf irons for mid handicappers will help golfers to move the club through the air at faster rates of speed.
Pros
- High MOI
- Unique shaping for higher speeds
- Vibration damping technology
Cons
- Not the latest Cobra release
TaylorMade SiM 2 Max Iron Set Men’s
Best Premium
TaylorMade SIM 2 Max irons have a fast and forgiving face and are some of the fastest irons on the market. If you are interested in a game improvement set of clubs that still feels like a high performing forged club, the SIM 2 Max could be for you.
The Echo Damping System technology helps to ensure that you are not feeling any harsh vibrations when you make contact with the ball. If you happen to end up hitting the ball slightly off center, you will still get plenty of distance and forgiveness with the TaylorMade SIM 2 Max.
Pros
- Speed pocket technology
- Great feel for a cavity back club
- Progressive Inverted Cone Technology
- Optimized forgiveness
Cons
- Top down look can be a bit bulky
Cleveland Golf Launcher UHX Iron Set
Cleveland golf UHX irons are a set of irons for mid handicappers that fly under the radar. This is likely not the set you are hearing about on the range or seeing on commercials; however, the Cleveland UHX irons have some incredible performance. Our favorite thing about this set is the progressive design.
The Cleveland Golf Launcher UHX irons are built more like a cavity back in the short irons and a hollow construction wide sole club in the long irons. The variety of clubs allows for different types of shots and more accuracy with your irons.
In addition, the tour zip grooves and laser milling give the UHX irons better spin than many other options on the market. With better spin, more workability, and high launch, these are a mid handicappers’ dream.
Pros
- Great feel and weight distribution
- More control for hitting shots closer
- A great looking game improvement iron
Cons
- Ball speed not as high as something like the SIM 2 Max
Callaway Golf 2020 Mavrik Pro Iron Set
The Callaway Golf Mavrik Pro Iron Set is a club that will be perfectly suited for the golfer that is transitioning from the mid handicapper to a low handicapper. If you aren’t quite ready for the blade type irons, but the cavity backs are too bulky for you. The Callaway Mavrik Pro is a great choice for you.
Some of the same technology from the regular Mavrik irons are incorporated into the Mavrik Pro Iron. The 360 Face cup that provides a real jump off the club face helps to make these a fast speed iron as well.
This set of irons was the first that Callaway started using artificial intelligence to ensure that the speed and launch were perfected in each club. There are custom tungsten infused weights in each club that allow for higher ball speeds and better launch.
Pros
- Urethane microspheres for feel
- More streamlined shape for the better mid handicappers
- High ball speeds
Cons
- Not quite as much forgiveness as a Mavrik Max
TaylorMade Golf P790 Iron Set
The TaylorMade SIM 2 Max is not the only TaylorMade iron on the market at the moment. TaylorMade has a premium iron called the P790 that will help golfers of any handicap level have a much different experience with their irons. The P790 irons are a forged hollow body irons made with a 4140 face and a carbon steel body. The combination of materials and technologies leads to a very high ball speed and incredible feel.
This is without a doubt a premium iron for a golfer who is serious about shooting lower scores and having more control over their shots. Game improvement irons are typically known for having a hard feel; however, the SpeedFoam technology incorporated into the P790 changes that. The lightweight yet great feeling SpeedFoam helps this iron feel like a players club.
Sometimes mid handicap irons will leave a player feeling stuck between a blade and a game improvement club. With the P790, you get the best of everything in one club, specifically designed to make the game better for mid handicappers.
Pros
- Great looking club head
- Highly advanced face design
- Premium tungsten weight positioning
Cons
- Price is a bit higher than some of the other best mid handicap irons
Mizuno Golf JPX921 Hot Metal Iron Set
If you thought that Mizuno only made clubs for the lower handicapped golfer, think again! The Mizuno JPX921 irons are perfect for golfers who have mid swing speeds and want some help controlling their ball flight. The new JPX921 is faster than ever before, using Chromoly technology.
In addition, there is a reinforced Cortech Face which is very thin. The thin face technology has been huge over the last several years, and golf club manufacturers continue to work to get the face as thin as possible. Mizuno certainly has proved they can make a thin and high-performing face on their golf irons.
The Harmonic impact technology is similar to the TaylorMade Echo Damping. With Harmonic Impact technology, the feel and sound of impact are better than most irons on the market.
Pros
- Will work for a variety of swing speed golfers
- Higher launch angles
- Great looking irons sets
- Thin face with more face flex and distance
Cons
- Mizuno golf irons are not known to be the most forgiving
Wilson Staff D7 Forged Golf Iron Set
Last but not least on our list of the best irons for mid handicap golfers is the Wilson Staff D7 forged iron set. As soon as a golf iron is considered to be forged, the price almost instantly goes up. The forging process is a bit more advanced and results in higher overall costs. Luckily Wilson has created a way for mid handicap players to affordably play with a forged club.
The sweet spot on the Wilson Staff D7 is a great size, making these a fairly forgiving choice. The higher ball speeds on the iron set and perimeter weighting also help give golfers the distance they need. Overall, Wilson is not always known for making the best golf clubs for the better players, but the technology in these forged irons is something that is worth checking out.
Pros
- Power hole placement has been optimized
- Enhanced ball speed
- Forged carbon steel
Cons
- Longevity and resale value will not be the same as something like the Mizuno irons
Buyers Guide
When choosing your golf irons for your game, there are a few essential factors to consider. If you get these right, your clubs could last you for the next 7 or 8 years. Certainly, that kind of longevity will help to ensure the value you got for your irons was a good one.
Shaft Material
For higher swing speed players, the shaft needs to be steel. With a steel shaft, golfers can get the speed that they deserve from the shots that they hit. Steel shafts are better at controlling both direction and ball flight. A graphite shaft is best for the slower swinging player. If you hit your 7 iron less than 140 yards, consider looking into a graphite iron.
Set Makeup
Most mid handicappers should not play with anything lower in loft than a 5 iron. The 5 iron can even be difficult to hit at times from a bit of a difficult lie. After the 5 iron, it is best to switch to a 4 hybrid. The exception would be the mid handicapper with a very fast swing speed, which is really borderline between mid handicapper and low handicapper.
Flex
Golf irons for mid handicappers will come in senior, regular, stiff, and extra stiff shaft. Ensure that you are thinking about both the material and the flex of the club that you choose before making your purchase. Think not just about your game today but where it will be over the next five years.
Forged vs. Cavity Back
Most of the golf irons for mid handicappers are going to be cavity back game improvement irons. A few forged options on our list provide a slightly better feel and a bit less forgiveness. If you are a feel player that knows how to work the ball, go with the forged clubs. For players who need distance and help keep the ball straight, the cavity back is a better choice.
frequently asked questions:
It can be a bit overwhelming trying to choose golf irons for the mid handicapper. With all of the options on the market, players can get overwhelmed rather easily. We can certainly relate to this, but there are some questions that we can clear up to make this process for you.
What Is Considered A Mid handicapper In Golf?
A mid handicapper is someone who usually shoots in the eighties to the low nineties. Chances are your handicap will be anywhere from an 8 or 9 up to a 20, and you will still be considered a mid handicap player.
Should A Mid handicapper Use A Game Improvement Iron?
Game improvement irons are built for the mid handicapper. For golfers that are high handicappers, super game improvement is the better choice. Most mid handicappers don’t need overly offset or oversized clubs, but they still need forgiveness. Perimeter weighting, low center of gravity, vibration-reducing technology are all things that mid handicapper should consider.
Do Mid handicappers Need A Gap Wedge?
Some mid handicapper wonder if they should buy a gap wedge as part of their irons or separately as a blade-style wedge. We recommend going with the gap wedge or approach wedge that matches your iron set. Since the 4 iron is not the smartest club choice for a mid handicapper, replace it with the approach wedge to round out your set.
The best iron set for a mid handicap golfer are ….
Hopefully, the team at PG Golf Links have helped you determine which of these mid handicap irons will be the best for your game. With all the amazing technology on the market, it is hard to choose which one is the best.
However, the new Callaway Apex DCB irons truly stand out as one of the best iron sets for mid handicappers. The improved launch angle, high ball speeds, and incredible feel will make this a club that you are incredibly impressed with long term. Take advantage of this great technology while it lasts.
