Updated June 20, 2023. This article was thoroughly audited by multiple golf experts and coaches for its accuracy. You can read more about our rigorous testing protocol here.
Cavity back irons are the most popular set of golf irons for amateur golfers. These irons offer a tool for players who need help increasing distance, ball speed, and accuracy.
Through their deep center of gravity, cavity back irons are great at getting underneath the golf ball at impact for high launch with tight shot dispersion due to the club’s maximum forgiveness.
On our list of the best cavity back irons, we take a look at iron sets that offer a low price with premium performance.
Each set on our list provides players outstanding forgiveness and distance, making them a blast to play on the links.
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Last updated on 2023-09-28. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
Table of Contents
Things to Consider When Buying the Right Cavity Back Irons
Design
The design of cavity back irons, like the Mizuno JPX Hot Metal and Mizuno MP 20 editions, must be inviting to the golfer. No player wants an ugly set of irons, and while that might seem shallow, having confidence in the irons is as important as the club’s overall performance.
When evaluating an iron’s design, golfers need to look at all areas of the club’s head.
Starting with the sole of the club, a golfer needs to take notice if the head offer a wide sole that interacts well with the turf to provide clean, crisp contact.
Another aspect of the iron that golfers need to note is the shape of the blade. Is it rounded or angular? A rounded face helps with forgiveness on shots that strike the toe. An iron that offers a wide hitting area with maximum forgiveness is the best of both worlds.
Flex
A golfer should know why they need the right flex with their graphite or steel shaft in their iron before making the final decision.
The flex of the shaft on a cavity back iron corresponds with the swing speed of a golfer. Matching the flex of the iron with the player’s swing speed is an absolute must for the golfer to achieve maximum production.
There are three common types of flex for golf clubs; senior, regular, and stiff. These categories typically fit with a swing speed. For example, a stiff flex is needed for golfers who swing their driver over 95 mph.
Golfers can greatly affect their results by choosing the wrong flex or not understanding how a type of shaft can affect their shotmaking.
Materials
When evaluating the iron’s materials, golfers need to look at all areas of the club’s head to see how designers constructed the head, shaft, and grip.
Most heads are a combination of carbon steel, composite materials, and weighting that anchors the iron and deepens the center of gravity. Since the head is the most important element of a cavity back iron, players should also look at how the carbon steel sole, leading edge, and top line profile the face’s overall look.
The best cavity back irons offer first-rate performance alongside exceptional design and construction, but that all falls apart if the iron’s materials are subpar.
Low price irons will use lower-quality materials, which could affect performance, while higher-end irons utilize premium materials for a lighter yet stronger experience.
Price
The price of a quality set of cavity back irons begins at around $500 and tops out at $1500 for luxury models.
Most golf equipment manufacturers create iron sets that offer premium performance with value to their wallet.
Value sets may skimp in a few areas concerning design, these lower-end club sets offer a lower price coupled with heel and toe balance, minimal offset, and lower center of gravity while elevating swing speeds.
Features that golfers can expect to find in high-end cavity back irons is a wide, inviting hitting area, innovative technology that boosts distance and provides a higher launch that offers extended carry.
While price is always a consideration for players, they must weigh the benefits of the new set against its cost before making their final decision.
Shafts
Golfers can either choose a graphite shaft or stainless steel shaft for their cavity back iron. Both shafts offer benefits, although players typically make a fatal mistake when choosing between the two choices.
Graphite shafts are lighter, making them the perfect choice for senior golfers that need more swing speed. Some experienced players don’t like the flexible nature of a graphite shaft, instead preferring the sturdiness of a stainless steel shaft. But those weekend warriors might not need the swing speed benefit that graphite provides players with slower swings.
Steel shafts offer a heavier feel, but that is also a comfort to players who want less flex during their swings with their irons.
Best Cavity Back Irons for 2023
Callaway Apex DCB
Best All-Around Cavity Back Irons
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Specs
- Loft: 20°-43°
- Lie Angle: 60.5°-64°
- Shaft Length: 35.75”-38.75”
- Weight: D0
Pros
- Wide sole offers outstanding turf interaction
- Oversized head shape provides forgiveness
- Great for high handicap golfers
Cons
- Limited workability, delivers straight shot shape
Great for mid and high handicappers, the Apex DCB offers a nice shape with balanced perimeter weighting and smooth turf interaction. The Callaway cavity back irons deliver high launch for your game, helping you from the fairway and from the tee box.
I love how easily the ball launches off the face of the Apex DCB’s and the maximum forgiveness provided no matter where the ball strikes the face.
An easy choice for the best cavity back irons, the Apex DCB features a wide sole to improve your turf interaction to help deliver clean, consistent contact throughout your round.
Read the Full Callaway Apex DCB Irons Review
Callaway Mavrik Pro
Best Option for Low Handicappers
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Specs
- Loft: 21°-43°
- Lie Angle: 60°-63.5°
- Shaft Length: 35.75”-39”
- Weight: D1/D3
Pros
- Exceptional forgiveness on off-center strikes
- High launch with superb feel
- Optimized launch and ball speed
Cons
- Could be difficult to find consistency for high handicappers
From Callaway comes their latest iron set of the Mavrik line, the Mavrik Pro. These cavity back irons offer premium performance for low handicappers. Working like forged irons but with all the benefits of cavity-back models, the Mavrik Pro offers stunning features that increase forgiveness, distance, and swing speeds.
The best feature of the Mavrik Pro irons is the 360 Face Cup Technology. This innovation allows the face of each Mavrik Pro iron to flex at impact. The technology reduces side spin for better accuracy but doesn’t remove one mph of ball speed in the process.
Read the Full Callaway Mavrik Pro Irons Review
TaylorMade SIM2 MAX Irons
Best Option for Mid Handicappers
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Specs
- Loft: 19°-43.5°
- Lie Angle: 61.5°-64.5°
- Shaft Length: 35.75”-39.125”
- Weight: D1
Pros
- Cap-back design delivers power to the ball
- Wider sole improves turf interaction
- High-grade forgiveness redirects off-center strikes
Cons
- Doesn’t offer workability from side to side
TaylorMade SIM2 MAX Irons offer exceptionally long distance, ideal for mid handicappers hoping to increase their swing speed. With several of the company’s popular features, such as the Thru-Slot Speed Pocket and Cap-Back Design, the SIM2 MAX irons provide terrific consistency at a low price for a first-rate set.
The set also boosts launch for far-reaching carry that translates into extra yards. Each iron boasts a wide sweet spot, encouraging forgiveness that keeps off-center strikes on target without losing speed.
A wonderfully capable set for mid handicappers, the SIM2 MAX collection provides a solid base for improving your game from the fairway.
Read the Full TaylorMade Sim2 Max Irons Review
Callaway Big Bertha B21
Best All-Around Distance Cavity Back Irons
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Specs
- Loft: 18°-41°
- Lie Angle: 60.5°-64°
- Shaft Length: 35.75”-38.875”
- Weight: D1/D3
Pros
- Extremely long with high launch
- Delightful turf interaction for clean, crisp contact
- Dynamic feel and responsiveness
Cons
- Built for distance, less for sophisticated shotmaking
The Big Bertha B21 iron set delivers Callaway’s longest iron set to mid and high handicappers looking for a cavity-back set to improve their accuracy and distance. If you are in the market for an iron set to deliver better contact and high launch at impact.
Featuring a low, deep CG to improve launch, the B21 iron set also provides minimal vibration to increase feel and responsiveness.
On the range, I enjoyed the oversized head shape as it provides power to the ball with a helping of dynamic forgiveness.
The iron set also delivers clean turf interaction producing crisp divots to improve striking for high, straight shot shape you can depend upon as you play your round.
Read the Full Callaway Big Bertha B21 Irons Review
Lazrus Golf Irons
Best Budget Option
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Specs
- Loft: 22°-45°
- Lie Angle: 61°-64°
- Shaft Length: 35.5”-38.5”
- Weight: D1
Pros
- Solid perimeter weighting boosts MOI
- Wider sole increases turf interaction
- High launch with extended carry
Cons
- Very limited workability with this set
While they might be well known among novice golfers, the design team at Lazrus has gained a devoted following with their low-price, high-performance cavity-back irons. The Lazrus Golf Irons delivers impressive distance with admirable forgiveness for a collection at this affordable price.
The short golf irons in the Lazrus set run through a pitching wedge. Although you may need to find alternate sand or lob wedge to add to this set, the foundational golf clubs found here offer strength and forgiveness.
Read the Full Lazrus Golf Irons Review
Callaway Mavrik
Best Upgrade Option for High Handicappers
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Specs
- Loft: 18°-41°
- Lie Angle: 60.5°-64°
- Shaft Length: 35.75”-38.875”
- Weight: D1/D3
Pros
- Outstanding impact feel and responsiveness
- Clean turf interaction with powerful energy transfer
- Optimal launch for maximum distance
Cons
- Tighter feel than most cavity-back irons
Callaway Mavrik Irons are a true winner with exceptional distance and incredible accuracy. The irons come in roughly a dozen different combinations, great for any golfer who likes to mix and match the clubs in their bag.
The Mavrik irons are among the best cavity back options on this list. Shaped like forged irons but with the help provided by the shape of cavity back irons, the Mavrik set is incredibly versatile.
Read the Full Callaway Mavrik Irons Review
TaylorMade SIM MAX
Best Distance Option for Mid Handicappers
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Specs
- Loft: 19°-43.5°
- Lie Angle: 61.5°-64.5°
- Shaft Length: 35.75”-39.125”
- Weight: D1/D0
Pros
- Ultra thin face delivers high club head speed to ball
- Speed Pocket behind face increases forgiveness
- Excellent feel and responsiveness anywhere on face
Cons
- Rather simplistic irons for golfers looking to lower handicap
From TaylorMade, the SIM MAX Irons are a great set for mid handicappers looking to stabilize their game and increase their distance. The irons feature several worthwhile benefits that offer additional launch angle over comparable advanced irons at this price point.
The SIM MAX irons offer the Speed Bridge, a bar that connects the cavity-back on the iron to stiffen the face for directed energy at impact. An ultra-thin face delivers high rates of speed with an enhanced hitting area that offers straight flight.
Read the Full TaylorMade Sim Max Irons Review
Cleveland Launcher UHX Irons
Best Upgrade Option for Mid Handicappers
Specs
- Loft: 20°-44°
- Lie Angle: 61.5°-64.5°
- Shaft Length: 35.75”-38.875”
- Weight: D1/D2
Pros
- Hollow body construction offers lightweight feel
- Generates solid power to the golf ball
- Steep landing angle with high spin helps hold the green
Cons
- Doesn’t offer the workability of some cavity-back irons
Cleveland’s latest addition to the cavity-back market is the attractive Cleveland Launcher UHX Irons. Featuring a high-strength steel composition, the UHX offers a hollow body that increases swing speed and boost distance.
The top feature of the UHX set is the Tour Zip Grooves along the face. Rather than the hitting area having deep grooves, the faces of these irons have tiny laser-milled trenches inside the face that help create a whole lot of spin.
Check our full Cleveland Launcher UHX Irons Review
Questions & Answers
What are cavity-back irons?
Cavity-back irons have a distinct shape and appearance in contrast to forged irons, also commonly referred to as blade irons.
When looking at the iron head, the back of the head looks like the material has been scooped out, creating a “cavity” behind the face. The reasoning for creating an iron with this style benefits the beginning golfer as the iron becomes lighter through the loss of material.
Another reason that the cavity-back works well for inexperienced golfers is that designers take the outer rim of the iron and balance it, helping keep the face square through the impact zone.
The cavity-back design also allows designers to create a large, wide sole that boosts launch. By adding additional material along the sole of the club, golfers get a deeper center of gravity to smoothly lift the ball at impact.
Not all cavity-back irons are built the same as some of these irons from lesser manufacturers can be quite heavier than other brands. Golfers should understand how weight affects swing speed which in turn manipulates the distance of shots.
That said, if you are a high handicapper or beginning golfer, the best choice for starting or improving the quality of your golf shots from the fairway and intermediate rough is with cavity-back irons.
What’s the difference between cast and forged cavity back irons?
Cast cavity back irons are typically found in game-improvement irons that most amateurs golfers play. These irons offer better balance, perimeter weighting, and forgiveness to give inexperienced players better consistency with each shot. The purpose of cast cavity back irons is to help the golfer get the ball into the air with ease for extended carry and maximum distance.
Forged irons, like the Mizuno MP 20, are crafted from one piece of metal and made especially for advanced golfers who want clubs that offer premium workability. Forged cavity back irons, like the TaylorMade p790 irons, are designed to offer a compact hitting area that provides control for low handicappers that can hit shots with shapes and differing heights.
Golf irons can last for several years with routine maintenance. Periodic cleaning of the face and grooves can provide optimum spin and clean contact.
The number one area that players can improve on a set of irons is by replacing the grips on the clubs every 40 rounds or two years. Grips can harden and become slick, causing the golfer to lose their ability to hold the club with confidence.
Golf irons, made from carbon steel, can become brittle and rusted if the golfer soaks the head and hosel in water for hours at a time. The glue that binds the shaft and hosel can weaken, causing the iron to fall apart.
What are the best cavity back irons for mid handicappers?
The Callaway Big Bertha B21 offers a nice combination of distance and launch for mid handicappers struggling with consistency. The oversized sweet spot delivers premium forgiveness to keep off-center strikes along your target line with maximum ball speed.
Do any PGA pros use cavity backs?
PGA Tour professionals typically use forged irons, although they do use cavity-back irons in specific situations, such as with their long or utility irons. The reason they use cavity-back irons with these clubs is because of the enhanced forgiveness that game-improvement irons offer.
Do pros use blades or cavity back irons?
Pros prefer blades because of the workability these clubs provide on the course. Since blade irons require experience and proficiency, mid-to-high handicappers will find blade irons are too difficult to hit consistently.
Are cavity back irons forgiving?
Yes, cavity-back irons are very forgiving because of their shape and perimeter weighting. These irons are built to deliver straight shot shape without workability, one of the biggest reasons why professionals and low handicappers do not play with them.