Best Golf Irons for Mid Handicapper: Top 8 of 2023 Tested & Reviewed

Your golf experts: Jordan Fuller & John Marshall.
Updated January 5, 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.

The Rundown:

Best Overall: TaylorMade SIM MAX OS Irons
“This Iron Set can change your game overnight – these are some of the longest, highest and most forgiving irons we’ve ever played for mid handicaps.”

Most Forgiving: TaylorMade M4 Iron Set
“With patented technology, the M4 will increase distance, boost your launch angle, soft entry shots, and provide max forgiveness for less sidespin.”

Best for Accuracy: TaylorMade SIM2 MAX
“The SIM2 MAX is an exceptional set that increases distance and boosts launch to golfers with mid handicaps. If you want to continue your improvement as a golfer, the SIM2 MAX really delivers excellent shot-making ability.”

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One of the best areas that mid handicappers can attack to push their golf game to that next level is finding a new set of the best mid handicap irons that fit their game by improving accuracy and extending distance.

For golfers who have handicaps that sit between 10 and 18, the best mid handicap irons have several characteristics that will help boost ball height on shots and dramatically decrease the length of birdie putts.

Here are the best mid handicap irons that offer a variety of features that will delight and upgrade their golfing experience.

Sources researched
24
Sources researched
Customer reviews
11,481
Customer reviews
Hours spent testing
45
Hours spent testing
Products tested
8
Products tested
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Editor's Choice
TaylorMade SIM MAX OS Irons, Steel Shaft, KBS Max 85, 4-PW, Right Hand, Regular Flex , Titanium, Black, Blue
Most Forgiving
TaylorMade M4 Irons Set (Set of 7 total clubs: 5-PW, AW, Steel Shaft, Right Hand, Regular Flex)
Most Accurate
TaylorMade SIM 2 Max Iron Set Mens Right Hand Steel Stiff 5-PW, AW
Label 1
Oversized face provides larger sweet spot for better forgiveness and higher launch
Impossible to find more forgiving than these irons
Fast and highly forgiving face creates tighter shot dispersion
Label 2
Deep, low center of gravity offers higher launch with more carry for boosted distance
RIBCOR Technology to correct off-center strikes
Cap Back Design increases distance and boosts launch
Rating
Rating: 94 / 100
Rating: 93 / 100
Rating: 91 / 100
Editor's Choice
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TaylorMade SIM MAX OS Irons, Steel Shaft, KBS Max 85, 4-PW, Right Hand, Regular Flex , Titanium, Black, Blue
Label 1
Oversized face provides larger sweet spot for better forgiveness and higher launch
Label 2
Deep, low center of gravity offers higher launch with more carry for boosted distance
Rating
Rating: 94 / 100
Most Forgiving
Thumbnail
TaylorMade M4 Irons Set (Set of 7 total clubs: 5-PW, AW, Steel Shaft, Right Hand, Regular Flex)
Label 1
Impossible to find more forgiving than these irons
Label 2
RIBCOR Technology to correct off-center strikes
Rating
Rating: 93 / 100
Most Accurate
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TaylorMade SIM 2 Max Iron Set Mens Right Hand Steel Stiff 5-PW, AW
Label 1
Fast and highly forgiving face creates tighter shot dispersion
Label 2
Cap Back Design increases distance and boosts launch
Rating
Rating: 91 / 100

Last updated on 2023-03-08. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.

Best Golf Irons For Mid Handicapper

Here are the best irons for mid handicappers!

TaylorMade SIM MAX OS Irons

Best Golf Iron for Mid Handicapper Overall

TaylorMade SIM MAX OS Irons, Steel Shaft, KBS Max 85, 4-PW, Right Hand, Regular Flex , Titanium, Black, Blue
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PROS

  • Oversized face provides a larger sweet spot for better forgiveness and higher launch
  • Deep, low center of gravity offers a higher launch with more carry for boosted distance
  • Elevated spin with high irons for outstanding shot-stopping from inside 150 yards
  • Speed Bridge bar stiffens the head for more power directly to the golf ball

CONS

  • May take an adjustment period for golfers who are used to irons from the fairway

The TaylorMade SIM MAX OS Irons are a great entry set for beginners. The SIM MAX OS set is an absolute delight, featuring several of TaylorMade’s patented innovations.

Starting with the front of the iron, the face on each SIM MAX OS Irons offers a huge sweet spot. Since the “OS” on the clubs means oversized, these game-improvement irons capture the ball on every swing. These best mid handicap irons keep the ball along the golfer’s intended target line even on off-center hits. 

Very forgiving, the SIM MAX OS set works very hard to reduce side spin to keep the punishment from a wayward shot, like a slice, to a minimum.

Each iron also features a Speed Bridge bar across the back of the head. The bar stiffens the face by connecting the sole and top edge of the iron. The feature creates staggering distance with increased ball speed.

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An ECHO Damping System reduces the vibration that plagues lesser iron sets. The SIM MAX OS offers a smooth feel and sound from heel to toe at impact. Golfers have compared the feel of these mid handicap irons to what forged irons deliver to professional golfers.

Also powering the face is the Progressive Inverted Cone Technology that optimizes accuracy on shots that strike the center of the face. The resulting shots produce a higher launch with longer carry and a tall arc that lands softly on the green.

An outstanding iron set, ideal for mid handicaps, the TaylorMade SIM MAX OS Irons are an absolute revelation.

TaylorMade M4 Iron Set

Most forgiving iron set we’ve seen, packed with the latest technology

TaylorMade M4 Irons Set (Set of 7 total clubs: 5-PW, AW, Steel Shaft, Right Hand, Regular Flex)
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PROS

  • Speed pocket at the bottom of the club keeps shots straight and long
  • Face slots behind the clubface aid in boosting ball speed
  • RIBCOR Technology helps correct off-center strikes through flexible clubface

CONS

  • Beginning golfers may want to find a less expensive starting iron set

TaylorMade has created an impressive set with the M4 irons

Showcasing a host of features that help the golfer keep the ball long and straight, the M4 irons utilize patented TaylorMade technology to provide a golfing experience that will vastly improve the game of mid-level players.

With RIBCOR technology, the M4 iron set will increase distance, boost your launch angle for higher and softer entry shots into the green and provide maximum forgiveness for less sidespin. These features result in one of the best upper-tier iron sets we’ve hit in a long time, as the M4 irons deliver the goods.

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TaylorMade has created a dynamic new set of mid-handicap irons that raise the stakes for mid-level golfers looking to improve their distance and launch angle.

The M4 Irons have been built to increase accuracy to help lower scores via closer entry shots into the green.

Dependable construction is at the heart of all TaylorMade products, and this attention to detail sets the M4 apart from other game-improvement irons.

With the company’s strong research and development department, TaylorMade has produced a set with the M4 irons that is a terrific experience on the golf course.

For the M4 irons, every feature utilizes TaylorMade’s patented RIBCOR technology.

Starting with the clubface, the company has introduced a variety of details that increase the areas of the game that most mid handicaps are looking to improve. The M4 brings the muscle to any golfer’s game from a longer distance, higher ball flight, and increased accuracy.

The first feature on the M4 irons is a Speed Pocket seen on the iron sole. Placed directly behind the clubface, the Speed Pocket primarily boosts ball speed. 

This feature helps shots struck on the lower half of the clubface propel forward without the punishment that lesser irons would place on the golf ball.

The second feature on the M4 that uses the RIBCOR technology is the face slots placed alongside the grooves on the clubface. 

The face slots are two vertical bars that run from the top of the clubhead to the club’s sole. The slots stiffen the clubhead but allow flexibility at the impact helping direct more energy to the golf ball.

And the final notable specification on the M4 irons is a lower center of gravity that improves launch angle. By increasing backspin, shots with these mid handicap irons fly high and land soft.

With outstanding features, the M4 irons are an excellent set for the golfer looking to leap to lower their handicap.

TaylorMade SIM2 MAX

Best Golf Iron for Accuracy: Well-crafted with exceptional playability

TaylorMade SIM 2 Max Iron Set Mens Right Hand Steel Stiff 5-PW, AW
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PROS

  • Fast and highly forgiving face creates tighter shot dispersion
  • Cap Back Design increases distance and boosts launch
  • Thru-Slot Speed Pocket maximizes flexibility with increased ball speed
  • Outstanding feel with minimal vibration for clean, crisp contact

CONS

  • Not for mid-handicaps that are inexperienced with shaping shots

TaylorMade’s SIM2 MAX Irons offer high levels of forgiveness, distance, and consistency. Ideal for mid handicappers, these game-improvement irons have many features familiar to TaylorMade fans that tighten shot dispersion into the green.

Beginning with the new Cap Back Design, the SIM2 MAX irons improve upon the standard cavity-back iron design with increased forgiveness, length, and great feel. Along with the Cap Back Design, the company’s Thru-Slot Speed Pocket increases flexibility and the spring-like effect across the face for explosive ball speeds with deep, low CG.

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The shorter irons in this set also provide a high launch with a tall arc that helps golf balls land softly on the putting surface with high spin. In contrast, the long irons provide a piercing ball flight that does not sacrifice distance for accuracy.

Another interesting feature is the neutral ball flight that the SIM2 MAX Irons produce for mid handicappers. Rather than carry a draw bias, these irons offer a straight shot pattern, making them accessible for advanced golfers who prefer workability with their clubs rather than carry a draw bias.

Game-improvement irons can vary wildly in quality, but with the SIM2 MAX, mid handicappers will find reliability and consistency rarely matched by its competitors. These irons deliver first-rate performance with higher accuracy and soft shot-stopping power from within 150 yards of the pin.

Everything about the design of these irons has been crafted to increase launch and extend length, and in that regard, the SIM2 MAX irons are marvelously successful.

Great for mid handicappers, the TaylorMade SIM2 MAX irons provide the feel and workability of forged irons with far easier accessibility for an affordable price.

Callaway X Hot Iron Set

Best Mid Handicapper Iron for Feel and Response

Callaway X HOT Iron Set
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PROS

  • The undercut cavity backing creates one of Callaway’s longest irons ever
  • Feel Management Technology fine tunes the iron set for more feel and better response
  • Speed Frame Face increases ball speed for long and consistent distance

CONS

  • Great game-improvement iron, but don’t expect the clubs to help you shape shots

The Callaway X-Hot Iron Set is a terrific option for mid handicap golfers as the collection provides excellent forgiveness, long distance, and a balanced feel throughout the swing.

The best feature of the X-Hot set is Speed Frame Face technology. Callaway borrowed the innovative advancements used in their drivers and transferred them to their irons.

The result is better forgiveness, longer and more consistent distance, plus better launch angle for higher and softer shots that stop dead on the green.

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Although these would be considered game-improvement irons, they perform beyond that moniker. Bottom line is, these mid handicap irons will improve your length on entry shots into the green. And if you are in the market for clubs to help your swing speed, these are an excellent option.

Perhaps our biggest complaint about the X-Hot Iron Set is the lack of ability to grow with them as your skills improve. If you are a lower-end mid handicapper, the X-Hot set will help you find the consistency lacking in your iron play.

But once you feel comfortable and begin to see a difference, you’ll want to learn how to shape shots and that is something that the X-Hot cannot do with regularity.

These mid handicap irons are an upgrade if you are playing with older clubs that give you middling results. Great for distance, even better for accuracy, the Callaway X-Hot set is a winner.

TaylorMade M2 Iron Set

Best Golf Iron for Distance: low center of gravity with state-of-the-art technology

Build a Custom TaylorMade 2017 M2 Iron, 4, 2017 M2 Reax (Graphite), Regular
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PROS

  • The lower center of gravity on the M2 irons forces shots to soar higher for greater distance and softer landings
  • Face Slot technology is coupled with TaylorMade’s speed pocket for a thinner clubface that increases distance and forgiveness
  • One of the cleanest looking game-improvement irons on the market

CONS

  • There are many options available on the M2 irons, which could potentially overwhelm an inexperienced golfer

The TaylorMade M2 Iron Set is ideal for players looking to dip their toe into the lake of shot shaping. Most entry-level clubs are sledgehammers in that they have one function; to get the ball up into the air and with distance.

But the M2 irons have moved weight lower behind the clubface to provide incredible launch and dynamic control. TaylorMade’s Face Slot technology also corrals those errant tee shots that start on the toe or heel for exceptional forgiveness. Without a doubt, these M2 irons will boost your entry game into the green in considerable ways.

Read our full review: TaylorMade M2 Iron Set, Full Review: Should You Buy It?

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The M2 iron set is one of the best mid handicap irons due to its innovative approach and enhanced technology.

What TaylorMade set out to do with the M2 irons is help mid-handicaps with the accuracy of their shots. They attacked this common problem with the invention of Face Slot technology. 

What Face Slots do on an M2 iron is very important because it assists in keeping the ball headed toward the target. More specifically, these redesigned Face Slots maintain ball speed on off-center shots so that your shot doesn’t fall victim to elements such as wind or that dreaded sidespin that causes slices or hooks.

Another alteration the company made with the M2 is relocating the center of gravity by moving weight lower behind the clubface. Simply put, a lower center of gravity forces the ball higher into the air. For mid-handicaps, by moving the weight lower, the M2 guarantees that golfers will get the maximum distance, height, and backspin when using the golf irons.

TaylorMade has also given more attention to how the M2 irons react when interacting with the turf behind the golf ball. Irons react differently when then cut into the grass on the downswing, but what the M2 irons do is smoothly glide through the divot to enable clean contact with the golf ball. 

This clean contact is created through a unique design along the sole of all M2 irons. As a result, the M2 irons smoothly move through the turf and focus maximum clubhead speed onto the golf ball, where it belongs.

By utilizing cutting-edge technology, the M2 irons are a terrific option for mid-handicaps. With increased clubhead speed and maximum forgiveness, the M2 irons will help bridge the gap until your handicap reaches single digits.

Callaway Apex CF16 Iron Set

Best Golf Iron with Forged Feel and Consistency

Callaway Golf Men's Apex CF16 Irons Set
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PROS

  • Beautiful design, one of the best available in the market
  • Great, loud sound
  • Excellent and consistent feel throughout the set
  • Very responsive with excellent feedback

CONS

  • Not very forgiving with a compact head and no cavity back design

In golf clubs, the brand Apex can be considered a legend, known for its high-end quality and beautiful design. 

The brand Apex was recently re-launched under the Callaway brand, and Callaway has combined their touch of technology with the premium looks and overall quality, giving birth to a beautiful iron set that is good-looking and excellent in performance.

The Callaway Apex CF16 Iron Set features a multi-material forged head made of six different pieces, mainly a 17-4 stainless steel face, a 1025E forged carbon steel body, and other supporting parts to improve sound and feel.

The CF16 adopts Callaway’s Cup Face technology in the 3- to 7- irons, first introduced in their 2015 fairway woods.

Read our full review: Callaway Apex CF 16 Irons Review

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The center of gravity (CG) placement is moved further backward than your usual golf irons, achieved with a rounder rear edge on the sole. 

This CG placement allows an easier time lifting the ball and offers more forgiveness. This rounded edge is a little noticeable from 4-iron and above, but shouldn’t be a major compromise to the design.

While the Cup Face is missing in the 8-iron all the way to the included wedges, it is replaced by an especially engineered faceplate that feels just as good, giving you a consistent feel throughout the set.

All clubs in the set have beautiful chrome and matte satin finish that is very beautiful and expensive-looking, as you can expect from a Callaway club set. 

Regarding looks, the Callaway Apex CF16 Iron Set is simply one of the most beautiful club sets available.

The Apex clubs are always famous for their sound and feel, and they are retained in the Apex CF16. 

All the clubs in the set are very responsive with sharp, pleasing sounds. Even among forged irons, the Apex CF16 clubs are some of the best in this category.

Regarding forgiveness, the Apex CF16 is more forgiving than out-and-out blade irons. The club faces are relatively small, especially with the shorter golf irons. 

Therefore, the Apex CF16 set is more suited for better mid-handicaps that are more consistent with their shots. The set will reward consistent players in feel, distance, and shot-shaping ability.

The standard shaft for the set is the lightweight True Temper XP95 steel shaft. It feels very solid with excellent feedback and is well-suited with the forged club heads.

The Callaway Apex CF16 Iron Set is a very high quality iron set, as expected from both the Callaway and Apex brands.

It is excellent in feel, sound, looks, and performance both in distance and shot-shaping ability. The multi-material forged heads are rewarding, especially for mid-handicap players that can produce consistent well-struck shots.

It is not the most affordable set available, but the excellent quality justifies the price. The relative lack of forgiveness can be a downside, making the Apex CF16 Set more suited for better mid-handicaps with a handicap of 15 and below.

Callaway Mavrik Iron Set

Best Golf Iron with High-Tech Forgiveness

Callaway Golf 2020 Mavrik Max Iron Set (Set of 6 Clubs: 5 Iron - PW, Right Hand, Graphite, Stiff)
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PROS

  • Oversized hitting area offers plenty of forgiveness for straighter shots
  • Game-improvement iron set delivers more consistency and easy launch
  • Wide sole provides clean turf interaction for crisp contact
  • Moderate head size works to provide shot shape and function

CONS

  • Relatively modest on shot-shaping ability

Callaway’s Mavrik irons, our choice for the most forgiving irons for mid handicappers, provide frequent golfers with a sturdy set that they can depend upon for reliable performance for several years.

On the course, we found the Mavriks to provide a smooth striking experience. Featuring a clean turf interaction, we didn’t dig in with the iron head, instead creating the dollar-sized divots you see on Sunday.

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Unlike super game-improvement irons, these Mavrik sets allow for workability, meaning you can move the ball easily from side to side. While mid handicappers are still focused on creating consistency in their games, you’ll find that each iron in this set provides an excellent base for learning how to craft draws and fades into the green.

The Mavrik irons shine from the fairway and the rough when it comes to forgiveness. The irons maintain shape and speed along your intended target line on off-center strikes. During our time with the irons, we were amazed by the lack of sidespin on shots that impacted the toe of the club.

Judging distance with the Mavrik was also simple, with our shots averaging over 5-7 yards longer than our average with our current set. If you are making the switch, you need to adjust your yardage book to take into account the new distance readings, which in all honesty, is a great problem to have if you are a mid handicap golfer.

In our estimation, we adored the Mavrik irons from Callaway as they offered more length, better accuracy, and the reliability that mid handicappers need from their irons.

TaylorMade Golf P790 Iron Set

Best Golf Iron with Forged-Cast Hybrid Head

TaylorMade Golf P790 Iron Set, 4-P,A/Lh R
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PROS

  • Excellent ball speed with low spin, producing excellent performance in carrying distance
  • Very beautiful clubs, if not some of the best available today
  • Excellent forgiveness for mid-handicaps
  • Forged face with hollow head combining the feel of the forged iron with the lightness of cast irons

CONS

  • Muted sound and feel
  • Lack of consistency due to the less responsive feel

While the TaylorMade P790 is marketed as a forged iron set, it is technically not forged, at least not all of it. 

Most of the body is made from cast carbon steel, except for the face and the perimeter, which uses forged carbon steel. 

So, the part that hits the ball is forged, and you will feel it during impact, especially on well-struck shots. But that’s not the only special thing about the P790 head.

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The space behind the forged part is hollow, filled with 4 grams of foam, dubbed the SpeedFoam, and is screwed in the toe. 

The SpeedFoam expands to four times its standard size inside the space, supporting the very thin forged face only 1.75 mm thick. 

The key highlights of the TaylorMade P790 Iron Set are speed and distance, which is typical of TaylorMade. They offer more forgiveness and distance over the P770 collection.

It does offer proper forgiveness level for players around 12 to 20 handicaps, and they are really good looking clubs. In short, the P790 set is one of the best choices available on the market for mid-handicappers.

With the hollow design, there is a compromise on sound and feel. With the ‘muted’ feel, the P790 set sometimes lacks consistency due to a lack of response. Still, an excellent iron set especially if distance is your priority.


What Should I Look For When Buying Golf Irons For Mid Handicappers?

Clubhead Size & Design

Forged Irons

The term ‘forged’ refers to how the metal material is shaped into the clubhead: a single piece of metal is heated into a rough shape and then is hammered, ‘forged’ into the desired club head shape.

Forged iron is generally better suited for low-handicappers looking for shot-shaping features and trajectory control.

Cast Irons

With ‘cast’ irons, the material heated into liquid shape is poured into a mold, allowing more complex head designs and the combination of different materials.

Casting a club head is far more affordable and easier than forging and allows a bigger club head with an intricate, more forgiving design. 

Offset Hosel

Using a club with an offset hosel is all about correcting a slice.

By limiting the opportunity of leaving an open face at impact, the offset hosel gives the club head a fraction more time to return the face to strike the golf ball squarely. It may not seem like an advantage, but most slices hit by golfers are usually created because the club needs a split second more to return to the square.

Shaft

For mid-handicappers, there is an advantage to playing graphite shafts. Players with higher averages typically have slower swing speeds. The math is simple on this one, as slower ball speed off the tee box means longer second shots into the green.

Graphite shafts help mid-level players because they are lighter than steel shafts. Lighter clubs translate to increase swing speed. This is why you’ll always see graphite shafts in woods and hybrids.

Sole Design

For mid-handicappers, a good rule of thumb is to find a club sole that is wider than your largest finger. Larger soles on golf clubs promote forgiveness but sacrifice control. But this is a sacrifice worth making for golfers who need more time to work on their swing.

Wider soled clubs are considered to be game-improvement irons. Equipment manufacturers specially make the best mid handicap irons to help higher handicap players obtain maximum height on their shots and increase ball speed.

Tungsten infused

Tungsten Infused weighting places a weight into the iron’s sole to lower the center of gravity in the club. The club can produce higher launches for better carry and more distance by lowering the CG. The weighting also decreases vibration and improves the feel for a more pleasing overall experience. 

Extra sweet spot

An extra wide sweet spot provides better contact quality, forgiveness, and distance to help mid handicaps improve their overall performance. A sweet spot on the face of the iron designates an area where the golfer will see the best production on each shot. Shots that go off-center of the sweet spot will fall shorter with less accuracy.

Set composition

Mid handicaps should consider how set composition affects their overall score. Since golfers can only carry 14 clubs during a round, each one must help to enhance their game. By crafting a set that maximizes distance and helps improve control, the golfer covers every situation they’ll face on the course.

Leading edge

The leading edge of iron is the point on the club where it first enters the ground. Shots where the golfer hits the ball with the leading edge first are thin, low, and weak. Instead, golfers want the best mid handicap irons with a leading edge that moves into the soil easily so that the ball can meet the sweet spot.

Weighting

The iron has several areas where weighting plays an essential factor for a mid handicapper. Perimeter weighting around the edge of the iron’s head helps balance the club with enhanced forgiveness. Weighting in the iron sole produces launch, carry, and distance with improved turf interaction.