Updated September 4, 2021. 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: Lazrus Golf Irons
“The Lazrus Irons feature an increased swing speed, improved turf interaction, and a seven-iron starter set at a very low price- perfect for beginners!”
Best Value Option: Cleveland Launcher Turbo HB
“Offering a turbocharged face, hibore crown, and a progressive hollow shaping, the Cleveland Launcher Turbo HB is one of the best irons for performance and outstanding value.”
Best Distance Option: TaylorMade SIM MAX 2 OS Irons
“Need more distance? The TaylorMade SIM MAX 2 OS Irons provides steel or graphite shafts, cap back design, and an oversized head for maximized distance, forgiveness, and feel.”
All golfers search for the best bang for their buck when it comes to golf equipment. Since golf can be an expensive game to enjoy, players are always looking for ways to stretch their dollar.
On our list of the best golf irons for the money, we take a deeper look at sets that offer premium performance but also offer the best value.
A wonderful place to start for golfers looking to upgrade their golf iron set, our list of the best golf irons for the money offer long distance, low center of gravity, high launch angle, and ball speed to the golfer.
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Last updated on 2021-09-17. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
Table of Contents
Best Golf Irons For The Money In 2021
Here are the best golf irons for the money:
- Best Overall: Lazrus Golf Irons
- Best Value Option: Cleveland Launcher Turbo HB
- Best Distance Option: TaylorMade SIM MAX 2 OS Irons
- Best Golf Irons for Accuracy: TaylorMade M6
- Outstanding Forgiveness: Callaway Rogue X
- Best Luxury Option: Callaway Mavrik
- Best Forgiveness Option: TaylorMade SIM MAX OS
- Best Cavity-Back Option: Wilson Staff D7
Lazrus Golf Irons
Best Overall Irons For The Money
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KEY FEATURES
- Increased swing speed with power for higher launch
- Marvelous mid irons offer distance with improved turf interaction
- Seven-iron starter set for incredibly low price, great for beginners
An up and coming equipment manufacturer, Lazrus Golf Irons, has released interesting, high-value iron sets for the money. The irons offer a wide sole that delivers terrific turf interaction, along with a wide face on each golf club that boosts forgiveness.
The steel shaft irons are solid and provide nice feel, but certainly don’t have the workability of blade irons. These are straightforward clubs that do one job well; lift the ball and get it down the fairway toward the cup.
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Starting with a 4-iron, the Lazrus iron set runs seven clubs deep, stopping at the pitching wedge. You will have to add a few wedges and hybrids with this iron set, but as cheaper set-building foundation sets go, you could do a lot worse.
While these Lazrus golf irons won’t win any performance awards, for super a game-improvement iron they offer a worthwhile alternative for a low price.
Cleveland Launcher Turbo HB
Best Value Option
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KEY FEATURES
- Turbocharged face increases ball speed for high launch and extended length from fairway
- HiBore Crown offers low, deep center of gravity with inviting top line for clear sightline to ball
- Progressive Hollow Shaping allows for gradual, but smooth, transition from hybrid-irons to low irons
From Cleveland Golf, the Launcher Turbo HB, delivers an easy to hit hybrid alternative to golfers who are struggling to get the ball into the air.
The long irons in the set have a hybrid sole and back to provide a smooth launch with excellent turf interaction. The short irons, in contrast, are similar to the type of golf irons you’d find anywhere. They have a cavity-backed design for tall shots that land softly on the green.
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Each iron in the set offers a turbocharged face that is thinner and hotter for more club speed. After impact, the ball carries with high launch, powered mainly by the steel shaft option, although a lightweight graphite shaft option is available.
What stands out about the Launcher Turbo HB Set, or its siblings, the Cleveland Launcher CBX Iron Set is how effortlessly it provides distance with dazzling accuracy. It is difficult to work these golf irons, especially the hybrids, but they provide unmatched consistency in a high value package.
TaylorMade SIM MAX 2 OS Irons
Best Golf Irons for Distance
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KEY FEATURES
- Available in steel or graphite shafts to help boost distance
- Cap back design maximizes distance, forgiveness, and feel
- Oversized head provides more forgiveness on every swing
The latest from TaylorMade is their SIM MAX 2 OS Irons. These clubs are so much fun to play, offering advanced golfers a new way to generate more distance and accuracy with each swing.
The SIM MAX OS 2 iron set comes with several combination options, with most sets starting with a 5-iron. Most of the decisions will come with how many or how few wedges you want as TaylorMade has a pitching wedge, sand wedge, A-wedge, and lob wedge option in the SIM MAX 2 OS mold.
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These golf irons feature the company’s new Cap Back Design. Instead of a cavity behind the face, TaylorMade has added a stainless steel bar that stiffens and strengthens the hitting area. The Cap Back provides golfers with higher launch, longer distance, and crisper contact for better feel.
Another highlight of these golf irons is the oversized head shape. Easily the company’s most forgiving iron, the SIM MAX 2 OS offers tighter shot dispersion that keeps the ball close to where you intended.
Other features worth noting include the ECHO Damping system that reduces vibration for better feel, the Progressive Inverted Cone Technology increases the sweet spot on each iron in a specific location based on the iron’s loft, and finally, the Speed Pocket increases flexibility to the face. Each feature helps boost the appeal and shotmaking ability of these irons.
When you factor in the craftsmanship and quality of the TaylorMade SIM MAX 2 OS Irons, you can’t help but be blown away by their performance and consistency despite being one of the most expensive golf clubs. Great for mid handicappers trying to take the next step, these are one of the best golf irons for the money which can deliver superior gameplay. It’s no wonder why it’s the perfect alternative to Callaway X Hot Irons.
TaylorMade M6
Best Golf Irons for Accuracy
KEY FEATURES
- Speed Bridge stiffens head for exceptional sound and feel with high launch
- Ultra-thin face with smooth top line and leading edge for excellent turf interaction
- Available in Senior, Stiff, and Regular Flex for customized fit for mid to high handicappers
One of the best golf irons for the money on the market today are the TaylorMade M6 Irons. These irons offer an inviting sweet spot, innovative cavity back design, and incredibly long distance with each swing.
The best feature of the M6 iron set is the Speed Bridge. This bar that runs across the back of the iron, attaching the sole to the top line, stiffens the head of the club to provide more muscle directly to the golf ball.
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Other notable features include the Fluted Hosel and 360-degree Undercut that provides enhanced turf interaction. Those two features along with the ultra-thin face creates staggering ball speed for each of the golf clubs in this set.
The M6 set is available in a few different combinations starting with either a 4-or 5-iron and offering up to three wedges.
A wonderfully capable set that is outstanding value and one of the best golf irons for performance, the TaylorMade Golf M6 Irons are an absolute blast to play.
Callaway Rogue X
Outstanding Forgiveness, Long Distance Irons for High Handicappers
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KEY FEATURES
- 360 Face Cup for increased speed across the face for more distance
- Urethane Microspheres offer wonderful feel throughout the swing
- Lightweight feel at address helps create staggering swing speed in mid irons
Callaway Rogue X Irons set offers a broad, inviting sweet spot on each golf club in the collection for max forgiveness and high launch of the golf ball.
What the Rogue set does very well is create distance. The wide face on each golf club is powered with the 360 Face Cup Technology. The innovative design offers a carbon steel body that provides low cg with either steel or graphite shafts.
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The irons feel lighter in your hand, primarily due to the hollow cavity design that is filled with the company’s urethane microspheres. This filling bumps up speed for the ball and creates high MOI for less twisting at impact.
Easily one of the best golf iron sets available to golfers, like its brother the Big Bertha Irons, the Callaway Rogue X iron set is a splendid arrangement of golf clubs to increase distance and improve accuracy.
Callaway Mavrik
Best Luxury Option
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KEY FEATURES
- A.I.-aided design increases flexibility across the face for better forgiveness and distance
- Tungsten-infused weighting lowers and deepens the CG for higher launch
- One of the best golf irons set on market with high quality design and exceptional performance
For golfers that don’t mind spending some cash to improve their game comes the Callaway Mavrik Irons. This golf iron set generates excellent accuracy with a tight shot dispersion on the green for shorter birdie and par putts.
The Mavrik Irons feature Artificial Intelligence-aided design with the 360 Face Cup that adds flexibility to the face for enhanced forgiveness on off-center strikes. These golf iron sets also have tungsten weighting along the sole that boost launch.
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The long irons offer moderate shot height with extended distance. But their muscle doesn’t sacrifice accuracy. On shots over 150 yards, the Mavrik Irons are highly capable of launching tall arcing shots that find the flag.
Sure to lower your scores with improved shotmaking ability, the Callaway Mavrik Irons are first-rate golf clubs that look like forged irons but play like the best golf improvement irons you’ve ever witnessed.
TaylorMade SIM MAX OS
Best Forgiveness Option
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KEY FEATURES
- Speed Pocket delivers maximum flexibility across face for enhanced forgiveness
- Exceptional iron set that delivers outstanding launch with staggering distance
- Incredible turf interaction that works like forged irons
TaylorMade has once again created a masterpiece with their SIM MAX OS set.
Each golf club in this set is crafted with care, delivering magnificent length for advanced golf clubs. This set of irons does not waver from the rough, either as the wide sole produces unreal turf interaction for incredible contact with each swing.
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Although these do not have a graphite shaft option, this set of irons offer a stainless steel option that is straight muscle. Each golf club in this set of irons, like the 7-iron for example, produces a high arc that lands softly on the green with high spin.
These stunning golf clubs have the look and feel of forged irons, but deliver the consistent launch of golf clubs in the improvement categories.
Wilson Staff D7
Best Cavity-Back Option for Mid Handicappers
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KEY FEATURES
- Deeper center of gravity increases launch angle for maximum carry to shots into the green
- Oversized head delivers balance along with forgiveness for crisper contact from golf clubs
- Available in graphite shafts for faster swing speed that adds distance to your game
The final set of golf clubs on our list is the Wilson Staff D7. Although the company makes several worthwhile iron sets, the D7 are available at a low cost and deliver outstanding performance.
Each iron features the company’s patented Progressive Power Holes. Like with pockets behind the face of TaylorMade Irons, the holes of these Wilson golf clubs provide flexibility along the entire face. The holes also balance the face for better accuracy and additional yardage.
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The feel on the Wilson Staff D7 irons is another impressive detail with each iron in this set. At impact, the damped vibration offers a solid feel that grows confidence in the golfer.
The irons start with a 5-iron and offer two wedges, a pitching and gap wedge.
A wonderful set of irons that work great for any mid handicapper, the Wilson Staff D7 set is a top-tier option and one of the great value irons for the money.
What To Look For When Picking The Best Golf Irons For The Money
Inclusions
The inclusions of a golf set deal with the build of the collection. For example, most golf iron sets begin with a 4-or 5-iron because most amateurs like to play with hybrids. By starting with this mid-iron, manufacturers can include additional wedges or create a sparse set that lowers price and minimizes the number of golf clubs.
Another area of inclusion that most golfers need to pay attention to is the number of wedges included in the set. Most sets offer a pitching wedge, but other, more detailed sets, include as many as three wedges for golfers. For beginners and higher handicaps, additional wedges will help lower scores.
Comfort
Every golfer needs to be comfortable with their golf iron set. For advanced golfers, the ability to work shots is vital to posting low scores and that comes from feeling comfort with their clubs.
For high handicap players and beginning golfers, a golf iron set needs to increase the speed and distance of shots, primarily with the help of creating high launch. The more positive results that golf irons provide, the more golfers at this level will feel a sense of confidence and comfort.
Irons that produce pleasing sound and feel also instill confidence for golfers while providing comfort to their game.
Technologies
Innovative technologies can help increase forgiveness, length, and reduce sidespin for better accuracy inside 150 yards.
For golfers with a high handicap, the club’s innovations can produce more repeatable quality shots. Additional length and shot height are two benefits to playing with new golf irons. Cavity-back irons also produce these results for beginning golfers.
Such elements as feel, sound, and turf interaction are also greatly enhanced by well-made golf irons. When purchasing a new set, knowing how the clubs perform with regard to producing the shot height and high-quality speed is a huge advantage.
Material
The material used in a golf iron is vital to its overall performance. From the steel used to create the head to the weight of the shaft, each component plays a vital role in the type of shot the club produces with each swing.
The shaft of the golf iron is also important because stainless steel, although preferred by most golfers, is heavier than graphite. For golfers that need more club speed, a graphite shaft’s reduced weight can help add MPH to the bottom line.
The heavier the material used to create the head, the slower the club will move on the downswing as well.
Forgiveness
Typically, the wider and larger the face of the iron, the more forgiving it is for the golfer. Now, why that may sound simplistic, more times than not, it is true.
An iron’s forgiveness begins with the design of the club’s head. Everything from the sole, perimeter weighting, moment of inertia, zip grooves, top line, and leading edge play a part in how forgiving the club is on each shot.
When a ball impacts the face at a point that is considered off-center, the flexibility of the face works to redirect the golf ball by reducing its sidespin and sending the ball on a straighter path.
How to Hit Golf Irons
Questions and Answers
When do you use an iron?
You can use an iron in three different situations on the course.
The first use is off the tee box. When the fairway is short or narrow, an iron can keep the ball sitting nicely for a second shot, although it may be a longer approach attempt.
A second use for an iron is on the approach shot from the fairway. The most common use of the iron is this scenario. Golfers use a set of irons from inside a distance of 200 yards as they provide better accuracy.
Finally, the third way to use an iron is through chipping as the shallow loft angle helps provide shallow arc and forward roll that offers distance control.
How long do golf irons last?
Golf irons can last up to ten years with proper maintenance, although the golfer can not take advantage of new technologies available to help increase accuracy and distance.
Updating golf irons can also happen if a golfer lowers their handicap to single-digit levels and wants to make the jump to more advanced irons. Most serious golfers prefer to update their set of irons every 3-5 years so they can utilize the latest innovations.
For casual golfers, periodic updates to their golf irons won’t hurt their game necessarily, but could prevent them from fully jumping into working to improve their game.
Where’s the sweet spot on irons?
The sweet spot of irons is on the hitting area, or where the grooves are located on the face of the club. This area produces the best results with golfers experiencing the most distance and speed when the ball connects with the sweet spot area.
On shots that drift toward the toe of the club, the golfer will experience diminished speed and reduced accuracy. The feel of the shot will immediately provide the response that the shot was not struck well. In comparison, the feel and response of a shot struck with the sweet spot offers a clean experience without vibration.
What is a game improvement iron?
A game-improvement iron is designed to help mid and high handicappers gain more consistency for their golf swing. These set of irons typically share similar features across brands such as oversized heads, wide soles, and a larger sweet spot.
Game-improvement irons deliver a shot shape that remains straight without much side spin, so the arc becomes reliable, although without much creativity. For golfers struggling to hit the golf ball with consistency, the game-improvement irons do deliver better shot quality across the board, especially from shorter distances.
Low handicappers want shot-shaping capabilities from their irons, so they prefer blade or forged irons.
How do I clean my golf irons?
To properly clean your irons, you need a soft wire brush, a bucket of lukewarm soapy water, and a towel to dry the club before storage.
The first step is take the brush and remove all impacted mud or dirt from the grooves and crevices of the clubhead. Once the dirt is removed, you can simply dip the head of the club into the water, but do not submerge or leave the club in the water. Instead, just wet the hitting area, grooves, and rear section of the head.
Next, while wet, take the brush and clean the head of the club. Make sure to cover the grooves once more to make sure that they are completely free from any debris. After you completely clean the head, take the towel and remove all moisture from the head.
Again, the biggest mistake golfers can make when cleaning their golf irons is leaving them submerged in water for a long duration. By leaving the hosel and shaft submerged in water, the player runs the risk of the glue that attaches both parts of the club becoming weak and breaking on the course.
Conclusion
On our extensive list of the best golf irons for the money, each set offers golf clubs that work to increase distance, improve accuracy, and offer higher levels of forgiveness.
When looking for the right golf irons for the money to fit your game, price should always play a big factor, but never above the quality and performance of the set.
For golfers who want performance and value from their set, our top choice, the TaylorMade M6 iron set offers premium design and features with unbelievable results on the course.
The M6 set provides mid to low handicappers with advanced game-improvement irons that continue to offer workability and magnificent control.