- Updated: January 4, 2023
Best Game Improvement Irons 2023
I’ve tested and tried a good number of game improvement irons and concluded that the TaylorMade Stealth Iron Set is the best for providing more ball speed, more distance, and maximum forgiveness.
In this unbiased and candid review, I’ll evaluate a couple of the best improvement irons in today’s competitive market. If you’re a newbie in the game of golf and you struggle with getting the best iron shot, keep reading to learn more.
Furthermore, if you wish to find the perfect irons with practical qualities such as increased distance, playability, and forgiveness, you’re in the right place.
1 |  OUR TOP PICK | TaylorMade Stealth Iron Set |
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2 |  ALTERNATIVE | Callaway Rogue ST Max Iron Set |
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3 |  ALTERNATIVE 2 | Cobra Radspeed Iron Set |
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The TaylorMade Stealth Iron set is, without a doubt, the best game improvement irons you’ll ever come across. Not only do they shape shots a lot better than average improvement irons, but they also provide great distance and whip up the softest draw.
Today’s competitive market is full of irons of different kinds. There are those brands that claim to offer players distance irons with the cleanest shots, value, ball speed, and so on. These diversified iron categories make it somewhat challenging to find the perfect one that meets your individual golfing needs.
Lucky for you, we’ve done all the testing and research, so you won’t have to. This guide will explore incredible improvement clubs that will enhance your skills and boost your confidence.
THE 10 BEST GAME IMPROVEMENT IRONS OF 2023
- TaylorMade Stealth Iron Set (Best Overall)
- Callaway Rogue ST Max Iron Set (Best for Higher-Flying Shots)
- Cobra Radspeed Iron Set (Best for Low Handicappers)
- Cleveland Launcher XL Iron Set (Best for Fat Shots)
- Ping G425 Iron Set (Most Forgiveness on Toe and Heel Misses)
- Mizuno JPX 921 Hot Metal Iron Set (Best for Distance and Speed)
- TaylorMade P790 Iron Set (Best Premium)
- Titleist T300 Iron Set (Best Feel)
- Wilson Staff D9 Iron Set (Biggest Sweet Spot)
- PXG 0311 P GEN5 Iron Set (Best Design)
1. TaylorMade Stealth Iron Set (Best Overall)
The Stealth Irons is the newest offering from the TaylorMade line of game improvement irons. If you’re a high handicapper who needs more forgiveness and distance in your game, the TaylorMade Stealth iron set is a worthy consideration.
When I first played with these irons, I couldn’t believe just how good they were. I was finally able to hit a few extra yards, which is a huge step up from my current irons. The Stealth irons gave a
In addition to promising additional and consistent yardage, these hollow-body TaylorMade irons are also designed to give you a formidable distance. During testing, I hit longer shots with better precision than before. This was the case even when I hit close to the toe and the club’s heel.
The iron set’s rear badge design features a ‘cap’ that contains a layer of elastomer which helps soften vibration in addition to giving the golf irons a distinctive solid feel.
The Inverted Cone Technology stretches out the sweet spot around the tungsten toe, which most newbie golfers miss. After testing these irons, it’s clear that they’re primarily suited for boosting distance and ball speed for slow swinging players.
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2. Callaway Rogue ST Max Iron Set (Best for Higher-Flying Shots)
Callaway believes that the new Rogue ST MAX is their longest iron ever. Its construction aims to offer the average golfer faster ball speeds and consistent higher flying shots.
The Callaway Rogue ST MAX irons feature a vintage Callaway chrome design complete with a thick, black cap on the tungsten weighting’s rear covering.
The 62 grams of high-density tungsten (which is a 260% upgrade over the previous Mavrik iron model) is said to offer better launch conditions and optimize ball speed across the face. The internal tungsten weight is amplified by the Urethane Microspheres, improving the overall feel. I love how I could feel the ball springing from the clubface. It’s the stability of the club head that maintains straighter flights.
The ST MAX irons have the most powerful lofts in the line of Rogue ST iron sets. I found the Callaway Rogue ST MAX irons to be super forgiving in every strike. I achieved a standard height of 78 feet, which is not that bad. It was also lovely to see that they didn’t go left inside or outside throughout my testing. They did their best to stop my ball from leaking to the right, which can be a tremendous aid for lots of golfers.
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3. Cobra Radspeed Iron Set (Best for Low Handicappers)
Cobra is a brand that specializes in making some of the best performing clubs. Aimed for the low handicappers, the cavity back Cobra Radspeed iron set is fitted with a high moment of inertia (MOI) that generates the level of ball speed expected of a Radspeed iron.
The 3D-printed medallion on the rear of the Cobra Radspeed irons contributes to the irons’ great feel and unique design. The carbon fiber strip above the topline helps to save a good amount of weight that further helps to improve spin and launch numbers, in addition to lowering the club’s center of gravity.
These relatively longer irons from Callaway are sure to amp up both ball speed and distance. They also feature an elevated sole, so they perform exceptionally well from the shorter and mid irons to generate plenty of launches.
When it comes to forgiveness, however, the Radspeed irons don’t fit the bill. The blade length and head shape have a lot to do with that. The relatively short blades hinder consistent ball contact, limiting the distance and speed you can fully unlock from these irons.
The mid handicappers will generally appreciate the exceptional turf interaction, while the high handicappers will get the most of this club’s consistency and accuracy.
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4. Cleveland Launcher XL Halo Iron Set (Best for Fat Shots)
The launch of the new fairway woods and Launcher XL drivers is the biggest highlight of the Cleveland Golf lineup so far.
One field where the Cleveland brand has excelled tremendously is the production of hollow-body irons, more specifically hybrid irons. The Cleveland Launcher XL Halo irons set is the newest iteration of the hybrid iron category. These clubs are poised to make your game more enjoyable by promoting more consistent strikes. And by the way, the ‘Halo’ stands for High Angle Lift Off.
The XL Head construction offers the highest moment of inertia in a Cleveland=made hybrid iron (a whopping 17% increase from the previous generation). This helps to produce a high launch and enhance forgiveness.
The face of the XL Halo irons is developed via MainFrame artificial intelligence, which helps to maximize ball speed and COR (Coefficient of Restitution) and further provoke more distance.
The long irons are fitted with three gliderails designed to promote exceptional turf interaction. For the mid to short irons, you’ll find a similar V-Shaped Sole like the XL irons that cuts across the turf for better contact, even on extreme fat shots.
These hybrid golf clubs from Cleveland feature a HiBore Crown Step that increases the launch and drops the center of gravity.
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5. Ping G425 Iron Set (Most Forgiveness on Toe and Heel Misses)
The PING G425 iron set features a VFT (variable face thickness) with a metal-wood-style design that’s engineered to supply the average player with maximum forgiveness, high golf ball flight, immense shot stopping power, and enhanced ball speeds.
While creating a fresh face construction, PING created a solid head which sets a new forgiveness standard for an iron of its size. The G425 has a 3% MOI increase from the previous G410 model due to the mass savings from the state-of-the-art face geometry. The increased moment of inertia helps tighten dispersion and expand the perimeter weighting.
The G425 irons, compared to their predecessor, feature an Arccos Smart Caddie Grip to analyze and record each shot. They also feature a speed-generating clubface, a shorter blade, and perimeter weighting for superior forgiveness. This is remarkable progress when you consider that the PING G425 irons were released just 2 years after the G410.
The stainless steel Hyper 17-4 clubface generates the fastest ball speeds in the G-family. They also help to produce high flying shots for maximum carry distance. If you wish to solidify your iron loft, the Power Spec fitting feature is just for you.
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6. Mizuno JPX 921 Hot Metal Iron Set (Best for Distance and Speed)
The Mizuno JPX 921 hot metal iron set is made of a one-of-a-kind metal known as Chromoly (a combination of molybdenum and chrome) that highly impacts its soft feel. This eccentric alloy smooths out full-swing and off-center strikes. The JPX 921 also features a toe bias that gives the irons a modest fade flight.
The thick sole around the toe and heel allows for extra forgiveness and added flex, especially on dead-center strikes.
If you manage to hit the sweet spot, the Mizuno JPX 921 will be super forgiving. The stable frame behind the face combined with the large head size generates an exorbitant moment of inertia that helps minimize the twist on all your off-center shots. The clubface has strategic thinness around the sweet spot to push your maximum distances, especially in the long irons. With that said, you may need to be super accurate upon impact with the JPX irons.
I used to average approximately 159 yards with my 5-irons. However, upon testing the JPX 921 Hot Metal, I got max whopping distances of up to 164. While these irons may not be the best for beginners, they will improve a high handicapper’s overall performance.
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7. TaylorMade P790 Iron Set (Best Premium)
The upgraded version of the TaylorMade P790 iron set hit the markets in 2019. This game-changing iron set from TaylorMade features a fresh and clean multi-material design. The iron was redesigned to have a 7% thinner face to boost the Coefficient of Restitution. There was also a 15% increase in tungsten weight to pave the way for a deeper COG.
Fast forward to 2023, and you’ll notice a huge evolution in the P790 iron set from TaylorMade. The SpeedFoam Air technology upgrade within the iron’s hollow body construction features an ultra-light foam for extra weight savings. The redistributed mass in the lower cavity paves the way for even better launch conditions.
The highly responsive 1.5mm L-face with forged 4140 steel combined with a redesigned hollow body construction promotes a superior trampoline effect with more distance and faster ball speeds while still maintaining that exceptional feel. The increased tungsten weighting promotes more forgiveness and stability in the P790 irons upon impact.
The all-new ‘Thru-Slot Speed Pocket’ technology provides increased flexibility on the face while maintaining ball distance and speed on low face strikes. All these features add up to provide golfers of all skill sets more forgiveness and distance.
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8. Titleist T300 Iron Set (Best for Feel)
Titleist markets the T300 irons as the ultimate improvement iron within the T-series. They’re cavity back irons fitted with a polymer insert on the rear that resembles a dial. The inserts are used mostly in the long irons to dampen vibrations and rarely in the short ones.
High handicappers will find the Titleist T300 irons very forgiving. They’re designed for distance with the strongest lofts to accommodate players with average to fast swing speeds.
If you’re new to golf, The T300s may suit you better. This set is a forgiving, long-distance, and low spin set that’s just right for golfers kicking off their golfing journey. The Titleist T300s are mostly aimed at high handicap players. They’re a lot easier to hit than the T200 irons.
The advanced Max Impact Technology creates faster, more consistent ball speeds throughout the clubface. The consistent speeds between the on and off-center hits encourage more yardages. Upon impact, this convenient technology helps spring the ball off the face, regardless of where it’s struck.
The improved polymer core in the T300 irons helps optimize the club’s mass efficiency and feel upon impact. Helping give you better feedback and extra ball speed.
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9. Wilson Staff D9 Iron Set (Biggest Sweet Spot)
When I finally got my hands on the Wilson D9 iron set, I couldn’t wait to try it out on the golf course and on the launch monitor. Let me say I wasn’t disappointed by the results.
Wilson has followed the example of brands like Callaway by using what they term the ‘generative computer design’ process to manufacture their clubs. Their computer modeling software helps to generate multiple designs with distinctive variations to find the most effective makeup and shape.
The Wison D9 features a welcoming and friendly look. The D9 iron design is a lot sleeker compared to its predecessor, the D7 model. As I expected from a game improvement iron of this magnitude, Wilson has designed strong and nicer lofts to give you extra distance by utilizing the limited center of gravity for longer and higher ball flights.
The D9s excel in forgiveness. The generous sweet spot gives you a higher margin of error that should hinder you from digging into the turf on mostly heavy strikes.
Among the weaker aspects of the Wilson D9 irons is its workability. This was the case, especially with the shorter irons.
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10. PXG 0311 P GEN5 Iron Set (Best Design)
On to our final selection: The PXG 0311 P GEN5 iron set. The looks and feel of this remarkable set look a lot similar to the GEN4 iron set, which is actually a good thing. They’re not too flashy but still manage to turn heads.
The GEN5 irons from PXG made it relatively easy to get my shots airborne. When you hit the sweet spot, you’ll be highly rewarded with the best ball flight for each of your swings. This extends to the landing, carry, direction, and trajectory.
PXG irons tend to be costlier than their competitors. This is largely due to their complex forging process. The head of the GEN5, for example, gets pressed into shape at least 5 times. This requires costly toolings for every iron in all the three new sets (that’s about 45 separate toolings for the 0311 P GEN5 iron set).
An awesome feature about the P GEN5 irons is the extra weight on the rear of the face’s center that can be switched to either heavier or lighter setups all through the fitting process. Also, the ultra-thin steel face saves up weight that could help COG and MOI positioning in addition to increasing ball speeds.
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WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING GAME IMPROVEMENT IRONS
Looks
Your desired look in a game improvement iron matters a lot when it comes to instilling confidence in the greens. As you may have noticed, all these clubs look a lot different on the rack and at the address as well.
It’s important that you pick a game improvement club that meets your standards and gives you a reason to look forward to stepping into the course every day and playing your best game.
While you may be tempted to purchase the ‘hottest’ club in the market, focus solely on what appeals to you and what may work for you.
Sound/Feel
As subjective a factor as it may be, it’s important that you consider how an improvement iron feels in your hands. Would you want it to exhibit a powerful feel off the face, or do you prefer it retains a reasonable level of control and workability?
Furthermore, how would you like them to sound upon impact? Muted or clicky? A good way to find out your preferred sound or feel is by testing a series of game improvement clubs and determining what appeals to you.
You could, alternatively, opt for scrupulous custom-fitting from a recognized seller around your area.
Price
This is one of the most important factors to consider. The majority of the models above have varying price points; some are expensive, while some are affordable. Either way, there’s bound to be something for everyone.
Before you decide to pull the trigger on your club purchase, ensure you understand the difference between value and cost.
Most of the irons on this list and beyond offer remarkable value and breathtaking performance. When you buy the best irons for your game without breaking the bank, you achieve two crucial goals that will allow you to redistribute your funds to other facets of your golf equipment.
Clubhead Size
The size of the clubhead needs to be larger in comparison to a ‘blade.’ The added size leaves more room for inaccuracies. Even in moments when you miss the sweet spot, you may still achieve a relatively decent shot.
If you struggle with getting the right contact and swing, a large clubhead size will give you the confidence to take the shot anyway. It will be a boost for you, knowing that each shot won’t be a total disaster.
Even the most experienced golfers won’t always get a direct hit. A larger sweet spot ensures that you get more forgiveness.
Shaft Flex
EThe bend or flex of the shaft is mostly dependent on your swing speed. Golfers with little to no experience may require a ton of technical input in this regard.
The softer flex provides this fully by limiting how hard you hit it. On average, game improvement clubs come fully fitted with a soft flex shaft. The moment you become more confident in your swings, you have the option of changing your shafts later on. Here are some pointers to getting a suitable shaft flex for your short and long irons:
- For swing speeds between 80 to 90 mph, go for an S flex.
- If you have a swing speed between 70 and 80mph, settle for an R flex.
- For swing speeds of between 60 and 70 mph, settle for an A flex.
- An L flex is perfect for swing speeds below 60 mph.
Head Weighting
Seek out the iron’s perimeter weighting. On average, a game improvement iron features a cavity back with a hollow body construction behind the sweet spot. The extra weight is strategically redistributed all around the clubface’s perimeter.
On impact, this feature should give it that stabilizing effect. Whenever you toe or heel the shot, the head weighting design is sure to prevent or minimize the clubface rotation. This should ultimately lead to a minimally drastic slice or hook.
Distance Vs. Forgiveness
There are different types of game improvement clubs that either offer more forgiveness or distance. Other than the Taylormade Stealth irons, it’s somewhat impossible to find a club that carefully incorporates both distance and forgiveness in equal measure. Why? Equipment makers have their own club designs; it’s up to you to find a set that utilizes either distance or forgiveness.
An iron that promises forgiveness typically has wider soles all through the bottom of the club, complete with a perimeter weighting that evens out the club head. Alternatively, an iron that focuses on distances usually has a deeper and lower COG (center of gravity) to boost the launch angle for improved carry.
Conclusion
In all its glory, Golf is meant to be an enjoyable, fun-filled game. If you’re not feeling the fun and positive energy from any of your games, I strongly advise you to put aside your current irons for the stainless steel Taylormade Stealth irons.
Based on extensive research and careful testing, I do not doubt that the Taylormade stealth irons are the best game improvement iron set on this list.
If you want an iron that carefully balances distance and forgiveness, look no further than the Taylormade Stealth irons. Although the price point might be intimidating, they’re worth the investment!
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About The Author
Writers of Independent Golf Reviews
Independent Golf Reviews has tested and reviewed 1000+ golf products over the past 10 years. We use our experience and expertise to give golfers an unbiased insight on the market.
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