Equipment
Best irons in golf of 2023: Top overall performers
At GolfWRX, to determine the 2023 best irons, we have compiled an expert panel of fitters to help you find out which of 2023 irons is best for your game. We’re seeing new technology, more technology packed into the cavity of a club, catering toward combo sets, more consistency across the face, game improvement irons that really improve your game, and increased model segmentation against a backdrop of a few models that work well for wide sections of the fitting bell curve.
Ultimately the best way to find your personal iron set is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders—so at GolfWRX, we have done a lot of the work for you.
We are in the era of not just maximizing distance but also minimizing the penalty of common misses for each player — this applies to irons just as much as it does with any other club in the bag. This is why, now more than ever, custom fitting is essential to help you see results on every swing you make.
We want to give you the tools and information to go out and find what works best for you by offering recommendations for your individual iron set wants and needs with insight and feedback from the people who work every single day to help golfers get peak performance out of their equipment.
Best irons of 2023: How we did it
Before starting the process of building our best iron survey, we reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the endless number of iron options available to golfers. The consensus was clear—the best fitters in the world see all the options available in the marketplace, analyze their performance traits, and pull from that internal database of knowledge and experience like a supercomputer when they are working with a golfer.
It’s essentially a huge decision tree derived from experience and boiled down to a starting point of options—and it has nothing to do with a handicap!
Modern iron sets are designed into player categories that overlap the outdated “what’s your handicap?” model, and at GolfWRX we believe it was important to go beyond handicap and ask specific questions about the most crucial performance elements fitters are looking at to help golfers find the best set of irons for them. From overall performance to shotmaking, to helping players achieve better trajectories and speed, we strived to ask the right questions.
These are the best iron categories we have developed to help you the reader determine what rankings are most important for your swing and game.
Best irons of 2023: The categories
- Overall performance
- Easiest to launch
- Pure enjoyment
- Shotmakers
- Most technology-packed
- Best blade
Best irons of 2023: Meet the fitters
- Nick Sherburne: Founder, Club Champion
- Clare Cornelius: Fitter, Cool Clubs
- Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
- Kirk Oguri: PGA Professional/ Club Specialist, Pete’s Golf
- Scott Felix: Owner, Felix Club Works
- Mark Knapp: Fitter, Carls Golfland
- Ryan Johnson: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
- Brad Coffield: Fitter Carl’s Golfland
- Matthew Sim: Director of Operations, Modern Golf
- Scott Sikorski: Fitter, Club Champion
- Ryan Grimes: Fitter, Club Champion
- Ben Giunta: Owner, The Tour Van
- Alex Dice: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
- Gus Alzate: Fitter, True Spec Golf
- Marc Roybal: Fitter, True Spec Golf
- Carmen Corvino: Fitter, True Spec Golf
- Bobby Ennis: Fitter, Club Champion
- Dane Byers: Fitter, Club Champion
- Blake Smith: Fitter, True Spec Golf
- Shaun Fagan: Fitter, True Spec Golf
- Mark Hymerling: Fitter, Club Champion
- Joey Simon: Fitter, Club Champion
- Dean Fry: Fitter, TXG
- Jim Yenser: Fitter, Club Champion
- Dan Palmisaro: Fitter, Club Champion
- Mike Martysiewicz: Director of Club Building & Fitting, TXG
- Rob Gallagher: Fitter, Club Champion
- Alex Praeger: Fitter, Club Champion
- Nick Waterworth, Fitter, Haggin Oaks
2023 Best irons: Top overall performers
This category is the perfect place to start if you’re not quite sure what you are looking for. Distance? Check. Forgiveness? Check. Sleek looks? Check. The top five in the “best irons overall” category are perfect for those golfers who appreciate technology and want something that is going to give them shot options.
Srixon ZX5 Mk II
Their story: MainFrame v2 was developed with an Automated Intelligence process, flex-maximizing variable thickness pattern of grooves, channels, and cavities carefully milled into the backside of Z ZX5 iron faces for high ball speeds. Not only does MainFrame boost COR, but it also repositions mass away from the face and into the toe and sole for a lower CG for easier launch, more consistency, and forgiveness.
From the fitters:
- “From Z585 to ZX5 was a huge bump in performance, and this one picks up where ZX5 left off. It fits such a wide array of golfers — it looks good enough a mid-low single digit will play it, and the guy who is a 12-15 can play it. Awesome iron.”
- “I’m a big believer in the V-Sole. For high-speed guys who want a little forgiveness and are steep, it just doesn’t stick in the ground. Super soft and high launching. Not a ton of offset. It’s also been a good fit for moderate to high handicappers.”
- “We’ve fit a scary amount of these. They’ve refined the sole over previous generations so it works for a variety of attack angles. Good ball speeds. Players still aren’t look at this club as much as they should be. Great to combo with the ZX7 Mk II.”
- “Like the old 745 in feel. I find the V-sole a little more prominent. They’ve cleaned up the shaping. The best combo iron with ZX7. Not as clickly as the previous generation. The PureFrame in the back has made a huge difference with the sound. Launches high with a ton of control.”
For more photos/info, read our launch piece.
Ping G430
Their story: Billed as Ping’s “longest iron ever”, the G430 irons combine a lower CG with stronger, custom- engineered lofts and a thinner face that delivers up to 2 more mph of ball speed, per the company. At the heart of the new addition is the PurFlex cavity badge, an innovation which features seven flex zones that allow more free bending in design to increase ball speed across the face. In combination with a lower CG, the badge aims to contribute to the solid feel and pleasing impact sound.
From the fitters:
- “Hyper 17-5 face adding speed, along with a new badge design to help with additional speed and forgiveness, makes this iron a home run.”
- “They continue to make this iron look and feel better. The only issue I had with G425 in comparison with other distance irons, it just went shorter. With a little bit of a bump in loft this year, distance-wise, it’s right there with anything else. And it doesn’t look like a golfer that’s built for a 20-handicap. It looks really good at setup with the way they’re able to hide offset and keep a thin topline.”
- “It’s awesome. We told Ping you could probably repaint the G425, it was performing so well. They said the G430 would be better and they did. I think G430 is the line of the year. They’ve done everything right. Feels good, looks good. Goes a little higher and a little straighter. The iron does everything G425 did but a little bit better. They’ve nailed it.”
- “These are hands down the most eye-appealing game improvement iron on the market. The smaller, compact shape with the added forgiveness is great for the higher handicap players.”
- “G430 improves upon the already great G425 in every way. Higher, straighter and farther, and also better sounding and feeling.”
For more photos/info, read our launch piece.
Callaway Paradym
Their story: Industry-leading A.I. face technology is applied to a high-strength Forged 455 Face, creating Callaway’s most powerful forged iron face ever. Each face is uniquely optimized for more speed, higher launch, and increased spin consistency.The all-new Hollow Body design features Speed Frame construction for added stiffness to the body and support for the high-strength Forged 455 Face Cup. This unique construction is the catalyst that stabilizes a thinner face in design for incredibly fast ball speeds.
From the fitters:
- “Every time they come out with a new iron, I think ‘this is the time performance gets flat. They aren’t going to be able to beat what they did.’ It is absolutely incredible. The best iron I’ve ever seen performance-wise. Ball speed numbers are crazy. I’ve had players picking up 30 yards with a 7-iron. Looks awesome. Feels great. Callaway continues to amaze me.”
- “These go forever. I’ve had a lot of success — if you guy who flips at it or doesn’t lean the shaft enough to get dynamic loft. You give him Paradym, and he’s got some giddy up. They just flat out go forever. It’s an interesting iron sitting between game improvement and players iron”
- “Super strong lofted. Super clean. Something that launches high and spin.”
- “Could be X too. Again the AI designed face, hollow body construction, along with a sexy look makes these irons awesome.”
- “Lots of forgiveness in a small great looking golf club. Fantastic distance and feel.”
For more photos/info, read our launch piece.
TaylorMade P790
Their story: SpeedFoam, which was the showpiece of the original (2017) P790 line gets an upgrade in the 2021 edition. Dubbed SpeedFoam Air, the ultralight urethane foam is 69 percent less dense than the 2019 iteration. As is the formula in golf club design, saving weight in one area allows engineers to relocate it to another to accomplish specific aims. In this case, it’s to aid launch. And that’s just what the folks at TM have done, moving the CG lower in the heads of P790 irons to the tune of an average of .5 millimeters.
From the fitters:
- “This is one of our most sought-out/asked-about irons. A nice, clean look, but you’re still getting some forgiveness. I’d tell TaylorMade to keep doing what you’re doing.”
- “High single digit, low double digit who is looking for as much help as possible, this is a great club. Ball speed. Distance. One of the best offerings year in and year out.”
- “It fits a wide range of players…all the way up to 20-plus handicaps. Ball speed on off-center hits is tremendous. It’s not overly high or low launching. Hot face with spin rates in a happy medium. One of the easiest fits for a lot of players.”
- “A great long iron, but great all the way through for a player who wants a little help all the way through”
- “This series is a modern classic. Long-standing hollow-bodied performance. They’ve continued to improve this club. SpeedFoam Air is that much better. Fits a wide range of players. The perfect iron for many players. TaylorMade just needs to keep riding the wave.”
For more photos/info, read our launch piece.
Srixon ZX7 Mk II
Their story: The players iron ZX7 Mk II features PureFrame: an 80-percent thicker portion of 1020 carbon steel forged behind the sweet spot in the body of the iron for soft-yet-solid-feeling impact. Also significant to the design: A refined Tour V.T. Sole Proprietary sole widths, bounce angles, and notches in the heel and toe of the club aid clean contact from a variety of lies.
From the fitters:
- “While it’s not the best metric, these are the most played irons among our fitters”
- “Srixon has been the “sleeper” iron company for a number of years now, but I think the secret is out. The ZX7 Mk II fit many different player types, from tour pro to mid-handicapper. The forging is very soft and forgiving, and the iron is very workable for the player with more ability. They didn’t change the shape from ZX7 to Mk II, and I think that’s a great thing.”
- “Slight refinement here. A little better look and feel. Players iron with distance. Gain a bit of ball speed and distance but still have enough spin to control the golf ball.”
- “They did a really good job of not screwing up a good thing. ZX7 was fantastic. It seemed like 50 percent of the non-contract guys in pro golf played that iron. It continues to give very consistent numbers. The better player wants a consistent number. They need to know it’s going to go that distance. This club does that very well.”
- “Most forgiving players iron. V-Sole design gives significantly better turf interaction compared to a traditional sole.”
- “This is a great players iron that is great on its own or easily blended with the ZX5 in the long irons or the blades in the short irons for a great combo set.”
For more photos/info, read our launch piece.
- LIKE98
- LEGIT19
- WOW9
- LOL10
- IDHT4
- FLOP5
- OB3
- SHANK23
Equipment
Spotted: LA Golf Malibu X putter with a new face insert
In its short history, LA Golf is well-known for pushing the limits of design with carbon fiber. Its putter heads are made from forged carbon in a bid to remove as much mass as possible from the center of the putter head, dial in the feel, and reduce harsh vibration. High-density weights are placed far out on the perimeter to increase MOI and make the head as stable as possible on mishits.
LA Golf usually uses 303 stainless steel for the face with Descending Loft Technology and horizontal grooves to keep putt launch and spin consistent. A stainless steel face also helps give the putter a little more feel and a sound at impact that golfers are used to. However, we spotted a new face on an LA Golf Malibu X mallet at the 2024 Cognizant Open this week that looks to be a little more of a copper color. LA Golf isn’t giving out any details just yet, but if it is a type of copper alloy, it might offer a slightly softer feel or reduced sound at impact.
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Cognizant Classic
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Equipment
Adidas launches complete redesign of its flagship footwear: Tour360 24
Adidas has today unveiled the complete redesign of its premium flagship footwear to introduce Tour360 24.
The newest chapter is designed to elevate every touchpoint for the foot to help with traction, stability and comfort to give golfers everything they need to perform their best on the course.
“For Tour360 24, our objective was to take key learnings from nearly 20 years of Tour360 development to enhance the performance of the shoe from the inside out. We wanted to capture that feeling of confidence that comes when someone puts their foot into the shoe for the first time and gets excited to head to the first tee. The shoe features the classic signature look, but golfers will notice a difference in the way this one feels the minute they put them on.” – Masun Denison, global footwear director, Adidas Golf
Adidas focused on three key areas with the new Tour360 24:
Fit
The new Tour360 24 brings key technologies inside the shoe so that the footwear fits the right way. To help give golfers a better fit, adidas is introducing:
- Insite 2.0 Sockliner – Modified for Tour360 24, this insole features updated shaping in the arch and heel to provide improved fit and stability.
- Internal 360Wrap – Adidas included an internal fit sleeve on the sides of the tongue along with the new Torsion Bridge in the midsole that when combined gives golfers a feeling of 360 support throughout the swing.
- Performance Last – Tour360 24 is built on adidas’ performance last to help ensure fit consistency across other performance models in the range. Men’s models of Tour360 24 will be offered in both medium and wide widths while the women’s model will be offered in medium width only.
Performance
Perhaps one of the most critical pieces for golfers, the adidas team designed the new footwear specifically with performance in mind. Key features include:
- Torsion Bridge – Comprised of a more rigid top plate and flexible bottom plate, this new TPU Torsion Bridge drives maximum stability across the mid and forefoot for where golfers need it most, especially as they load and unload power through the swing. It also sits lower to the ground to help conform to uneven lies and surfaces.
- Jet Boost/Lightstrike – For the first time in golf, adidas is using Jet Boost in the heel, which fuses smaller, firmer energy capsules together to provide the ultimate blend of stability and comfort. When combined with Lightstrike in the forefoot, golfers will get the most out of cushioning and a feeling of stability throughout the swing.
- Replaceable ThinTech 7-spike outsole – Designed for optimal traction the TPU outsole features replaceable spikes where golfers need them most. adidas also included flex grooves in the secondary traction, finished with high gloss to help reduce clogging in the footwear. adidas also placed a spike closer to the toe to allow for better toe-off through the swing to help generate additional power from the ground.
Durability
Golfers find themselves in a variety of conditions as they play, so adidas included some key features to go along with the premium leather and microfiber materials to help the shoes last from season to season:
- ‘T-Shape’ suede microfiber heel – This new three-piece construction combines a soft, anti-abrasive sandwiched textile that runs from the center heel to the half collar to help eliminate wear and tear over time while enhancing overall comfort.
- Waterproof leather upper – This premium, soft, waterproof leather upper is designed for long-term durability and protection in wet conditions so that golfers get the protection they need.
What Tour pros are saying
Collin Morikawa
“The first time I tried the prototypes for the Tour360 24 I was amazed with how they felt. Having footwear that I can trust and feel confident in is such an important piece of my game and this new Tour360 checks all the boxes.”
Hinako Shibuno
“Tour360 24 combines everything golfers will need in a golf shoe when they step on the course. I continue to be impressed with how much stability and traction this model provides, all while in such a clean and iconic silhouette.”
Nick Taylor
“In my first win as a professional in 2014, I was wearing the Tour360s. Now, nearly 10 years later, I wore the new Tour360 24 during my most recent win in Phoenix. While the technology has certainly improved over the past 10 years, that iconic feel of the Tour360 is still the same. It’s that feeling I know all golfers will appreciate when they play in this new footwear.”
BOA Model
As part of the Tour360 24 range, adidas is introducing a new BOA model for men and women to provide another option for improved fit and performance. Hidden within the upper of the footwear, adidas collaborated with the BOA Technology team to create a shell pattern fit
system that works in conjunction with the lining of the leather upper in design to enhance overall fit and function.
Featuring the micro-adjustable Li2 dial, the system sits underneath a zipper shroud in the upper for a premium and clean aesthetic. Wrapping around the midfoot, golfers will feel even more locked-in as the BOA Li2 dial provides a customized fit.
Availability
The new footwear will come in both laced and BOA models for men and women and will be available on adidas.com, the adidas app and at select retailers beginning Thursday, February 29.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Whats in the Bag
Anthony Kim WITB 2024 (February)
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist TSR2+ (13 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (2), Titleist T100 (4), Titleist 620 MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (4-PW)
- Kim may alter his iron blend. We’ll confirm what he puts in play when competition begins.
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-12F, 54-10S, 58-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron T22 Teryllium Newport 2 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Ball: Titleist Pro V1 or Pro V1x
- Kim was testing both golf balls. We’ll confirm what he puts in play.
Featured image credit to Mike McAllister of LIV Golf on Twitter.
- LIKE18
- LEGIT1
- WOW1
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP1
- OB0
- SHANK0
-
Opinion & Analysis1 week ago
The Wedge Guy: Golf mastery begins with your wedge game
-
Accessory Reviews2 weeks ago
Insider photos from Tiger Woods’ launch event for his new “Sun Day Red” apparel line
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
Brandel Chamblee outlines what his tough road back to PGA Tour would look like for LIV pros
-
19th Hole2 days ago
This Rory McIlroy post-round ‘The Match’ moment is going viral…but all is likely not what it seems
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Tiger Woods opts for veteran caddie to loop for him this week at Riviera
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
6-time Euro Tour champ says Patrick Cantlay ‘should be nailed with a huge fine’ over Genesis incident
-
19th Hole2 days ago
Anthony Kim’s speculated LIV Golf sign-on fee may surprise you
-
19th Hole1 week ago
‘Yuck’ – Cringe driving range mansplaining incident towards PGA pro goes viral