Best players’ distance irons
This is arguably the most popular iron category among amateur players, offering distance in a refined but playable package. This selection covers a wide portion of the current market, although we acknowledge that some of these models have been around for a while and may well be reaching the end of their shelf life. With Ping’s i500 iron no longer available at retail, no model from this brand was included here.
Looks
All these irons look fantastic in the bag, with the Taylormade P790 and Honma TR20 P arguably having the most shelf appeal. The largest irons behind the ball at address are the Callaway Apex 21, Taylormade P790 and Cobra King Forged Tec – ideal for those golfers who want a bit more metal behind the ball to inspire confidence. For golfers who prefer a more compact profile, the Titleist T200 and Mizuno JPX921 Forged really stand out. The Srixon ZX5 is a greatlooking iron, but because of the fact the heel pops out behind the topline on the long-irons, the JPX921 Forged just pips it for us. It is compact, elegant, traditional in terms of shape and just stunning from every angle.
GM pick: Mizuno JPX921 Forged
Feel/sound
This always comes down to personal preference. If you want something that feels hot off the face, the Taylormade P790 is the standout choice with balls seemingly coming off like a rocket, although the hollow Cobra King Forged Tec wasn’t far behind. The Titleist T200 and Honma TR20 P also produce a powerful, more metallic sound, whereas the Srixon ZX5 and Mizuno JPX921 Forged offer up a softer, quieter sensation at impact. For us, the Callaway Apex produced the perfect blend of everything – it felt lively but didn’t sound harsh or clicky. It was an
“EXTRA DISTANCE IS NICE TO HAVE, BUT IS IT CONSISTENT AND DOES IT CREATE GAPPING ISSUES?” Joel Tadman, GM technical editor
absolute joy on all the senses and left us longing to hit another shot.
GM pick: Callaway Apex 21
Distance
The lofts play a big part here, and while they’re all slightly different, they also all hover around the 30° mark in the 7-iron. Unsurprisingly, it was the irons with the strongest lofts that propelled the ball the furthest, with the Cobra King Forged Tec achieving the longest average carry distance, closely followed by the Taylormade P790. The Titleist T200 and Srixon ZX5 certainly punched above their weight, though, achieving impressive distance despite being slightly more traditional in loft. But the Cobra iron was the longest on test for us.
GM pick: Cobra King Forged Tec
Forgiveness
All these irons are surprisingly stable given their size, but in terms of consistency of distance, the Mizuno JPX921 Forged unquestionably stood out. It was incredibly consistent – the difference in distance between our longest and shortest shots hit with the 7-iron on the launch monitor was just four yards, with the next best being the Callaway Apex at seven yards. This included low and high strikes, as well as those from heel and toe. It’s reassuring to know that even if you slightly mis-strike your shot with the Mizuno JPX921 Forged iron, you’re still likely to find the putting surface.
GM pick: Mizuno JPX921 Forged
Value
The RRP of the Cobra set works out to just under £130 per club, which represents excellent value for money given the performance on offer. It looks like a blade with the hollow head, but performs like a distance iron with speed and stability. It also comes in the One Length option for consistency of set-up and includes Arccos sensors so you can track performance. This enhances the value for money even further and makes it the standout choice in this category.
GM pick: Cobra King Forged Tec