It wasn’t that long ago when using a hybrid on the golf course was shunned by practically every weekend golfer, the purists’.
A set of irons is typically one of the most important investments for any golfers. Still, the irons are also notorious for being the more challenging clubs to use for beginners and high-handicappers.
Getting an iron set can be a huge dilemma for any high-handicappers: Get a beginner-friendly one. And you might outgrow the set as you develop as a player, making it an obsolete investment.
On the other hand, getting a ‘pro’ iron set is a long-term investment, and you might not be able to grow since it is too difficult for you.
It is why we create this buying guide to discuss the best iron sets for high handicappers, where we will review the Top 10 best iron sets for high-handicappers：
- Srixon Z585 Irons
- Mizuno MP20 Golf Iron HMB
- Mizuno JPX919 Irons Set
- Mazel Single Length Irons Set
- TaylorMade M4 Iron Set
- Callaway Mavrik Max Iron
- TaylorMade P790 Iron
- Wilson Staff D7 Irons
- Callaway Golf Men’s Rouge Iron Set
- TaylorMade Golf M6 Iron Set
Without further ado, let’s begin.
Our Best Picks For High Handicappers
Callaway Mavrik Iron
- Wide sole with low and back C.G.
- Custom tungsten-infused weights for more improved C.G.
- Great spin
- Great distance carry
TaylorMade Golf P790 Irons Set
- Excellent feedback for well-struck strikes and mishits
- Great distance carry
- Decent forgiveness with tungsten weight in the heel
Callaway Golf Men’s Rouge Iron Set
(3rd Pick For High Handicap)
- One of the best-looking irons available today
- Great For high-handicappers
- being two generations behind the Callaway Mavrik line
What Is a High-Handicapper
‘Handicap’ is a numerical calculation system used in golf to determine a golfer’s ability—the lower the handicap number, the better the ability of the golfer on-course.
With that say, the lowest handicap is 0, and a 0-handicap golfer is also called a scratch golfer, and the highest handicap for a male golfer is 36.4 (40.4 for ladies).
For 9-hole golf, the handicap is halved, with 18.2 being the highest handicap for male golfers.
How is the handicap number calculated? In a nutshell, the golfer’s recent scores are compiled and compared to the courses’ difficulty played.
For instance, if the course is rated 79 and a golfer scores 90, the handicap is 11 (90-79). So, a handicap of 11 means the golfer consistently shoots 11 strokes higher than the difficulty rating of the course they play regularly.
Here, I call a golfer with a handicap which:
- Below 10: Low-handicapper
- Between 10 and 18: Moderate/Medium-handicapper
- Above 18-20: High-handicapper
Someone with a handicap of approximately 18 is called a “bogey golfer,” which produces one shot above par per hole.
Different parts of the world used to have slightly different ways to calculate handicaps. Still, in early 2020, World Handicap System (WHS) unified six commonly-used handicap systems for a more standardized approach.
You can check this FAQ section by USGA about its WHS handicap implementation. Still, in general, if your handicap is above 20, you are considered a high-handicapper. Below, we will discuss how you can calculate your handicap score.
What Is The Average Handicap?
The average male golfer has a handicap of 16.1, while it is 28.9 for female golfers.
What Is Course Rating?
The course rating is the number assigned to a golf course to indicate how a scratch golfer (with a 0 handicap) would expect to shoot on the round. The higher the course rating, the more difficult the course is, and a class with a course rating below par is considered easy.
How To Calculate Handicap Score?
Under the new World Handicap System (WHS), the handicap score or handicap index calculates by averaging the best eight score differentials in your 20 most recent scores. These can include both general play and competition play scores.
For example, suppose the best 8 score differentials of the last 20 scores have an average of 11. In that case, 11 is the said golfer’s handicap index.
Suppose the golfer hasn’t yet had 20 scores on it. In that case, we will use a modified calculation to provide a temporary handicap index for this golfer, depending on the number of score differentials available in this golfer’s scoring record:
- 3 score differentials: the lowest score differential with an adjustment of -2.0 is the handicap index. For example, if the lowest score differential is 14, then the handicap index is 12.
- 4 score differentials: the lowest score differential with an adjustment of -1.0 choose as the handicap index.
- 5 score differentials: the lowest score differential without adjustment is the handicap index.
- 6 score differentials: an average of the lowest two differentials, adjusted by -1.0
- 7-8 score differentials: an average of the lowest two differentials without adjustment.
- 9-11 score differentials: an average of the lowest three.
- 12-14 score differentials: an average of the lowest four.
- 15-16 score differentials: an average of the lowest five
- 17-18 score differentials: an average of the lowest six
- 19 score differentials: an average of the lowest seven
Score differentials, however, can be calculated with the following formula:
(Equitable Gross Score – Course Rating) x 113/Course Slope.
For example, if the gross score is 89, the course rating is 72.5, and the course’s slope rating is 130, the score differential is 14.3.
Things You Need To Know Before Purchasing Your Iron Set
1.The Iron Set
A typical iron set includes either seven or eight iron clubs, 4-,5-,6-,7-,8-, and 9-irons, a pitching wedge (P.W.), and depending on the set, a gap wedge (G.W.). There are also sets that include a 3-iron instead of a G.W.
Further, the iron set can divide into three sub-sets: the long irons (2-,3-, and 4- irons), mid-irons (5-,6-, and 7-irons), and short irons (8- and 9-irons, the pitching wedge). Since 2- and 3-irons are notorious for being difficult to use, many golfers tend to use hybrid clubs (can link to the previous article if you want) to replace them. At the same time, it can also use the gap wedge to replace the 3-iron. As you can see, the 2-iron is considered a specialty club and not typically included in a standard set. Some players might also purchase a lob wedge separately to have in their set.
In general, the “longer” the iron, the shorter the loft angle, producing a straighter hit to achieve more distance. On the other hand, the short irons feature higher loft angles to have a higher ball launch that drops abruptly. The short irons are described as easier to control, while the long irons are the hardest.
2.Loft Gap
Suppose you are planning to purchase your irons separately instead of buying a complete set. First, it’s essential to consider the differences in loft between each of your clubs.
As the general thumb rule, your iron loft angle should be separate at least 4-degree; it would translate to around 12-15 yards difference between each.
However, you should adjust depending on your swing speed. For example, suppose you can consistently produce long carry. In that case, you can keep your irons separated by just 3 degrees to balance it out. Vice versa, if you have a slower swing speed and still struggle with distance carry, you can separate your irons by 5 degrees.
3.Blades VS Cavity-Back Iron
Nowadays, irons can differentiate into two types based on the shape of their heads: muscle-back and cavity-back. There are only muscle-back irons in the past, often referred to as blade irons due to their fragile heads. Still, technologies have allowed the production of the more forgiving, cavity-back irons.
3.1 Blade Irons
A blade-style or muscle-back iron features a very thing club head with a tiny sweet spot in the middle. It is making them notoriously difficult to use for beginners. However, they offer an advantage by allowing more weight behind the sweet spot, allowing a higher ball speed that would translate into more distance when the ball struck adequately. However, we can’t say the same for off-center shots.
Muscle-back irons also produce the most feedback on whether you’ve made a well-struck shot or not and are more versatile in the hands of low-handicap players.
3.2 Cavity-Back Irons
As the name suggests, a cavity-back iron features a thicker head with a cavity in the club’s back. This design moves the center of gravity (C.G.) of the club more forward around the clubhead’s perimeter, which will make the sweet spot of the club more significant, allowing more forgiveness.
Since they are much more forgiving than blade irons, cavity-back irons prefer by high-handicappers and beginners. But this design does have its downside: It won’t produce as much distance as a comparable blade iron. And it’s harder to control trajectory and spin with a cavity-back iron.
In short, it is more forgiving but won’t benefit low-handicappers with sufficient swing speed and control.
4.Forged VS Cast
We can also differentiate irons based on how the head manufacture: forged and cast.
4.1 Forged irons
They are shaped by hammering or pressing a steel billet in its solid form into its final shape. It might implement heat, but it’s essential to maintain the billet’s solid shape throughout the process of forging.
Forged metal is more uniform in its structure and composition. It is because the forging process creates a metallurgical re-crystallization by repeatedly deforming and reforming the metal. In addition, it can strengthen the final shape of the steel, so forged steel is typically more robust and more stable than cast steel.
In an iron club, a forged head would provide the following benefits:
- More challenging than a comparable cast iron
- Much better at handling impact, so more durable
- Prevents issues like shrinkage, cavities, porosity, and other durability issues
- Tighter grain structure, so don’t need expensive composite alloys to enhance the strength of the head
- Produce a distinct, “solid” sound that is only available in forged clubs
4.2 Cast irons
They shape by heating the metal until it is molten, then it is poured into a mold to create the desired head shape.
Cast irons are much easier to manufacture than forge irons. The forging processes are more complicated and require more workforce/energy. As a result, cast irons are generally more affordable than their forged irons counterparts.
While plenty of perfect cast irons are available nowadays, the forged counterpart is always more robust and has a unique feel and sound.
What Is The Average Range for Each Iron?
| Iron | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 2-Iron | 185 yards | 170 yards |
| 3-Iron | 175 yards | 160 yards |
| 4-Iron | 165 yards | 150 yards |
| 5-Iron | 155 yards | 140 yards |
| 6-Iron | 145 yards | 130 yards |
| 7-Iron | 135 yards | 120 yards |
| 8-Iron | 125 yards | 110 yards |
| 9-Iron | 115 yards | 100 yards |
You can hit 50 or 100 shots with each club and measure your distance with a launch monitor. Finding out how far you hit each iron club can help you decide what kinds of iron clubs you should get and how to improve your game.
Top 10 best iron sets for high handicappers
1.Srixon Z585 Irons
Pros
- Great distance carry during well-struck shots, pretty decent during off-center hits
- Very versatile, great for shot shaping and can benefit high-handicappers on learning how to control the ball
- Great feel with impressive feedback, can help a lot of inaccuracy
- Great V.T. sole grind, offering great versatility in and out of the turf
Cons
- Not the most forgiving, better for players close to moderate handicap
- Relatively expensive
The Srixon Z585 Irons are Srixon’s game-improvement irons that were released back in 2018. It is not the most forgiving set by Srixon. The Z585 location offers more weighting in the head’s perimeter for slightly better forgiveness. However, the Srixon Z585 offers more workability, making it a better long-term investment than the 585.
It is a cavity-back iron with a great look. It offers more weight towards the toe while maintaining a solid mass behind the center of the face, offering perfect forgiveness with a consistent flight.
It is worth noting that the Z585 is a 100% forged club forged from a single billet of 1020 carbon steel, which is impressive considering its price tag, which has gone down since its release back in 2018.
It also doesn’t have a too bulky head joint in game-improvement irons. It makes it a decent pick that combines look, forgiveness, and performance for mid to high-handicappers.
Even low-handicappers can still benefit from this iron set with its balance between distance and consistency.
Read More At:
2.Mizuno MP20 Golf Iron HMB
Pros
- Copper underlay material, improving softness feel during impact
- Perfect distance carry even during slight mishits
- More accessible and decent launch with the tungsten sole weight
- Flow Tapered Blade technology in the long irons, allowing easier launch
- Great-looking blade design with great sound and feel
- Thicker sole, but you can’t see it at address, further adding to the great look
- Forged club with grain flow generating technology to provide more consistency and feel
Cons
- Not the most forgiving, high-handicappers might need first to learn to use a blade-style iron
- High spin can be hard to control
Mizuno is one of the most famous manufacturers for irons, especially for its premium-quality muscle-back blades designed for low-handicappers and Tour players.
However, the HMB (Hot Metal Blade) is a version dedicated to high-handicappers.
As the name Hot Metal Blade suggests, it is still technically a blade iron set. Still, the extra forgiveness comes from the 12g tungsten sole weight and Titanium muscle plate, complete with a more oversized sole to help launch the ball higher.
As a result, this is a beautiful blade club, not just a chunky and hollow club like most game-improvement and super-game improvement irons.
Due to its blade design, it also offers excellent workability and shot-shaping qualities.
While it is not the most forgiving on this list—being a muscle-back—-. You get a nice-looking and nice-sounding club that can be an excellent long-term investment as you become a better player.
3.Mizuno JPX919
Pros
- Great cavity back design with added perimeter weighting for extra forgiveness
- Great look with Mizuno’s signature pearl brush finish that also reduces glare
- Variable thickness sole to increase face flex for additional ball speed
- Great sound with Mizuno’s Harmonic Impact design to allow one of the most pleasing feedback in a game-improvement iron
Cons
- Expensive
- Only available in steel shafts
Another one from Mizuno, the JPX919, is their newest range of iron sets. The Hot Metal is the super-game improvement version of the JPX919 (with the Hot Metal Pro being the game-improvement version).
The head’s size is different, with the longer blade length, slightly wider sole, thicker topline, and more offset on the Hot Metal version. As we know, the larger the head, the more forgiveness.
It is a cast iron, and the JPX919 also features the Chromoly 4140M, a solid yet flexible steel alloy containing molybdenum and chromium.
Chromoly allows Mizuno to create a giant head but a thinner face for maximum ball speed.
It also features a variable sole thickness, which allows the leading edge to act more like a hinge, allowing the face to take more flex to improve distance further.
Read More Here:
Mizuno JPX 919 Iron Set Review
4.Mazel Single Length Irons Set
The Mazel single-length iron set is one of the most affordable iron sets available in the market today. So it’s an excellent choice for beginners and high-handicappers who don’t want to spend too much on their iron set.
It offers a 100% graphite shaft that provides consistent swing and feel, but the unique thing about this set is the length of the shafts, which comes in just a single size for all nine clubs. As a result, it allows for easier usage for beginners.
While it doesn’t feature any unique technology or feature, it is worth considering for its affordability and pretty decent overall performance for its price.
Pros
- Very affordable while including 9 pieces in the set
- The large sweet spot, great forgiveness
- Single length irons for easier use with a specially-designed graphite shaft for forgiveness
- Provide a better grip and swing, allowing a better launch of the ball
Cons
- The loft gaps are not very consistent for each club
- Not very durable
- It doesn’t offer unique features
5.TaylorMade M4 Iron Set
Pros
- Great forgiveness with a massive sweet spot
- Low and back center of gravity, more leisurely time to hit the ball high in the air
- Substantial loft and a more prominent face, creating more ball speed with less spin for more distance
- At the moment, great price as they are not the newest TaylorMade model while offering pretty decent technology
Cons
- An iron set might look too modern/futuristic for some people
- It doesn’t offer too much workability
The TaylorMade M4 iron set is TaylorMade’s flagship iron set in 2018. It is a game-improvement iron set that specializes in distance and forgiveness.
It features TaylorMade’s Speed Pocket technology. It allows the face to flex more at impact to produce more ball speed (thus, more distance), especially on low center strikes.
In addition, it also has a fragile, leading-edge, only around 1mm thick now. And TaylorMade also new bar behind the face slots in the heel and toe dubbed the RibCor to stiffen the head more.
It moves the center of gravity to the heel and toe for extra forgiveness and a 20% increase in MOI.
To keep the weight low (again, to maximize distance), TaylorMade also features the Fluted Hosel to move the C.G. further lower and further back to help with the launch.
In short, if you are looking for forgiveness and distance carry, the TaylorMade M4 can be your best bet.
6.Callaway Mavrik Max Iron
Pros
- Great distance carry with Callaway’s latest technologies
- Wide sole with low and back C.G. for a more accessible lift
- Custom tungsten-infused weights for more improved C.G. positioning for extra forgiveness and more accessible lift
- Looks great with a blade-style look for a super game-improvement iron
- Great spin for different workability
Cons
- The chrome finish might wear off relatively fast
- Expensive
- Big, chunky head, not for everyone
The Callaway Mavrik is Callaway’s 2020 flagship club line, replacing the hugely successful Rogue series. Callaway has been the best-selling iron manufacturer for the past half-decade or so, shouldn’t need any introduction.
The key highlight of the Mavrik Iron is the A.I.-designed face, dubbed the Flash Face technology, which creates a unique and optimized face architecture for every single loft included in the set.
It is truly a groundbreaking move by Callaway, allowing a very forgiving but fast face to produce high and consistent ball speed even during off-center hits.
The Mavrik Max is the super game-improvement version of the iron, offering a slightly bigger face and more offset for more forgiveness.
It also features longer shafts than standard irons slightly to help generate more speed and distance for high-handicappers that struggle with swing speed.
Read More At:
7.TaylorMade P790 Iron
Pros
- Great look, distance irons that look like a blade
- Improved sound and feel, excellent feedback for well-struck strikes and mishits
- Great distance carry with incredible ball speed
- Decent forgiveness with tungsten weight in the heel and toe of the cavity to improve MOI
- 4g of SpeedFoam inject to allow a giant hole to support the forged face while being just 1.75 mm thick
Cons
- Expensive
- Not the most forgiving
- The 8-iron and the wedge doesn’t feature the slot and tungsten weight
The TaylorMade P790’s key highlight is the forged iron head that, according to TaylorMade, was optimized for distance carry, which is pretty rare.
However, it is not 100% forged, as only the wrap-around face is generated from a 4140 carbon steel, while the body is cast instead of forged.
However, the face forge, so you get the fantastic feel of a forged iron during impact.
It is not the most forgiving iron but can produce very consistent performance in the distance.
Great for high to moderate-handicappers looking to improve their distance carry but don’t have much problem with mishits.
There is a high-density tungsten weight with the 3- to 7- irons to improve the MOI. And it accompanies by a gaunt face that also features TaylorMade’s Speed Pocket on the sole to increase ball speeds.
It’s an incredible look with thin but relatively large blade size and impressive feedback from a forged face.
Read More At:
8.Wilson Staff D7 Irons
Pros
- Great price, arguably the best value for its worth in the game-improvement category
- Deep and large cavity to produce more forgiveness on mishits
- The gaunt face on the 4- to 7-irons that are only 2mm thick encourage ball speed
- The high-quality clubfaces with a great look
- Great hosel that is relatively long to help balance the head
Cons
- Low spin doesn’t offer too much workability and may reduce stopping power
- You will start to see the cavity at the address for the 6-iron and higher, which is not for everyone
The Wilson Staff D7 is an underrated gem. While Wilson is not as famous as Callaway or TaylorMade as an irons manufacturer, they have done an excellent job with the D7 iron set.
It features the Power Hole technology to improve distance. The D7 irons are indeed some of the longest irons available in the market today.
What’s unique is that the number of rows of the Power Holes differs throughout the set, allowing the longer irons to provide more distance, while the shorter irons have a better overall feel.
What’s also interesting is that Wilson Staff D7 Iron Set is relatively affordable for what it offers, arguably offering the best bang for the buck compared to others in this list. Not the most workable, but a great iron set overall.
Read More Here:
9.Callaway Golf Men’s Rouge Iron Set
Pros
- Great look, one of the best-looking irons available today, looks like a blade iron at an address.
- An excellent combination between feel, distance, and forgiveness, great for both moderate and high-handicappers
- Consistency and precision throughout the set, superior overall performance
- Great price, being two generations behind the Callaway Mavrik line
Cons
- Relatively prone to scratches
- It doesn’t offer excellent sound
- Spin is too low, doesn’t offer workability
The Callaway Rogue Iron Set is Callaway’s older model from 2018 but has been hugely successful before introducing the newer Mavrik range discussed above. It already boasts a relatively affordable price (being a Callaway iron) back when it launched. Still, now obviously, the price has gone down, making it a great value pick.
It is a distance iron set, meaning it gears to produce longer distance carry. In addition, they feature Callaway’s 360 Face Cup technology that, albeit being obsolete new with Mavrik’s new face, is a very ‘fast’ face with consistent performance.
Another great thing about the Callaway Rogue is that although it features a cavity-back design, it doesn’t compromise the sound quality.
Callaway inserted small glass spheres into the cavity, creating tiny air pockets that absorb unwanted sound.
All in all, the Rogue features an outstanding balance between distance, forgiveness, and consistency. Great for high and mid-handicappers who are looking for extra forgiveness and consistent distance carry.
10.TaylorMade Golf M6 Iron Set
Pros
- One of the most extended performances in the market today. If you are looking for distance carry, this one is for you
- Very forgiving, consistent performance during mishits
- An excellent, firm grip that may aid high-handicappers with slower swing
- Sounds better than the TaylorMade M4 and TaylorMade’s previous game-improvement irons in general
Cons
- Large head for iron, not for everyone
- It doesn’t offer too much workability
The TaylorMade M6 Irons are TaylorMade’s 2019 flagship irons. They have continued the tradition of being one of the most excellent irons available in the market when talking about distance performance.
It is a modern-looking club that speaks high-tech, which might not be for everyone. Still, it does offer some exciting technologies to improve performance, forgiveness, and feel. For example, a cavity back iron features the Thru-Slot Speed Pocket in the sole of the 7- to 4-irons.
It allows the face to have variable thickness while only connected to the body by the top line, acting as a hinge. It moves the sweet spot a little down while moving the C.G. lower and back for easier launch.
It also produces an excellent sound for a cavity-back iron due to the Speed Bridge technology that reduces frequencies generated at impact to improve the sound. As a result, it sounds much better than the M4 in that case.
An outstanding balance between distance and forgiveness. Not the best-looking and not too much workability, but a great choice overall.
Shafts: Steel or Graphite
In the past, answering this used to be pretty simple: if you have slower swing speeds than average, use graphite. If you have faster swing speeds, use steel.
However, it’s no longer the case nowadays, as we can see more and more Tour players using graphite iron shafts in professional play.
However, the basic principle in choosing between the two remains the same. If you have a faster swing speed, you will benefit from having a heavier club that can provide more control. On the other hand, the lighter graphite can help players with slower swing speeds to achieve more distance.
There is, however, a key consideration if you want to use a steel shaft as a high-handicapper. It steel shafts don’t absorb vibration, and graphite shafts are more prone to mishits due to the beat.
Sole Thickness
The sole is the very base of the club that touches the ground. How thick the sole is can impact the club’s center of gravity (C.G.), which will, in turn, affect forgiveness and more accessible lift.
The thicker the club’s sole is, the more of the club’s weight positions at the bottom (lower C.G.), and a lower C.G. would give us an easier time to launch the ball in the air. However, it is also harder to control spin and trajectory with a thicker sole.
On the other hand, it’s much harder to launch the ball with a narrower sole. Still, in the hands of experienced players (i.e., low-handicappers), they’ll get more control and versatility.
Long Irons VS Hybrids
As discussed, long irons are notoriously difficult to use. So if you are a high-handicapper, most likely, you’ll benefit from replacing your long irons with hybrids.
As the name suggests, Hybrids is somewhat a ‘hybrid’ between irons and fairway woods. They typically use the big, muscular head of the fairway wood while having the shorter shafts and loft angles of irons.
You might want to check my previous article: Buying Guide for Hybrid Clubs>>
How To Choose The Best High-Handicapper Irons For You?
There are three common issues for high-handicappers in using their irons:
- Swing speed: High-handicappers tend to have slower than average swing speed. So they might need an iron that can produce naturally high ball speed to aid distance carry.
- Accuracy: Not only do high-handicappers tend to hit off-center on the club’s face. But high-handicappers are more likely to hit slices (the ball curving to the right for right-handed players).
- Lift: High handicappers might lack the adequate technique to lift the ball. So they might need a higher loft angle or other technologies to provide a more accessible lift.
With these three issues being the primary considerations, here are some essential factors to consider when choosing between different iron sets:
1.Forgiveness
It is the most crucial consideration to have for high-handicap players.
‘Forgiveness’ generally refers to the club’s performance, especially regarding launch trajectory and distance carry when producing off-center hits (mishits). Since high-handicappers typically are still struggling with accuracy—at least, consistency in maintaining accuracy—, then you’ll need irons that can minimize the effect of these mishits.
The more ‘forgiving’ the club is, the more consistency it’ll produce during off-center shots, so the decrease in distance carry won’t be as much as in less forgiving clubs.
However, typically more forgiveness in a club would sacrifice two things. First, the look, since generally forgiveness achieves by making the head (and face) more prominent. Second, and playability since it’s much harder to ‘shape’ your shots with high-forgiveness clubs.
2.Low Center of Gravity (C.G.)
The lower the center of gravity of the club, the easier it will be to launch with the said club and the higher ball speeds it would produce.
It is why low C.G. prefers high-handicappers or senior golfers who have lost their swing speeds. At the same time, companies are continuously attempting to move the C.G. lower and lower in their clubs.
3.High MOI (Moment of Inertia)
Moment of Inertia (MOI) is essentially how strong a club is in resisting twist when it touches the ball. Too technical? Well, in general, the higher the MOI is, the better it is for high-handicappers.
All clubs will always twist due to the applied force during impact with the ball. The thing is, as you hit the ball further away from the center of the face, the greater the twist, which will cause a decrease in distance and accuracy.
In irons, higher MOI achieves by putting perimeter weight in the back of the head. The more weight on the edges, the higher the MOI and the more forgiving the club.
4.Looks
Although as a high-handicapper, the club’s design might not be a top priority to consider. I wouldn’t want an ugly club with a chunky head that screams, “I am a beginner.”
With that say, most clubs offering high forgiveness offers an oversized or large clubhead paired with a cavity-back design. At the same time, the traditional preference in golf is to have your irons thin and compact – as in the blade irons.
You’d probably want to find the right balance between forgiveness and looks: there are certainly game-improvement and well-designed and even super game-improvement irons.
5.Shaft Flex
It’s essential to choose the proper shaft flex by your current swing speed. Unfortunately, most golfers, especially beginners, tend to focus on the club’s features but then neglect the importance of flex.
As a quick overview, here are the common shaft flex types you may see when shopping for your irons:
- L Flex (Ladies): for swing speeds less than 75 mph
- A or M Flex (Amateur): for amateurs or senior golfers, for swing speeds between 75 to 85 mph
- R Flex (Regular): for swing speeds between 85 to 95 mph, the average high-handicappers belong here
- S Flex (Stiff): for swing speeds between 95 to 110 mph
- X Flex (Extra Stiff): for golfers with a swing speed of 110 mph or above
6.Workability
Workability in golf clubs refers to how easy or difficult it is to ‘manipulate’ your shots. For example, it controls the trajectory, gives your ball top/underspin, or makes right/left curves.
On the course, we won’t always make our shots from our favorite position. And we are likely to be demanded to manipulate our shots in one way or another.
The thing is, the forgiveness features of the game improvement irons tend to sacrifice workability since low C.G.
Generally means less spin, and the less spin you can put to the ball, the less workability you will have.
Again, look for the right balance between forgiveness and workability according to your current abilities.
Bonus Section: How Can You Lower Your Handicap?
The obvious answer to this question is to practice more. The more time you put on the driving range and the golf course, the more you’ll grow as a player.
However, here are some practical tips you can try:
1.Improve Your Mindset
Sometimes the issue is not in your actual gameplay but your mental game. By having a better mindset and being more objective with your current abilities, you can improve your skills, accuracy and produce higher scores in the process.
Before making your shots, take a few moments to visualize your shots. The clearer you can imagine it, the better chance you’ll have in actually making the shot. Then, make your shots with confidence. So often, you fail to make your shots because you are nervous, or worse, afraid.
Having a club that inspires confidence can help: always have the best possible club for the next shot according to your budget.
2.Practice Your Short Game
A widespread mistake for beginners and many high-handicappers is to put too much focus on your ‘long’ game: driving, bunker shots, and so on. However, improving your short game is also very important. Therefore, you should practice your short game beyond just practicing a few putts every game.
Mainly focus on your putts from four feet. Statistics suggested that high-handicappers only make 65% of their four-footer and 84% of their three-footers. However, a scratch golfer makes 80% of their four-footer shots and 93% conversions from three feet. So to improve your short game closer to those scratch golfers, and you’ll lower your handicap.
3.Tune Up Your Clubs
Clean out the grooves on your clubs, replace any old/damaged shafts, and get new grips if necessary. Upgrade to more unique clubs that can better help you improve your game if your clubs are already a few years old.
Again, not only the better technologies on newer clubs can help you improve your performance. And get higher scores, but unique, shiny clubs can inspire confidence and help improve your mental game.
4.Keep Your Putts Low
When putting and chipping, try to get the ball on the ground as abruptly as possible. Use clubs that can help you achieve this so you can improve your accuracy on the greens. The better you can improve your chipping, the higher scores you’ll get, and the lower your handicap.
5.Improve Your Fitness
Don’t underestimate the importance of your fitness and flexibility.
If you want to lower your handicap, commit to a daily stretching routine, and hit the gym as much as you can. Especially work to improve your core, hip, and arm strengths, which will significantly help in improving your swing speeds and distance.
The better you can hit the green from 150-200 yards out, the higher your scores, and the lower your handicap will be.
Conclusion
Selecting just the best iron set for high-handicappers is indeed a very daunting task. It is because there are so many different products available in the market. Each product offers its unique take in making the club more forgiving for high-handicappers while maintaining decent workability.
However, based on our tests, we are confident that these ten iron sets we have reviewed above are the best available in the market this year.
Although admittedly, this is very hard for our absolute best pick, we’ll go to Callaway Mavrik Iron Max. It is very affordable, but it does offer the latest technologies to date. Especially the A.I. design Flash Face Cup allows optimal performances and forgiveness for each iron throughout the set.
For a more affordable pick, we’d recommend the Wilson Staff D7, which offers a pretty well-rounded quality for its price.