If you had to spend less than $400 on irons what would you get?

[hellojude]

If you had to spend less than $400 on irons what would you get??

[AdExec]

Older Callaway Xforged, Anything Ping that fit my eye, and there’s a bunch of older blade sets in that price range if you want something like that. 

[blarkin97]

Maltby 100% - I play PTM Blacks which have since been discontinued.  Check out the topics on here.  Right up there with OEM performance

 

Ask @Popeye64

Edited February 16, 2022 by blarkin97

[Kmagnuss]

Mizuno MP33's or Titleist 718 AP2's.  (I game them both)

[SubFour34]

4 minutes ago, Kmagnuss said:

Mizuno MP33's or Titleist 718 AP2's.  (I game them both)

I think AP2 is always a good move, I would tell someone to get the newest AP2 model you can get in the best shape for $400

[RainShadow]

Ping i20

Older Hogan Apex Edge/Edge Pro/FTX

Older Mizuno

Adams a4 Forged or CB2

[hwturner17]

Bridgestone J36 CB or Combo's and pocket the additional $225

[cgasucks]

There's so many good iron sets that came and went in the past decades.  But if I was forced to keep only one set and play with it for the rest of my life it would be the 845s.  They're dirt cheap, built like tanks, and are timeless.

Edited February 16, 2022 by cgasucks

[bladehunter]

S55 probably.   695 cb titleist.  714 ap2 , 716 mb probably if you look hard.  714 mb looks better.  And would work.  
 

tons of options really.  

[doc52]

+1 for old ap2's

[T-MAC]

AP2's, older Apex models, older Srixon models, and my favorite - older Adams forged models like the CMB's, the a12 Pro's, or the CB2's or CB3's.

[Poor Mans Ty Webb]

47 minutes ago, RainShadow said:

Older Hogan Apex Edge/Edge Pro/FTX

 

Second this.  I just bought a 3-PW set of Apex Edge Pros for well under OPs budget on eBay.  Couple rust spots, but grooves and shafts are in great shape.

 

I haven't played them, but if I could get a set of Taylormade 300 forged irons or the TP forged cavity backs from 2005 for under $400, oh man, they look like great sets of irons.

 

A set of forged Ping Ansers is right up against the budget line but could be an option, too.

 

Obligatorily, I feel like someone has to mention Eye 2s (although I expect they'd be much less than $400).  I think I would prefer the Eye 2+, which would at least be closer to modern lofts.

[Guest]

Ping 1E1.

[gatorz7888]

Srixon i506

[t4t3r]

I've never spent more than $400 for a set of irons and often much less. There is a wealth of used forged CB and similar options under that price point from the last 3-5 years.  You really can't go wrong.

[nitram]

Tourstage Z-101

'99 Hogan Apex

S55

 

[OnTheBag]

38 minutes ago, Poor Mans Ty Webb said:

 

Second this.  I just bought a 3-PW set of Apex Edge Pros for well under OPs budget on eBay.  Couple rust spots, but grooves and shafts are in great shape.

 

I haven't played them, but if I could get a set of Taylormade 300 forged irons or the TP forged cavity backs from 2005 for under $400, oh man, they look like great sets of irons.

 

A set of forged Ping Ansers is right up against the budget line but could be an option, too.

 

Obligatorily, I feel like someone has to mention Eye 2s (although I expect they'd be much less than $400).  I think I would prefer the Eye 2+, which would at least be closer to modern lofts.

I agree with both the BH Apex and the Eye 2s.  Eye 2+ lofts are 44.5° on the 9i and 49.6° on the W.  First Gen Eye 2's are slightly weaker but still in that range.  I still game sets from both in addition to Mizuno MP-18s.  Small differences in each, but can still produce a quality, predictable shot.  And most importantly, don't break the bank.  Unfortunately, I bought all mine when they were new.  

[lefthack]

My Byrdie's were $425 but are like $350 now. You could get something used in great shape for $400, my Nike Vapor Pro Combos were $275 from 2nd swing. 

[grochol17]

If you're not worried about the irons being officially conforming to the new USGA groove rule then go with Mizuno T-Zoid Pro.

[KBong]

2 hours ago, Kmagnuss said:

Mizuno MP33's or Titleist 718 AP2's.  (I game them both)

With low used club inventory in Canada and Covid demand pricing....the 718 AP2's are still fetching $800+ here.

One has to go back to approx 2013 and older to find iron sets around $450 or less.

 

And with unfavorable exchange rates, high shipping costs, possible duties, and courier brokerage charges....many US used club purchases end up as not great deals.

And many private US sellers won't int'l ship.

[wayne18]

1 hour ago, T-MAC said:

AP2's, older Apex models, older Srixon models, and my favorite - older Adams forged models like the CMB's, the a12 Pro's, or the CB2's or CB3's.

Adams CMB’s are great irons. These have been idle for about 3 years.

 

[KBong]

1 hour ago, cgasucks said:

There's so many good iron sets that came and went in the past decades.  But if I was forced to keep only one set and play with it for the rest of my life it would be the 845s.  They're dirt cheap, built like tanks, and are timeless.

Yes, the 845's in the early 1990's were very popular....I bought the Wilson Staff Ultra 45's in 1993....I'm not sure I could get $50 for the Wilsons nowadays....I should just donate them....but they are sitting in a friend's garage...his friend was borrowing them.

 

For older clubs....I still see the odd golfer gaming the Hogan Apex's....a friend plays them and I've seen 2 golfers this year playing them.

 

BUT...IMO...one is giving up so much forgiveness in clubs 30+ years old....IMO it's so much more enjoyable playing with irons that are 10 years old or newer....and hopefully find something relatively cheap with a decade old clubs if on a budget.

[TwistedSister]

Depends on your skil level but you should be able to get 5-PW set of Srixons Z565's or Z765's.  Check out ebay. 

[KBong]

10 minutes ago, wayne18 said:

Adams CMB’s are great irons. These have been idle for about 3 years.

 

Yes...I forgot Adams clubs can be bought economically.

In 2018, I bought a set of used Adams XTD A Tours for $135 to experiment with the KBS reg shafts....sold them in Dec 2019 for $195.....with Covid....I think they are fetching at least $300+ nowadays.

I kinda now wish I kept them.

IMO....I think the XTD Forged irons are terrific....a friend of a friend let me use his irons while playing in Toronto when I went to visit family and didn't bring my clubs.

 

[koiuh11]

new level irons. awesome customer service too.

[lggolf42]

Wilson Staff Tour V6

[lggolf42]

Or Tour v4

[hwturner17]

1 hour ago, wayne18 said:

Adams CMB’s are great irons. These have been idle for about 3 years.

 

those are beauts

[DE-ILLINI]

Anything from the Ping G series.

[RobS14526]

3 hours ago, dhacker56 said:

Depends on your skil level but you should be able to get 5-PW set of Srixons Z565's or Z765's.  Check out ebay. 

I have a set of Z545's that I purchased new, that keep beating out all attempted replacements. Every year I try something new or different and when tournament/money season starts the Srixons are back in the bag. There's a lot of chatter on the soft soles but the faces still look new.