Best Players Irons 2023

[odshot68]

Looking to get a new set of players irons this spring and wondering what you guys like.  Distance control is very important; I'm not a fan of irons with hotspots.

[odshot68]

Also , more of a picker with the irons.  Lets hear suggestions..

[MtlJeff]

I love my 0317 STs. really easy to hit for a blade. A bit thicker topline than you might expect and the 4 iron is very easy to hit

 

I don't really believe in hotspots regardless of irons you choose

 

 

[third-times-a-charm]

My opinions on the 'hot spot debate' aside - you're probably looking for a Titleist T100, TM P7MC, Callaway XForged/TCB, or Srixon ZX7.

[noodle3872]

Titleist T100/T100S should be in the conversation.  

[greenomics]

JPX tours

[odshot68]

Mizuno 223?

[dre72]

Ping i230’s.   If you want distance control these are the ticket

[leftycabe]

I’m with @MtlJeff - you have a better chance of catching the tooth fairy than a hot spot. Nonetheless - not sure how quickly you are wanting to move on a set but I’m personally really interested to see if Ping replaces the i59. Not sure what your budget is but Miura is as consistent as anything you will find. I’d also add that the Titleist 620 CB is grossly undervalued but I understand why. 

[odshot68]

37 minutes ago, leftycabe said:

I’m with @MtlJeff - you have a better chance of catching the tooth fairy than a hot spot. Nonetheless - not sure how quickly you are wanting to move on a set but I’m personally really interested to see if Ping replaces the i59. Not sure what your budget is but Miura is as consistent as anything you will find. I’d also add that the Titleist 620 CB is grossly undervalued but I understand why. 

Help me to understand 620 cb comment?  I played the 718 cb for awhile and really liked them until I got the Mizzy MP20MB irons.  Just ready for a change after three full seasons with them.

[leftycabe]

30 minutes ago, odshot68 said:

Help me to understand 620 cb comment?  I played the 718 cb for awhile and really liked them until I got the Mizzy MP20MB irons.  Just ready for a change after three full seasons with them.

To me, the CBs are the best feeling of the cavity back lineup from Titleist. They are the closest feeling to your MP20s but with a slight amount of help. I think they are understandably overlooked because of the additional forgiveness (real or perceived) that are in the T100. 
 

If you played the MP20’s, you may find the balance of the CBs more to your liking as you’re likely used to the traditional weight in heel. As always, you just have to hit everything to see what you like but I would overlook these. They feel great, look great, and are a pure iron - you get out what you put in. If I had the time to play more, I would probably be bagging these but I need additional help since I only get to play about 40 rounds a year and I never know what game I’m bringing to the course. 

[sadclevelandsports]

I love my T100's, but recently tried the new Cobra CB's and they are just as high quality.

[cw1209]

42 minutes ago, odshot68 said:

Help me to understand 620 cb comment?  I played the 718 cb for awhile and really liked them until I got the Mizzy MP20MB irons.  Just ready for a change after three full seasons with them.

If you are currently playing MP20 irons and are looking for a little more forgiveness I would check out JPX 923 Tour, Titleist 620 CB, or Cobra King CB. Would be an easy adjustment after playing a blade. 

[leftycabe]

Just now, sadclevelandsports said:

I love my T100's, but recently tried the new Cobra CB's and they are just as high quality.

How do they compare in feel? The same or do you favor one? What I’m REALLY interested in - how do the soles compare to one another? 

[leftycabe]

1 minute ago, cw1209 said:

If you are currently playing MP20 irons and are looking for a little more forgiveness I would check out JPX 923 Tour, Titleist 620 CB, or Cobra King CB. Would be an easy adjustment after playing a blade. 

I agree - add in the 923. I’m a lefty so I try to make myself forget those exist so I don’t get sad. 

[sadclevelandsports]

1 minute ago, leftycabe said:

How do they compare in feel? The same or do you favor one? What I’m REALLY interested in - how do the soles compare to one another? 

I'd say they feel maybe barely softer than the 100's, otherwise was hitting on mats so hard to comment on anything else. To be honest, was not thinking about the sole and can't seem to find bounce figures online. All I can say is that they felt pretty darn awesome to hit.

[wam78]

Definitely take a look at 923 tours and p7mc.  Both have a really nice player’s profile with thinner soles that really cut through the turf.  Very similar to blades but with small amount of help with perimeter weighting.  I59 is another one.

[edwelly]

I have been fortunate enough to have several nice sets of irons. A couple Maura sets and most recently the Bridgestone J40s. Today to took out my new Srixon ZX5/ZX7s and they are phenomenal irons. I cannot recommend those enough. 

[Davethegolfer]

Wilson staff CB is seriously underrated. Just ordered myself a set and can't wait. Comparatively cheap as well

[pnd4pnd]

sub70 659 CB, TC, and MB

[realmfg]

For distance control, I've always had the best with Ping.

 

 

[KevCannon]

T100 should be on short list to try. 

[daegyu]

Purely based on looks:

 

P7MC raw

Titleist T100 Black Ti

 

So very tempted. 

 

[jspii22]

Like others have said, I’ve always had my best distance control playing Ping. 

[Kingcat990]

Arias CR16 to me are the epitome of a players package. 

[Tree Levino]

14 minutes ago, Kingcat990 said:

Arias CR16 to me are the epitome of a players package. 

Don’t you think there’s a reason why no other major brands make their players irons or blades with truly zero offset? The only set I can think of that did were R9 TP B heads and those might have been Tour issue. I don’t love offset either but I think some measure of it is helpful. 
 

re question I think the best course of action is to go look at and compare irons off the shelf first. See what fits your eye and eliminate those you aren’t comfortable with. Make a top 3-5 and then do a fitting with focus on those. Lots of options so it’s good to have it narrowed down a bit first. I think you can get close with almost any iron once you sort out shaft. 
 

as above have mentioned hotspots are BS. Someone will get a flier or middle one and then blame hotspots. It’s not a thing. 
 

t100/s or 620 CB, 223 or 923, i230 or I59, tcb/x forged, p7mc, king tour or CB, ZX7, staff cb all good options depending on what you want to look at 

[bvanlieu]

Most of the usual suspects already named, new Cobras that Ricky has been striping can't be too shabby. 

 

Miura MC-502 for those with Rising Sun tastes 😄 

[odshot68]

Aside from mizuno anyone else produce lower bounce irons 

[Esco9]

I would have never ever suggested these if I didn’t just see and mess with them in person, the Ping i230 or i59. They’re absolutely incredible. I played 690MBs for like 10 years and then some Miura CBs and the Pings are absolutely incredible looking and the performance is silly. The i230 is NOT big or oversized or hot. The P7MC honestly looked like s***, the pw was boxy and weird. Mizuno can’t get their PW right either, the i230 U wedge was good looking too. I now know why the top pros can use them having came from blueprints or i59s. Ping is killing it

[kwainio]

I've tried pretty much all of them from the big brands. I'd go something like this for "least forgiving to most forgiving". Just my experiences with each iron. Hot spots don't exist. Go get fit.

 

P7MC

620CB

TCB

921 Tour (haven't tried 923 yet)

i59

T100

XFCB

MP223

ZX7

i230