Best irons 2023 discussion thread

[GolfWRX]

Masters Week is Irons Week at GolfWRX, and best irons pieces are dropping all week long!

 

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.

 

Monday: Best irons: Easiest to launch

 

Tuesday: Best irons: Pure enjoyment 

Wednesday: Best irons: The shotmakers

Thursday: Best irons: Most technology packed

 

Friday: Best irons: Top overall performers

Best irons: Best blades

Edited April 11, 2023 by GolfWRX

[ZipinZ]

Interesting read, I just got fit for the Ping G430's and played 2 rounds & broke 80 from the Blue's on 2 different courses here in Palm Springs. I'm not getting any younger, they're easy to launch, go straight/high & long but the best part is they hit & hold the green. These new Ping G430 irons are amazing.

 

D.

 

[boggyman]

Wow, no hybrid style other than the TM…..🙈

[Tinkerer]

A mate bought the XXIO X 12 irons I have. He didn’t like them, I would never have looked at these but they are great. Consistent, easy to hit, long and these irons were in my bag both times I have broken 80. 

[eric61]

Surprised to see the Cobra T-Rails didn’t make this first list. My father-in-law, who’s aging and losing speed and needs help getting the ball up, was fitted into a set at Club Champion. They launched and peaked considerably higher for him than anything else, including some stuff on this list — the Stealth HD, G430 and Paradym X.

[boggyman]

3 hours ago, eric61 said:

Surprised to see the Cobra T-Rails didn’t make this first list. My father-in-law, who’s aging and losing speed and needs help getting the ball up, was fitted into a set at Club Champion. They launched and peaked considerably higher for him than anything else, including some stuff on this list — the Stealth HD, G430 and Paradym X.

Loving my T Rails! 3 rounds on them but are great so far.

[mtnbiker5]

PXG Gen 6 are incredible.  Probably didn’t make the cut because they just came out.   Would highly recommend anyone go and try them.  They’re insane.   

[chinaski]

47 minutes ago, mtnbiker5 said:

PXG Gen 6 are incredible.  Probably didn’t make the cut because they just came out.   Would highly recommend anyone go and try them.  They’re insane.   

 

 

The Gen 6 are strong, but not crazy; The 311 Gen 6 XP lofts are insane:

 

 

Edited April 5, 2023 by chinaski

[tmb guy]

a 7 iron at 27 basically plus 1/2 i think is kind of crazy 🙂

[mtnbiker5]

I have the Gen 6 4 iron XP just launches like nothing I’ve ever hit and the feel is off the charts.  Complete cannon.

[Mp14forlife]

I haven't hit the cobras but if there was an aesthetic's category, cobra would be Numero uno! They knocked it outta the park on the tours, CB's and mb's with the shape/design. 

[Bill Moseley]

Good day WRX,

 

I want to start by saying I seriously enjoy your features and articles. Truly great information. I have a question however about your selection of irons that are considered for the "Best of" categories. Have you ever considered, other club companies to review or only the ones sold at the selected club fitter locations. I believe you may be missing the boat when you exclude other amazing smaller club manufacturers. A short list:

Henry-Griffitts Golf -  The oldest custom designed custom built club company in the US. The product HG offers is second to none. 

Muira - Some of the finest forged heads on the market

Edel Golf - Adjustable weight head designs in irons and wedges and possibly the most advanced putter fitting system on the market.

There are a few more that I'm sure your readers would love to be aware of.  Try not to get locked into the major marketed brands. There are amazing products our there that choose not to pay players to wear their brand.

 

Lastly, consider asking long time (20+ years) fitting professionals for their opinion. Not slamming any of your panel, but you might like what you get from independent long time club fitters.

 

Thanks for considering this information.

 

Regards,

Bill Moseley

Professional Teacher and Master Club Fitter

Edited April 10, 2023 by 1t2golf
No self promotion

[MMB1500]

I appreciate you can't include all irons, but the Edel SMS Pro would have been a worthy inclusion in the shotmakers category. Particularly as they are the only iron that contains some genuinely innovative technology. 

[golfinbrad]

7 minutes ago, MMB1500 said:

I appreciate you can't include all irons, but the Edel SMS Pro would have been a worthy inclusion in the shotmakers category. Particularly as they are the only iron that contains some genuinely innovative technology. 

I 2nd this!!!  Was lucky to be a tester of the SMS irons and absolutely love them. 

[Radeon962]

Play the Gen5 0311XP after years with Ping irons (I and G series).  
 

PXG is a better feeling  iron than the comparable Ping iron but retains all the playing and forgiveness characteristics. 

 

Being able to easily adjust swingweight with the large center weight is icing on the cake.

 

They are one club stronger in loft and length so I just play 6-GW now.  Works well for my game. 

[Birdyjuice]

Interesting to see the Srixon ZX7 Mk II make both the Pure Enjoyment and Shotmakers list. Does that make them best overall of the bunch?

[dmeeksDC]

Hard to imagine how Cobra did not make this list at all with a 2023 lineup as good as any. The King Tours are not on here but the ZX7 MKII is on there twice? C’mon man. 

[davo32683]

On 4/5/2023 at 9:55 PM, dmeeksDC said:

Hard to imagine how Cobra did not make this list at all with a 2023 lineup as good as any. The King Tours are not on here but the ZX7 MKII is on there twice? C’mon man. 

Having personally tried and currently own both - the Cobra is my choice between the 2 

[DNice26]

On 4/5/2023 at 9:17 PM, Birdyjuice said:

Interesting to see the Srixon ZX7 Mk II make both the Pure Enjoyment and Shotmakers list. Does that make them best overall of the bunch?

I guess if you play the combo setup (ZX5 and ZX7).

[dmeeksDC]

On 4/5/2023 at 9:17 PM, Birdyjuice said:

Interesting to see the Srixon ZX7 Mk II make both the Pure Enjoyment and Shotmakers list. Does that make them best overall of the bunch?

No, that makes it a very flawed list. It’s not like this is based on testing. It’s just a list someone created. it’s the usual OEM stops and leaves off some great options. The absence of Cobra, PXG, Miura, Honma and Proto Concept tells you this is not really about the best. The Golf Digest Hot List is more complete.

[NZ315]

Surprised not to see the i230 or P770 on the list. Figured the i230 would have been there at least. Like mentioned you can’t put them all up there. 

[Lefty87]

This list is always bogus. 

[maamold]

No Ping i230's there? 

[J_Tizzle]

On 4/9/2023 at 10:55 PM, maamold said:

No Ping i230's there? 

 

Bingo, from everyone I've talked to that has hit them they basically say they're the perfect iron (enough so I have a set on order I'm anxiously waiting). 

[MikekiM]

On 4/5/2023 at 8:14 AM, Mp14forlife said:

I haven't hit the cobras but if there was an aesthetic's category, cobra would be Numero uno! They knocked it outta the park on the tours, CB's and mb's with the shape/design. 

Absolutely love my new King Tour's, genuinely surprised to not see them on this list.

[Mp14forlife]

14 minutes ago, MikekiM said:

Absolutely love my new King Tour's, genuinely surprised to not see them on this list.

I thought the zx7s were a good looking club, the king tours make them look ugly, that's how good the king tours look. 

[seaside65]

Hi @GolfWRX what happened to the fitter comments/launch piece link on the P7MC in the shotmakers article?

https://www.golfwrx.com/711048/best-irons-in-golf-2023-the-shotmakers/

 

Someone miss those omissions during the proofread?

[Pepperturbo]

On 4/4/2023 at 5:33 PM, chinaski said:

The Gen 6 are strong, but not crazy;

LOL I beg to differ with what you think not crazy. 

 

My T200 4 iron is 22', thought strong compared to my 620 MB 4 iron at 24'; while PXG Gen 6 4 iron is 18', 4' stronger, 1' short of my 17' 2 iron. 

 

My T100 5i is 25', 2' strong compared to my 620 MB 5i at 27', while PXG Gen 6 5 iron is 20'. 

 

Crazy is 4'-5' as crazy does. 🙂

Edited April 11, 2023 by Pepperturbo

[chinaski]

1 minute ago, Pepperturbo said:

LOL I beg to differ with what you think not crazy. 

 

My T200 4 iron is 22', thought strong compared to my 620 MB 4 iron at 24'; while PXG Gen 6 4 iron is 18', 4' stronger, next to my 17' 2 iron. 

 

My T100 5i is 25', 2' strong compared to my 620 MB 5i at 27', while PXG Gen 6 5 iron is 20'. 

 

Crazy is 4'-5' as crazy does. 🙂

 

 Whoa buddy! There are two versions of Gen 6. The XP is the extremely strong lofted 18˚ 4i. The Gen 6 4i is 20.5˚. They are both jacked lofts.

 

[Pepperturbo]

7 minutes ago, chinaski said:

 

 Whoa buddy! There are two versions of Gen 6. The XP is the extremely strong lofted 18˚ 4i. The Gen 6 4i is 20.5˚. They are both jacked lofts.

 

Yep, but the one's posted further up caught my eye, the former, where I saw your NOT crazy comment. LOL  

 

Look at those above compared to my T100s, which are considered stronger than traditional.  Even the ones above are stronger than mine, so on the high end of strong lofts.  My buddy in the islands just bought the above set.  He's having all sorts of gapping issues, mostly due to his swing.  Just sayin.... 

 

T100s - 5 iron   25   
T100s - 6 iron   28     
T100s - 7 iron   32     
T100s - 8 iron   36    
T100s - 9 iron   40        
T100s - PW       44          
T100s - W         48