Best Irons for Beginners and High Handicappers You’ll Find the Most Forgiving
As a high handicapper, you’re more likely to struggle with consistency. And not also distance, as in the case of beginners. Nevertheless, the best golf irons for high handicappers are suitable for beginners too. Because these irons fall into the category of game improvement irons that deliver both forgiveness (for distance) and consistency all at once.
As a high-handicap golfer, you may be able to hit long. But this doesn’t really matter when you can’t generate long-distance shots with more accuracy and consistency. So how about you make your round of golf much less complicated simply by incorporating irons that actually make a difference.
Fortunately, those with a high golf handicap and those new to the game fall into the same category. So, due to shared interests, they demand the same irons since these are both forgiving and consistent. That means, despite your shortcomings, whatever they may be, you get the opportunity to let loose your full potential on the golf course.
Table of Contents
- Best Irons Sets for Beginners and High Handicappers
- Cleveland Golf Men’s Launcher HB Iron Set
- Callaway Golf Men’s Big Bertha Irons Set
- Cobra Golf LH F-Max Irons Set
- TaylorMade SIM MAX Irons
- Cleveland Golf Men’s Launcher CBX Iron Set
- Callaway Golf Men’s Rogue Irons Set
- TaylorMade M3 Iron Set
- TaylorMade Golf P790 Iron Set
- Callaway Men’s Apex CF16 Individual Iron
- Mizuno JPX919 Forged Golf Iron Set
- Mizuno MP-18 MMC Fli Hi Iron
- Cobra King Forged Tec One Length Black Iron Set
- What to Look for In the Best Beginner Golf Irons
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Best Irons Sets for Beginners and High Handicappers
Cleveland Golf Men’s Launcher HB Iron Set
- See below for description
If the Cleveland Launcher HB Irons are known for anything, it’s for the clubs’ reliable hybrid construction. Such a composition paves the way for a higher ball flight. The full-hollow design of the irons also boosts forgiveness, which is comparatively higher than traditional cavity-back irons.
The hybrid-like long irons and iron-like short irons are proof of the progressive design of this particular Cleveland set. And the lighter steel shafts seem like the cherry on top, with their innate ability to elevate club speed as well as get the golf ball higher.
Key Features
Callaway Golf Men’s Big Bertha Irons Set
- Distance Where You Need It: HIGHER BALL SPEED all across the face comes from the same...
- Maximum Forgiveness: Your shots will launch higher and fly straighter. Hollow body...
- Advanced, Progressive Looks: The sole designs are what you want to see - wider in the...
The Big Bertha collection by Callaway is a favorite among men golfers. All thanks to the higher ball speed the irons promote with their 360 Face Cup technology. This combines with the brand’s exclusive Internal Standing Wave to become the hottest golf iron for men. If women golfers are feeling left out, then here are the best speed and distance boosting irons for you.
As for Big Bertha, maximum forgiveness comes in the form of a hollow body structure. So your shots fly straighter and launch higher. Even the looks are advanced and progressive. Big Bertha also uses premium shafts. So don’t think twice before replacing those difficult-to-hit long irons with these Big Bertha hybrids by Callaway.
Key Features
Cobra Golf LH F-Max Irons Set
- Lightweight Design-A lighter overall club weight generates more club speed and...
- Lighter Shaft-A 5 gram lighter shaft allows you to swing faster around your body...
- Low Profile/Deep Undercut-A low profile, cavity back design with greater lofts will...
An overall lighter-weighted golf club, needless to say, produces greater distance and club speed. Especially in the case of golfers that have an average swing speed, much like beginners. So it’s a relief to know that these Cobra Golf LH F-Max Irons have a lightweight design with a shaft that’s 5 grams lighter. So you get to swing faster with the same tempo.
Furthermore, the cavity-back, low-profile composition with a higher loft generates longer, higher ball flight effortlessly. And if that wasn’t enough, Cobra also decided to add heel-biased weighting to keep your shots straight and under control more consistently.
If this is not the most useful iron for beginners and even high handicappers, then I don’t know what is!
Key Features
TaylorMade SIM MAX Irons
- Speed Bridge: Revolutionary Speed Bridge technology strategically supports the...
- ECHO Damping System: Designed with energy channeling geometry to quickly eliminate...
- Speed Pocket: Patented TaylorMade technology engineered to maximize face flexibility...
One reason why TaylorMade’s SIM MAX Irons are known as the best is the phenomenal Speed Bridge technology. This revolutionary feature supports the iron’s topline strategically. In simple words, it unlocks explosive distance, greater forgiveness, and improved feel and sound.
TaylorMade’s exclusive Speed Pocket is also included for maximizing clubface flexibility i.e. increasing forgiveness and ball speed on low-face hits. Progressive Inverted Cone technology makes an appearance in the SIM MAX irons as well. What’s new is the ECHO damping system for eliminating harsh vibrations during impact. Game-improving irons for sure!
Also, it feels like a relief, for a high handicapper, to witness the golf ball jumping off these TaylorMade irons on a consistent basis.
Key Features
Cleveland Golf Men’s Launcher CBX Iron Set
- Tour zip grooves
- Double laser milling
- Progressive V sole
Hands down, these are the best cavity-back golf irons ever played! Let me introduce you to Cleveland Launcher CBX. It’s all about producing spin consistency, exceptional ball speed, and improved distance control. Because of features like double laser milling, Tour zip grooves, Launcher cup face, and feel balancing technology.
Now I know that high-handicap golfers are more concerned with consistency. And so are mid-handicappers, which is why they choose only these irons that improve shot consistency. But let’s just say you’re one of those who demand maximum forgiveness as well from your every club.
In that light, you’re certainly not heading toward any disappointments because these irons feature a progressive V-shaped sole. And such a progressive design provides lift and forgiveness for every iron.
Key Features
Callaway Golf Men’s Rogue Irons Set
- Golf Digest 2018 Hot List Gold Medal Winner! Rogue Irons are the best combination of...
Every article that reviews the most forgiving irons has to include Callaway. And you know why? Because if it doesn’t, then you start to doubt the evaluation process of the reviewer. That said, these Callaway irons are perfect for high handicappers as well as beginners.
Each iron offers the much-needed combination of playability, distance, and accuracy. All thanks to the brand’s exclusive VFT, urethane microspheres, 360 Face Cup, and multi-material construction. These features bring into play faster ball speed, extraordinary precision, optimal launch, improved feel and sound, and more.
High handicappers are sure to consistently shoot 4 to 5 strokes lower, sometimes even better, per round.
Key Features
TaylorMade M3 Iron Set
- TaylorMade's new M3 irons are packed with a combination of new performance...
- Their new RIBCOR design transfers more energy to the golf ball by stiffening the...
- High-density tungsten weighting in the sole optimizes the center of gravity position...
TaylorMade infused its phenomenal RIBCOR technology to make these irons an ideal choice for golfers new to the game. RIBCOR has the ability to stiffen the clubhead perimeter and localize clubface flexibility. The former enhances feel and sound while the latter transfers greater energy to your golf ball for maximizing forgiveness and distance.
RIBCOR also mitigates the flexibility of the toe region. And that means tighter shot dispersion. So the answer to why should you, as a beginner, buy TaylorMade M3? is RIBCOR.
Key Features
TaylorMade Golf P790 Iron Set
- Forged Hollow Body Construction
- SpeedFoam
- Low Profile Tungsten Weighting
Now it’s time for TaylorMade’s Progressive Inverted Cone technology and Speed Pocket technology. The first one protects ball speed on your off-center strikes. And Speed Pocket maximizes forgiveness and ball speed on low-face hits.
Needless to say, beginners are bound to get drawn in as they’re more likely to produce off-center shots or mis-hits. Even the chances of lowering your high handicap down to 70s are pretty high.
On top of that, low-profile tungsten weighting lowers the CG for generating a higher launch. Then comes the forged hollow body construction that delivers explosive distance. Even senior golfers who struggle with distance can benefit from the well-engineered structure of these irons.
Key Features
Callaway Men’s Apex CF16 Individual Iron
- Distance with playability: this is our first Face cup in a forged players iron. We've...
- Scoring performance through the set: the progressive Offset, sole widths, cg height...
- Multi-piece construction: this high Tech construction goes through the whole set to...
Not a set but an extremely soft-feeling forged iron for beginners. Callaway’s revolutionary 360 Face Cup technology combines with the precision-engineered forged Apex structure. So an outcome such as meteoric distance with maximum playability is inevitable.
On top of that, there’s the combination of optimal notch weighting, CG height, sole width, and progressive off-set for bringing into your game the maximum amount of control and forgiveness. It’s a great individual iron for both beginners and high handicappers.
Key Features
Mizuno JPX919 Forged Golf Iron Set
Apart from being able to boost ball speed consistently, irons for all handicap golfers should feel incredible to hold and also delightful to swing. If you agree, then do take into account these Mizuno JPX919 Forged Irons. First of all, their high-quality is quite noticeable.
Now let’s talk about the larger clubface area with its minimal thickness. What this CNC-milled clubface does is generates greater ball speed consistently. The irons also enhance launch and stability.
And those unable to produce a solid feel on their own, for example high-handicap and newbie golfers, can rely on the grain flow forged high-density of the impact area to deliver not only a solid but also a soft, consistent feel. The set is well worth the money in my opinion.
Key Features
Mizuno MP-18 MMC Fli Hi Iron
- Hollow body, long iron replacement
- Optimized weighting provides a very low, deep COG for high and easy launch
- Satin nickel, non glare, chrome finish
This Mizuno innovation is one of the best hollow-bodied, long-iron alternatives for beginners. The Fli Hi design consists of optimized weighting, which creates a very low and deep CG. So you can launch more easily and higher.
Even the visual appeal is nothing short of extraordinary, with its non-glare, satin nickel-chrome finish. And since the iron is fit for beginners, it’s only natural to assume that the shaft is lightweight.
With an iron like this in your golf bag, you can give your driver a break whenever it misbehaves.
Key Features
Cobra King Forged Tec One Length Black Iron Set
- One length set makeup-re-engineered to match 7-iron length and weighting in order to...
- DBM Black Finish-Cobra's most durable satin black finish. DBM (Demonized Black Metal)...
- Carbon feel technology-a lightweight, carbon fiber medallion dampens vibrations at...
Let me make it very clear that this one-length iron set is well-engineered to match the weighting and length of a 7-iron. And that means you get maximum consistency and simplicity throughout the set. And every iron in here features a lightweight, carbon fiber medallion for dampening vibrations during impact. So you can experience a soft and solid feel.
Tungsten weighting strategically positioned to deliver more precision and forgiveness. And Cobra’s exclusive Connect sensor technology lets you track improvement with the help of detailed analysis and statistics. And let’s not forget the durable, wear-resistant satin black finish.
Key Features
What to Look for In the Best Beginner Golf Irons
If you want to launch higher and hit farther with your irons, which is just what beginners demand from their golf clubs. Then there are a few key features to keep in mind at the time of buying.
Shaft Material
Let me point out that not just irons but even the best golf clubs for beginners are built with an incredibly forgiving shaft. And that forgiveness takes the form of graphite instead of steel. Lightweight graphite shafts allow your shots to travel along your target direction even when the iron does not connect with the golf ball properly.
That’s the beauty of lightweight shafts; that they maximize distance and trajectory. In fact, the lighter they are, the more distance you can achieve even with a slower or average swing speed in the case of a high golf handicap as well.
Shaft Flex
The next is shaft flex. More flex is better for slower swingers in golf. More often than not, high handicappers as well as beginners have a swing speed below 90-100 mph. That said, Regular flex seems like a good fit.
On the other hand, if your swing speed is above 100 mph, then opt for Stiff or Extra Stiff shaft flex. These options are rarely preferred by beginners/high handicappers since they’re meant for golfers with an ultra-fast swing speed i.e. professionals.
Clubhead Design
The clubhead is supposed to be larger for you to strike the golf ball in a much easier manner. And this especially useful since you’re more likely to struggle with using the correct angle and connecting the club and ball together. So, at such times, a bigger surface area comes in handy.
Hybrids
Should beginners or high-handicap players use hybrids? The answer is based on your particular golfing preferences and style. But there’s no denying that most of them find long irons more difficult to hit. And that explains why they replace these long irons with hybrids. No doubt, hybrids are much easier to hit.
Type of Iron
So there are cavity-back irons and muscle irons. Which ones are more suitable for your swing speed and handicap? The former, without the shadow of a doubt. Cavity-back irons are definitely easier to hit as well as more forgiving.
But these types of irons, unlike blades, fail to shape your shots and deliver better control and playability. Nevertheless, the cavity-back design is better suited for entry-level golfing skills.
Center of Gravity (Forgiveness)
When the center of gravity (CG) of the golf iron is very low and deep, the club automatically becomes more forgiving. In many irons, low-profile tungsten weighting is strategically positioned to lower the CG, so you can generate higher launch.
Speaking of which, a wide sole and large sweet spot also improve the forgiveness factor of irons and other golf clubs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Golf Irons Should Be In A Set?
In a standard complete golf set, you get seven irons as well as the pitching wedge. The seven irons include 9-iron, 8-iron, 7-iron, 6-iron, 5-iron, 4-iron, and 3-iron, along with the pitching wedge of course.
The higher the number, the easier to hit the iron. That means 3-irons and 4-irons are the most difficult to hit, which explains why most beginners and high handicappers choose higher loft fairway woods as they’re more forgiving and give you the extra distance.
How Many Irons to Get As A High-Handicapper?
Can you break 90? If not, then stay away from 3-5 irons because these golf clubs demand pro-level power and swing. So you need to first learn the art of hitting long irons, which isn’t an easy task and requires a certain level of golfing experience.
Moving on, choose hybrids instead as they hand out more forgiveness and distance in the case of a high handicap. What hybrids do is take your shots nearer to the green. Along with getting the golf ball into the air and down to the turf more quickly.
But what really are hybrids? They’re a combination of the most forgiving features of fairway woods and irons. These golf clubs are the most useful to tackle common hurdles like fairway bunkers and deep grass.
If you’re well-versed with golf club sets, then you might already know that top brands like Callaway, TaylorMade, Cobra, Cleveland, etc. are including hybrids as a substitute for difficult-to-hit 3, 4, and 5 irons.
What Are Golf Irons Made Of?
The majority of irons are made using steel. There are forged golf irons too. And those that have tungsten weighting as well.
What Iron Is the Easiest to Hit?
These, unquestionably, would be game improvement irons. Those that maximize forgiveness and produce a greater trajectory.
And since we’re talking about the easiest to hit irons, let me also bring to your attention that the list doesn’t include long irons i.e. 3-irons and 4-irons, which are the most difficult for high-handicap and beginner golfers to hit.
What Is A High Handicap In Golf?
When 18 is your handicap index, it means you fall in the category of high handicappers. At the same time, it implies that you finish the hole a shot over par.
What Is the Average Handicap In Golf?
A decent handicap is somewhere between 10 and 18.
What Is A Good Handicap for Beginner Golfers?
Based on statistics, an average of 108 seems like a decent handicap for a newbie in golf.
What Is the Lowest Golf Handicap?
The record for the lowest score is 58.
Conclusion
In this article, the reviews section covers all sorts of golf iron sets that work best for beginners and high handicappers. Brands like Callaway, TaylorMade, Cobra, Mizuno, Cleveland, and more have surely made it to the list.
I can tell you for certain that beginner irons in golf feature technologies to maximize forgiveness and, ultimately, boost distance. Even if your swing speed is slower, average, or reasonable!
These irons, after all, are a result of years and years of research. Top brands spend millions of dollars into developing golf clubs to fine-tune your game on the course. And the sole purpose of beginner irons is to deliver explosive distance while also being highly forgiving and easier to launch.
Related Articles
