While these irons are certainly aimed at the better player they still offer a generous amount of forgiveness and would be perfect for blending with either the TaylorMade P790s or the P7CBs.
In terms of performance, thanks to the FLTD CG, the long irons are able to generate plenty of spin and a towering ball flight, while the scoring clubs in the set are easy to flight down for a more penetrating ball flight.
Offering a strong, stable ball flight, these irons are receptive and allow for plenty of workability through the air. When coupled with the buttery soft feel off the face, and added punch, courtesy of the hollow body construction, they are a very versatile set that not only look the part, but play it too.
Foam-Injected Hollow Head – Enhances feel, improves acoustics, and expands the sweet spot for more forgiving off-center strikes.
V-Sole Technology – Ensures smooth turf interaction, reducing digging and making it easier to hit clean shots from various lies.
Customizable Build – Offers multiple shaft, grip, loft, and lie options, allowing golfers to tailor the irons to their specific needs.
Price: £799.99
The new Ben Hogan Legend Irons present outstanding value for players who want a blend of timeless looks and state-of-the-art performance.
Forgiving yet precise, smooth yet powerful—these irons offer the best of both worlds.
The Ben Hogan Legend Irons’ foam-injected hollow head is more than a gimmick—it’s a game-changer. This specialized foam enhances acoustics and feel, providing that crisp, satisfying sensation at impact. More importantly, it expands the sweet spot to make off-centre strikes far less punishing – and for mid-to-high handicappers that is a huge a confidence booster.
Ben Hogan Golf continues to honour its namesake’s legacy with clubs that exemplify craftsmanship, innovation, and playability.
The Legend Irons don’t just help you play better—they make golf feel effortless, turning the ‘game of misses’ into a game of confidence.
READ OUR FULL BEN HOGAN LEGEND IRONS REVIEW
Mizuno Pro 243 Irons
Mizuno Pro 243 Irons
Key Features
Grain Flow forging from Japan
Soft Copper Underlay
4120 Chromoly with Flow Microslot for 4-7 iron
1025E Pure Select Mild Carbon Steel for the 8-to-gap wedge
Price: £1,199
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Pros
A punchy iron with impressive speed for a small compact club
Significant improvements to previous iteration
Fantastic shelf appeal
Easy to combo set with the other irons in the 24-family
Cons
The Mizuno Pro 243 irons, part of the 2024 Pro 24 series, sit between the 241 and 245 models, offering a balance of performance, feel and forgiveness. Known for their premium feel, Mizuno irons have a reputation for quality, and the 243s continue this tradition.
With a thinner face and microslots in the longer irons, these clubs deliver impressive speed and feel.
Aimed primarily at low-handicap golfers, the slightly stronger lofts and added forgiveness make them accessible to players with handicaps in the low teens. The irons feature a refined blade length, minimal offset, and a satin finish, delivering classic Mizuno visual appeal. The feedback on off-centre strikes, especially toe strikes, is more muted, which some players may appreciate.
Performance-wise, the 243s offer excellent forgiveness and serious power with a lower spin due to stronger lofts. Despite this, they provide a high descent angle, allowing precision on approach shots and fantastic workability.
Overall, the Mizuno Pro 243 irons combine speed, forgiveness, and a premium feel, making them a strong contender for any golfer looking for high-quality forged irons. If you’re serious about golf, these irons should be on your radar at the moment.
READ OUR FULL MIZUNO PRO 243 IRONS REVIEW
Callaway Apex CB
Callaway Apex CB
Key Features
Body and face forged as one-piece: with 1025 carbon steel to produces a buttery soft feel at impact
Strategically placed MIM weights: create a perfectly balanced design for enhanced workability
Dynamic sole design: engineered to improve turf interaction with a pre-worn leading and trailing edge
Price: £1,109
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Pros
Excellent forgiveness for an iron aimed at elite ball strikers
The polished satin finish looks beautiful in hand and at address
Blend seamlessly with MB and Pro ranges
Cons
Noticeable wear on the face and back after only a few rounds
With a slightly thinner topline and weaker lofts than Callaway’s Apex Pro irons, the CBs are best suited to truly elite ball strikers.
The tour cavity back design is an update to the Apex TCB that has been incredibly popular with the world’s best players, most notably Jon Rahm.
The compact blade length and thin profile look beautiful behind the ball, albeit a little intimidating to us mere mortals, but in the hands of a low single-digit to scratch handicapper, it will look just right.
Similar in looks to both the MB and Pro irons, the CBs have a polished satin finish with the back featuring a shallow cavity with a textured design.
Struck from the middle, these irons produce that buttery soft feel you can expect from a fully forged head, and even on mis-hits, while there is more feedback, you don’t get that stingy sensation that can often come from a pure blade.
Improved turf interaction was one of the key areas of development for these irons, and they do move beautifully through the ground. Taking healthy divots, the sole glides effortlessly through the turf for an all-around excellent striking experience.
READ OUR FULL CALLAWAY APEX CB REVIEW
TaylorMade P7CB
TaylorMade P7CB
Key Features:
Optimised perimeter weighting: delivers a blend of workability and stability
Compact Tour shaping: every aspect of shaping designed to fit the eye of the elite ball striker
Precise milled face and grooves: deliver an optimal launch and spin combination for the ultimate control and precision
Price: £1,074
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Pros:
Super soft feel at impact
Updated aesthetics ooze shelf appeal
Five star control and responsiveness
Cons:
Soft forged steel does mark up quite easily
TaylorMade’s newest players iron the P7CB is the brands latest Tour inspired iron, that is designed to deliver optimla performance for the best players in the world.
In terms of aesthetics, TaylorMade has opted to slightly enlarge the profile of the head compared to the P7MCs making it slightly less intimidating down at address.
TaylorMade has also opted to utilise classic RAC styling on the rear of the head, a move that will undoubtedly appeal to those who love a bit of nostalgia from their irons.
In terms of feel, the P7CBs are without a doubt one of the softest forged irons we have tested from TaylorMade and considering they have withstood 2,000 tons of force during the forging process, it’s not hard to see why.
That softness translates beautifully into a wonderful forged feel and crisp muted sound at impact that we absolutely love.
When discussing players irons it’s less about power and forgiveness and more about control and workability, and the P7CBs excel in both disciplines.
We found these irons incredibly easy to work through the air, and they delivered outstanding results out on the course, holding greens with pin point accuracy.
A very impressive offering from TaylorMade and without a doubt one of the best players irons money can buy right now.
READ OUR FULL TAYLORMADE P7CB IRONS REVIEW
Callaway Apex Ti Fusion
Callaway Apex Ti Fusion
Key Features
Titanium Ai Smart Face: yields consistent ball speed, spin, and dispersion
Urethane microspheres: combine with the titanium face to deliver the feel of a single-piece forged iron
Brazed titanium construction: utilises titanium’s unique properties combined with steel to deliver premium feel and performance
Price: £2,170
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Pros
Ultra premium looks
Titanium face delivers very high ball speeds for a players iron
Remarkably forgiving for such a compact profile
Cons
Very expensive
All black finish does show up marks quite quickly
The newest addition to Callaway’s Iron lineup, the Ti Fusions utilise a mixed material design that features a forged titanium face and a forged steel body.
The introduction of titanium is designed to give the face greater flexion and less weight, allowing it generate greater speed from across the striking area.
In terms of aesthetics the Apex Tis look superb, the matte black finish is ultra premium and the chrome branding delivers perfect contrast. We did notice that the black finish did mark up quickly which is a slight downside.
The irons also feature a compact profile that sits between the Apex Pros and the Apex Ai200s in terms of blade length, topline width and offset.
From a performance perspective, the Fusions deliver excellent speed and surprisingly good forgiveness from across the face. The irons also deliver a suitable amount of feedback and sublime forged feel at impact.
Coming in at £2,170, these irons are the most expensive on this list, so you will need deep pockets if you fancy a set.
READ OUR FULL CALLAWAY TI FUSION IRONS REVIEW
Titleist T100
Titleist T100
Key Features
Dual-cavity forged construction features an updated back bar, designed to produce a more solid feel at impact
Using dense D18 tungsten and a 2000 degrees aerospace brazing process, Titleist’s engineers have eliminated weld points to be ultra-precise with CG placement
Precision CNC face milling process delivers more control and consistency in ball flight
Improved variable bounce sole with a smoother and softer trailing edge
Price: £1,071
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Pros
One of the best-looking irons Titleist has made
Super solid feel at impact
Most forgiving player’s irons we have tested this year
Cons
Require elite ball striking in order to maximise carry distance and ball speed
Considered Titleist’s modern Tour iron, the sleek T100 irons are clearly designed for the better player. Featuring minimal offset and a thin topline (particularly in the longer irons), these irons have a refined profile that will suit the eye of better ball strikers.
A significant aesthetic change sees the classic Titleist logo placed in the centre of the back of the club. This might not seem like much of a change to some, but when you compare it to the previous iteration, it’s clear that there has been a big improvement in looks.
From the testing at Titleist’s national performance centre, we were impressed with the consistent turf interaction we received from the T100s. The variable bounce sole is a big improvement from the 2021 model, and this was very noticeable through impact.
Although these irons are not designed for forgiveness, the spin consistency stuck out on off-centre strikes. We were still able to maintain spin above 6000 RPM on strikes that were off-centre. With other irons, we’ve tested, this variance was far greater.
To be expected from Titleist, the feel of these clubs was fantastic. The fully forged construction felt soft out of the centre, and even when struck out of the toe or heel, we were impressed with in hand sensation we experienced.
Typically opting to use more of a player’s distance iron, we did notice a drop off in ball speed and carry distance with the T100 irons, but what we gained was a much more consistent ball flight with greater spin control and accuracy.
READ OUR FULL TITLEIST T100 IRONS REVIEW
Cobra King Tour
Cobra King Tour
Key Features
Updated tour shape: a slightly shortened blade length designed to inspire improved control and workability
5-Step forged: adding an additional step to the traditional 4-step forged process provides a more uniform grain structure and precise head shape
CNC Milled Undercuts: placed in the back of each iron, the undercuts allow weight to be relocated for a lower CG and improved launch
TPU Inserts: filling the cavity at the back of the club, the TPU material topped with an aluminium co-mould medallion reduces vibrations for improved sound and feel
Price: £1099
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Pros
Great consistency on distance even with mishits
Sleek profile looks fantastic behind the ball for players who prefer a thin top line
High launch allows for good stopping power on the greens
Cons
There are better looking irons in the category
The Cobra King Tour irons offer a blend of sleek design, power, and forgiveness, making them suitable for golfers ranging from scratch to a 7-handicap.
Despite a potentially intimidating appearance at address, these irons really impressed during testing, offering excellent carry distances even on off-centre strikes.
Featuring minimal offset and a thin top line, the irons boast a refined profile, appealing to those seeking a Tour iron aesthetic. The five-step forging process ensures a hot feel off the face with noticeable feedback on off-centre strikes, while CNC milled undercuts optimise weight distribution for high launch and quick stopping power.
Considering their sleek looks, performance, and reasonable price point, the Cobra King Tour irons emerge as a strong contender in the market, and are one of the contenders for the most underrated iron of the season.
Overall, these irons blend the best of Tour aesthetics with power and forgiveness, making them a worthy consideration for golfers seeking a powerful player’s iron.
READ OUR FULL COBRA KING TOUR REVIEW
Wilson Staff Model CB
Wilson Staff Model CB
Key Features
Fluid Feel Hosel: designed for a more flowing feel and look at address
Precision Toe Weighting: allowing for better alignment of the CG to the centre of the face and expanding the impact area, while allowing for maximum forgiveness
Forged 8620 Carbon Steel: ensures ultimate feedback and a precise sensation at impact
Price: £859
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Pros
Updated design is a huge improvement on previous models
Blend seamlessly with Staff Model Blades
Consistently solid performance
Cons
Slightly clicky sound and feel at impact
Wilson has released two new models in the players category this year, the CBs and a new set of Staff Model blades.
While both impressed us during testing, we believe the CBs are the superior set due to their versatility and the range of players that could use them.
One of the key areas of improvement on the new CBs is the face lift they have been given. A new badge and updated profile makes them one of the best looking irons in the category.
In terms of performance, these irons were very consistent and produced excellent distance numbers and spin rates. From across the face these irons provide a touch more forgiveness than the blades, which was another key factor in why they’ve made this list.
We did experience a slightly clicky feel and sound at impact, which was the only key negative we picked up in our review, however despite that we still believe considering their price point, improved aesthetics and solid performance, the Staff Model CBs are without a doubt one of the best player’s irons on the market.
READ OUR FULL WILSON STAFF MODEL CB IRONS REVIEW
PXG 0317T Irons
PXG 0317 T
Key Features
S Cor polymer fill: Increases spin performance for improved consistency and distance control
Hollow-bodied thin face design: designed to increase perimeter weighting, boost MOI, and improve forgiveness
Precision weighting: large centre weight can be used to achieve optimal swing weight
Precision milled face and back: every line designed to exact specifications for enhanced aesthetics
3x forged: from 8620 soft steel for tight grain structure, increased strength, and enhanced overall feel and sound
Price: £1,129
Pros
Outstanding levels of forgiveness
Sleek milled design
Compact head looks great at address
Cons
Slightly lower than optimal ball flight
Not the best feeling iron we’ve tested this year
The PXG 0317 T irons, positioned between the 0317 CBs and GEN6 0311 P Irons, blend Tour performance with forgiveness akin to the TaylorMade P790 and workability of the Callaway Apex CB.
Featuring innovative technology like S COR polymer fill and precision weighting, these irons offer a unique balance of forgiveness, aesthetics, and performance.
Testing revealed their suitability for low handicappers and those seeking enhanced playability. Visually, the irons impress with milled detailing and a split design on the back, providing a confidence-inspiring look.
While the feel might not match other models, the forgiveness stands out, with shots maintaining distance and trajectory remarkably well even on mis-hits.
Despite lower spin rates, the consistent performance and impressive forgiveness make them a solid choice.
With excellent distance and stunning aesthetics, the PXG 0317 T irons are an ideal choice for golfers desiring a sleek player’s iron with added forgiveness.
READ OUR FULL PXG 0317T IRONS REVIEW
Bettinardi CB24 Irons
Bettinardi CB24 Irons
Key Features
Tri Material Construction: high-density tungsten and military-grade CMC (Ceramic Matrix Composites) within the forged Carbon Steel body produce weight profiles that maximise forgiveness while maintaining balance and consistency
Progressive COG Positioning: Loft-dependent positioning of the tungsten and CMC components ensures precise COG placement in each iron for flight and spin optimisation in each iron
One Piece Co-Forged Solid Body: interior components are co-forged within the 1025 Carbon Steel chassis to deliver exceptional feel and responsiveness
Price: £1,255
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Pros:
Excellent shelf appeal
Solid performer in terms of both distance and spin
Lovely deep forged feel at impact
Cons
The Bettinardi CB24 irons stand out for their visual appeal, featuring chrome accents, a brushed satin finish, and luxurious honeycomb detailing in the cavity. While the back design is impressive, the look at address is somewhat less appealing due to the thick topline and aggressive hosel pinch, making them appear bulkier compared to other player irons like the Titleist T100s and Callaway Apex Pro CBs.
In terms of feel, the CB24s deliver a deep, striking sensation typical of forged irons, offering excellent feedback on both pure and poor strikes. On the course and in testing at Custom Golf Works, these irons produced ample distance and consistent spin rates around 5,400 rpm for a six iron.
They offer a neutral ball flight and are highly workable, suiting better players well. Turf interaction is smooth, creating solid divots on full shots, and the pitching wedge performs well around the green.
Despite their limited forgiveness on poor strikes, which is expected for player irons, the CB24s excel in overall performance and feel.
Priced at £1225, they are among the most expensive in their category, and while a lower price would be preferable, the premium construction and aesthetic appeal justify the cost.
Overall, the Bettinardi CB24 irons are a commendable first effort from the brand, offering excellent performance and a high-end look, making them a strong option for low-handicap golfers seeking new irons.
READ OUR FULL BETTINARDI CB24 REVIEW
RAM Axial Forged Irons
RAM Axial Forged Irons
Price: £400
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Pros:
Incredible value for money
Excellent turf interaction
Surprising amount of forgiveness for a blade
Cons
Slightly firmer than other forged blades on the market
RAM has quietly produced some really competitive irons this year, and the Axial Forged blades are perhaps the brand’s best offering to date.
Benefiting from a forged construction with CNC milling, these irons look superb, while also offering excellent feel, solid turf interaction and an impressive level of forgiveness.
Coming in at only £400 these irons deliver incredibly value, and would be perfect for golfers looking for a forged blade without wanting to break the bank.
It’s worth noting these irons are quite strongly lofted for blades, with the seven iron coming in 31 degrees.
They also deliver a firmer feel at impact than most options on this list. The minimalist design, impressive performance and exceptional price point make these irons one of the deals of the year in our eyes.
READ OUR FULL RAM AXIAL FORGED IRONS REVIEW
Ben Hogan PTx Tour Irons
Ben Hogan PTx Tour
Key Features
Individual iron optimisation: each iron has been specifically designed for optimal performance, with a variety of constructions and weights used throughout the set
1025 Carbon steel construction: delivers outstanding feel
V Sole: high-bounce leading edge and soft, lower-bounce trailing edge on the sole for improved turf interaction
Price: £699
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Pros:
Delightful forged feel at impact
Traditional design looks superb in hand and at address
Reasonable price provides excellent value
Cons
Occasional inconsistencies in launch from the mid-irons
The Ben Hogan PTx Tour Irons cater to skilled ball strikers with low handicaps, offering a blend of traditional design and modern performance.
Featuring a chrome finish with classic Hogan detailing, the set showcases a bladed profile in the scoring clubs and a minimal cavity in the longer irons, maintaining a tour-level appearance throughout.
The soft sensation at impact, typical of forged irons, provides consistent feedback across the set. Performance-wise, the irons offer remarkable workability, especially in the scoring clubs, with consistent spin rates and stopping power on greens.
However, occasional ballooning in longer irons may pose a challenge. Despite this, the forgiveness is notable, aided by foam injection and perimeter weighting, making them easier to launch.
Overall, they excel in distance, feel, and forgiveness, making them a solid choice for players seeking a traditional look with modern performance. With their direct-to-consumer model, Ben Hogan also offers excellent value compared to larger brands.
READ OUR FULL BEN HOGAN PTX IRONS REVIEW
Equipment Editor Alex Lodge
How we test golf irons GolfMagic tests irons both indoors and outdoors.
All testing is led by our Equipment Editor Alex Lodge
To test irons in both settings is very important because one provides us with statistical data and one provides a real-life experience on the golf course.
Testing irons in an indoor studio, such as Gray’s Golf, is important because this is how we discover the differences between old models and new models. We find out what improvements have been made and ultimately why we should spend our money on these clubs.
Whether it is launch angle, ball speed or overall distance, we use data gathered from the indoor environment to gather pros and cons about all iron sets.
But it is also important to hit the irons out on the golf course. We need to feel these new irons interact with the turf and gain a view of how they perform in real-life situations.
We hit these irons both from wooden tees and off the deck. We want to give you accurate reports on how these irons perform and which golfers they are aimed at to ensure you spend your money wisely.
Learn more about how we test golf equipment
PING Blueprint S
What is a player’s iron? Player irons, or better player irons as they are also known, are usually built with precision and feel in mind for players who want an added feature of workability in their game.
With a player’s iron, they often feel and look like a blade, but they also come with a little forgiveness which helps ball-striking and accuracy.
If the aim of your game is to control your ball flight and work the ball in the air, you should definitely consider buying a set.
They suit low handicappers and confident ball strikers.
Better player irons usually feature a thin sole with a thin top line too which slightly reduces forgiveness.
Game-improvement irons are much easier to hit. But the feel is often reduced.
Wilson Staff Model CB
Things to consider with your irons Moment of Inertia (MOI)
This term refers to the behaviour of our club face and how the club resists opening and closing. It is a measurement of a club’s resistance to twisting.
A high MOI golf club will be more forgiving than a low MOI golf club because it will be less likely to twist by the time the face connects with the ball.
When your club face hits the ball from the heel and the toe, this causes the club to twist and this ends in a loss of distance in most instances.
High MOI makes the club more resistant to twisting and increases the success and quality of off-centre strikes.
Centre of gravity (CG)
This term is the point in the club head where the weight is concentrated and balanced. This is usually found in the middle of the club head.
The centre of gravity is placed lower in the club head in bladed and player’s irons which is why it is so hard to hit these clubs. This is because if the CG is off-centre, this puts more side spin on the ball.
Players with high handicaps or slower swing speeds are suited to irons with a higher CG. These details essentially summarise why it is so important to be custom fitted and in possession of all the facts.
Loft and lie
Loft refer to the angle of each of your irons. This is fairly straightforward. For example, the most lofted club you can get your hands on is a 64-degree wedge and at the other end of the spectrum, you can buy drivers of eight or nine degrees.
The lie in an iron refers to the angle made by the line of the bottom of the shaft and the ground. A club with more lie has a shaft that points towards the ground at a steep angle.
The lie can impact how steep your swing is. A high lie angle could cause you to stand closer to the ball than an iron with a lower lie angle.
If you have a steep swing plane, you will want more lie in your irons. If you have a steep swing plane, this is suited to irons with a lower lie.
An indication of the correct feel of your irons is simple. If you look down at address and the bottom of the club is lying perfectly flat and the middle is facing the target, then this is the lie for you.
If your irons lie at an angle where the heel or the toe hits the ground before the middle of the club face, this is when your ball flights can be skewed. Once again, this is another feature that can be altered in custom fitting.
Sound and feel
The feel of your irons is very important. Regardless of whether you find the middle of the club face, you want a buttery feel from the irons and a satisfying connection.
Many features can contribute to the feel of your irons such as the type of shaft, the grip and the materials used in the club head.
The sound of your irons might not seem like an important aspect, but you don’t want to spend a fortune on your new collection and have them sound like a frying pan.
It is a feature that can become annoying if you play a lot of golf. When you hit an iron out the middle and the ball is soaring towards the hole, the last thing you want is the echo of a horrible sound that lingers each time.
Which irons are in your bag this season? What do you make of our results? Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels or come and visit us over on the GolfMagic YouTube Channel where you can check out all of our latest reviews.
