Best Players’ Distance Irons 2022: Tried and Tested
Published:
What are the best players’ distance irons? Our test team puts 13 models through their paces to find out which 2022 iron tops the data charts for lower handicap golfers.
Looking for a newer model? Check out our pick of the latest best golf irons in all categories.
The players’ distance irons have only been a category since 2015, when PXG founder Bob Parsons tasked his top engineers to create an iron that looked like a blade but played like a cavity-back. The original 0311 changed the shape of the irons market, with TaylorMade, Titleist, and Ping all revealing models by 2018.
The category’s growth is down to aspirational aesthetics combined with faster ball speeds and more distance than traditional players’ irons.
But who are players’ distance irons for? From our experience, many players who use category 1 (muscleback blades) and category 2 (players’ irons) would actually be better suited to players’ distance irons. They’re certainly not a wonder drug for all golfers… but if you’re anything from a 12-handicapper to a low single-figure player then they’re well worth your attention.
Best Players’ Distance Iron – our top picks:
Most forgiving ‘players’ distance‘ iron: Ben Hogan PTx Pro
Longest and fastest players’ distance iron: Mizuno Pro 225
Best players’ distance iron for launch: Titleist T200
Find out more about players’ irons here. You can also read how we carried out all of our irons tests, find out what our forgiveness ratings mean, and see which irons performed best overall and in the players’, mid-handicap and high-handicap categories.
If you’re in the market for any other new gear, make sure you read our guides to the year’s best equipment. And, if you can, always get fitted for your clubs, as that’s the only way to optimise new models for your game.
EXPLAINED: How we test golf equipment
Let’s take a look at the best players’ distance irons of 2022.
Our test pro’s data has the P790 as being three yards back on carry distance (which of course is nothing) from the very longest, but the metrics that will appeal to above-average golfers are how it launched and flighted shots higher, as well as descending onto the green at a steeper angle (than our test average), which obviously helps stop approaches.
A brilliant iron for decent golfers, but a new lighter shaft opens up the regular flex to more average speed players, too.
Read our full review of the TaylorMade P790 irons
Coupled with our fastest ball speed (125.5 mph) in the category, the 225 also hit shots into the smallest dispersion area (89.6 yds2). That’s a seriously impressive performance at both ends of the scale.
It also protected carry distance brilliantly (third-best drop off) and was our joint longest model (tied with the PXG 0311 P Gen4) of the year. This is a fantastic set. Even Mizuno irons weren’t this good five years ago, which shows how far iron designs have come.
Read our full review of the Mizuno Pro 225 irons
The difference demonstrates brilliantly what modern players’ distance irons bring to the party for reasonably consistent but more distance-focused golfers. Our data has the ZX7 a yard back from our longest iron (the Mizuno Pro 225 and Mizuno Pro 225), so there’s nothing in it if you’re choosing purely on distance.
Even though the ZX5s will be two years old come August 2022 they’re still an attractive purchase for reasonable golfers who put a premium on how irons look and feel. A classically-styled model that won’t be dating any time soon.
Read our full review of the Srizon ZX5 irons
We love how the i525’s styling sits really well alongside the cracking i59, and how four extra face grooves build the perception the model is a really good players’ iron.
In terms of data from our best golf irons test, it was just two yards back from our very longest (179 v 177yds), so anyone looking for the best players’ distance irons of the year has to have the i525 in the frame. It’s just as powerful as it is gorgeous to look at and hit.
Read our full review of the Ping i525 irons
Thanks to a very clever weight system behind the center point of the face, each iron can be weighted up or down, so you have the opportunity of trying lighter or heavier irons (which can help boost ball speed and/or impact consistency), along with the ability to use longer or shorter shafts.
The iron does all that without moving the center of gravity by positioning weight inside the hosel or around the head like the competition. A very strong performer.
Read our full review of the PXG 0311 P Gen4 irons
The model was among our fastest irons in the category, as our pro’s 124.2mph ball speed average was only bettered by two other irons (the Mizuno Pro 225 and Mizuno JPX921 Forged). Eleven yards of carry difference covered off all 13 models tested within this category, the D9 though stood out as it was just two yards back from our very longest.
We don’t have a confirmed price for the D9, but it’s unlikely to be that much more than its predecessor (the D7 Forged), which was £699.
Read our full review of the Wilson D9 Forged irons
Best of the Rest: Players’ Distance Irons
Our pro liked the feel and sound of the Pro, so we reckon many club golfers are unlikely to even spot the cast v forged differential.
Read our full review of the Callaway Rogue ST Pro irons
That means at some point they’re likely to be replaced, so if you’re the type of player who likes the latest model it might be worth waiting a few months to see what comes down Mizuno’s product pipeline next.
Either that or see the Mizuno Pro 225 as a great if slightly more expensive alternative.
Read our full review of the Mizuno JPX921 Forged irons
The Apex wasn’t quite our fastest (in fact it was 3.6mph slower than the fastest iron in the category) or longest (the model was six yards back from our longest 7-iron) but we’d still love a set in our bag this year.
Read our full review of the Callaway Apex 21 irons
It was best in the category at protecting both ball speed and carry drop-off and grouped shots into his third-smallest dispersion area. Just two yards behind our very longest, too.
Read our full review of the Honma T//World TR20P irons
What other players’ distance irons did we test?
We tested 13 players’ distance irons in total as part of our full irons test, which saw us test 66 sets in total to find the best of 2022. The data showing how every players’ distance model performed overall and in terms of forgiveness can be found below to help you find the best model for you.
As well as the 10 we’ve highlighted as the top performers, we also tested the Cobra King Forged Tec, Ben Hogan PTx Pro, and Titleist T200.
Best Players’ Distance Irons 2022: Launch Monitor Data
Best Players’ Distance Irons 2022: Forgiveness/Dispersion Launch Monitor Data
How we carried out our 2022 best players’ distance golf irons test
– We created an indoor test lab at Keele Golf Centre to ensure a controlled environment
– The leading brands supplied their 2022 irons in our Test Pro Neil Wain’s spec.
– We used premium TaylorMade TP5x golf balls and a Foresight GC Quad launch monitor to create the most reliable data possible.
– We rejected major misses but recorded how shots launched, span, peaked and dropped out of the air, before crunching the numbers to come up with our conclusions.
EXPLAINED: How we test golf equipment
How we analyzed our best golf irons data
Before we came to any conclusions, we analyzed the data for each club tested; on distance, spin rates, and forgiveness. The latter we refer to as drop-offs; are the differences in ball speed, spin and carry between our test pro’s on- and off-center hits.
This insight gives a reliable indication of how forgiving each model will be on the course, as we’ve argued for years that dispersion can be very misleading as it’s based on how you swing on a particular day. We analysed all that data before choosing winners.
What our iron forgiveness ratings mean
Category 5: Hybrid Irons
Hybrid irons have been the much-maligned black sheep of irons for years, but they now represent a huge opportunity to keep golfers – who typically lose 0.5 mph of clubhead speed each year once they hit 60 – in the game for longer.
There has been a growing trend in this area in recent years. Not only are brands showing more interest in producing hybrid irons, but golfers are also more willing to use them. The extra playability that hybrids have brought to the long game has transformed many golfers’ games in the past decade.
If your game or swing speed has gone south, hybrid irons are a brilliant option.
Typical performance traits
In the hands of average club golfers, hybrid irons are more forgiving than any other model. They have big wide soles to launch shots high with increased forgiveness, while designers claim they also help prevent digging into the turf, thereby reducing fat shots.
It’s exactly the type of styling that led golfers to fall in love with long iron replacement hybrids/rescues. The centre of gravity in hybrid irons is far lower and deeper than in a typical cavity-back iron.
Who should use hybrid irons?
Golf should be fun and hybrid Irons can turn a frustrating round into an enjoyable one. The extra playability means more shots carry sand and water hazards. Hybrid Irons aren’t just for players with slower swings. They’re for anybody who wants to reduce frustration and have more fun.
RELATED: Best Golf Shot Tracking Devices
Category 4: Super Game Improver Irons
This category is as forgiving as it gets if you insist that an iron needs to look like an iron and you’re resistant to exploring hybrid iron alternatives.
Historically, golfers have traded looks for forgiveness in this category, but modern models have come a long way in recent years. It’s now possible to get your hands on an iron like the Ping G710, which is not only great looking but also super forgiving and powerful.
Better yet, it won’t highlight you as a hacker before you’ve even hit a shot!
Typical performance traits
Historically, super game-improver models have big chunky heads, thick toplines and even wider soles. The best of the latest models challenge that thinking, though, thanks to dense tungsten weighting that places critical mass in very specific areas of the head.
Category 4 models have either a deep cavity-back or a hollow head and they’re very often the lightest in a brand’s iron range. Shafts are often lighter with softer tip sections to increase launch and spin, which helps maximise distance at lower speeds.
Some models unashamedly reduce weight to naturally add speed. This is great as long as your swing isn’t too weight-sensitive and you lose the ability to ‘time’ shots. It’s worth remembering that the larger the head size, the easier it is to get an iron face to flex and add speed.
Who should use super game improver irons?
Golfers who aren’t afraid to admit that their game needs as much help as they can get their hands on is a reasonable rule of thumb here. Whereas game-improver models often suit 20-handicap golfers and below, super game-improver models fill the gap above this really nicely.
However, make sure that you’re well aware of which models are lightweight and/or strong lofted and make a decision on which best suits your game after trialling both. Get that right and the irons within this category can seriously raise your enjoyment of the game.
Forgiveness Category 3.5: Game Improver Irons
This area of the market produces the most sales simply because there are more mid-high handicappers. Brands invest huge sums in developing new technology in this area.
Typical performance traits
There’s disagreement among brands as to whether this category should be home to their strongest loft irons and there’s a discussion to be had around whether strong loft irons are suited to the highest handicappers with the slowest swings. These players often struggle to launch strong loft irons high enough to optimise carry and backspin.
The extra offset pushes the CG back to aid launch. It’s not uncommon for these irons to be 10mm+ longer with sole widths some 45% wider than a Category 1 blade. Toplines are often twice the width of a blade, too.
Who should use game improver irons?
Fitted with slightly lighter shafts and, sometimes, a lighter swing weight, these irons help maximise swing speed. It’s no secret the engineers target 18–20 handicappers with these clubs.
Forgiveness Category 3: Game Improver Plus
When it comes to matching an iron to your ability, it’s really important not to confuse this category with full out game-improver models. Simply put, they’re not.
As a benchmark, the Ping G iron has always been a stalwart of the traditional game-improver category but the current G410 falls into our Category 3.5. Category 3 models are a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Very often, Category 3 and Category 3.5 irons end up in the hands of improving golfers, but they subtly target different players, hence why Callaway make both an Apex 19 (forged and in Category 3) and a Mavrik (cast and in Category 3.5).
Typical performance traits
The fact that five of our eight Category 3 irons are forged tells the story of who they’re aimed at. And just to highlight the point, none of the Category 3.5 models are forged.
Models in this category will have either a decent-sized/depth cavity-back or a hollow head. The cast PXG 0211s are a great example of a set that combines compact, less offset short-irons with larger, more forgiving mid- and long-irons to appeal to golfers seeking both looks and performance within a single set.
Offset will often be a fraction less than with full-on game-improver models, while toplines will be a fraction wider than in Player Irons. Lofts will likely be a little stronger than those of a Players’ Distance iron. On average, our eight Category 3 models had 1.4° less 7-iron loft (30.1°) than Category 2.5 models, which means they can target ball speed and distance.
Who should use game improver plus irons?
If you’re a mid-handicap golfer, you absolutely should look at some of the models within this category. To be the best match, though, it’s highly likely your handicap will be 15 or below – depending on your ball-striking confidence.
Category 3.5 models bring together traits often best-suited to 18-20 handicappers and below. Category 3 models usually offer a decent-looking clubhead, which is often forged, along with added speed and distance for golfers who don’t quite have the ball striking prowess to use one of the two Player Iron categories.
RELATED: Best Golf Training Aids
Forgiveness Category 2.5: Players’ Distance Irons
In 2015, PXG founder Bob Parsons tasked his top engineers with the unenviable challenge of creating an iron that looked like a blade but played like a cavity-back. What they came back with – the original 0311 – changed the iron market.
TaylorMade joined the hollow-body players’ distance iron market in 2017 with the P790. It became the brand’s biggest-selling forged iron ever. Titleist then launched the popular 718 AP3 and Ping joined the party in 2018 with their i500.
The rapid growth of this category can not only be attributed to aspirational aesthetics but faster ball speeds and more distance than traditional players’ irons.
Typical performance traits
In many instances, the clubhead size in this category will be a little larger to inspire more confidence at address. And don’t expect too much hosel offset, either. The toplines are reasonably thin and shaft weights tend to be a little lighter than those found in blades.
The face might be forged – as found in the TaylorMade P790, Ping i500 and Cobra King Forged Tec – while several models favour hollow body technology. The average 7-iron loft in this category was 2° stronger than in the Category 1 models, which inevitably means extra ball speed and distance.
You may find some fast-face technology in these clubs, too, while some kind of internal tungsten weighting is also common. This gives the manufacturers’ engineers the ability to manipulate the centre-of-gravity location in the clubhead to help shots launch higher from a stronger loft as well as deliver more forgiveness over Category 1 and Category 2 models. That’s some seriously good food for thought.
Who should use players’ distance irons?
Don’t be fooled by our data into thinking that Players’ Distance Irons are the wonder drug for all golfers… they’re not. What the data does show, though, is what’s on the line when a golfer chooses either a Category 1 or Category 2 model when, in fact, they should be playing a Category 2.5 iron.
While the typical shaft weight and profile were perfect for our test pro, many mid-handicap and above golfers would benefit from the slightly lighter weight and added consistency of a Category 3, Category 4 or even a Category 5 model. Irons in this category bridge the gap from traditional game-improver to player models brilliantly, which means they usually work best for golfers with handicaps of 12 and below.
Forgiveness Category 2: Players’ Irons
The fact this category is played by Major champions Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Shane Lowry and Jason Day (among many others), tells you all you need to know about who should be considering these clubs.
If you’re an impressive ball-striker who is seeking beautiful looking irons while still looking for some forgiveness from what is effectively a blade-shape head, then this is the right category for you.
Typical performance traits
Player irons generally are pretty similar to blades for hosel offset, topline thickness and sole width. The majority are forged (with the exception of Ping’s models) as the decent players who use them often believe forging delivers a premium feel/sound. Plus, it’s worth remembering that more than 90% of tour events are won by players using forged models.
For us, a Category 2 model must have some type of cavity-back, either shallow as with the Mizuno JPX919 Tour or deeper as found in the Honma T//World 747 Vx. There absolutely will be no thin fast-face tech (not in the mid-to short-irons anyway), as many purists believe that face flex leads to inconsistencies.
Lofts generally are fairly traditional, since golfers at this level want very consistent gapping and predictable yardages, even on slight mishits.
Who should use players’ irons?
It goes without saying that you need to be a decent ball-striker to get the best out of Player irons. That means you’ll need to be very close to a category one golfer. There’s a very good reason why Players Distance irons (forgiveness Category 2.5) have become so popular over the last few years.
It’s because they bridge the gap that was really difficult to cover when golf didn’t have fast-face tech, strong lofts or hollow body constructions. If you can tolerate some modern tech, you can not only get extra ball speed and distance but more forgiveness, too.
Forgiveness Category 1: Muscleback Irons
Musclebacks, also known as blades, are not only the most traditional irons, they’re also the most unforgiving, hence our forgiveness rating of 1. Any golfer thinking of buying a set of blades should have no real desire to add any extra speed, distance or forgiveness to their game.
In fact, the 10% of tour pros who use blades typically do so because the forgiveness levels are so low. It means they can shape shots at will while barely needing to alter their swing.
Typical performance traits
Blades are typically forged rather than cast. The forging process that stamps the irons into shape under high pressure compresses and aligns the grain of the metal more closely, which is said to improve feel and feedback. Musclebacks also have the least amount of hosel offset, which means the centre of gravity (CG) of the clubhead is further forward.
A forward CG delivers a lower, more penetrating ball flight, even though blades tend to have the highest lofts of any iron category. Head sizes are generally very compact, while soles and top lines are typically very slender, which means they should appeal only to the very best ball-strikers.
Most blades come as standard with heavy 120g+ shafts since the more accomplished golfers who use them typically create more swing speed.
Who should use muscleback irons?
There’s a strong school of thought among some hardcore golfers that blades are the only true way to play the game. Some also swear that blades are the best way to learn the game because you’re severely punished for mishits and therefore have to focus more intently on developing a robust swing technique.
Regardless, to get the best out of Category 1 irons you’ll need a handicap
About the author
Simon Daddow – Today’s Golfer Equipment Editor
Having tested and played more than 10,000 clubs in his life, what Simon doesn’t know about golf clubs isn’t worth knowing.
He spent a large part of his career as a golf club maker and product development manager, and has worked in the golf industry for more than 30 years. He joined EMAP Active (now Bauer Media) as Equipment Editor in 2006 and has worked for both Today’s Golfer and Golf World.
You can contact Simon via email and follow him on Twitter for loads more golf equipment insight.
-
Best players distance irons 2022
