Best Golf Irons for Mid Handicappers - Our Picks

Our Pick for Top Overall Mid Handicap Irons

Taylormade Sim 2 Max Irons

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Review

The Taylormade Sim 2 Max irons are some of the best looking clubs we've ever seen. They sport a cleaner, classier look than their predecessor, and they are a real eye catcher.

They don't just look great, they are also very easy to hit. Getting the ball up is a breeze with these clubs, and they have one of the biggest sweet spots we've ever tested. There were plenty of shots we hit that were true and straight with these clubs that would have been ugly with just about any other club.

The longer the iron, the slightly deeper the cavity, which means you don't lose forgiveness when hitting the longer irons. And we found this to be the case. Again, shots that would have been bad mishits with other clubs were still straight with good distance with the Sim 2.

One of the most amazing things about these clubs is when you hit the ball cleanly, you see an increase in distance compared to other iron sets we tested. This is in part due to the lighter shaft, but also because these clubs get the ball off the ground so well, they were able to reduce the loft angle, providing better distance. This combination of extreme forgiveness and greater distance is due to technology that 5 or 6 years ago didn't exist.

The Taylormade Sim 2 irons are one of the most forgiving irons on the market that also provide an increase in distance and accuracy. And these irons won't hold you back as you get more and more advanced. They will grow with you and still be a great club as you venture into the advanced skill category. The combination of all these features is why we recommend these irons for intermediate golfers as our number 1 pick.

4.7
Driver & Woods
4.8
Irons
4.8
Wedges
4.7
Putter
4.9
Quality
4.8/5
Overall Score

Pros

  • Hitting straight is a breeze (reduces slices & hooks)
  • Great trajectory gets the ball up quickly
  • Really good looking and sounding clubs
  • Will help you improve to advanced skill levels and beyond

Cons

  • Not good for shaping shots (draws and fades)
  • Not suitable for very advanced players

Best Irons for Mid Handicapper on a Budget

Cleveland Launcher XL Halo Irons

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Review

Cleveland is well known for making some of the best wedges out there, especially for mid to low handicappers. They have, however, stepped their game up in their products pointed at average handicap golfers. The Cleveland Launcher XL Halo Irons have a good balance of improved distance while still providing plenty of forgiveness. They make hitting longer irons much easier while still providing a good amount of control and feel in the shorter irons.

You will notice more substantial cavity backs for forgiving shots in the longer irons, and you will enjoy how the sweet spot gets bigger and bigger as the irons get shorter. As the cavity backs get smaller, you get an increase in control.

These irons are very affordably priced for what you get in forgiveness and distance. If you want the best irons for average golfer on a budget, the Halo Irons are our top recommendation.

Pros

  • Good mix of forgiveness and improved distance
  • Nice feel and control in shorter irons
  • Nice trajectory and carry
  • Very affordably priced for quality irons

Cons

  • Not suitable for hitting draws or fades

Top Mid Handicap Irons for Getting to the Next Level

Mizuno JPX 923 Irons

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Review

The Mizuno JPX 923 have a feathery soft feel (typical of Mizuno) and can shape shots nicely. These resemble more of an advanced, classic style club, but still offer good forgiveness, which will appeal to a lot of mid handicap golfers.  

These clubs are for intermediate golfers really looking to start to shape shots through draws and fades while still enjoying a level of forgiveness. These would also be a great choice for ex-scratch players past their prime that still want to shape the ball like they used to.  

Mizuno is always a great option. Beware though – we've found that Mizuno club users typically stay with Mizuno forever...

Pros

  • Feathery soft feel
  • Classic style club head while still offering forgiveness
  • Great for learning to shape or improving draws/fades

Cons

  • Less forgiving than other clubs we tested

Most Advanced Yet Forgiving Irons for Intermediate Golfer

Srixon ZX4 Irons

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Review

The Srixon ZX4 irons are for mid handicap golfers who like to shape their shots, but also want some forgiveness. These irons are the best irons we tested for shaping while maintaining some forgiveness. The only way to get better feel on draws and fades is to move to advanced irons and leave the forgiveness behind.

We really enjoyed hitting the ZX4 irons. They are the best iron set we tested for average to above average players seriously looking to venture into the single digit handicap range. These clubs will transition with you and will not hold you back as you become more advanced. In other words, you won't need another set of clubs for a long time!

Pros

  • Designed for shaping, but still offers forgiveness
  • Will transition with you into advanced skillset
  • Great feel at contact and throughout the swing

Cons

  • Not suitable for players who rely on a forgiving club

Best Irons for Mid to Low Handicap

Titleist Rogue ST Max Irons

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Review

The Rogue ST Max club head's top line is slim, taking on the appearance of a classical style club. However, don't count on these for forgiveness. We found these clubs to be best suited for golfers that have ventured into the world of single digit over par scores but aren't shooting single digits as consistently as they'd like. These clubs should give you the extra distance and feel needed to be a true single digit handicap player.

These are fantastic irons, for many reasons, including looks, feel, and distance. But these aren't for you mid handicap players hoping to become single digit players someday. If this is you, our picks mentioned earlier in this page will be much better choices for you. These are for average to above average players that can see a single digit handicap in their foreseeable future and just need a little boost to get them there.

Pros

  • Great classic look and feel
  • Very good distance and accuracy
  • Perfect club for transitioning from intermediate to advanced
  • I mean, they're Titleist

Cons

  • Least forgiving of all mid handicap clubs we tested
  • Not suitable for many average golfers

FAQ

What is considered a mid handicap?

While there is no hard and fast rule, generally if you're shooting between 10 and 25 over par consistently, you can proudly call yourself a mid handicap golfer.

What are the best irons for a 20 handicapper?

Well, scroll up to our recommendations and you'll find the answer. (Hint, check out the Taylormade M4 irons)

What is the difference between game improvement irons and players irons?

Game-improvement irons are designed to offer more in the way of feel and distance, but also provide forgiveness. Players irons don't focus on forgiveness at all, rather they focus on feel and control along with distance.

When should I switch from game improvement / mid handicap irons?

The answer to this depends on your goals as a golfer. Most players won't ever make the switch, nor will they want to. If you are seriously looking to achieve a handicap in the single digits, read our review on the Titleist AP3 irons higher up on this page. It might be just what you are looking for.