9 best golf irons for amateur and seasoned golfers alike

Best: Overall

Rating: 10/10

We were able to try the whole set of these and can attest to their great look and performance. These clubs are designed for the mid-to-lower handicap golfer, and have a great feel, with appropriate forgiveness. The “intelligent sweet spot” has been increased by as much as 60 per cent on these; hitting it within this range improved our distance and overall shots.

We took these out on a golf trip to Ireland and noticed these combine forgiveness, distance and good ball launch, which we suspect is due to the Speedfoam air technology, which keeps them lightweight and ensures the best possible speed performance. We’ve been golfing with the previous iteration of P790s and can see the improvements with this newest model.

Best: Basics

Rating: 8/10

Considered an ideal first iron for the beginner-yet-wanting-to-get-serious golfer, Callaway’s big Bertha irons aren’t top of the list for aesthetics, but they’re effective and can help bring down handicaps by a few points. The newest iteration boasts AI to improve ball speed, but we found it’s the wider sole design that really helps with contact.

Best: For mid-to-high handicap golfers

Rating: 8/10

With an oversize club head and internal groove around the face, this iron is designed for forgiveness and distance, plus it has a lower centre of gravity to encourage the ball to go further, faster. We tested this one at the range and think the set is a bargain for golfers looking to improve consistency, distance and overall scores.

Best: For slower swing speeds

Rating: 9/10

Honma’s GS irons are designed for improving golfers who aren’t all that confident on the course and need greater forgiveness (the deeper cavity and wide sole, with extended sweet spot, is there but doesn’t feel chunky). It was really lightweight and we managed to get the ball further and keep our swing more consistent than we were used to. We also really like the stylish yellow colourway.

Best: Accuracy

Rating: 9/10

Pro golfer Lee Westwood is a fan of the Ping i210, which scores high on this list for both accuracy and consistency: the iron feels soft as butter, which in turn improves how we were hitting our ball. We found it went straighter, faster and closer to the pin. These are appropriate for the good golfer looking for accuracy. They look sleek, too.

Best: Craftmanship

Rating: 8/10

This iron looks and feels luxurious: it’s impossible not to appreciate the quality and craftsmanship that this Japanese brand delivers. Forged from carbon steel, it has a softer face insert for the forgiveness mid-handicap golfers want, with great feedback.

Best: For low-handicap golfers

Rating: 9/10

This iron is more forgiving than a blade but offers more in terms of control and speed, and it’s a solid choice for the low-handicap golfer (it’s less suitable for beginners). It has an appealing look, it feels good and it allows you to shape shots. The v-shaped sole saved a few of our shots where strike wasn’t perfect.

Best: Budget

Rating: 7/10

This iron is our top pick for anyone new to golf who is thinking about trying out the game but doesn’t want to spend a fortune. Designed with an enlarged head to make positioning easier, this game-improvement iron is ideal for those just starting out, plus it handles smoothly – like a far more expensive club.

You can also get full sets of Inesis irons at Decathlon for under £350, and the retailer also stocks irons from top brands like TaylorMade. A great budget club, but more experienced golfers will want to steer clear.