Updated on March 15th, 2023 at 05:20 pm
Approximately 40% of the golf community is considered mid-handicappers, according to USGA statistics. Golfers that carry a single-digit handicap make up 35% of the golfing arena. As you probably know, handicaps are established to set up equitable matches for any pair of golfers for both casual and tournament play.
Shooting 80 consistently is going to get you to that single-digit handicap. If you want to drop strokes off of your handicap, you can start by choosing the best golf clubs for your game. Manufacturers of golf equipment have found that game improvement clubs are one of the easiest ways to cater to their clients.
Clubs have been created to suit each low and High handicap, with the mid handicapper’s clubs being more forgiving. These clubs are designated as “super game-improvement” clubs. These clubs have a large “sweet spot” or central hitting zone allowing the mishits to go straighter and at a greater distance.
These more forgiving clubs have players searching for the best golf irons for mid-handicapper. Even though I am a single digit handicapper, I have always wondered why they don’t make every set of irons more forgiving? Doesn’t every golfer want to have straighter misses?
What are the Best Golf Irons For Mid Handicappers?
Choosing a set of clubs designed for higher handicaps is one of the easier ways to lower scores and drop to that next level of low to mid handicaps. Improving accuracy and increasing distance is one of the benefits you should expect from your new irons.
In each of these irons that we reviewed, you will find features that will drastically boost the height on the ball, increased distances, and with a little practice, make those birdie Putts a little shorter.
The Best Mid Handicap Irons Are:
TaylorMade Sim 2 Max Irons
TaylorMade is continuing their quest to be the fastest ball speed manufacturer on the market. Each time they release a new set of clubs, the choices seem to get longer and easier to hit. That is certainly the case with the new TaylorMade Sim 2 Max irons.
The face on the TaylorMade Sim 2 Max is forgiving, and it is fast. Players will have to make contact within the sweet spot’s general area, and they will see impressive results. As always, TaylorMade is still incorporating their impressive Speed Pocket technology. This allows players of all swing speeds to get the club through the air a bit easier.
One of the most important things about the Sim 2 Max is the improvement of the ECHO damping system. This is used to help ensure that there are no harsh vibrations as a golfer makes contact with the ball. Although this is a cavity back club when you hit it flush, it feels a bit like forged iron.
Pros
- High ball speeds
- Echo Damping System
- Speed pocket design and large sweet spot
Cons
- The top down look is a bit thick
- It can be hard to work the ball
Cobra Radspeed Irons
Cobra always takes care of the mid-handicap player. The Radpseed iron is different than anything we have ever seen from Cobra, but we are enjoying these changes.
The Radial Weighting Technology helps to strategically place the weight in an area to help optimize speed and forgiveness. The face insert is a stainless steel insert that gives players lots of flexibility and launch. Think of it like hitting off of a trampoline.
The new Tuned Rad Weighing is a look that you have likely not seen before in a set of irons. Near the toe, there is a 10g weight that is positioned low, and it is designed to add stability to the face. Many players say that it helps them feel the clubhead a bit more and properly rotate the club through impact.
The Speedzone irons that Cobra put out last year were quite impressive, so living up to that will be quite the challenge.
Pros
- Lots of flex on the clubface
- High ball speed
- Can control the direction
Cons
- Unique looking iron takes a bit to get used to it
Callaway Golf Apex DCB Iron Set
The Callaway Apex DCB is one of the latest releases to the market. With the Apex DCB, you will see many of the same things that you see in a players club, except the forgiveness will still be there. Mid handicappers are not quite ready for that complete forged blade-style club. However, to take your golf game to the next level, some feel is incredibly important.
The Apex DCB irons have a deep cavity back, yet they feel like a forged club. This is an easy-to-launch golf club that will help you make consistent contact with the golf ball. If you are hitting out of the rough or playing from the fairway, the Apex DCB is going to stand out as a great choice to consider.
The Apex is made with a forged 1025 mild carbon steel body. This helps to give it a soft feel. When you combine that with the urethane microspheres, the feel at impact is better than most clubs that are built for mid-handicappers.
The only thing that keeps the DCB out of our top poison is that it is priced really high. However, there is quite a bit of technology that goes into manufacturing these clubs; it’s a bit hard to justify the price compared to the Callaway Mavrik.
Pros
- Incredible feel for a mid handicapper
- Sounds great
- Urethane microspheres
- Forged type golf irons, but it is a cavity back
Cons
- Priced much higher than other irons for mid handicappers
TaylorMade Mens M5 Irons
with True Temper XP 100 steel Shaft
The TaylorMade M5 irons were created for distance by offering a stiffer structure, which is ideal for those who struggle with this aspect of the game. The face is hot and has a spring-like feel, a compact look, and an exterior that is stylish. The irons tout a “Speed Bridge” that allows for the ball to be hit at maximum speed in addition to the great distance.
TaylorMade’s goal with these irons is to improve overall accuracy and sound upon impact. These are well suited for the novice, male or Female, with a higher handicap. This model will allow you to mature as a player.
TaylorMade’s Speed Pocket and Speed Bridge technology combine and work together by shifting the point of maximum deflection lower on the face of the irons to improve how the club performs through impact.
Pros
- Technology of “Speed Bridge”.
- Hit the ball with greater distance.
- Greater workability with the compact head.
- Technology of “Speed Pocket”.
Cons
- Could offer a better level of control.
- A smoother feel would be better.
- Costly for those new to the game.
Ping Men’s i210 Irons
The Ping I210 iron set is the replacement for the i200 and designed with a softer feel and more consistency. These irons have a much cleaner look with designed edges that are crisper and a straighter toe. The design from the back is not that different except for the notice of a more significant elastomer piece. The sound comparison between i200 and i210 shows the new version as more muted but only slightly so.
Ball speed was considerably increased, and club speed was quicker compared to the predecessor, most likely due to the lightness of the shaft. Ball launch is higher with less of a spin contributing to a greater distance. The Ping i210 irons are perfect for a better golfer who is in for extra forgiveness that a cavity back can give over the muscle back but yet in a compact package.
In case you missed it, be sure to check out our review of the best Ping Golf bags, or if you are not as concerned about buying a Ping bag, you can see our review of the Best golf cart bag here.
Pros
- This iron offers gives much-enhanced performance over the i200 across the board with increased distance, higher flight, and a softer feel.
- Silky Smooth irons made for mid-handicappers.
- Great feel and workability.
- More forgiving than traditional blades
- Stainless steel head with soft insert
- 30% Larger Insert compared to the previous i200 model
Cons
- The target player may see the offset in the long irons as too much.
- Has very high offset. May be too excessive for some golfers.
Our Winner
Callaway Golf Mavrik Max Iron Set
Game improvement irons have one goal-to improve your performance! These clubs, by default, are larger and more forgiving and feature a cavity-back design. All the irons on the list are designed to deliver improvement to your game. However, with the latest Callaway Mavrik irons, you’ll experience next-level performance. At least, that’s what Callaway says.
But it is not just marketing hype. The new computer-created Cup Face creates a bounce effect at impact, delivering more speed. Plus, the face design is unique for every single loft, which changes from speed to spin, depending on the iron number. The custom tungsten weight per loft is another peculiar characteristic of Mavrik that enables golfers to produce more controllable, consistent, and accurate shots.
Although the lofts are stronger than you’d expect, the customizable features allow them to deliver optimal launch, spin, and ball flight through the set. On top of it, we have to mention the impeccable sound and feel that replicates blade irons. In a nutshell, the Callaway Mavrik irons are the best irons for mid-handicappers.
What to look for with mid-handicapper irons
Most Mid-handicap players are striving to reach the low-handicap level, but what are the things they should look for in their irons to help them reach their goals:
- Mid-handicap irons will contact as the longest, the five iron, and go to a pitching wedge and then perhaps a sand wedge.
- They will be cavity-backed for a vaster sweet spot within the face.
- There will be perimeter weighting to enhance the sweet spot.
- There is going to be offset hosel to allow for straighter ball flight.
Most of the sets today won’t offer a 3 or 4 iron due to the level of difficulty in hitting. They’re usually substituted with a fairway woods and hybrids to comprise what would then be the best golf irons for the mid handicapper. You definitely will not find a 2 iron in these sets or in the Irons for high handicap.
Clubface
The iron’s clubface size will vary depending on the brand, but it plays a significant role in the way the club will function on the course as a full clubface will be somewhat more forgiving. If forgiveness is something you require, the club face size will be critical in your irons.
Weighting
Clubs designed with weighting, incorporated tungsten, which is more substantial than steel, within the club in specific places will tailor the balance for the iron. If you have a mishit, this weighting assists in the correction of the shot.
Summary
As a mid-handicap golfer, your achievable goal is to shave a few strokes off your game, bringing you down into the low handicap level. Gradually working towards your intended single-digit outcome is extremely dependent on which irons you choose to play with.
As a mid handicapper, choosing blades or irons a professional golfer would use is not going to decrease your scores. These clubs are not designed for you, and the quicker you understand and accept this, the quicker you will move into that lower handicapped bracket.
Best Golf club for Mid-handicappers for Game Improvement
You want to use the proper clubs that work correctly for you, such as those starting at a five that offer a wider clubface and the perimeter weighting to both increase forgiveness and improve contact.
You want to look for a cavity in the back of the head so the force is moved to the front, making for a more prominent sweet spot. Features such as these are going to give you better contact and have you hitting with more accuracy from the tee to the green.
You’ll find when you go to choose irons, it’s like a jungle out there. There are so many varieties of different trusted brands making an effort to market what comes down to products that are ultimately similar yet, in the same breath, innovative and revolutionary game-improving technology.
Being a mid-handicapper, you’re no novice to the game and have an idea of what aspects of the game the irons you purchase will need to cover. The clubs listed here are going to give you greater distance, many offering you much better accuracy, with some providing greater added forgiveness.
Beyond allowing for the famous cavity back shape, there are considerations such as the material of the shaft, value, price, and any additional features that the clubs may offer. Reading the detailed reviews of those who have purchased the irons will provide great insight into which brand is best for you.
There is nothing more honest than someone who has used the irons and can tell you precisely how they worked for them. Testimonials from other mid-handicappers will give you insight into how the metals may ultimately play out for you on the course, allowing for a much more informed decision with purchase.
Of the irons on the market, those mentioned here on our list are among the best golf Irons for Mid-handicappers. They each offer their unique specifications to fit the individual needs of each player.
If you know where you fall short with your game, it should be easy for you to find one of these sets to address the issues that you’re having and ultimately correct those issues.
Once you work with these irons, it’s only a matter of time before the game-improving technology incorporated into these irons have you moving up to a low handicap and achieving a score of 80 on the regular.
Please be sure to check back often on AEC Info for new updates and reviews like these golf irons below.
