The Certified Best Irons for High Handicappers

Golfing is a sport that requires a lot of skill and a bit of luck, and when you’re first starting out it can feel so overwhelmingly frustrating when you’re not doing as well as you thought you would in your head. We all have dreams of becoming the next Tiger, Scottie, Rory, and Lydia, but actually feeling like them is a lot different once you’re out on the greens. 

There's a lot of factors that come into one’s swing and if you’re finding yourself on the higher handicap side and want to find clubs, specifically irons, to help you hone your skill set then you’ve come to the right place. Today we’re going to be taking a deep dive into the wondrous world of forgiveness-first iron sets so you can actually enjoy golf and not want to quit the second your club comes back after your swing. 

But why are we the ones qualified to answer your club questions? Well if you haven’t heard of us yet then let us have the pleasure of introducing you to what we do best:

Our story is a simple one, what started out as a side-venture in the highs and lows of selling shoes on eBay, has now turned around to be a business with 20 full-time employees, a 15,000 square foot warehouse, and relationships with private golf courses all over the U.S. At StickHawk you can make your putting dreams come true as we sell quality drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, iron sets, single irons, wedges, putters, complete club sets for those who need the basics to play today, and accessories. We want to match you with the golf club(s) of your dreams. You can take our “Club Decider Quiz” and it will help you decide the exact right make and models you need to feel good while you’re on the course.

We really care that you’re getting the right golf clubs, we don’t just sell to sell. We mentioned our “Find the right clubs” quiz- (which will either be as a “pop up” as you go onto our homepage or you will see it once you scroll down to the bottom of the screen and you’ll know you’re in the right place when you see our Hawk mascot holding gold clubs like a real player). The team has spent hours coming up with and designing the right questions to find you the golf clubs that’ll fit you at your skill level, and that includes finding the best irons for high handicappers.

A Quick StickHawk Recap: What are irons?

Irons are the club that have stayed pretty much the same since the conception of the sport itself. Usually made of stainless steel, irons come in multiple different sets, going from a 2-iron all the way to a 9-iron with an additional one called the pitching wedge. Each of these clubs have slightly different loft angles which in turn makes each one designated for specific shots. 

For example, a 2 and 3-iron will have a lower degree of loft angle which will make it better for long distance shots, while a 8 and 9-iron will have a bigger loft angle, better for shorter distances. 

• Long Irons will be classified as 2-4
• Mid Irons will be classified as 5-7
• Short Irons will be classified as 8-9 with PW (Pitching Wedge) included here as well 

Choosing what irons to use on the course is typically all down to the player and their skill level. Talking with other golfers and simply getting out and testing clubs is the best way to know what you will favor in the long run.

But there are some “general consensus” picks for the best irons for high handicappers, so, in no particular order we have the:

?️Mizuno JPX Hot Metals:

At the top of forums for this exact question, many of you will find the recurring name of “Mizuno Hot Metals” and that’s because with every player that’s messed around with these has become a brand new golfer. 

Anything from this line-up will inspire confidence, you’ll feel that when you get your first swing in. There’s no need to overcompensate with these guys, you can swing the way your body naturally wants to and you won’t get slighted for it. Specifically the 925’s which is what we’re recommending today, the dispersion and carry distance remains reliable even if you’re not swinging your best. 

Making every shot feel like warm restaurant butter for your bread.

These are the Mizuno JPX 925 Hot Metal Iron Set 7-PW SteelFiber i95 CW Stiff RH JumboMax which were $619.38 and are now $618.99. These clubs are pre-owned, have been hit with, and have marks on it from normal use, but are overall in good condition. Here are the specs:

• Men's Right-Handed
• Iron: #7, #8, #9, and PW 
• 7 Iron Length: 37.00"
• Lie Angle: Standard
• Shaft Flex: Stiff
• Shaft Material: Graphite
• Shaft Brand: AeroTech
• Shaft Model: SteelFiber i95 CW 
•  JMX Ultralite SJ Oversize Grips in Good condition 

Overall Condition: Used - Grade: 8 (Good Quality)

And if a full set isn’t in your budget or you’re only looking for one iron that’ll fit in your set up, then we’ll point you to the JPX 923 Hot Metal Single 7 Iron:

Mint condition? Talk about an iron that we NEED to get.

A 7-iron is a great all-around versatile iron that’s going to get you the best results without having to buy a whole set. This is the Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Single 7 Iron Dynamic Gold R300 95g Regular Steel RH which was $147.22 and is now $137.29. It has only been hit a couple of times so we consider it mint condition, as there is little to no markings. Here are the specs:

• Men's Right-Handed
• Iron: #7
• Club Length at address: 37.00"
• Lie Angle: Standard
• Shaft Flex: Regular
• Shaft Material: Steel
• Shaft Brand: True Temper
• Shaft Model: Dynamic Gold R300
• Shaft Weight: 95g
•  Golf Pride Tour Velvet Standard Grip in Good condition 

Overall Condition: Used - Grade: 9.5 (Mint Condition)

?️Callaway Big Berthas:

When you think of the word “forgiveness” there is just one club type that comes to mind for golfers, not just including irons, and that is the Callaways Big Bertha line. These have been around for a hot minute now (over 20 years old!) and their charm hasn’t been lost to time. It’s been our pick for the best beginner iron which falls directly with high handicappers. You won’t feel like you’ve lost the ball when you’re hitting with this club, it feels like you’re actually making a difference with each swing you take.

We have a ton of Callaway Big Bertha’s in stock, ranging from 2002-2006 models which have aged the best but lack a bit of that modern technology that came in the late 00’s. We do believe the older models hold up quite well and you might find the price tag on them most intriguing, but we have to put in our ballot for the newer versions like these:

You won’t wanna hit with anything else- trust us.

These are the Callaway Big Bertha OS Iron Set 5-9 Fubuki AT55x5ct Regular Graphite Mens RH which were $687.49 and are now $264.59. These clubs are pre-owned, have been hit with, and have marks on it from normal use, but are overall in good condition. Here are the specs:

• Men's Right-Handed
• Iron: #5, #6, #7, #8, and #9 
• 7 Iron Length: 37.00"
• Lie Angle: Standard
• Shaft Flex: Regular
• Shaft Material: Graphite
• Shaft Brand: Mitsubishi Rayon
• Shaft Model: Fubuki AT55x5ct  
•  Stock Callaway Standard Grips in Good condition  

Overall Condition: Used - Grade: 8 (Good Quality)

A full set of these are GREAT for high handicappers, but if you find yourself getting out of this number, then you can slowly dwindle down these clubs from your bag until you’re onto something new.

?️Ping G430’s:

Many times lists of “the best golf clubs” will feature a “most forgiving” section and you’ll find the Ping G430’s mentioned quite a lot under that category. Featuring a low center of gravity and increased face flex, you’ll get a lot of straight shots that look (and are) as high as you want it. Stable from the get, these clubs are well worth the investment, although a little harder to find in used markets, StickHawk has got a few options in stock right now with more on the way.

We can’t forget about our lefties! Here’s to you.

These are the Ping G430 Iron Set 6-PW Black Dot Alta CB AWT Regular Graphite Mens LH which are listed at $679.99. These clubs are pre-owned, have been hit with, and have marks on it from normal use, but are overall in good condition. Here are the specs:

• Men's Left-Handed
• Iron: #6, #7, #8, #9, and PW 
• 7 Iron Length: 37.00"
• Lie Angle: Standard
• Shaft Flex: Regular
• Shaft Material: Graphite
• Shaft Brand: Ping
• Shaft Model: Alta CB AWT  
•  Golf Pride CP2 Pro Standard Grips in Good condition 

Overall Condition: Used - Grade: 8 (Good Quality)

?️TaylorMade SIM Max OS:

If you’re struggling with gaining distance and height, then the TaylorMade SIM Max OS iron set is going to be the one to go for. It feels comfortable in your hands and the bigger head leads to more confidence, you’ll find that because of that, you won’t miss any shots, and trust us, hitting the ball is half the battle most of the time.

We have a few TaylorMade SIM Max OS’s in stock, but we’ll start first with an available set:

A perfect pick for gaining distance with your swings.

These are the TaylorMade SIM MAX OS Iron Set 5-PW Fujikura Ventus Blue 5A Senior RH which were $674.99 and are now $546.99. These clubs are pre-owned, have been hit with, and have marks on it from normal use, but are overall in good condition. Here are the specs:

• Men's Left-Handed
• Iron: #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, and PW  
• 7 Iron Length: 37.00"
• Lie Angle: Standard
• Shaft Flex: Seniors
• Shaft Material: Graphite
• Shaft Brand: Fujikura 
• Shaft Model: Ventus Blue 5A  
•  Lamkin Crossline 360 Standard Grips in Good condition

Overall Condition: Used - Grade: 8 (Good Quality)

And if the set is too intimidating, we recommend sticking in the 6 through 9 type like this one:

A great single-iron for your average.

This is the TaylorMade SIM2 MAX OS Single 8 Iron KBS Max MT 85g Stiff Steel Mens LH which was $107.56 and is now $91.99. This club is pre-owned, has been hit with, and has marks on it from normal use, but is overall in good condition. Here are the specs:

• Men's Left-Handed
• Iron: #8
• Club Length at address: 37.00"
• Lie Angle: Standard
• Shaft Flex: Stiff
• Shaft Material: Steel
• Shaft Brand: KBS
• Shaft Model: Max MT
• Shaft Weight: 85g
•  Stock TaylorMade Standard Grip in Good condition

Overall Condition: Used - Grade: 8 (Good Quality)

?️Callaway Elyte X:

We love an iron that’s actually built with forgiveness in mind, and that’s what the Callaway Elyte X line is for. With a big face and high-launching technology, you’ll find that if your shots are always leaning off-center you can breathe easy once you try this one out because it’s a magic cure. Along with an easy launch off the tee, this club inspires confidence, especially with the more offset it offers.

We’ve got a good amount of Callaway Elyte X’s in stock, but mostly all single irons, so we’re gonna give you this one to take a peek at that’s caught our interest:

Feels good and gets your off-center hits…on center.

This is the Callaway Elyte X Single 7 Iron Project X Denali Blue 5.5 Regular RH which was $70.48 and is now $69.99. This club is pre-owned, has been hit with, and has marks on it from normal use, but is overall in good condition. Here are the specs:

• Men's Left-Handed
• Iron: #7
• Club Length at address: 37.00"
• Lie Angle: Standard
• Shaft Flex: Regular
• Shaft Material: Graphite
• Shaft Brand: Project X
• Shaft Model: Denali Blue 5.5 
•  Lamkin Crossline 360 Demo Standard Grip in Good condition

Overall Condition: Used - Grade: 8 (Good Quality)

Although these are indeed the best irons for high-handicappers, at the end of the day taking time to practice and trying out multiple different iron sets is going to be the best way to figure out which ones are going to be with you in your bag.