Irons are by far some of the hardest clubs to handle. Mostly because they are unforgiving and stiff, which makes them hard to master.
Even professionals could struggle with these clubs depending on the situation, and because of that, game improvement clubs were invented.
In a Hurry? Here are Our Best Game Improvement Irons
These clubs brandish certain features that will allow you to improve your game, but this does not mean that they are only designed for beginners.
Join us, and you will be able to see for yourself how useful this kind of clubs can be for both professionals and amateurs. Plus, we added a review of some of the best game improvement irons, so you have an easier time choosing one for yourself.
Know the Game Improvement Category First
As you can deduct from the name, these irons are specially designed to one-up your game with the help of special features. They are mostly used by those players that need a bit of help with their shots. Well, this does not imply that professionals don’t need to use these clubs, on the contrary.
Even seasoned players may find a use for game improvement irons. Usually, irons are the hardest golf clubs to master, so professional golfers could use these special irons to learn new techniques or to master their stances. Usually, this kind of irons is exceptionally forgiving. They tend to have features that will get you a successful hit even when you are not hitting the sweet spot.
They brandish a larger sweet spot, the perfect center of gravity for that extra launch angle, and a more flexible shaft for increased swing speed.
Why and Who Should Get Game Improvement Irons?
Well, having a game improvement iron does not tell that you can’t play golf, it just means that you want to get better. It shows that you want to learn something new. And guess what?
Even professional players use this kind of clubs to improve their swings or their playstyle.
If you are not used to regular irons or if you want to improve your swing, these are the best solution. These irons are very forgiving, but they will show you what kind of mistakes you should correct as well.
Once you learn what kind of errors you are doing, you can switch to standard irons to fix them.
What Makes a Perfect Pick?
We know that choosing a golf club is in no way an easy task, even more when you don’t know what you are looking for. Plus, each golfer needs a different set of features on their golf clubs.
But don’t worry, since we made a list of a few things that you should look out for when purchasing a new game improvement iron.
Iron Design
No, we are not talking about the looks, we are talking about the design that the iron has at the back of the head. You can find irons with either a muscle back or a cavity back, and each of these irons has their own set of pros and cons.
Beginners most frequently use cavity back irons since the iron that surrounds the hollow section on the back of the club. This supplements a bit of weight to the head and dramatically improves accuracy.
On the other hand, muscle back golf clubs have a solid design without any hollow points. Veteran players prefer these clubs since they tend to be a bit more consistent on the field.
Club head Type
You can find three different types of club heads; blade club heads, mid-sized club heads, and oversized club heads. In a perfect world, you would choose the club head that will better suit your playstyle, but there are many golfers out there that don’t take this into account when selecting their clubs.
If you are a beginner, the oversized club head would be the better option for you since you get a wider sweet spot. On the other hand, we have blade club heads which are most commonly used by professionals since this gives them enough control over their swings.
If you are looking for the ideal head for a game improvement iron, you should go for the mid-size club head. These offer the same control blade club heads have, but the sweet spot is wider which makes them a bit more forgiving.
Shaft Flexibility
When it comes to game improvement irons, there are two types of shafts; graphite and steel. Steel shafts can give you more control over your shots since the shaft won’t bend when you swing.
But if you have a few years of experience, you may find graphite shafts to be a bit more comfortable for you. They are lighter, so it will take less effort to add power to your shots.
You can also choose the shaft type depending on your swing speed. Those of you who have a faster swing will find steel clubs to be more comfortable since they will not bend at all.
Price
Once you begin your journey to find the best game improvement iron, you will see that many models are overpriced. This is a common thing, especially when the irons are from a renowned brand.
Yeah, these are often the best quality irons out there, so it may be worth it, but you should make sure that there aren’t any other irons with the same features at half the price.
The 5 Best Game Improvement Irons
There are hundreds of different game improvement irons in the market, so choosing one for yourself may not be an easy task. So, we searched for some of the most popular game improvement irons, and added them to this article.
Let’s see if some item on the list is perfect for you!
Callaway Rogue X Iron – Best Price
Regardless of what you want to improve, the Callaway Rouge X is by far one of the best game improvement irons on the whole list. Callaway is known for their quality products, and this iron is the perfect example of that. You will feel a difference between these and any other model.
This club has a bigger head size than usual, which also means that it also has a more prominent sweet spot. Additionally, the face of the club brandishes the Hyper Speed Face Cup technology which stiffens the face of the club on impact. This may sound like gibberish, but it does improve the overall speed of your shots.
You will notice that these irons have a wider sole as well. This feature positions the centre of gravity on the back of the club. And as you may already know, this will improve your launch. The downside to this is that if you don’t calculate your swings, you can hit the ground instead of the ball.
The club head also uses Tungsten Weighting to improve launch and control regardless of the loft angle. Tungsten is more massive than steel, so the head is a lot heavier than usual. But this allows the centre of gravity to be correctly positioned.
The weight and the bigger clubhead could be a nuisance for some players. But in perspective, these same features are what makes this club so great.
Things We Liked
- The price is perfect for an iron with so many features on it.
- Hyper Speed Face Cup improves ball speed which results in improved distance.
- The Tungsten Weighting makes the head heavier, but it concentrates the weight on a single point.
Things We Didn’t Like
- The head is a bit larger than usual, and that can throw some players off.
Wilson Staff C300 Forged Iron- Best for Beginners
This set of forged irons does provide a wide range of options for you. It includes seven clubs; a pitching wedge, a gap wedge, and all the irons from 4 to 9. If you need to improve your distance, these clubs are the best option for you since they are specially designed to give you max distance.
The first thing that you will notice about these clubs are the Power holes that can be seen on the frame. These holes reduce the contact the face has on the body when it hits the ball. This means that the face will be more flexible, which will significantly improve your overall distance.
This same feature allows them to be forgiving since you will be able to get the same effect on the whole face of the club, which is a weird thing to find on an iron. If you often mishit when using irons, these could be an excellent option for you.
The best part of it is the price. Complete sets can be quite expensive, even more so when they are from such good quality. But this set is not only an excellent option for many players, but it is also affordable for them as well.
The only downside that we found on this set is its predecessor. Many users prefer the C200 over this set because they could get better distances, but the distance that you will get from either set will be affected by your playstyle.
Things We Liked
- The Power Holes that can be found on the frame significantly increase distance.
- Comes with all the irons you could need on the field.
- They are exceptionally forgiving for a set of irons.
- Irons could be an excellent option for beginners.
Things We Didn’t Like
- Some users prefer the C200 set since they could get better distances with it.
Ping G400 Irons
The first thing that you can notice about the G400 is the modern and stylish design. The ping G400 line is known for this, but these irons are much more than a beautiful set, their many features will significantly improve anybody’s game.
These irons are all about distance, so those of you who need that extra ball flight should consider adding these irons to their collection. They are not as forgiving as other models on the list, but they still can help you improve in other areas.
The Ping G400 achieve an exceptional distance; thanks to the COR-Eye technology that can be found on the face of the club. This makes the face a bit more flexible, which means that the ball will have an increased speed at launch once it hits the face of the club.
Additionally, these clubs have tungsten weighting, which makes them considerably heavier. The good thing about this is that the centre of gravity will be perfectly positioned at the back of the sole. This will result in a greater launch and enhanced control over your swing.
Additionally, most players will also enjoy the sound and feel on each hit. This is thanks to the Three-Piece Cavity Badge that can be found on the club head.
The thing is, beginners without a constant swing may find this iron a bit uncomfortable. To get the best out of this model, you should have a few years of experience since you will feel more comfortable using them if you can keep the same swing speed and accuracy through time.
Things We Liked
- COR-Eye technology increases launch and speed for a greater distance.
- The tungsten weighting correctly positions the centre of gravity for an improved launch.
- The club sounds, looks and feels great.
Things We Didn’t Like
- It is designed for experienced players that are trying to learn something new.
TaylorMade M4 Iron – Most Versatile
We all know that TaylorMade is one of the golf brands out there. They always deliver quality equipment, and the M4 iron is not an exception. Most TaylorMade clubs are forgiving, but since these are game improvement irons, you will notice that they have a few extra exciting features.
The M4 irons share a lot of features with some hybrids and drivers of the same line. For example, these irons brandish the Speed Pocket technology which reduces the spin of the ball while it increases overall speed. This special feature also widens the sweet spot area, which many users will be grateful for.
It also brandishes the RibCor technology that adjusts the centre of gravity to the lower portion of the clubhead. And as you may already know, this does improve launch and speed.
The RibCor technology also makes sure that the energy of the swing is transferred to the ball even when you miss the sweet spot. As you can see, forgiveness and distance are not a problem with this model. So regardless of your experience, you could find a scenario where this club could be useful.
The only thing that many users don’t like about these irons is the price. I mean, they work correctly if you want to improve your game, but to do so, you don’t need to spend a lot of money. But leaving this aside, they will get the job done exceptionally.
Things We Liked
- Thanks to the Speed Pocket technology, these clubs are incredibly forgiving.
- The RibCor technology ensures that you will get a decent launch even when you miss-hit.
- Increased sweet spot area.
Things We Didn’t Like
- These irons are more on the expensive side
Titleist 718 AP1 – Best for Distance
These irons are more about forgiveness than any other aspect. The many features on this club ensure that you get a decent launch even when you miss-hit. If you are a beginner, this clubs will let you know immediately what went wrong on your swing so that you can fix it.
These clubs achieve an exceptional launch thanks to the tungsten weighting that correctly positions the centre of gravity on the far back end of the club. This allows you to swing at a faster speed which will increase the distance covered by the ball even when you don’t hit the sweet spot.
You may already know that if the ball has little to no spin when it’s in the air, it will go farther away. Because of this, the Titleist AP1 irons brandish a FastFace technology that evenly distributes the energy of the swing so that the ball will be launched with less spin.
Although most items on the list have gone for a flexible face, these irons are a bit rougher. Because of this, you will have better feedback on your shots. But this also means that if your swing is not correctly calculated, the vibrations that will be created once you hit the ball will affect your accuracy.
It won’t affect a lot, to be honest, unless you have a languid swing. But this is a great way to detect what is wrong with your shots.
Things We Liked
- The tungsten weighting allows you to get a higher launch even if you don’t hit the sweet spot.
- The FastFace technology will reduce ball spin, which increases distance.
- Great feedback
Things We Didn’t Like
- Some players may find the inflexibility of this club a bit annoying.
Frequently Asked Questions
After such an extensive article, you may still have a few questions left unanswered. Well, don’t worry since there is a high chance that you are not the only one with these questions.
We gathered some of the most commonly asked questions about game improvement clubs, so you don’t have to go through the pain of finding them yourself.
Q: What is a PW-4 set?
A: It is an extended set of irons. It usually includes a 4, 5, 6, 7,8 9, a gap wedge and a pitching wedge. Many iron golf club sets come in this configuration, but there can be variants.
Q: I have been playing for a few years now, should I purchase a game improvement iron?
A: If you are trying to master a specific technique or if you are trying to learn something new, you should. These clubs are great for that, but in other scenarios, you would be better off purchasing a standard set of irons.
Q: Where should I use irons instead of hybrids?
A: It all comes down to your experience and how well you handle irons. If you find irons uncomfortable or you don’t have enough experience with them, you should go for a hybrid since they are a bit more comfortable to use. It will also depend on how far you are from the green and what kind, of course, you are in.
Q: Should I go for graphite or steel shafts on my game improvement club?
A: Well, if you need extra power on your shots or if you think that your swing affects your accuracy or control, you should go for graphite shafts. Steel shafts tend to vibrate more when you hit the ball, which will negatively impact your power when you swing.
Q: Do all clubs come with a head cover?
A: You should read the product specifications carefully before purchasing any of these golf clubs since on many occasions these kinds of attachment vary depending on the distributor.
Our Final Thoughts
We think that the best game improvement iron is the TaylorMade M4. It is a high iron that can be a great option for both new and experienced players. It finds the balance between forgiveness and distance, which makes this iron perfect for many shots. They may seem more expensive than other clubs on the list, but they are worth it. Better check this video out!
