Our 8 Best Cavity Back Irons in 2024 (Expert Picks)

Cavity back irons give players the forgiveness and the distance they need without having to work so hard for it.

Golf is a challenging game, and it is made more difficult by having blade irons or muscle-back irons as opposed to cavity backs.

We have put together what we think are the best cavity back irons on the market. There is an option on our list for all handicaps and budgets.

When do you use an Iron? 

Golf irons are used to help players hit approach shots into a green. These approach shots can be on a Par 3 or on a Par 4 or Par 5. The irons that you play with should be designed to be more accurate and offer golfers confidence in their approach shots to the hole. 

Why are Irons so important to your game?

Golf irons make up the majority of the golf club set. However, there is no arguing the fact that the putter is the most important club in the bag. The golf iron will be the club that helps you get into a great place to putt from. Irons should give you confidence and allow you to attack pins on the golf course.

Best Cavity Back Irons: TaylorMade SIM2 MAX Irons

The TaylorMade SIM Max 2 irons are the latest and greatest release. Cavity backs always have one major downside, and that is feel and control.

They just don’t compare to the forged irons in these categories. With the release of the SIM, Max TaylorMade may have changed that. 

The combination of the speed bridge technology for distance and the ECHO damping system that helps improve feel these are a very high performing set of irons.

The Speed pocket technology that TaylorMade created continues to stand out as some of the best that golf has to offer. 

The face on the Sim Max irons is very thin, and it helps to give the ball a tremendous jump at impact. If you want a large sweet spot and lots of distance, the Sim Max is the golf club for you.

The only real downside to these clubs is that because they are a new release, the pricing is still a bit high.

Best Cavity Back Irons For Distance: Callaway 2020 Mavrik Max Iron Set

We always like to pick a clear winner when we do our golf club reviews. It is worth mentioning that the Mavrik is a very close second to the SIM Max.

There may be others that disagree with us, but the feel in the SIM Max is just so closed to forged that it had to earn a spot at the top of the list. 

The Mavrik Irons were created using artificial intelligence. Each club was put together to work as best it can with the center of gravity ideally located.

Callaway is not just changing the loft from the eight iron to the seven iron; they are changing the center of gravity and the club makeup to increase the performance. 

The Mavrik is very long, and their lofts are adjusted to make them long, but when you hit these clubs, you will not lose any launch.

The 360 Face Cup technology helps make sure that these irons also have a ton of ball speed coming off the club’s face.

Read our Callaway Mavrik Irons review.

Best Cavity Back Irons For Average Golfer: Cobra 2020 Speedzone Iron Set

The Speedzone Irons replace the F9 Speedback irons of 2019. We have to admit that this was a good replacement from Cobra.

The F9 irons did not have the best look to them, and they were a little thick, the Speedzone irons look and perform well. 

The iron comes with a carbon topline that helps save some weight and get the center of gravity even lower.

The Cobra irons have always been known for forgiveness, but with the release of the Speedzone, they are also known for distance. 

The Speedzone is equipped with a Co-Mold medallion similar to the Echo Damping System that TaylorMade has put into place.

The medallion is designed to help dampen any vibration at impact and make the shots feel even better for the player.

Best Cavity Back Irons for High Handicappers: Callaway Rogue X Irons Set

Best Irons For High Handicappers and Beginners

Cavity back golf clubs are made for the higher handicapper, however not all golfers will fit with every cavity back iron.

Rogue X is an excellent option for golfers looking to increase their distance and get lots of forgiveness. 

The Rogue X Irons have lower lofts that help them fly further. The good news is that the ball flight is not all that affected because the center of gravity and the perimeter weighting help make up for the loss of height on the shot. 

Golfers who struggle with long irons should stick with the hybrids over the Rogue X irons because these are going to be very low as far as the loft is concerned.

The short irons are very high performing and should cause no issues with stopping the ball on the green. 

One of the things that we like best about these Rogue irons is that they have dropped in price considerably since the release.

If you are a higher handicapper or a new golfer that needs a little extra help from the fairway, the Rogue X is a great choice.

Read our Callaway Rogue & Rogue X Irons review.

Best Cavity Back Irons For Consistency: Cobra Radspeed Golf Iron Set

Best Cavity Back Irons For Consistency

The Cobra Radspeed Golf Iron set is the best choice for those that are looking for consistency in their irons. Cobra has always been known for reliability and forgiveness, but it is nice to see this company making some significant advancements when it comes to ball speed. 

This is one of the fastest golf irons that Cobra has ever released. Part of this comes from the 17-4 stainless steel and the large sweet spot. In addition, a 10g weight is positioned in the club head to make it more stable at impact. 

In fact, this stability at impact is what has helped us call the Cobra Radspeed the most consistency at impact. 

Cobra uses a 3D printing technology that has helped save weight in the club head but still increases the club’s power. 

If you happen to struggle with getting your golf ball up in the air and want to be a player that has full confidence in your golf irons, the Radspeed is the way to go.

Best Premium Golf Irons 2022: Callaway Apex 2022 Golf Irons

Best Premium Cavity Back Irons

The new Callaway Apex 2022 Golf irons are some of the most technologically advanced golf clubs on the market. With the Apex 2022, you are going to see a tremendous difference in both distance and performance from the original Apex. 

Using Artificial intelligence, Callaway has really been able to set itself apart. 

To be honest, of all the irons on this list that I tried, the Callaway Apex 2022 had the highest ball speed, and more premium feel. These clubs are engineered to improve distance but still let players stay in control of where their golf ball is going. If you are ready for an upgrade, the Callaway Apex could very easily do the trick.

Best Cavity Back Irons For Senior Golfer: Cobra F Max Irons

Best Cavity Back Irons For Senior Golfers

The Cobra F Max golf irons are almost always associated with increased forgiveness. The newest release of the Cobra F Max is incredibly forgiving and offers a higher ball flight than Cobra irons like the RadSpeed. 

Most of the Cobra F Max produces fair in pricing, and they have a heel biased design. In addition, the overall cavity back design on these irons is in place to help promote a higher launch. Senior golfers that start to lose a bit of their clubhead speed will appreciate the higher launch that the Cobra F Max has to offer. If you want affordable yet higher performing cavity back irons, the Cobra F Max could be an excellent choice for a senior golfer.

Best Cavity Back For Beginner: Wilson D9 Golf Irons

Best Cavity Back Irons For Beginners

The brand new Wilson D9 irons are the latest release in this impressive cavity back series from Wilson. Every year or two, Wilson releases a new cavity back iron to help players get more distance, forgiveness, and overall performance. 

The latest release, the Wilson D9, brings some of the old technology and matches it with the new. You will feel very confident with the Power Hole speed design and the lowest ever center of gravity. 

Low center of gravity, large sweet spots, and increased distance help to make the D9 irons the best overall choice for beginners that are serious about getting their game to the next level. 

We love the overall look of the new Wilson D9 irons and the performance that they have to offer a golfer.

Cavity Back Irons Buying Guide

Half the work is done, you know which clubs are going to help bring your game to the next level, now how will you choose which one is for you.

Golfers have lots of questions about cavity back irons, and we can’t blame them. Things can sometimes get a bit confusing. 

Design

When you look down at the club head of a cavity back iron, you will quickly see that it is designed to be forgiving. The sole of the club is quite wide, and the overall top line is thick as well. These features are going to help ensure that the ball gets up in the air quickly and stays straight on the line. 

Forgiveness 

A cavity back golf iron is typically known to be the most forgiving type of golf iron on the market. With more forgiveness, a larger sweet spot, and higher launch, cavity backs will give golfers the performance that they are looking for. 

Power and Distance 

Cavity back irons have tremendous power and distance. In fact, for those that are struggling to get the distance they need in their game, the cavity back iron is the best choice. Most of the modern cavity backs also have lower lofts to help promote even more distance. 

Feel 

Cavity back irons do not typically feel quite as good as a forged iron. However, with new options on the market like the TaylorMade SIM 2 max, there are plenty of great choices out there to help improve the feel and the workability that you get with a golf club. 

Flex and Shafts 

The flex of the shaft that you put in your cavity back irons should depend on the swing speed that you swing the club. The faster you swing the club, the stiff the flex of the golf club. The flex and shaft combination is one that you will want to figure out by measuring your average swing speed.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Here are a few of the questions that we are most commonly asked about the benefits of a cavity back golf iron. 

Where is the sweet spot on cavity back irons? 

The cavity back iron has a sweet spot that is almost directly in the center of the club face. The sweet spot on an iron also tends to be closer to the bottom of the club than the top. The lower sweet spot ensures that when you make contact with the ball on the turf, you will still be getting great overall distance. 

How to clean cavity back irons?

Cavity back irons clean up quite easily when you have a microfiber cleaning cloth and a cleaning brush. Use a bit of soap and water and rub the microfiber cloth across the grooves of the club; it should get out most of the debris. 

How long do Cavity Back irons last?

Cavity back irons can last for dozens of years, yet it typically makes sense to replace these irons after every seven years or so. The replacing of the irons helps to ensure that you are always going to have relevant technology to use. 

Should mid-handicap golfers play with cavity back irons?

Mid handicappers can choose between cavity back irons or forged irons. Both options are going to offer some impressive performance. 

I have a high ball speed; should I use cavity back irons?

If you have a high ball speed, it is often best to use a cavity back iron with a stiff shaft. Your swing speed does not need to determine the type of iron head that you use. Instead, let the speed of your swing handle the shaft that you put in the golf club.

Do Pros use Cavity Back Irons?

Pros do not typically use cavity back irons. Cavity back irons are really forgiving, and when a pro uses these, they are going to struggle with the ability to hit a draw or a fade. To avoid this, most pros will use a forged blade-style iron.

Blade Irons Vs. Cavity Back Irons

Choosing between a blade and a cavity back comes down to more than just a personal decision. A blade iron is going to feel better and easier to hit draws and fades than a cavity. 

However, a cavity back iron is going to have much more forgiveness and sometimes distance as well. There can be arguments made on both sides.

If you have a lower handicap than the blade irons will give you the feedback and control you are looking for. 

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to a cavity back or blades; it is more about understanding the differences between the two. 

Read Also: Cavity Back vs Muscle Back Irons

Why Are Cavity Back Irons Cheaper Than Blade Irons? 

Most of the time, cavity back irons will be a little less expensive than a blade because of how they are manufactured.

A cavity back iron is put together using several pieces. Since there are pieces involved, that sometimes leads to a bit of a shaky feel at impact. 

With blades or cast irons, they are molded out of one single piece of metal. Their manufacturing process is more difficult and uses different materials, so the pricing is quite a bit higher.

Lower handicap golfers demand precision in the lower handicap golf clubs, so they are put through some rigorous testing and development. 

What Is The Best Set Makeup For Cavity Back Irons? 

The average golfer does not need a four iron in their bag. As technology is continuing to improve, there is no reason for a five iron either.

Adding hybrids to the golf bag is a brilliant idea. If you are playing cavity backs because you like forgiveness and distance, you should consider playing with the 6-PW, AW, or the 5-PW, AW.

Save yourself the trouble and do not put a four iron in the bag. 

Conclusion

Hopefully, our list helped to narrow down some of the choices for you. There seems to be no shortage of cavity back irons on the market to choose from.

If you are serious about your golf game and want the best of the technology available on the market, the TaylorMade SIM2 Max is the way to go.

The SIM Max has tons of speed, plenty of forgiveness, and gives golfers a club that almost feels like forged iron. This is very hard to do!