Best Forged Irons in 2024: In-depth Review & Buyer’s Guide

A forged iron goes through a different manufacturing process than a cavity back iron.

Forged irons are known for having a great feel while still maintaining some forgiveness. The forged iron is an excellent option for the mid to low handicap golfer.

Since there are so many options for the best forged irons on the market to choose from, we helped narrow things down for you a bit.

Quick Summary: Our Top Picks For Forged Irons On The Market In 2024

IMAGE	PRODUCT
Best Forged Irons	Callaway Apex Iron Set Great feel Players distance irons Low center of gravity	VIEW LATEST PRICE →
Alternative #1	TaylorMade P760 Iron Set Very consistent Thing top line Soft feel	VIEW LATEST PRICE →
Alternative #2	Honma Golf TW-747X Iron Set High launch Able to stop and spin Wide cambered sole	VIEW LATEST PRICE →
Best for Low Handicappers	Cobra King Forged CB/MB Iron Set Combo set Classic players looking design Lots of distance	VIEW LATEST PRICE →
Best Value	Wilson Staff D7 Irons Very fairly priced Uses power hole technology to increase the distance Still has plenty of forgiveness	VIEW LATEST PRICE →
Best Premium	Callaway Epic Star Iron Set Very forgiving Extremely lightweight shaft Larger sweet spot	VIEW LATEST PRICE →
Best For Mid Handicap	Mizuno Golf JPX 921 Forged Grain flow forged Harmonic Impact technology Very solid feel at impact	VIEW LATEST PRICE →
Best Cavity Back	Callaway Apex DCB Most forgiving Apex ever built It can be hard to find forged feel in a cavity back Made from a 1025 mild carbon steel	VIEW LATEST PRICE →
Longest Iron	Cobra Golf Kings RF MB 5 step forging iron Tungsten weighting Unique copper finish designed by Rickie Fowler	VIEW LATEST PRICE →

Best Forged Iron Set: Callaway Apex Iron Set

The Callaway Golf Apex Irons was a very strong release from Callaway. Since these irons hit the market, they have remained a top seller.

This is a player distance iron, with a forged 1025 mild carbon steel body. 

What makes the Apex forged irons unique is the fact that Callaway was able to incorporate the Urethane Microspheres into the clubhead.

Traditionally these have only been used in cavity back irons to help the impact position feel more solid and have less vibration.

Incorporating these Urethane Microspheres into a forged golf club gives them an incredible feel. 

The Apex comes with the 360 Face Cup technology that helps players who need that extra ball speed.

You will get plenty of spin control and workability with this iron as well. Even though this is a forged set of irons, the center of gravity is low to help with really great launch and ball flight as well. 

These irons come stock with a True Temper Elevate 95 Shaft, perfect for the mid swing speed player. Overall this is a set of irons that will earn a spot in your golf bag for a very long time.

Read our Callaway Apex Irons review.

Best Alternative #1: TaylorMade P760 Iron Set

The TaylorMade P760 is a forged iron that has an incredibly soft feel. The P760 is built more for the lower handicapper that want to be able to work their shots. 

The P760 has a speed foam injected club head. The SpeedFoam technology helps to increase feel and lessen any kind of vibration at impact.

The SpeedFoam is used in the TaylorMade p790 irons as well, which are quite a bit more forgiving than the P760. 

One of the things that makes the P760 irons stand out so much is the fact that they have such a nice thin top line.

A top-line like this will appeal to golfers with lower handicappers that want to control their ball flight. 

The P760 irons come stock with a Dynamic Golf 120 Shaft. This shaft is a little heavier than some other options on the market and it will help for the faster swinging players to be able to control their ball flight. 

Best Alternative #2: Honma Golf TW-747X Iron Set

The Honma golf brand is really starting to make a name for itself, especially when it comes to forged golf irons. The new T/World line of golf clubs is created with an incredible feel and consistent performance in mind.

If you are a great player looking for a forged iron that can make golf feel more natural and accessible, the TW-747X is the way to go. 

The Honma Golf TW 747X is hand shaped in the factor in Japan. The concept is that precision is going to help players be able to take their game to the next level.

The forged hollow construction is a muscle back design that allows for plenty of distance yet the ultimate amount of control on golf shots. 

The high strength MS300 forged face is what allows players to have the speed that they need from their shots while still keeping the precision. The Honma irons are known for high launch and very good spin around the greens.

If you are looking to get more precise in the shots that you hit, the Honma TW 747X is the way to go. 

Best Forged Irons for Low Handicapper: Cobra King Forged CB/MB Iron Set

For the lower handicapper, most of the options on the market are a blade type golf iron.

Some players don’t want something that is a blade because of the extreme lack of forgiveness on a blade iron. This is where the idea of a forged combo set has come into place. 

We love the quality of construction and attention to detail on the Cobra Golf King Forged CB/MB Iron Set. All of the clubs in this set are a forged type design. The 3-6 iron is a little more forgiving than the 7-PW that is a blade type setup. 

The combination set allows a player to have the feel and precision they need in the short irons and the distance and forgiveness in the long irons.

The face on the Cobra King Forged is a CNC milled face that helps make the grooves more precise.

Best Value Forged Irons: Wilson Staff D7 Golf Irons

As we mentioned, the forged golf irons are almost always more expensive than a cavity back.

The Wilson Staff D7 is an excellent set of clubs for the golfer looking to get into the forged feel but not spend a ton of money on the set. 

The D7 is built with power holes to help increase both ball speed and get more distance.

The forged carbon steel is actually combined with perimeter weighting to give this club game improvement type distance but the feel of forged.

Overall this is a golf club that you will feel is worth every penny you pay for it.

Best Premium forged Irons: Callaway Epic Star Iron Set

When we say that this is a premium golf club we are not exaggerating. The Callaway Epic Forged Star Iron Set is one of the most expensive iron sets available.

These clubs are built for maximum distance. Many senior golfers like the Epic Forged Star because of the premium lightweight graphite shafts. 

The Epic Forged Star is a thicker looking iron, and they are generally not available in the longer irons.

This is a club built for players that need the most help with distance and forgiveness but they still want the forged feel. 

Just like the Apex at the top of our list, the Epic Star uses the 360 Face Cup Technology.

The Epic irons have plenty of launch and they have been very well received by both women and senior golfers.

Best Forged Iron For Mid Handicap: Mizuno JPX 921 Forged

When shopping for a forged golf club, you must at least consider the Mizuno name. The Mizuno JPX 921 Forged golf irons feature the Harmonic Impact technology and the new stability frame. These two components lead to a better feel than we have ever seen before from Mizuno. 

In addition, the club also has back milling. The CNC milling created a larger thickness on the face of the club to help ensure that the ball speeds were much higher than they were in previous models. The result is a great feeling golf club that actually travels quite a bit further. 

From an aesthetics standpoint, the fact that the new JPX 921 has a new pearl brush finish means that we can see the iron head regardless of the sunlight on that day. Having a better view and sightlines from the JPX 919 are two of the better improvements to this new golf iron. 

Best Cavity Back Forged Iron: Callaway Apex DCB Irons

The Callaway Apex DCB is a brand new release to the market that has changed the way Callaway presents its forged golf clubs. With the Callaway Apex DCB Irons, you are going to get that incredible forged feel that we have come to expect from the Apex line, with the forgiveness of a true cavity back. 

Along with that forgiveness comes a very impressive ball speed. You will be able to hit these golf irons further than most game improvement clubs on the market. In addition, the turf interaction is impressive and provides for a higher launch than we have seen in the past. 

Like most of the Callaway irons on the market, the urethane microspheres help to improve the overall sound and feel at impact. Although this is a bit thicker than some other golf irons on the market, the overall performance is something that even the better player can get used to. 

Longest Forged Golf Iron: Cobra King RF MB

The Cobra King RF MB is one of the best looking and longest forged golf irons on the market. This club is made from 1025 carbon steel, and it has some of the softest feel around. When you first start playing with the Cobra King RF MB, it may take a bit of time to see the long distance technology. 

You will have to hit this club directly in the center of the club face if you are going to want to get more distance and performance than previous Cobra golf irons. There is no question that this is a golf iron for a better player, yet, you can also combine this set with the Forged Tec in the long irons to make things more forgiving. 
Our favorite new addition to the Cobra King RF MB is the copper finish. With this new look, you can really feel as though you get the performance you need and the visual aspects not offered by any other golf club.

Forged Irons Buying Guide

Now that you have a better idea as to which clubs are the best on the market, it makes sense to understand exactly what a forged iron is and why purchasing one may be a good thing for your golf game. 

What Is The Difference Between A Forged And A Cavity Back Iron? 

The main difference between the forged and cavity back iron is how they are manufactured. The forged iron is made from one piece of metal and poured into a cast. That is why some people will call a forged iron a cast iron. 

A cavity back iron has a hollow back. The main difference you will see with a forged and cavity back iron is that the cavity back has a little more vibration at impact than the top forged irons.

This is why golfers are known for saying that the forged irons feel better. 

Since the forged clubs usually come from one piece of carbon steel, they have a more solid feel with less vibration and movement and impact. 

What Handicap Golfer Should Use A Forged Iron? 

A golfer of any handicap can use a forged golf club.

There are many models of forged clubs on the market, and as long as you find one that matches the strength of your golf game, you will be very happy with the results that it provides. 

Lower handicap golfers should look at irons that are similar to forged blades.

Higher handicap golfers should look at something like the Epic Forged Star that has the forged feel but a larger clubhead that will accommodate shots that miss the center a bit. 

What Are The Advantages To A Forged Iron?

The major advantage of forged iron is that it has a better feel and better control. If you are a player that likes to hit draws and fades or play with different ball flights, the forged iron is the way to go. 

A cavity back iron is going to be so forgiving sometimes that it won’t allow you to manipulate your golf shots the way you would like to. 

As far as distance is concerned, some people will say that a forged iron is not quite as long as a cavity back.

This really has more to do with the overall forgiveness. Since the cavity back is more forgiving, you don’t have to hit it precisely in the center to get a good distance from your shot. 

What Are The Disadvantages To A Forged Iron? 

There are two main disadvantages to the forged iron. The first is the cost, and the second is forgiveness. In some cases, forged irons can be about 25 to 30 percent more than the price of a cavity back. 

Lower handicappers will tell you that when you buy clubs that feel good, you will pay for it. The shorter irons in the forged sets are not all that less forgiving than the cavity back.

When you get to the long irons, you will notice that you have to hit the sweet spot to get the ball speed that you are looking for. 

If you are interested in forged irons but don’t want to pay over $1,000 for a set, the Wilson Staff clubs that we reviewed are a great choice. You can get the performance without having to spend so much money on it. 

Are Forged Irons Better? 

Forged irons have a better feel, but they are not better golf clubs. Golf equipment is all about finding the clubs that work best for your golf game.

Most of the game improvement irons on the market are not going to be forged, but that does not mean they are not good. 

Try to test some irons out and see which have the most carry distance and least dispersion. Regardless of what this club looks like, it is likely the best fit for you. 

What to look for when buying an iron?

When purchasing a golf iron, it is important to consider all of the factors that will impact your game. From the type of iron to the distance to the forgiveness, there are quite a few different things to consider. Let’s take a look at the major factors to look for when buying an iron. Doing this prior to your purchase will help ensure you get a set that lasts for years to come. 

Type of iron

The type of iron we reviewed on our list were forged irons. Forged irons are typically made from one piece of metal that is manufactured to be very stable and pure at impact. The type of iron you choose is typically more about the performance you are looking for than anything else. 

Forged golf irons give a softer and smoother feel at impact and allow players to still hit a draw, fade or control the ball flight when they hit. 

Look / Feel

The look and feel of a forged golf iron are a bit different than that of a traditional cavity back. With the forged club, you will typically get a thinner top line and a more stable feel at impact. 

Forgiveness

In years past, there was not as much a golf manufacturer could do about forgiveness with a forged iron because of the limitations in the manufacturing. Today this has changed, and now you can find golf irons that are both forged and forgiving. 

The Callaway Apex DCB is one of the most forgiving golf clubs on the market, yet it is forged. 

Shaft

The shaft of the forged iron that you choose should match your ball flight preferences and your swing speed. If you are a faster swing speed player, you should consider using the steel golf shaft with a slightly stiffer shaft. 

For a slower swinging player, the graphite shaft with a more flexible shaft will help improve launch and overall distance. 

Flex

The flex of the club is so important. If you choose the wrong flex in your irons, it could cause you to hit golf shots that are not straight or don’t fly as far as they could. Finding the best flex in a golf shaft may mean going for a custom golf club fitting to make the final determination. 

Forgiveness

The forgiveness that you get in a forged golf iron won’t entirely be like that of a cavity back golf iron. However, the forged irons in 2021 have much more forgiveness than previously forged golf irons. Forgiveness is a major factor when choosing a set of golf irons. Always pick a golf club that will fly and give you some room for error; as golfers, we all make mistakes. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Here are a few of the questions that we are most commonly asked about forged irons and the best ones for your golf game.

Conclusion

We hope that our guide to the best-forged irons helped you narrow down the market’s overwhelming choices.

Out top pick, the Callaway Apex Forged are some of the best irons that Callaway has ever put out.

They have incredible feel mixed with just enough forgiveness to make the mid handicapper feel like they are swinging a players club.

The Callaway Apex Forged are a perfect transition from cavity back to forged.