5 Best Player’s Distance Irons in 2024

A player’s distance iron is a club that can hit the golf ball a long way but still have great feel and workability.

If you are less than a fifteen handicap and want some great feel without sacrificing your yardage, the player’s distance irons are the way to go.

We have put together a list of the best player’s distance irons on the market. Each one of these options has lots of ball speed and unmatched feel.


Quick Summary: Our Top Picks For Player’s Distance Irons On The Market In 2024
IMAGEPRODUCT
Callaway Mavrik Pro Iron Set
  • Urethane Microspheres for great feel
  • Lots of spin on the shorter irons
  • Plenty of distance
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TaylorMade P790 Iron Set
  • Forged hollow body construction
  • Large sweet spot
  • High launching
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TaylorMade M5 Iron Set
  • Dropped in price since their original release
  • Lots of distance
  • Great from a variety of turf conditions
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Cobra King Forged CB/MB Iron Set
  • Top of the line look, sound, and feel
  • Lots of distance with irons
  • Clean and sleek looking finish and design
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Callaway 2021 Apex Pro Iron Set
  • Innovative AI technology
  • Ability to control launch
  • Forged 1025 hollow body construction
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Cobra King Forged Tec One Length Iron Set
  • Classic look and feel
  • Lots of distance
  • One length for consistency
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Titleist T200 Golf Irons
  • Tour inspired design
  • Forged L Face insert
  • Solid feel at impact
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Best Overall: Callaway Mavrik Pro Iron Set



PROS

  • Urethane Microspheres for great feel
  • Lots of spin on the shorter irons
  • Tungsten infused weight strategically located
  • Plenty of distance

CONS

  • A little thicker than some other options

At the top of our list for the best golf irons for distance is the Callaway Golf 2020 Mavrik Pro iron set.

This is a very high performing new release from Callaway that allows a golfer the perfect mix of performance and workability

The Mavrik Pro comes with the 360 Face Cup technology. This is the same technology that is on the Mavrik standard, which are the game improvement irons. There is plenty of ball speed to help propel this ball off the clubface. 

The Mavrik Pro features a tungsten infused weight to help place the center of gravity in a position that will keep the ball speed, improve launch but still allow for a great feel.

The Urethane Microspheres that Callaway has been using in their irons have been incorporated to help with unwanted vibration. 

The last few releases from Callaway have included a golf club that is designed to help the players who have a handicap of 12 or less.

If this describes you and you want to start working the ball a bit more, the Mavrik Pro irons are a great choice.




Runner Up: TaylorMade P790 Iron Set



PROS

  • Forged hollow body construction
  • Speed foam technology
  • Large sweet spot
  • Lightweight club head
  • High launching

CONS

  • Not great for the very low handicappers

We love the P790 set of irons for several reasons. These irons have been around for a few years now, but they keep improving and keep offering new benefits.

The Taylormade P790 irons can be great for a mid handicap irons down to a scratch golfer.

The Taylormade P790 is a hollow body iron with a very thin face. The thin face helps the ball jump off the club face and head straight down the fairway.

Even though this iron is a hollow construction, it is filled with the revolutionary SpeedFoam from TaylorMade. The Speedform is a very lightweight material injected into the club head that helps to provide a better feel

The P790 is a little larger as far as the clubhead is concerned than some other players’ irons on the market. If you are unsure whether or not your game is ready for a player-type iron, this is a great club to start out with.

Read our TaylorMade P790 Irons review.




TaylorMade M5 Iron Set

Best Value



PROS

  • Dropped in price since their original release
  • Lots of distance
  • Great from a variety of turf conditions

CONS

  • Not the latest technology

Since the M5 is not the latest release, you can now pick them up at a great price. The M5 irons are some of the best distance irons on the market.

They have the revolutionary speed bridge and speed pocket technology that makes the golf ball feel as though it will launch off the face. 

If you happened to see the M6 irons that TaylorMade released at the same time, you know that they made a model for the higher handicapper and the lower handicapper.

These M5 are slightly thinner and have more of a forged look and feel than the M6. Generally speaking, lower handicap players want a club that looks a little sleeker. 

The M5 came with the Hybrar Compression Damper. This will eliminate almost all vibration at impact, and it has a much better look, sound, and performance than other game improvement type irons on the market.




Cobra King Forged CB/MB Iron Set

Best For Lowest Handicaps



PROS

  • Top of the line look, sound, and feel
  • Lots of distance with irons
  • Clean and sleek looking finish and design
  • Built for better players

CONS

  • Combo set may not be what all players are looking for

Anybody considered a player is probably a golfer that has a lower handicap; however, a ten handicap and a two handicap are still two different things.

The Forged CB/MB Iron set is a great choice for the low handicapper that needs distance but wants a thin players look

The Cobra King Forged goes through a five-step forging process that gives them a much better feel than other options.

We love the black finish on the Cobra, produced with the diamonized black metal. The finish stays looking good much longer than some other iron choices. 

Part of what makes the feel so good on the Cobra irons is the CNC Milled Face and grooves.

You will get all the spin you need from this set and the ability to launch the ball. Of course, this is a progressive combo set so that the long irons will be a bit more forgiving than the short irons.

With these short irons in your hands, you can really start scoring the way you want to.




Callaway Apex Smoke Irons Set

Best For Middle Handicappers



PROS

  • Perfectly positioned center of gravity
  • Players distance irons with forgiveness
  • Tungsten infused weight for a low center of gravity
  • The perfect mix of the forgiving clubhead with spin and feel

CONS

  • Somewhat of players shape but still slightly thick

When it comes to golf equipment, it is sometimes easier to be a high handicapper or a low handicapper than it is, so be a middle handicapper.

The reason is that you can get caught between several different types of clubs that you could play with. 

We love the Apex Smoke Iron Set for those golfers that know they need distance, a little bit of a forgiving clubface, but they care about the look, feel, and aesthetics. The Apex 19 Smoke has a Smoke PVD finish that helps with reducing glare. 

The Apex is made with a forged 1025 mild carbon steel body. Somehow Callaway was also able to their Urethane Microsphere technology to fit inside this forged iron.

The Apex comes in a pro version that is more of a blade-type iron; however, if you want distance, the Apex 19 Smoke is the best choice.




Callaway 2021 Apex Pro Iron Set

Best Looking



PROS

  • Innovative AI technology 
  • IMproved spin 
  • Ability to control launch 
  • Forged 1025 hollow body construction

CONS

  • Not the most forgiving of the player’s distance irons 

The Callaway Golf 2021 Apex Pro Iron set is a brand new release to the market. Callaway is learning how to make their player’s irons even more appealing.

We love the new shaping and design of these Apex irons and the impressive quality they can bring to your game.

As you may already know, the Callaway golf brand is big into the Artificial Intelligence. They use the AI to make sure that the construction of the iron is optimal for speed and performance. 

The new forged 1025 hollow body construction is built to help get golfers distance and plenty of club head speed while maintaining a superior feel. These clubs are made for the lowest handicap players that want to get lots of distance but also need to work the ball. 

Inside the club head’s hollow body, there will be urethane microspheres that help give players improved sound and feel at the impact position.

The tungsten energy core is how Callaway gives players this extra distance. Through the years, tungsten has been discovered to be one of the better distance-producing materials on the market; these irons feature 90 grams per iron.




Cobra King Forged Tec One Length Iron Set

Best For Forgiveness



PROS

  • Classic look and feel
  • Lots of distance
  • One length for consistency

CONS

  • Not all golfers want one length, but you can purchase in variable length as well

The Forged Tec irons are Cobra’s response to the P790 irons. When you look at these clubs you will see that classic muscle back shape, but they do have a hollow core.

The center of gravity can be located quite low, and you get plenty of extra launch and great ball flight

The fact that these are a one-length iron set helps us like them even more. When players can focus on their swing mechanics and the setup and stance can be the same from one iron to the next, the game gets simpler.

When golf gets simpler, it is easy to score. 

The Forged Tec One length is a very clean looking set of clubs that will keep players from a wide range of handicaps happy with their look. Of course, we also love the ability to track your stats using the Cobra Connect technology.

This is a high tech and high performing set of irons that will make long-distance easy to achieve.




Titleist T200 Golf Irons

Best For Feel

PROS

  • Tour inspired design
  • Forged L Face insert
  • Solid feel at impact

CONS

  • Not the most forgiving of the golf irons from Titleist

The Titleist T200 golf irons are the best-known players distance irons for feel. If you are serious about the way the golf club feels at impact, and you want higher launching but impressive scoring golf clubs, the T200 is a perfect option to consider. 

This is a tour-proven design that has progressive technology to ensure they work from the wedges to the long irons. The new engineered muscle plate ensures that the acoustics and vibrations are minimal at impact. The Titleist T200 is considered to be the PGA Tours superior distance iron. 

Like all excellent golf distance irons in 2021, the tungsten weights in the club head will ensure that these are more accurate than other golf irons on the market. If you have always been a Titleist fan, you will be impressed with the increased technology seen from these golf irons. 




How to Choose Good Players Distance Irons

Great players’ distance irons are not hard to come by. The difficult part is choosing one that is perfect for your golf game. With all of the options on the market, the player’s distance iron has genuinely become a category of its own. Let’s take a look at all of the things you should consider when choosing a great player’s distance iron. 

Types of Golf Irons

There are four main types of golf irons. Although sometimes it is difficult to tell exactly which type of golf iron you are getting, most of these clubs will have distinct differences that help them stand out from others on the market. Let’s take a look at the types of golf irons that are available to players. 

Super Game-Improvement Irons

Super game improvement irons are often offset with a large club head and a large sweet spot. Super game improvement irons are for the highest handicap golfers and the players that need the highest launch and distance. 

Game Improvement Irons

Game improvement irons are typically geared towards the mid to high handicap player that is looking for more forgiveness in their clubs. Game improvement golf clubs can help players take their game to the next level and lower their handicap. 

Player Irons

Players irons are for the lower handicap golfers that are looking for precision and control around the greens. Players’ irons are less forgiving but very workable. You can get the ball quite close to the pin with players’ irons that are hit well. 

Players Distance Irons

Players distance irons are for the better player that struggles with their ability to get the distance. In the past, more players’ irons were higher in the loft for extra precision, and golfers had a hard time getting the distance they needed; that has since changed with the addition of players’ distance irons to the market.

Style

There are two basic styles that we see from a golf iron. These are the cavity back irons and the muscle irons or blades. 

Cavity-back Irons

Cavity back irons are very forgiving and known to have a low center of gravity. With a cavity back iron in your hands, you can get a high launch and impressive distance. These are typically for the mid to high handicap golfer. 

Muscle Irons

The muscle irons are more like a blade, and they are going to help players that want more precision. The muscle back golf irons are going to be the design of many of the player’s distance irons. 

Construction

In addition to the style of a golf iron, there are two different types of construction that you see between golf irons, this is the cast and the forged construction.

Cast

Cast golf irons are made from a mold where one or more pieces are put together. The cast irons are typically cavity back irons but this does not need to be the case. 

Forged

Forged golf irons are constructed from one piece of metal. The metal is worked on and perfected to ensure that it is a perfect design for the golfer. Forged golf irons are known for their great feel and very little vibration at impact.

Shaft

There are two shaft material options for golfers to choose from. Most players’ distance irons are going to come in a steel shaft, but they are also seen in graphite shafts, especially in the long irons, from time to time. 

Graphite

Graphite shafts are more flexible, lighter, and have higher launching than steel golf shafts. With a graphite shaft, you will be able to get the distance you need without losing too much of your control. 

Steel

Steel golf shafts are more about precision than they are about distance. Many lower handicap players like steel golf shafts to help ensure they can control the golf ball. 

Flex

The shaft flex of the player’s distance iron you select will have to match your current swing speed. If you are a fast swing speed player, you will want a golf club with a slightly stiffer flex. For golfers with a slower swing speed, the more flexible golf shafts are the better choice. Most players’ distance irons are offered in regular, stiff, and extra stiff golf shafts. 

Look/ Feel

The look and feel of a golf iron are critical with players’ distance irons. Players tend to be rather particular about the way the club looks and feels, and the player’s distance irons need to have lots of extra distance without compromising the look of the club. 

Forgiveness

A player’s distance iron has a little bit of forgiveness. Forgiveness is used as a way to help players increase overall distance. When you play with a more forgiving golf club, the distance that you can get is quite impressive. Look for a center of gravity that is well-positioned. 

Center of Gravity 

The Center of gravity helps golfers get higher launch and more consistency from a golf iron. The center of gravity in a player’s distance iron will be a bit lower than in a traditional player’s iron. This helps to get that high flying distance that golfers need. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are a few of the most common questions asked about a player’s distance iron. Ensuring that you understand what you are purchasing before you change out your clubs is essential. 

Which are the longest distance irons in 2021?

The P790 irons are some of the longest hitting irons in 2021. The P790 offers a ton of forgiveness, yet a tremendous feel and some great looking top-down views. When you have a P790 golf iron in your hand, it will feel like a players club, but it is more forgiving than that. 

What are hollow body irons?

Hollow body irons are clubs that have nothing in the actual club head. The idea here is that the lighter club head can help produce higher swing speeds for players. Hollow body irons are typically easier for players to get distance from, and some companies will fill the hollow cavity with things like Speed Foam to help improve overall performance. 

How to factor in distance vs. forgiveness for a golf iron?

As your handicap gets lower and lower, you will need less forgiveness. Players that are new to the game or are shooting over 100 should consider forgiveness to be the most important factor in choosing a golf iron. Distance is the more critical choice as players get better and want to score lower. 

Do you really get more distance with a player’s distance iron?

There are two major differences between a traditional golf iron and a players distance iron. The differences are a bit more forgiveness and a slightly lower lofting of the club. When lofts are adjusted on the club, but forgiveness is added, golfers get higher ball flight shots that fly further. Players distance irons have been a great addition to the market.

Player’s Distance Irons Buying Guide

Now that you have the inside scoop on the best player’s distance irons, here are some questions that people are asking about these clubs.

Making sure that you choose the proper iron set for your game is so important to the overall success of your golf career. 

Who Are Player’s Distance Irons For? 

Not all great players can hit the ball a long way. Some struggle with distance but are very good at accuracy and control.

Players’ distance irons can give golfers the feel they need on their irons but still, give them that jump off the clubface that a game improvement iron would give. 

Player’s distance irons are also for the golfers that find that the more distance they get in their game, the better they are.

Some players feel like if they can’t hit a seven iron 170 yards, they can’t shoot the numbers they want.

Are Player’s Distance Irons Forgiving? 

In order to be a distance iron, there needs to be a certain amount of forgiveness. The forgiveness allows for the distance even when the center of the clubface is missed slightly.

Players distance irons are not as forgiving as a cavity back club, but they are not as unforgiving as a blade. It is a perfect mix. 

Do Player’s Distance Irons Have Good Feel? 

Anything that is called “players” is going to have a good feel. Without having a great feel, an iron can’t be a player’s irons.

Great players want the irons to give them the feel they need to work the ball and work on their golf game. 

Are Player’s Distance Irons The Same As Forged Irons? 

Players’ distance irons are almost always forged. The forged design gives them the feel that they need while there is still forgiveness and distance.

Forged irons look, sound, and perform better than a cavity back iron, and this is something that great players look for in a club. It is rare to find a better player that is content with a cavity back iron. 

Conclusion

A great player’s distance iron is something that will earn a spot in your golf bag for quite some time. Choosing the proper set for you may take a bit of time and a little research, but hopefully, our choices helped narrow things down for you. 

The Callaway Mavrik Pro are some of the greatest player’s distance golf clubs ever released. You should have no issues getting the launch, ball flight, and overall distance that you need from these clubs.

They are offered at a fair price, and they offer all of the technology that the Mavrik standard offers with just a bit better look and sound. This is a set that you will want to grab before they sell out.

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