The Best Game Improvement Irons - 2023

A new golf season means fresh equipment; are you in the market for an updated set of toys? We’ll be focusing on game improvement irons in this article, which are tailored to mid-high handicappers. If you’re looking to break 100 or 90 for the first time, this class of irons could be the secret to unlocking lower scores. 

Golfshake Equipment Expert, Ryan Rastall, the Head Pro at Howley Hall Golf Club in Leeds, provides an overview to share his favourite irons from this year in the below video (Watch on YouTube), but you can also read on beyond that and see even more detailed information about these featured products. 

TaylorMade Stealth Irons

TaylorMade’s Stealth Irons were designed with forgiveness in mind. Featuring an abundance of new technology, these nifty tools will help lower scores and provide an injection of confidence when out on the course. The Cap Back design utilises Toe Wrap Construction, which expands distance and forgiveness without sacrificing the luxurious feel commonly found in TaylorMade products. Furthermore, the sweet spot of the 450 stainless steel face has been uniquely positioned to ensure consistency is found across all strikes. The Thru-Slot Speed Pocket delivers both speed and mercy when missing low to the face, and the ECHO Damping System removes the harsh vibrations from mis-timed efforts. 

Key Tech

• Cap Back Design for more distance, forgiveness and feel 
• Fast Forgiving Face delivers fiery ball speeds 
• Echo Damping System to improve feel on mis-struck shots 
• 7-Iron Loft: 28° 
• RRP: £849
• BUY ONLINE at American Golf

What Golfshake Say:

“It feels very powerful off the face and quite easy to get in the air. There’s plenty of mass located at the bottom of the head and it’s very easy to launch.” 

PING G430

PING have carefully built their brand to reflect consistent, high-delivering quality - and the G430 irons are no exception. The G430 can offer up to 2 mph more of ball speed, which is achieved through a complex design that includes lowering the CG and strengthening the loft of each club. They combine to offer effortless distance, with PING’s renowned forgiveness still fully intact. We all want to play with clubs that provide ultimate confidence when over the ball, and the new compact shape certainly achieves that. The stronger lofts provide more gapping support, meaning you’ll be assured from any distance from the green. 

Key Tech 

• Purflex Technology helps increase ball speeds for ultimate distance 
• High-density tungsten toe and shaft tip weights combine to produce tighter dispersion patterns 
• Stronger lofts have ensured gapping will no longer be an issue
• 7-Iron Loft: 29° 
• RRP: £839
• BUY ONLINE at Scottsdale Golf
• BUY ONLINE at American Golf

What Golfshake Say:

“These irons are easy to launch, which you wouldn’t expect with the loft as low as it is, but due to lots of weight below the head, it’s much easier to get the ball into the air - which is what most game improvers want from their irons.” 

Callaway Paradym X 

Jon Rahm is demonstrating why Callaway have long been a frontrunner for golfing equipment, with the Paradym X irons providing further evidence of the brand’s magnificence. Although noted as game improvement irons, the Paradym X irons are suited to anyone who plays off 12 or above. AI face technology has been used to create Callaway’s most powerful forged iron face in the manufacturer’s history, producing more speed, higher launch and increased spin as a result. With 79g of tungsten weights precisely positioned, forgiveness from mis-timed shots has never been so promising.

Key Tech 

• Hollow Body design adds stiffness to the body for faster ball speeds 
• Dual tungsten weighting ensures forgiveness reaches new heights 
• Refined forgiving shape offers better interaction with the turf 
• 7-Iron Loft: 27.5°
• RRP: £1,089
• BUY ONLINE at Scottsdale Golf
• BUY ONLINE at American Golf

What Golfshake Say:

“This is the most forgiving iron in the Callaway range. It features a slightly wider sole and a thicker top line but it is absolutely packed with technology. It feels really good off the face and the technology Callaway use for feel certainly does help.” 

Wilson DynaPower 

Wilson was excited to share their Dynapower AI, which features heavily in the Dynapower game improvement irons. The brand is reputable for offering distance for higher handicappers, and that’s certainly a theme with this year’s release. Considering a large majority of shots are struck between the centre and the toe for higher handicappers, the variable face thickness will make sure that quality is assured even when your timing is slightly off. Perhaps the biggest benefit is the player-inspired head shape, where the perfect balance of top line, optimal offset and a smooth hosel combine to create a comfortable look when addressing the ball. 

Key Tech 

• DynaPower AI delivers maximum ball speeds across the entire face 
• High MOI and a low CG design creates forgiveness from off-centre strikes 
• The head shape has been redesigned to evoke further confidence 
• 7-Iron Loft: 27°
• RRP: £579
• BUY ONLINE at American Golf

What Golfshake Say:

“This definitely looks a little bit bigger compared to the others in this list. Whenever I’ve reviewed Wilson products in the past, they certainly feel and look really good. It feels effortless to get the ball in the air - and the distance is a bonus.” 

Cobra AeroJet

Cobra’s AeroJet irons focus solely on one rather important aspect: finding greens. Without locating the putting surface, our quest for lower scores will simply remain a distant dream. Cobra believe they can offer a solution to the disappointment with their AeroJet irons - the most technologically advanced iron to be released from the brand. The PWRSELL insert combines with the AI designed H.O.T Face to produce a larger sweet spot for increased speed and spin. Moreover, the suspended PWR-BRIDGE weighting encourages maximum launch to ensure stopping power is something you can continuously rely on. 

Key Tech 

• PWR-BRIDGE weighting enables 10% more face flexion to deliver unprecedented distance 
• PWRSHELL face insert delivers more flexibility across the face 
• H.O.T FACE technology uses AI to design a variable thickness pattern for speed and spin 
• 7-Iron Loft: 26.5°
• RRP: £689
• BUY ONLINE at Scottsdale Golf
• BUY ONLINE at American Golf

What Golfshake Say:

“It looks similar to the PING G340 and they both look a little nicer behind the ball compared to the others. After hitting a few shots, from a feel perspective, I would say this one is the best. It feels very powerful off the face, and I prefer the sound it makes compared to the others.”

Mizuno JPX923 Hot Metal Irons

Mizuno’s R&D team have always been ambitious but the release of the JPX923 Hot Metal Irons could be their biggest breakthrough in the game improvement department yet. Having studied more than 175,000 recorded swings with real golfers, the team have crafted the ultimate game improvement irons. Specifically, they offer higher launches for players with moderate swing speeds or even aggressive shaft lean. The JPX923 HM Irons also introduce a new material - Nickel Chromoly - which rockets ball speed to unseen potential. If you’re looking for control, equipped with a large slice of satisfaction, look no further than the glittering Mizuno. 

Key Tech

• The new V-Chassis offers greater feel through impact 
• Seamless cup face construction has greatly improved stopping power 
• The new 4335 Nickel Chromoly is 35% stronger than the original Chromoly 
• 7-Iron Loft: 28.5°
• RRP: £899
• BUY ONLINE at Scottsdale Golf
• BUY ONLINE at American Golf

Srixon ZX4 Mk II Iron

Srixon combine everything required from a game improvement iron, with the sleek design adding an extra benefit to the explosive distance and stiff control. This is largely achieved through the hollow head design which features extra-strong lofts similar to PING’s G430 irons. As higher handicappers will know, striking longer irons is no easy task. You’ll be happy to discover that Srixon are fully aware of this, and they offer wide grooves in the 4i - 7i, which enhances friction in all conditions. Additional features include a narrow topline, moderate sole width and the highest offset previously recorded. 

Key Tech 

• MainFrame offers lower CG for more consistency and forgiveness 
• Tour V.T. Sole maintains clubhead speed through impact for cleaner strikes 
• Progressive Grooves in the longer irons ensures quality of strike 
• 7-Iron Loft: 28.5°
• RRP: £899 
• BUY ONLINE at Scottsdale Golf

The 2023 golf season holds potential to be the best one to date. By gaming any of the iron models that we have listed above, you can be assured of the quality you are purchasing. Within no time, you’ll be strolling confidently towards the first tee knowing your best golf is just around the corner.

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