Hot List
Best Players Irons of 2025
The best clubs in each category of the Hot List reflect excellence across an array of criteria. This is not limited to our player testing. For the criterion of Innovation, our editors and scientists meet with manufacturer R&D teams throughout the year to better understand what companies are doing and why. The preeminent Players irons share two essential traits: They forgo raw distance in favor of control, and they have a pleasing aesthetic at address that inspires tour-player-like confidence. Here is how 20 of our player-testers elevated clubs in this category based on Performance, Look/Sound/Feel and Innovation.
Callaway
Apex CB
$215 per iron
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Golf Galaxy
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GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$215 per iron
A five-step forging process delivers the feel better players crave.
Metal-injection-molding weights placed in the toe create enhanced workability and control.
The center of gravity is lower in the long irons to boost launch and higher in the short irons to control trajectory on shots from pin-seeking range.
The sole design has a pre-worn leading edge to enter the turf with ease, and the trailing edge relief makes exiting the turf the golf equivalent of being in a getaway car.
Thinner toplines and longer blade lengths than the previous Apex CB are consistent with the Apex Pro model to make blending sets seamless.
The backweight can be adjusted by a clubfitter to dial in the correct swingweight.
Top 5 in Performance, low-handicaps.
SPECS: 7-iron: 34 degrees; PW: 46 degrees
Callaway
Apex Pro
$215 per iron
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$215 per iron
The hollow-body construction and a thinner, more flexible cupface (in which the face wraps around part of the sole and topline) on the 3- through 5-iron provide more ball speed and a higher launch to enhance distance.
The remaining irons have a 1025 forged-carbon-steel face insert designed for precision, accuracy and repeatability in the clubs where distance isn’t as crucial.
The company’s urethane microspheres within the body of the long irons control vibration, enhance feel and allow the face to flex for maximum distance.
The sole features a variable bounce from heel to toe, especially helpful to players who enter the turf with the toe down on impact.
The backweight gives fitters more options to dial in the proper swingweight.
A good choice for highly skilled golfers that need a hint of forgiveness.
Top 5 in Forgiveness, middle-handicaps.
SPECS: 7-iron: 33 degrees; PW: 45 degrees
Cobra
3DP Tour
$357 per iron
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$357 per iron
The irons are completely 3-D printed, allowing for a level of precision and intricacy not available in clubs that are forged or cast.
The 3-D printing allows for a soft, forged-like feel in an iron with game-improvement traits.
An interior lattice provides support for durability and produces a pleasing sound.
The weight savings the lattice provides allows the use of tungsten weighting to achieve stability in a blade-like iron.
Tungsten also helps lower the center of gravity, making this an iron even 15-handicappers can play.
The company has produced more than 50 3-D print projects for tour players with nearly 20 put in play, proving the viability of 3-D printed clubs.
Top 5 in Performance, low-handicaps.
SPECS: 7-iron: 31 degrees; PW: 45 degrees
Mizuno
Mizuno Pro 243
$200 per iron
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$200 per iron
The face is as thin as a dime with plenty of spring.
“Micro-slots” on the long and middle irons enhance distance.
Grain-flow forged from chromoly steel, the combination delivers the kind of sweet feeling better players prefer.
The wrap-around sole grind promotes a silky turf interaction.
The lofts on the wedges have been strengthened to provide better distance gapping.
The compact clubhead appeals to better players.
Top 5 in Performance, low-handicaps.
SPECS: 7-iron: 32 degrees; PW: 44 degrees
Ping
Blueprint S
$230 per iron
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$230 per iron
An elastomer insert in the long irons saves 10 grams of weight that is redistributed to foster a higher launch and more forgiveness.
Short irons are single-piece forgings to promote ball-flight control.
The face and grooves are milled, bringing more precision to the manufacturing process.
Weight screws on the toe allow for precise center-of-gravity placement.
The compact shape fits the discerning player’s eye with a thin topline, minimal offset and shorter blade length.
Retro Spec (weaker lofts) and PWR Spec (stronger lofts) are available.
Top 5 in Performance, middle-handicaps.
SPECS: 7-iron: 33 degrees; PW: 45 degrees
Srixon
ZXi7
$186 per iron
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$186 per iron
A proprietary forging process adds strength in the hosel area, allowing for the use of a softer steel for optimal feel.
Mass behind the hitting area reduces face flex for tour-like distance control.
The venerable Tour V.T. sole design helps turn fat shots into acceptable hits.
The 8-iron through gap wedge have deeper grooves spaced more closely together for Velcro-like grab on approach shots.
Laser milling between each groove delivers additional bite.
Top 5 in Performance, middle-handicaps.
SPECS: 7-iron: 32 degrees; PW: 46 degrees
TaylorMade
P·770
$200 per iron
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$200 per iron
A hollow-body construction with a forged, high-strength steel face insert produces plenty of distance sizzle.
The face insert wraps around the leading edge into the sole for more potential ball speed from impacts lower on the face.
Tungsten within the head (as much as 41 grams) lowers the center of gravity for more effective launch.
The tungsten also is used to produce a consistent center of gravity (vertically) through the set for added consistency.
TaylorMade’s “SpeedFoam Air” material is inserted within the head, reducing those pesky unwanted vibrations on mis-hits.
Structural ribs in the walls of the body deliver noticeable sound and feel dividends.
Top 5 in Forgiveness, low-handicaps.
SPECS: 7-iron: 33 degrees; PW: 45 degrees
TaylorMade
P·7CB
$200 per iron
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$200 per iron
The single-piece forged cavity-back is more compact than the P·770.
Cavities in the sole are milled out, allowing for tungsten (up to 11 grams) and a slug of lightweight metal-matrix composite to be inserted to lower the center of gravity.
The metal-matrix composite is one-fifth the density of the surrounding steel. This allows for more perimeter weighting and ultimately forgiveness.
The long irons have slightly longer blade lengths and significantly wider soles (compared to last year’s P·7MC) offering more stability through the turf.
TaylorMade redesigned the leading-edge geometry in the middle to long irons. It’s now lower with a sharper radius to make entering and exiting the turf easier.
Top 5 in Forgiveness, low-handicaps.
SPECS: 7-iron: 33 degrees; PW: 46 degrees
Titleist
T100
$200 per iron
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$200 per iron
A forged, dual-cavity design supplies a tour-like look in an iron everyday single-digit handicappers can play.
Super-dense D18 tungsten (1.5 times heavier than lead) in the heel and toe foster super-charged stability and improved feel.
Coordinating with the company’s wedge designers brought a softened chamfer in the trailing edge of the sole for better turf interaction.
Using a CNC face-milling process helps create more control and consistent ball flight, especially from the rough.
The stock shafts are slightly lighter in the long irons to help make them easier to swing.
Top 5 in Performance, middle-handicaps
SPECS: 7-iron: 34 degrees; PW: 46 degrees
Titleist
T150
$200 per iron
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Gold
$200 per iron
The T150 is hotter than the T100 thanks to its stronger lofts (2 degrees) and a channel behind the face that adds spring at impact.
The muscle channel is close to the face to provide a solid feel.
Dense D18 tungsten uses an aerospace brazing process that eliminates weld joints. This allows a more precise center of gravity and extra stability on off-center strikes.
A softened chamfer in the trailing edge of the sole delivers plow-like turf interaction.
The CNC face-milling process eliminates imperfections in the surface for better contact and control.
The lower portion of the face is a shade thicker than the T100 to enhance feel.
Top 5 in Forgiveness, middle-handicaps.
SPECS: 7-iron: 32 degrees; PW: 44 degrees
Cobra
King Tour
$200 per iron
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$200 per iron
Diamonized black-metal finish provides a badass, durable look while reducing glare.
Five-step forging process from 1025 carbon steel creates a pillowy soft feel at impact.
Also enhancing feel is a thermoplastic urethane insert behind the hitting area.
Grooves are milled into the face, allowing them to come close to the USGA limit for maximum spin.
Weight in the toe brings the center of gravity closer to face center.
A shorter hosel length helps avoid the kind of excessive spin that causes shots to balloon.
Top 5 in Sound/Feel, low-handicaps.
SPECS: 7-iron: 32 degrees; PW: 44 degrees
Maxfli
XC2
$143 per iron
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$143 per iron
Co-forged tungsten and ceramic weighting reduces mass in areas where it is not needed and moves it to where it is needed such as the perimeter.
Six-times forged from 1025 carbon steel for a pleasing sound and feel.
The universal hosel design allows for .355 taper tipped and .370 parallel tip shafts to be used, providing the kind of options better players want.
Radiused sole and leading-edge relief makes this iron feel like it’s on skis through the turf.
Progressive sole design from long irons to short irons enable workability and control.
Easily blended with the more forgiving XC3 model for a mixed set.
SPECS: 7-iron: 30.5 degrees; PW: 43 degrees
Mizuno
Mizuno Pro S3
$200 per iron
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$200 per iron
The split cavity-muscle design has a thin topline and compact head shape.
Mizuno used its shaft-optimizer data to learn the attack angles of better players. The result is a sole with a beveled leading edge and relief on the trailing edge for better turf interaction.
The copper underlay delivers an extra layer of soft material beneath the surface for a muscle-back, blade-like feel.
One degree more bounce than the Mizuno Pro 241 in the 5-iron through pitching wedge to better match up with elite-player swings.
Designed for low-single-digit-handicap players.
Mizuno has longer-than-usual product lifecycles for its irons. The goal for this iron is four years.
SPECS: 7-iron: 34 degrees; PW: 46 degrees
Ping
i230
$187 per iron
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$187 per iron
An elastomer insert saves 21 grams that is redistributed low and toward the perimeter to boost launch and foster forgiveness.
The elastomer has the bonus of promoting a pleasing feel, even on off-center strikes.
Tungsten toe and tip weights provide the kind of stability that has mis-hits finding the front of the green rather than the bunker guarding it.
The grooves are machined into the face, providing more consistent launch and spin.
The long irons (3- through 5-irons) are slightly more compact than the i210, producing more consistent clubface delivery.
The company’s “Hydropearl 2.0” chrome finish combines with the grooves to help ensure controllable launch angles with high spin rates.
Top 5 in Forgiveness, low- and middle-handicaps.
SPECS: 7-iron: 33 degrees; PW: 45 degrees
PXG
0317 T
$180 per iron
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Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$180 per iron
This sharp-looking iron undergoes a robotic polishing process to ensure consistent geometries and a flawless finish.
The irons feature a hollow body with a polymer inside the head to improve spin consistency.
The HT 1770 maraging-steel face is slightly thicker than other PXG irons and features the forgiveness of a hollow body with the playing traits of a single-piece forging.
A 15-gram internal tungsten weight in the toe enables PXG to boost forgiveness plus optimize the center of gravity so that it stays in line with the center of the face.
Three-step forged from 8620 carbon steel for a cushiony feel.
The large tungsten weight on the back of the head is used to achieve the desired swingweight.
SPECS: 7-iron: 32 degrees; PW: 46 degrees