Which 2023 Callaway iron is best for you? Our reviews team have all the answers you need as we round up the ultimate Callaway irons currently available
You’ve got your driver, woods, putter and wedges sorted… but what about your irons?
When it comes to buying irons, it’s easy for golfers to get confused over what to go for. Do you need forged irons? Do you need game improvement irons? Or maybe you just want more distance from the fairways?
Thanks to Callaway, they’ve got a comprehensive range of irons to choose from, which also features their latest players’ distance irons: the Callaway Paradym irons.
But previous generations of Callaway irons shouldn’t be overlooked, either. Last year’s Callaway Rogue ST models, which featured four different iterations, offered some serious improvements to overall ball speed. Each model also had its own uniquely-designed club face to allow for high launch and consistent spin rates.
Anyway, you’re here because you need some new Callaway irons, and we’re here to divulge just that. Within this page you’ll find the best Callaway irons for beginners, the best Callaway irons for high handicap golfers, the best Callaway irons for mid handicap golfers, the best Callaway irons for seniors and the best Callaway game improvement irons.
What are you waiting for? Scroll down to find out what are the best Callaway irons ever!
Best Callaway Irons 2023
Callaway Paradym irons
These irons are so attractive. Callaway have done such a great job with the styling. When you look at them on a shelf they really stand out. I love the navy and gold colourway and think the whole club looks premium and smart.
The offset is minimal which is nice, and great for golfers who don’t necessarily need lots of help moving the ball from right to left. I also really like the fact the blade length is fairly compact.
I was impressed with just how easy the 5 and 4-iron were to hit. These are not clubs I typically like using but I found them really easy to hit, especially the 5-iron. I would happily put this straight in play as it was easy to launch and the data was super consistent which is rare with a long iron.
Overall these are a really impressive set of irons. They are exceptionally long, so they are perfect for players who have lost distance or who want to hit the golf ball further. But the big thing that impressed me is just how well Callaway has balanced having more ball speed and distance without losing control. I think Callaway have nailed it with the Callaway Paradym irons.
Pros:
- Long carry distances
- Fast ball speeds across the face
- Forgiving on off centre strikes
Cons:
- Not as workable as other models
- RELATED: Read our full Callaway Paradym irons review
Callaway Rogue ST Max irons
There’s no getting away from how big these irons are. At address the Rogue ST Max irons almost make the ball look small, which is good as these clubs are designed for a player who wants maximum forgiveness and distance. They sit with the classic Callaway iron style and have the strongest lofts in the Rogue ST family.
The results do not disappoint, these irons are crazy long. From what I would consider being fairly average club head speed averages, I was able to hit a 9 iron that carried 149, a 7 iron that carried 180 and my longest 5 iron went 204 CARRY. This was easily the longest Rogue ST iron model.
The Rogue ST Max are not only long but also incredibly forgiving. Strikes from places other than the centre also flew extremely far and felt really solid. I even had mishits with the Rogue ST Max irons that fly further than a good strike on my current irons. Not a good look for the old blades.
The only downside I see with the Rogue ST Max irons would be that the spin on the shots is very low. This is great if you want more distance but not good if you’re trying to control it, and would give me problems when hitting into greens. I would also probably have to add at least two more wedges into my bag to fill some gaps created by the irons going so far.
Pros:
- Long
- Consistent ball speeds across the face
- Strikes feel powerful
Cons:
- Chunky heads won’t suit the eye of all players
- RELATED: Read our full Callaway Rogue ST Max irons review
Callaway Rogue ST Pro irons
The Callaway Rogue ST Pro Irons have to be up there as one of the best-looking irons on the market right now. Callaway have done a great job of designing a classically simple iron with a thin top line and reduced offset.
After the first shot with the pitching wedge I could feel immediately they were hot off the face. The ball seemed to shoot off the face much quicker and higher than what I am used to. Callaway’s new AI Designed Flash Face Cup doing its job nicely.
I enjoyed the consistency in the flight of the ball too, not hitting the ball perfectly out the middle every time but still seeing almost the same trajectory every time. Callaway put this down to precision high-density tungsten weighting in the head. There is up to 188% increase in tungsten in the head compared to previous iron models, making these as consistent as ever.
If I were to put these in play, I would probably choose to create some split set, using the Rogue ST Pro irons in 6,5,4,3 irons and maybe the Apex TCB irons in the 7,8,9, PW. Hitting half and three-quarter shots is such a big part of my game I couldn’t risk hitting the low spin shot that never stops, but the consistency of the long irons is too good not to play.
Pros:
- Compact players shape
- Great speed off the face
- Consistent distance on off-centre hits
Cons:
- Hot ball speeds might cause a problem for knockdown iron shots
- RELATED: Read our full Callaway Rogue ST Pro irons review
Callaway Rogue ST Max OS Lite irons
The Callaway Rogue ST Max OS Lite irons were designed specifically for players looking to get the maximum performance out of the club, and it definitely looks that way when you address the ball. These clubs have huge club heads, wide soles, and enhanced offset giving the feeling that it’s hard to mishit a shot.
Setting up to the ball, the club head feels massive. The Rogue ST Max OS Lite has a thick top line, oversized head, and enhanced offset. It makes you feel like the sweet spot on the club is enormous, which is precisely the feeling a higher handicap golfer wants.
These irons wouldn’t go into my bag, but I’d definitely recommend them to a slow swing speed player. I think Callaway have done a great job offering a club to those players who arent obsessed with distance, and just want to be able to hit the ball up in the air more consistently.
Pros:
- Lots of offset helps square the face up
- Light weight allows you to swing faster
- Any quality of strike will perform well
Cons:
- Larger club heads
- RELATED: Read our full Callaway Rogue ST Max OS Lite irons review
The Best Callaway Irons 2023
How do we test irons?
At National Club Golfer we are passionate about producing accurate and thorough reviews and make sure our testing process is rigorous so we get a good understanding of how each club performs.
Each iron is hit with Pro V1 golf balls to allow us to collect launch monitor data with our in-house TrackMan and Flightscope. After this it is time to head out onto the golf course and test the clubs in practice and competition play. We do this across a variety of golf clubs in our base of Yorkshire.
What is important when buying a new iron?
When buying a new set of irons it is important to know what you want from that club to help you improve.
Most people are looking for more distance, each iron model is optimised for different things. Depending on your swing and your impact conditions, you may not actually hit the model that is advertised as the longest, the furthest. So if you want more distance it is always worth giving different models a hit before you make a decision.
For most golfers, especially high handicappers, something that is more forgiving is going to yield the best performance. Most forgiving golf irons have a slightly bigger club head with perimeter weighting for high MOI. They also have a center of gravity that is further back to help players get more height on their shots.
Do you want something that is draw bias? There are so many models out there to help with slice correction, it would be silly not to take a look if you see your ball disappearing into the right trees too often. A closed face and draw bias weighting can get you hitting straighter shots in no time at all.
Don’t forget about the shaft either. Getting the correct shaft can help dial in your spin, launch angle and can also give you some extra distance. Having a club fitting or trying different options with your local pro can really improve the performance of your new driver.
The Best Callaway Irons 2023: FAQ’s
What are the latest Callaway irons?
The Paradym irons from Callaway are their latest model of irons. These irons have proved to be some of the best all-round irons we have tested this year.
What’s different in the latest Callaway irons?
The Paradym irons are distance irons and, as the name suggests, are designed to deliver maximum distance, but a new construction means you get all the benefits of a great feeling club too.
The club face is a forged 455 face, and Callaway are saying it is their most powerful forged iron face ever.
The iron has a hollow body construction with a speed frame for added stiffness. This allows the club face to be thinner which helps drive up ball speeds.
The combination of a forged face and urethane microspheres provides an ultra-soft feel and a premium sound which isn’t always available in distance irons.
This is designed for golfers who want a players distance iron with a smaller more refined shape and the feel from premium forging.
What Callaway irons do the pros use?
Currently there are 42 PGA Tour players among the top players in the world playing Callaway clubs or other Callaway equipment. This list includes players like Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, and Tony Finau.
