Best game improvement irons 2022: Which came out on top?

Best game improvement irons 2022 contenders

In alphabetical order, these are the nine game improvement irons I tested for 2022…

Callaway Rogue ST Max

Visually these are one of the bigger offerings available, which can be confidence-inspiring for players looking for more forgiveness. The Rogue ST Max also have more offset than some of the other contenders, and this impacted the overall performance as this was one of the most draw-bias models I tested. Instantly I was really impressed with the powerful sound at impact, as well as the feel. The consistency of start line was impressive, and they had one of the smallest left-to-right dispersions in the test.

RRP: £849

Cleveland Launcher XL

A hybrid-style iron that doesn’t have what we would call a traditional iron shaping. Yes, these had a larger shape overall, but the sole is cambered enough that it can still be hit from a wide variety of lies. The hybrid-like shaping make these really easy to hit and launch, and helped me achieve exceptionally high ball flight. The Cleveland Launcher XL are perfect for the golfer who needs more stopping power to get their ball to grip that putting surface quicker.

RRP: £499

Cobra LTDx

Some of the more compact irons in terms of size, yet they still have a thick top line. These were some of the best performers in terms of distance, so perfect if you are looking to squeeze that extra bit of yardage in your iron game. The carry distance was also very consistent which is crucial when firing into greens. If you hit a bigger fade than you would like – and a lot of us do! – the Cobra LTDx irons also offer a fair amount of right-to-left shot shape to help counter that.

RRP: £799

Mizuno JPX921 Hot Metal

I love the way these set-up at address. Even though they have a slightly bigger size than the rest of the JPX921 range, they really don’t feel like a game improvement product. The Hot Metal irons also impressed in the feel category and were some of the softest feeling in this test. While these weren’t the longest, it’s a small price to pay in return for exceptional feel and a remarkably consistency given the smaller head size. I’d be willing to make that sacrifice.

RRP: £135 per iron

Ping G425

The G425 irons have a traditional Ping shaping with a longer blade length than other irons in the test. This is balanced out though with a thinner, more rounded top line that looks great behind the ball. These delivered an extremely high ball flight and were also neutral down the target line. In terms of consistency, these were the best in test with great left-to-right and right-to-left dispersion. You know what you get from Ping irons, and nothing’s changed this year.

RRP: From £129 per iron

Srixon ZX4

At address the larger sole shape is well hidden, although this has a decent thick top line, while the offset isn’t overwhelming. The wider sole really helped with launch angle, making these some of the highest launching products in the test. My left-to-right dispersion was incredibly consistent, but the wider sole meant the front-to-back dispersion wasn’t quite as good. These ranked highly in the looks category, if that sort of thing is important to you.

RRP: £899

TaylorMade Stealth

Although these have a wide sole, it is well cambered and hidden more at address which gives a great visual over the ball. The standout factor in terms of performance was distance. And not only were these the longest in the test, they were also very consistent in terms of front-to-back distance The high ball flight helped with hang time and carry, especially good for players who feel they flight it too low, while the draw bias will work for players wanting to straighten out a left-to-right shot shape.

RRP: From £122 per iron

Titleist T300

Titleist have cleverly used two tones on the top line to give the illusion that the T300 irons are smaller than they are, which works well behind the golf ball. These were some of best in terms of distance, including the longest shot of the whole test – a 7-iron which carried 173.5 yards – which was very impressive. There were also strong performances in the height and land angle categories, so you can get lots of stopping power when hitting into greens.

RRP: From £129 per iron

Wilson Launch Pad 2

These don’t have a traditional iron shaping, but Wilson have done a great job with the visuals to give these an iron-like feel at address. If you struggle for ball flight, these will definitely help you get more height on your shots, as they were extremely high launching throughout my testing. They were also the most draw bias, so they are perfect if you’re struggling with a slice. These were the easiest irons to hit – an important factor in the game improvement category.

RRP: From £600

METHODOLOGY

THE WINNERS

WHAT’S GOING IN MY BAG?

You’ve probably spent a small fortune to get the set up that’s right for your game, so don’t forget to get specialist insurance from Golf Care to protect your clubs from theft, loss, and accidental damage. Plus, they even cover GPS watches, trolleys, and other golf equipment. With 30% off annual insurance starting from just £26.59, and a free golf gift bundle worth up to £365 including 12 free Srixon balls, it’s a no brainer. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP.