Buying Guide For Best Irons For Distance

Distance is arguably the most critical concern for any golfer, particularly when playing irons. Even if you get an iron that promises a considerable distance, that doesn’t automatically mean you’ll reach the green.

The goal is to reach the green gently without the ball bouncing off it and moving farther away. That is why it isn’t easy to find the best irons for distance that also provide good control on the green.

We know that golfers are continually struggling to achieve the right balance between distance, speed, and accuracy. We have compiled a list of the best irons for distance that also rank high in precision.

However, before you purchase the best irons for distance, you should have some clarity about certain aspects. Here is a detailed buying guide that will help you choose the best irons for distance suited to your needs. 

Forgiveness

Many golfers who are looking for the best irons for distance often wholly or partially disregard forgiveness. Even if you’re looking for more distance, forgiveness will still play a critical role.

A highly forgiving golf iron boosts your chances of reaching the green even on mishits. For those who don’t know, forgiveness is the attribute of a golf club that allows it to “forgive” poorly hit and mistimed shots. In simple words, a highly forgiving club will allow high-quality strokes despite improper ball contact.

All golf clubs, including irons, have an intrinsic sweet spot. Your aim should be to hit this sweet spot as it will give an unmatched distance, ball speed, and desirable flight path.

Forgiving golf irons come with a larger sweet spot covering a substantial portion of the clubface area. A wider sweet spot immensely reduces the chances of mishits. 

Blade or Cavity Back

While you’re looking for the best irons for distance, you should have some prerequisite knowledge about blade irons and cavity back irons. 

Blade irons have a rich history as they were the original irons. They had no competition before the introduction of cavity back irons, nearly four decades ago

Blade irons were named because of their peculiar blade-like structure. These are compact, slender, and are sleek. The manufacturing process involves only a single piece of metal that is melted and forged to give it the elegant and compact clubhead design of blade irons. 

In contrast, cavity back irons were introduced more recently and are probably more advanced than blade irons. Initially, they were brought into the market as an alternative to the traditional blade or muscle-back irons. The original blade iron design had a heavy mass at the face’s backside. These new irons had an innovative design with a cavity at the back, hence the name cavity back. 

This new and intuitive design made the golf clubs boost forgiveness without compromising the ball speed and long distances of blade irons.

Shaft

Shaft material and flex are among the two critical aspects of the best irons for distance. Graphite and steel are the two most common choices, and each one comes with different benefits. As distance is your primary goal, graphite shafts will work best for you. 

Graphite shafts are a better option if distance and speed are your priorities. Graphite is a more flexible and lighter material than steel, causing it to flex more and release more energy. This high energy enables the ball to fly farther and faster. However, you should note that graphite shafts will provide extra distance might but compromise the shot accuracy. 

You can also go for steel shafts if you’re confident about your swing speed and want more accuracy. Steel is heavier and stiffer than graphite, which means it flexes less and provides more stability and precision. 

Shaft material is another vital factor that you should consider while purchasing the best irons for distance. Golfers with fast swings generally prefer a stiffer flex and vice versa. Most players prefer the regular flex, but you can experiment with stiff or extra stiff flex if you swing fast and want more distance control. 

Try Offset Irons

Generating a higher launch angle goes a long way in hitting longer shots. As it turns out, offset irons are a great way to get steeper launches and more speed without any significant swing adjustments. There are several other ways offset irons can be a decent choice for you. Here are the three important ones. 

Help In Fixing The Slice

The main advantage of offset irons is they are beneficial in fixing the slice. Players who slice the ball more often should consider switching to offset irons. Offset irons come with a natural draw bias position, which minimizes the side spin and keeps the ball path straight. 

Keeps the Clubface Square 

By using offset irons regularly, you will develop a habit of leading with your hands instead of the clubhead. The goal is to maintain a square clubface upon impact, ensuring straighter shots. As you lead with your hands, the likelihood of a square clubface increases dramatically.  

Increases The Launch Angle

Ball flight is among the primary concerns of manufacturers while designing golf clubs. Mainly, it depends on the spin rate and launch conditions. Offsetting is among the most reliable techniques that help in optimizing the spin conditions, causing a higher launch angle. 

Features And Technology

No matter which industry you take, you’ll always find some level of corporate competition, and the golf industry is no exception. The golf club industry is brimming with leading brands owned by giant multinational conglomerates.

These corporations are mainly driven by profit and are always on the prowl to beat their competitors, and technology plays a defining role.

Nowadays, golf brands like Wilson, Callaway, Cobra, TaylorMade, and others bolster their golf irons with sophisticated technology and features. In addition, these companies spend millions of dollars in research and development to create the best golf clubs for their customers.

Technology has proven to be a potent means for golf brands to beat their competitors in this cut-throat business environment. Ultimately, golfers are the real winners as they get to play with some of the most technologically advanced and exquisite golf clubs. 

Our recommendation is that you look at all the features of these best budget irons and choose wisely. If you’re looking for more distance, you should choose golf irons whose features are primarily focused on speed and distance rather than accuracy.