Best Budget Irons: Quick Menu
1. The list in brief
2. Best value
3. Best for beginners
4. Best looking
5. Best wide appeal
6. Most forgiving
7. Best for consistency
8. How we test
9. How to choose
10. FAQs
Usually golf irons can be quite expensive because a set of irons is one of the most costly equipment purchases in the game, not just because they take up the most spots in the bag, but also because in modern golf they are constructed with cutting-edge materials and technology.
If you’re new to golf, if you only play infrequently, or are simply keen to get value for your money, then splashing out hundreds, even thousands a set of the best golf irons might not seem justifiable. Fear not, there are cheap golf irons out there that offer high levels of performance, without the premium price tag.
If you’re looking for value from your irons then you need to check out our run down on the best budget irons on the market. We also recommend taking a look at some of our other guides on irons too so help your search. For example if you want to hit it further then take a look at the best distance irons on the market. Or if you need as much forgiveness as possible, we have created guides on the most forgiving irons, as well as the best game improvement irons. If you're looking for a package set, check out our best golf clubs sets guide.
The Quick List
These Inesis irons has been designed for higher handicap golfers to offer great forgiveness and distance. The ultra slim face gives good ball speed and power while in a stunning head.
With a large chassis to offer confidence at the address, the Wilson Launch Pad irons are effortless and can assist reducing the impact of heavier hits.
With the FX77 irons, you get a lot of performance for the price. This appears to be a well-made, user-friendly iron built for the average golfer seeking more consistent approach shots.
If you're looking to swing fast, and appreciate an inviting look at the address, check out the Cobra Air-X irons. These clubs have a forgiving off-centre, and are perhaps one of the best game-improvement irons on this list.
An easy-to-hit iron set that progresses nicely from long to short iron. Shots are easy to launch and the faces feel fast from a wide area. The lightweight feel helps maximize speed.
This is an affordable, user-friendly iron aimed at the mid-to-high handicapper seeking an easier way to hit more greens. It may not be super long, but it is consistent.
Best Budget Irons
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Best value
The best budget irons not only have to be good value, but they also have to offer performance that further enhances the appeal of the irons too. These Inesis irons has been designed for higher handicap golfers to offer great forgiveness and distance. The ultra slim face gives good ball speed and power while the perimeter weighting means even off-centre hits get good flight and distance.
Inesis have come up with an interesting way for you to find the right irons for you without having to do the traditional custom fit. Within the Inesis iron range you have 6 different setups to choose from and the first thing you need to do is figure out your hand to floor measurement which will give you an idea on the length of golf clubs you need.
The second thing you do is you select the iron set you want based on your swing speed. After you have been through this process via the Decathlon website, you will get a set that is slightly more tailored towards you. In testing we found these irons easy to flight and with a good feel at impact. There is plenty of forgiveness on offer, packed into a package that has a unique look too - making them some of the best irons for beginners.
Best for beginners
The 2022 Launch Pad irons are hollow like some of the best fairway woods for speed and boast maximum forgiveness through the turf thanks to the wide sole, helping achieve smaller and shallower divots and rescue a heavy contact by keeping the leading edge up. The back wall of the iron has been thinned out to move more weight lower in the head for added launch.
It's an ideal iron for the beginner and high handicapper that is inconsistent with where they contact the ground and ball. The wide sole does a really good job of picking the ball cleanly from the turf and rescuing iffy strikes. Additionally it gets the ball in the air easily, with good distance and a solid, powerful feel.
Overall it’s a great starting option for those new to the game that can then progress into something more traditional in design once their ability has improved.
- Read our full Wilson Launch Pad 2022 Iron review
Best looking
The cost of living crisis is having a huge impact on the amount of disposable income people have, and unfortunately for many of us, that means we're having to dial back our spending or look at affordable ways we can continue to do our hobbies, including golf. Well, having scoured the market for the latest irons available, we've found one of the best value for money clubs going, the Ram FX77 irons. These excellent irons retail for under $400, and for that price, you'l get a very nice looking set of clubs that boast a similar profile to some of the best blade irons.
It comes with a stunning steel finish that boasts the classic Ram logo on the back of the club. There is a smidge of offset at address and the top line thickness is also very generous, inspiring a lot of confidence without being too chunky. The heat treated stainless steel faces on this club make it lively and that helps to deliver a lot of stability on off-center strikes. That makes this a very forgiving and playable club that will suit slower swingers and any golfer only just getting into the game.
- Read our full Ram FX77 Iron Review
Best wide appeal
The lightweight Cobra Air-X irons are ideal for senior golfers or those with dwindling strength levels and cash levels. A lighter clubhead design yields 2 grams in weight-savings, while a 6-gram lighter 41g standard size grip with a lighter and softer rubber compound improves feel, making these irons seem easy to hit, adding to the enjoyment factor.
Looks-wise, this iron impresses. The back of the head has lots of design elements and flashes of red that will pop off the shelf while down at address the thick topline and wide sole make it look inviting to hit. The other thing we noticed, and inconsistent golfers will really appreciate, is the stable feel off the face and the resulting ball flight. A soft draw seemed easy to replicate and the feel off the face was lively and consistent off what felt like a large area. Given this performance, and the price you can get these irons, these are certainly worth trying if you’re looking to upgrade without breaking the bank.
- Read our full Cobra Air-X Irons Review
Most forgiving
Cleveland's Launcher XL Halo irons are said to help develop a better, consistent strike. Gliderails on the long irons deliver excellent turf interaction, while the mid-to-short irons feature V-Shaped Soles to cut through the turf more effectively for cleaner contact. Meanwhile, a new 8g weight placed inside the end of every grip delivers better balance, control, and a smoother swing without extra effort to help square up to the ball at impact.
If precision is what is desired above all else, Cleveland is offering a new Accuracy Build, a custom configuration that is half an inch shorter without counterbalancing to focus on maximum control. Much like the Wilson Launch Pad, this iron is noticeably easy to swing fast and each good distance and accuracy. Plus, it comes in less expensive than many other leading models.
- Read our full Cleveland Launcher XL Halo Iron Review
Best for consistency
The Launcher XL irons are an ideal iron set for players seeking forgiveness and accuracy in one complete iron set. They feature hollow body long irons for distance and forgiveness, while cavity back short irons focus on precision when attacking the pin.
The first thing that strikes you is how long this iron is from heel to toe - probably the longest we’ve seen during testing this year. This may not suit your eye, but to others it may provide some reassurance that there’s more club face to play with and that the strike doesn’t need to be perfect to achieve a good result.
The feel at the point of strike is notably satisfying - the ball fizzes off on a strong trajectory. Just like the other model in the family, the Launcher XL Halo, this iron is very stable off center. Slight mishits held their line well and we were peppering flags once we were fully loosened up, such is the confidence you get from the large head at address.
- Read our full Cleveland Launcher XL Iron Review
How we test
All golf irons goes through a thorough and comprehensive testing process at Golf Monthly. Before testing, the Golf Monthly team will usually attend product launches and meet with the manufacturers' R&D experts to understand the new technology. Usually, when it comes to hitting the clubs, we use an indoor simulator at Foresight Sports so we can hit in a controlled environment using premium balls and a quality, reputable launch monitor.
We then look to test the clubs outside and this usually takes place at West Hill Golf Club or Burghley Park Golf Club because of the excellent practice facilities and golf course. When it comes to actual reviews, we should say that no company can buy a good review because our testers tell it how they see it.
How to choose budget irons
There are some questions to ask yourself when looking for the best budget irons along with some other key considerations you need to think about before making a purchase.
What level are you?
Game improvement irons tend to have larger heads, more offset and are designed to help players who struggle with strike and distance. They tend to have large cavities and different pieces of technology to help in this regard. As such if you are a senior player who values greater feel and workability then we recommend looking elsewhere - at the best golf blade irons or best compact mid-handicap irons for example.
Feel/sound
This is a subjective factor but how a club feels in your hands is important. Do you want it to feel really powerful off the face, or retain some level of workability and control? Additionally how do you like your irons to sound at impact? Clicky or more muted? The best way of finding out what you like and what suits your game is testing them out for yourself or getting a thorough custom-fitting, both of which we would always recommend.
Looks
How do you want your irons to look? As we are sure you agree, many of the models above look very different from one another not only in the bag but at address and on the rack. Therefore this factor is all about finding a model you like the look of, and has a look that gives you confidence.
Price
This is also an important factor to consider. Most of the models above come in at different price points so there will be a model for everyone. Before finally pulling the trigger on your purchase, be aware of how much you can or want to spend, and adjust accordingly.
For more excellent irons, check out our guides on the most forgiving irons, best game improvement irons and best irons for beginners.
FAQs
What are the best golf irons money can buy?
Generally with golf clubs you get what you pay for although some less expensive irons, like the ones featured in this guide, will perform admirably - especially if you don't take your game too seriously. In terms of value for money, we think the Inesis 500, Wilson Launch Pad 2022 and Cleveland Launcher XL irons offer some of the best on the market right now.
What clubs should beginner golfers play with?
It's advisable for beginner players to use slightly more forgiving golf clubs. Our best advice is to avoid using blades or forged irons and find clubs that come with a cavity-backed design that have thicker soles that deliver greater forgiveness off the ground.
How much should I pay for a set of golf irons?
That depends on your experience and needs as a player. Ultimately, if you're a more experienced player looking to play more competitively, then you may want to spend a little more money on purchasing a top-quality set of clubs. But if you're new to the game and are playing irregularly, you might want to look for something a little cheaper, so that you can spread your money around on other golf equipment.
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