Best Budget Irons 2024

Golf can be an expensive sport at times, but especially when you're looking to purchase a new set of irons. This isn't just because they take up most of the clubs in your bag, but also due to the cutting-edge technology manufacturers are introducing to modern clubs.

A golfer new to the game or one who can only play the odd round here and there should certainly consider some of the sets in this guide for the best budget irons. Splashing out hundreds, if not thousands, on a set of the best golf irons might not seem justifiable. Thankfully, there's plenty of cheaper options out there.

This guide will be focusing on sets on the lower end of the price scale, but we have buying guides and reviews for every and any club you may looking to add to your bag. 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. 

The Quick List

Best Budget Irons

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 500s are stunning to look at, while providing significant help and forgiveness for shots that miss the center of the face.

The shape of the heads on this set are lovely, a comforting blade length whilst having a pop of class with the satin chrome finish for a premium look and feel. The faces are lively and have hybrid-feel about them that may not be everyone's liking, but it certainly helps us feel like we were getting clubhead speed with ease during testing.

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. 

• Read our full Inesis 500 Iron Review

Best for beginners

Wilson's Launch Pad irons have hollow heads like some of the best fairway woods on the market. This is done to boost both speed and forgiveness, while the wide sole cuts through turf to allow golfers with steep attack angles a little more leeway on shots caught a little on the fat side. The back wall of these irons has been thinned out for better weight distribution, helping provide greater launch.

It's a fantastic option for the beginner or mid handicapper who is inconsistent in their ball striking. The wide sole helps make clean contact with the ball off the turf and when the ball does get airborne, it travels an impressively long way. These are one of the stronger options on the list in terms of the best irons for distance.

These irons felt solid and powerful when we tested them, and 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

Look good, feel good, play good. It's a bit of a cliche term but it's a real thing in golf. These irons from Ram look good. Really good. They're affordable too, retailing for under $400, and you'll 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 faces on these irons are heat treated and stainless steel, providing good distance and stability on strikes both off the center of the face and those off it. It's a set that is forgiving and playable, best suited for golfers with slower swings or those who have just started playing.

• Read our full Ram FX77 Iron Review

Best wide appeal

A lot of the best Cobra irons are suited to senior  golfers or those with lower swing speeds. The lighter clubhead on the Air-X irons 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. 

The irons look as good as they feel, and the flashes of red on the back of each ironhead make these really pop in your golf bag. Inconsistent players will benefit from the thick topline and wide sole which makes these irons look appealing to hit at address, while the stable feel off the face provides a consistent ball flight no matter the contact.

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 designed to, you guessed it, produce high launch and increase distance. Gliderails on the long irons help with turf interaction for extra forgiveness, while the shorter to mid irons have V-Shaped Soles to promote cleaner contact with the back of the ball. An 8g weight at the end of each grip helps weight distribution for improved balance and control for players who struggle to 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. 

The hybrid-style design may not be the look for everyone, but it promotes confidence while standing over your shot. These are an excellent set of irons for golfers just beginning in the game.

• Read our full Cleveland Launcher XL Halo Iron Review

Best for consistency

So you don't like the look of the Cleveland Launcher XL Halo irons then? Well, can I interest you in the Launcher XL irons?

They have similar characteristics to the XL Halo set, promoting 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.

This is a long iron from heel to toe - one of the longest we've seen in years (and we test a lot of clubs). This not be to the taste of everyone, but to many it will provide reassurance that there is more club face to play with and that the strike doesn't need to be perfectly out of the middle 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 still have a consistent ballflight, so couple that with the size of the clubface and you'll be shooting lower scores in no time.

• Read our full Cleveland Launcher XL Iron Review

How we test

At Golf Monthly, we've reviewed thousands of different items of golf equipment, from the best drivers and the best fairway woods to the best wedges and even the best golf clothing. Long story short - we know what we're doing when it comes to testing.

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. 

We pride ourselves on two main things when it comes to our reviews - experience and passion. Firstly, as mentioned, we review a lot of golf equipment. We've seen it all, both good and bad, meaning we know what to expect from certain brands and at certain price points.

Secondly, our review are written by golfers, for golfers. There's no such thing as a manufacturer 'buying' a good review - if we tell you a club is great, it's because it is! 

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? 

Different irons are suited to different playing abilities. There is no point to buying a set of the best irons in golf if you're a 35 handicapper, in the same way it wouldn't be wise to buy a set of the best game improvement irons if you're an experienced player.

Game improvement irons tend to have larger heads, more offset and are designed to help players who struggle with strike and distance. 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

Feel and sound matter. Like looks, which we'll address in a moment, how your clubs sound and feel after impact is an important factor when establishing your relationship with it. If the club feels great in your hand after impact, chances are you'll hit it better in the future than a club that doesn't sound as good.

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? Find this out by heading to your local fitting pro or golf store and trying out as many different irons as you can - we're sure one will stand out from the crowd.

Looks 

Look good, feel good, play good. If you don't like how your club sits on the ground at address then you're already fighting a losing battle with your shot before you've even swung the club. Give yourself a reason to fall in love with your irons by choosing a set that are pleasing on the eye.

Price 

Prices in irons range from a few hundred dollars to upwards of $1000. It's worth doing some research to find out how much you want to spend. If money isn't an issue, it could be worth booking a custom fitting to get the most out of your new set.

If you're looking for a package set by the way, check out our best golf clubs sets, or best golf sets for beginners guides.

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