Callaway is one the biggest brands in golf have reached that status by producing some of the best golf irons money can buy. Renowned for producing high-quality golf equipment that caters to an array of players, including the best irons for low handicappers and most forgiving irons, Callaway really is one of the best brands when it comes to club manufacturing.
Acknowledging this, Callaway is most definitely a brand to consider if you are in the market for a new set of irons and, below, we have taken a look at their best irons in the current range. Alternatively, if Callaway is not for you, then why not check out our guides on the best Titleist irons, best Mizuno irons, best Ping irons and the best TaylorMade irons.
Joe has over 20 years of experience in the golf industry, ranging from becoming PGA Head Professional at Ryder Cup venue Celtic Manor to serving and leading the National Fitting Centers for both Titleist and Taylormade. Joe heads up our testing and reviews for Drivers and Irons with the help of Deputy Editor Joel Tadman, who has spent many years testing golf clubs, and Sam De'Ath, a professional who has competed on both the EuroPro Tour and Clutch Pro Tour.
The Quick List
Arguably the best looking game improvement irons on the market, the newly released Elyte irons provide excellent levels of both forgiveness and distance for the mid-to-high handicappers.
The title of best looking realistically could have gone to any iron on this list but we've opted for the Elyte X - game improvement irons can often be a bit condescending in terms of looks, but not here.
A sophisticated look is complimented by strong, consistent performance with the Paradym Ai Smoke Iron. It also delivers excellent distance output, but the levels of forgiveness is the main story here.
A nice distance iron that delivers consistency across the face as well as a lovely, lively feel. A newly-added Tri-sole also improves forgiveness, but we feel the looks have taken a small step backwards.
With their stunning aesthetic, impressive forgiveness, exceptional feel, and consistent distance, these clubs will suit mid-to low-handicap players who value accuracy and control.
For those who appreciate the classic muscle-back design and crave the ability to work shots with pinpoint precision, the Apex MB 2024 iron is a true gem.
Best Callaway Irons
Best game improvement
We were excited to test Callaway's latest irons before we took them out of the box. After doing so, we were even more excited to try them. They're beautiful. Normally, the best looking irons in golf are reserved for the elite players in the sport who use blades and other less user-friendly sets.
Once in our hands, the Elyte irons feel really powerful and feedback from the strike is excellent, thanks in part to what Callaway call their 'Speed Frame’ construction' - essentially facilitating more of the urethane microspheres that help with feel and acoustics.
That's not the end of the fancy sounding technology, however, with Callaway advancing its A.I. development with the Ai10x face, which it says offers 10 times more 'control points' than previous iterations. It has also been given a new sole design to enhance turf interaction.
Numbers on the launch monitor weren't too dissimilar to what we saw from the 2024 irons but there were notable improvements in relation to turf interaction and workability. This is an early contender for best game improvement iron of 2025 for sure.
- Read our full Callaway Elyte Irons Review
Best looking
Callaway are right up there with the likes of Mizuno for making some of the prettiest irons on the market. However, although Mizuno arguably make the best looking blades money can buy, I think Callaway deserve a lot of credit for making two game improvement irons, the Elyte and Elyte X, so damn pleasing on the eye.
Especially in the game improvement space, manufacturers can tend to be a little condescending to consumers - be that making super rounded club heads that look closer to a fairway wood than a 7 iron whilst chasing forgiveness. Callaway have delivered a really user-friendly iron but with the visual package of a low-to-mid handicapper iron and kudos to them for that.
In terms of performance, when compared to the standard model there are a few smaller differences in the results, but nothing major. The most notable is the extra couple of yards distance we found during testing, albeit this is likely thanks to the slightly stronger lofts (28° 7-iron in the Elyte X vs 29° in the standard Elyte).
The bigger difference is the phycological effect of the bigger, chunkier club head which will appeal to players seeking help with their iron play. Higher handicappers will likely want to see as much size as possible in their club head, as much offset as possible, and a very healthy thick top line to provide that reassurance - each of those boxes is ticked here. Any attempt to make the game feel easier is welcomed and that's what Callaway have provided with this latest set of irons.
- Read our full Callaway Elyte X Irons Review
Most forgiving
Part of the Callaway family for 2024 are the Paradym Ai Smoke irons which attempt to sit amongst the best distance irons and also the most forgiving irons. The chief technology to mention is the all-new Ai Smart Face which optimizes iron performance using swing data from thousands of real golfers. The result is a face that is designed to promote maximum distance with tight dispersion into the green.
But how did it test? Well we found the sound and feel highly sophisticated for irons in this category, which was very much a plus. Impressive distance was evident on strikes all across the face and really took us by surprise. Whilst obviously the centre of the face yielded the fastest speeds, drop offs were minimal too which made the forgiveness outstanding.
Overall, of all of the distance irons I have tested so far this season, the Ai Smoke leads the way in a number of categories, including feel and sophistication of looks. If you are after some distance-enhancing irons that will really look the part in your golf bag and feel softer than most game improvement irons, then this may well be the set for you.
- Read our full Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Iron Review
Best for feel
Callaway claim that the new Apex CB irons are designed for the most discerning Tour pros and elite ball-strikers, with a new forged construction promising pure feel, precise shot-making, and workability. In testing, they certainly didn't disappoint, with an array of new technology providing elite performance.
Aesthetically, we thought these irons were fantastic, as the sleek and stylish design struck a great balance between a classic look while also leaving little clues and nods to modern innovation. They are slightly different to their predecessor, with the softer, more curved toe and smoother transition from hosel to topline really appealing to our eye.
Performance-wise, they were also hard to fault, with the Apex CB designed for players who desire a more forgiving iron than a pure blade, while still maintaining high levels of control and workability. In testing, the technology at work allowed for plenty of forgiveness, with distance and ball flight being the primary stand out.
- Read our full Callaway Apex CB Iron Review
Best for distance
Some of my favorite iron releases over the last few years have come courtesy of Callaway, with the Apex CB standing out in my mind. Therefore, when I heard an Apex distance iron was in the works, my interest was peaked and I was excited to put them through their paces.
Tech-wise, we are looking at an iron whose design base was the very popular on-tour TCB iron. Essentially, Callaway just took the TCB profile, thickened the top line, added some offset, and widened the sole a touch, and the Ai150 is the result. The result is an iron that packs a punch in terms of distance but also delivers lovely turf interaction thanks to the new tri-sole and consistency across the face thanks to the Ai Smart Face technology we've seen on a lot of Callaway releases in recent years.
Although I think the looks have taken a slight step back due to combination of glossy and matte finish on the face, one could argue Callaway are victims of their own success here due to how pretty previous releases have been. Nevertheless, looks are always subjective and in the the playing position, the dimensions and shaping are nice and frame the ball well. The only other critique I'd have is that these irons are very similar to the i200s in terms of both looks and performance - this isn't a bad thing necessarily, but I question did the Callaway lineup really need this addition?
- Read our full Callaway Apex Ai150 Iron Review
Best blade
The Apex MB irons deliver a striking blend of classic aesthetics and cutting-edge technology. First things first, there has been a focus on pure precision and exceptional workability, with the new Apex MB 2024 iron ticking a lot of boxes for precise ball strikers shopping for a new set of the best golf blade irons.
Although it is a blade design, the profile at address is slightly different from others on the market. How you may ask? Well, the Apex MB has a long topline that comes very directly out of the hosel, whereas others have a softer, more curved transition from hosel to topline. These visuals are always subjective, but we felt the MB was a treat to the eye.
When it came to the performance, we were seriously impressed. Callaway has taken on board the feedback from their Tour staff and introduced a “dual chamfer” on the sole. Softening up the leading edge to help cut through the turf, we felt it was an important addition which made a huge difference, with remarkable shot control making way for tight dispersion.
- Read our full Callaway 2024 Apex MB Iron Review
How we test irons
Our testing for golf irons is built upon a comprehensive process combined with the knowledge and expertise of the Golf Monthly test team. As far as the specific procedure goes, before testing, the team will usually attend product launches and meet with the manufacturer's R&D experts to understand the new technology.
Our testing procedure is split into two main parts - indoor controlled environment testing and outdoor, on-course testing. This allows us to really put each club we test through their paces.
We think it is vitally important to do both and continue to test the irons so they have been comprehensively put to the test in different conditions. It should also be mentioned that manufacturers cannot pay for a good review and we make our conclusions from the testing and our experiences. This is because we strive to give the best reviews possible so you can get a greater understanding of the irons themselves.
How to choose irons
Your Handicap And Ability
This is probably the most important first step: knowing which type of iron best suits your game. This is by no means gospel, but higher handicappers tend to use cavity back irons that offer maximum forgiveness in a larger iron head, while mid-low handicappers tend to use more bladed irons that are forged, offer more feel and control but less forgiveness.
We have great guides that go into more detail on this, so check out our guide on the most forgiving irons if you're a higher handicapper and our guide on the best irons for mid-handicappers.
Price
This will be a major factor in anyone's decision of what irons to go for. As you'll have seen in this list, the price can vary dramatically between irons. Typically, for a set of cavity back irons - those that provide most distance and forgiveness - you'll be looking between $600-$800 for a set of seven irons.
The price jumps quite significantly when looking at the forged and bladed options - up to and above $1000 - but this is par for the course and you'll be getting a high quality, premium product in return.
Custom Fit
This is probably the most essential part of the iron buying process, no matter the irons you're after or how good you are at the game. A custom fit session will make sure you get the right flex and length of shaft, correct lie angle and correct iron head for your game, meaning you'll finish with the best golf clubs that are as suitable as possible for you out on course.
FAQs
Which Callaway iron is the best?
This is very much player dependent as what iron is best for a low handicapper will be different to the best Callaway iron for a high handicapper. The Callaway Paradym X has a lot of appeal because of the distance, whereas the regular Paradym might suit the widest range of players. Whereas if you want feel and looks, the Apex CB and MB models are better options probably.
Which professionals use Callaway irons?
A number of professionals use Callaway golf clubs, with the likes of Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele and Phil Mickelson all putting various models in their golf bags.
Which Callaway irons are the most forgiving?
The most forgiving irons in the Callaway iron range for this year are the Paradym Ai Smoke irons, whilst we also enjoyed good forgiveness from the Callaway Paradym X and standard Paradym irons.