Best Utility Irons Golf Clubs
Much like getting a set of the best golf irons, a good utility iron can be a game changer, offering a tremendous blend of versatility and forgiveness. The long iron is potentially one of the most versatile clubs in the bag, offering a number of shot-making options from the long high ball to the punch into the wind. But for many golfers, the long iron is the most challenging club in the bag to get to grips with. It’s not overly forgiving and any slightly missed shot tends to be punished.
For this reason, many tend to swap out their long irons and replace with more forgiving hybrid clubs. These are far easier to hit with a high launch and they generate consistent distance. But, they don’t tend to be so workable and the shot-making chances are reduced.
Luckily, there’s another option. As mentioned above, the best utility irons golf clubs on the market offer the best of both worlds. They allow you to shape the ball and to control the ball flight whilst also offering a good degree of forgiveness.
A good utility iron could be the distance gapping club that changes your game and helps you save strokes. So bearing this in mind below we have looked at some of the best utilities out there right now. We also recommend taking a look at our guides on the best golf hybrid clubs currently on the market or the best distance irons. We have also produced a guide on the best driving irons too.
Most Forgiving Utility Irons
The main thing utility irons have to be is more forgiving than a standard long iron so here we have picked the ones that offer the most forgiveness and would be suitable for most single figure handicappers and those who have an aversion to woods.
Joining TaylorMade's highly impressive 2022 Stealth range, the Stealth DHY promises to pack a punch for a wide range of golfers thanks to several updates that have been made following the release of its predecessor, the SIM DHY. This is a very good looking club, with a slightly wider sole than the Stealth UDI, making it a little more forgiving. The black detailing gives it a nice, subtle edge, and it has a sleek profile at the address.
Its updates are minimal but it definitely has a few improvements on the SIM, with TaylorMade altering the center of gravity of this club, to bring it much lower, allowing golfers to launch and flight the ball with ease. Thanks to the new ultra-thin 4140 forged face, the feedback on the club is softer than normal, delivering minimal noise akin to a standard golf iron. Distance-wise, we found it carried longer than the Stealth UDI and while both feature TaylorMade's Thru-Slot Speed Pocket, which helps to deliver optimal speed on the ball, the flight is slightly higher, something you should definitely keep in mind if you play a lot of links golf. Ultimately, this is one of the best driving irons on the market as it is a very forgiving club that can add more distance to your game.
- Read our full TaylorMade Stealth DHY Utility Iron Review
Best Value For Money Utility Irons
We all want value for money from our utility irons as well as performance and these driving irons offer just that. Excellent performers and just as forgiving in their own right, they have the added benefit of giving you the biggest bang for your buck.
We have been seriously impressed by a number of Cobra utility irons in the past, specifically the Cobra King Utility Iron, which was released in 2020. For 2023, the brand has introduced us to to the Tec Utility Iron, which has much of the same forgiveness, as well as the ease of flighting and shaping the golf ball.
The only slight downside is that it doesn't feature any loft/lie adjustability but, on low strikes especially, it still performed superbly, with the Tec still feeling powerful, as well as maintaining solid spin characteristics and decent distance.
Available from a 17° 2-iron to a 25° 5-iron, there is still plenty of scope to find the right distance to fill a gap in your set, and it's also worth mentioning that it comes with a stock graphite Mitsubishi MMT 80 graphite shaft which is a joy to use.
- Read our full Cobra King Tec Utility Iron Review
The Wilson Staff Model Utility has been designed to deliver a combination of distance, reliability and forgiveness. One of the ways this is created is through the positioning of seven grams of weight low in the clubhead for improved launch.
The high-strength maraging steel face produces impressive ball speeds and notable distance. It’s a versatile club and we found it to deliver a reliable, penetrating ball flight. In testing out on the course, it gave us a useful and accurate option off tees on tight par fours, and it was proficient from the turf too.
- Read our full Wilson Staff Model Utility Iron Review
Best Better Player Utility Irons
Better players also look for that forgiveness from utility irons but in a head that is maybe a little more compact and will blend in more with a performance set of irons. You will also find that these irons offer better feel too, but they will probably not be as forgiving as the ones above and will therefore suit low single figure handicaps.
The ZK Mk II offers plenty of forgiveness in a mid-sized head and, what's more, we see the return of the sole notches which have been a feature of previous Srixon irons. Not only do they create a great look, they really help reduce drag through the turf and improve the versatility from uneven lies.
We were really impressed by Srixon's previous ZX Utility Iron and, at address, the ZK Mk II is the same. It gives the impression of a blade style iron, which is thanks to some visual trickery that sees the larger muscle on the back of the iron feature a chrome finish to reflect the grass and make it look smaller than it is. This has been done a few times before and we think Srixon has created the right balance here to create a forgiving long iron that better players will appreciate the look of.
- Read our full Srixon ZX Mk II Utility Iron Review
Inspiring confidence behind the ball, the new TaylorMade Stealth UDI driving iron delivers excellent performance for those players looking to bridge the gap between their irons and their woods. It is a really well-balanced club that sounds and feels excellent on impact and we had a great time testing this club at the Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome. Standout features are its looks and feel, while the club has a new forged 4140 face that provides accuracy and distance off the ground.
It packs in bags of forgiveness and its forged hollow body construction means that the club has a larger sweet spot and optimal launch conditions compared to the SIM UDI. That also means it has an explosive feel off the clubface and allows players to fizz the ball into the air. Overall, this is an excellent driving iron from TaylorMade.
- Read our full TaylorMade Stealth UDI Driving Iron Review
The Titleist U505 utility iron is designed to be a hybrid that looks and plays like at iron. It certainly follows those ethos with a deep head that is one of the largest in the category with plenty of offset in the hosel to increase forgiveness.
It's not the cheapest utility iron out there but the design reflects this with an internal tungsten weight and a wide sole that draws the CG back to ensure easy launch. It also comes with a wide range or lofts combined with plenty of steel and graphite shaft options so you should get a specification that is worthy of the investment.
- Read our full Titleist U505 Utility Iron Review
Best Elite Player Utility Irons
Elite player utility irons are aimed at scratch golfers, leading amateurs and professionals who have the club head speed and accuracy to launch these blade style driving irons into the heavens. If you have the power then the advantage of this style of iron enables easier shaping of trajectory into the green or off the tee.
Combining excellent forgiveness with superb visuals, the Ping iCrossover is one of the most functional clubs on this list. It is the latest in a long line of driving irons that started in 2016 with the G Crossover. Since then Ping have perfected their craft, producing hybrid driving irons to the point where we now have this exceptional offering that delivers superb playability, covering the gap between your longest iron and shortest hybrid.
The iCrossover is more of an iron than a hybrid as the hollow head has a maraging steel face that is supported by an EVA polymer in the cavity that delivers an excellent sound and feel off the clubface. The sole is a little narrower than the Ping G425 Crossover below, meaning it plays a little more like an iron, cutting through the turf better on tighter lies. Overall the adjustability this club offers, combined with its excellent visuals, feel and sound means this club has several big improvements on the G425.
- Read our full Ping iCrossover Utility Iron Review
The Callaway X-Forged UT iron boasts a hollow construction along with Callaway’s A.I.-designed Flash Face Cup that creates a sophisticated face design for high ball speeds. The irons are forged from 1025 mild carbon steel and inside the hollow body construction there is Callaway’s urethane microspheres that dampen vibration for better sound and feel.
External MIM’d (Metal Injection Moulded) tungsten weighting allows for the CG position to be optimally located for the best trajectory and launch for the target player. A longer blade length and a wider sole versus a traditional long iron provide forgiveness and control. The Callaway X Forged UT will suit better players who like the feel and looks of a long iron but are also after a little more distance and forgiveness. A useful weapon off the tee and the deck.
- Read our full Callaway X Forged UT Utility Iron Review
The TaylorMade P790 UDI utility iron releases in 2021 is an upgrade to the previous version and continues the hollow head design for faster ball speeds. It has a fairly compact head to look like the blade shape elite players will prefer and more importantly be able to play. The SpeedFoam Air in the hollow head is ligher than before combines with a thin face to increase ball speed, but you will need an above average swing speed to get the launch on this low lofted 2-iron. If you do then you have one of the most powerful utility irons in the business.
- Read our full TaylorMade P790 UDI 2021 Utility Iron Review
The PXG 0311 X GEN5 driving utility iron is the replacement for the PXG 0311 X GEN4 utility iron and brings some much needed forgiveness to the range. In our testing it was noticeably easier to hit however we should acknowledge that this club is still aimed at better players because of the size of the face.
Overall it’s well made and offers the right combination of forgiveness and shot shaping that elite players require. You can also order it in the Xtreme Dark finish which uses a graphite like carbon process to create a black look that is more durable.
- Read our full PXG 0311 X GEN5 Driving Utility Iron Review
How We Test
When it comes to testing utility irons we use the same kind of process for most clubs but have to cater it slightly for each club in the bag as they all do different things.
To start we will attend product launches and speak to R&D experts to gain an understanding of the new technology and then once we have samples we will put them to the test. This usually starts with indoor testing so we can have a controlled environment with premium golf balls and a launch monitor. From there we take the clubs outside to hit on the range and out on the course. We think it is vital to do both.
In terms of utility irons, we would use them in a variety of situations applicable to the club. That means hitting them off the tee, from the ground into par-4's, in the wind and sometimes we put them to the test on links courses because that is where the advantages of a utility iron really come to the fore.
We would then collate the information and write comprehensive and honest reviews. Finally it should be said no manufacturer can buy a good review because our team tells it how it is.
What To Consider When Buying A Utility Iron
What are some of the factors you need to consider when looking to buy a driving iron? Let's take a look.
Utility iron vs long iron vs hybrid?
For a start it is good to work out which club out of utility iron, long iron, or hybrid would be the best for you. Each has a different set of positives and negatives - the hybrid is a little more versatile as you can use it well from light rough and around the greens. However, there are plenty of golfers out there who prefer an iron-like profile. In which case, the utility iron is a great option. A long iron in the bag in all likelihood signifies a player who is consistent with strike.
Course
What kind of course do you play on? We think this does play a part in the world of driving irons because if you play on a links course from day to day, then a driving iron is perfect for those low shots below the wind. Whereas if you play on a parkland, chances are a driving iron will not be as impactful in the bag.
Gapping/Loft
One of the most important things to know is how far each club in your bag goes. For example if you know there is a large gap between your three-wood and first iron then a driving iron will fit in there perfectly. Therefore knowing the gap you need to fill at the top of the bag will give you an indication of what loft the driving iron should be as well.
Distance
Obviously a driving iron has to deliver good distance whilst also not compromising on workability. Both are important because not only only do you need to fill that gap at the top end of the bag, but you should also be able to flight the ball and move it with a driving iron as well.
Forgiveness
They may have iron club-head's but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be forgiving. Some models are better than others as we have shown above and you should be aware of which model will suit your game and ability to strike the ball better. The difference between a TaylorMade SIM UDI and SIM DHY is a case in point.
Versatility
It is important to be able to use a driving iron off the tee and from the ground when needed so when trying out models be sure to hit both shots. A model that can do one and not the other is pointless really. Also have a go at chipping with them too.
Looks
How do you want the driving iron to look down by the ball? Do you want it to have a sleek, small profile or look larger and more confidence-inspiring? Additionally do you want it to blend with the irons you have in the bag, or maybe you want it to match the brand of iron you have in your setup. These are all things you need to consider in terms of looks.
Budget
Finally have a think about how much you want to spend on a driving iron. There are models at most price points these days as every brand makes a utility iron so be aware of how much you want to spend.
FAQ's
What Are Utility Irons Used For?
Utility irons are mainly used from the tee on narrow holes when you want to get the ball in play safely. They can also be used from the fairway, especially in windy conditions where their lower ball flight is more accurate. They are not particularly good out of the rough.
Are Utility Irons Forgiving?
Utility irons are more forgiving than normal long irons as their design features larger heads that are usually hollow. This creates a larger sweet spot and a lower CG which makes them easier to get off the ground.
Are Utility Irons Good For High Handicappers?
Utility irons are predominantly aimed at better players who have the club head speed to get the ball airborne. Some of the more forgiving ones can be used by high handicappers, but these players may find hybrids easier to hit.
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