Looking to step up your golf game with a reliable set of forged irons? Then, this article is for you!
Today, we’re reviewing our top 7 picks for the best forged irons and sharing a detailed buying guide to help you choose the right ones for your style and level. Let’s jump right in!
7 Best Forged Irons Reviews
1. Callaway Golf Apex Forged Irons 2019
Callaway is one of the most established brands in the world of golf. Their golf clubs are known to offer incredible quality and impressive performance, so it should come as no surprise that one of their forged irons has landed in our top spot.
The Callaway Apex 2019 is a forged iron set that has been a hit ever since it was first released. It’s become a standard when it comes to constructing forged irons, seen frequently on professional tours.
These players’ distance golf clubs are equipped with a body that’s made of forged 1025 mild carbon steel. What we find unique, though, is the incorporation of urethane microspheres into the forged iron clubhead.
You see, these microspheres are typically an exclusive feature of cavity back irons where they serve to improve the feel of the impact position, making it more solid with less shakiness. On the Callaway Apex 2019 forged irons, they deliver a terrific feel at the impact without sacrificing distance.
The company also applied its variable face technology (VFT) on these forged golf irons, which allowed the manufacture of clubs that offer players the authentic feel of a forged iron while keeping a good level of forgiveness. This is beneficial for low-handicap players as they get some room to willingly shape the shots and work the ball.
Another aspect we like is the construction of the face. It involves several materials to help players achieve more ball flight without losing any control. Not to mention, the face on each iron in the set is designed to give you the optimal launch angle, enabling you to produce plenty of spin for a softball landing.
The Callaway Apex 2019 forged irons bear the 360 Face Cup to provide excellent precision shots approaching the green with tour-grade consistency and performance. Each clubhead is infused with tungsten to precisely locate the center of gravity in every iron, which results in an enhanced launch, control, shot-making, and ball height.
Looks-wise, the Callaway Apex 2019 forged iron set doesn’t disappoint. It has a classic-inspired design that appeals to many professional players, sporting a straight leading end, an elevated toe line, a slim top line, and a slick hostel transition.
Promising great precision and workability, these forged irons come with True Temper Elevate 95 Steel shafts so they’re ideal for you if you’re a mid swing speed player. Backed up by the durability and quality of the Callaway name, this set is an investment that you’ll enjoy for a long time. It’s as close as you can get to perfection when looking to upgrade from cavity back irons to forged irons.
What We Like
- Low center of gravity for ultimate precision
- Allows for shot shaping
- Good control
- Lots of distance
- Construction features multiple materials
- Amazing feel
- Lightweight shaft
What We Don’t Like
- Available at a premium price tag
2. TaylorMade P790 Forged Irons
Over the last decade or so, TaylorMade has been pumping out some top-tier forged irons and cavity back irons. If you’re familiar with the TaylorMade P760 and P770, you’ll love the P790 as it took all the good and improved all the not-so-good to give you a superior forged iron set.
Similar to its older siblings, the TaylorMade P790 golf clubs feature a slim profile with an efficiency better than ever. You won’t find any lost space on any of the set’s clubheads as they’re specially built to give expert players a smaller sweet spot along with ample control over shots.
The TaylorMade P790 forged irons have a soft hollow 8620 carbon steel body coupled with WrapFace made of forged 4140 carbon steel. This combination offers great strength, with the internal cavity filled with the company’s patented SpeedFoam.
The clubheads are injected with urethane foam which, coupled with the internal cavity, provide the level of forgiveness that’s often associated with perimeter weighting. Not to mention, it generates a trampoline effect once the ball compresses against the clubface, increasing the clubhead’s speed.
The TaylorMade P790 is regarded as a breakthrough engineering-wise thanks to the innovative design of a thinner forged face employing the company’s innovative inverted cone technology (ICT). This cleared the way for maximizing face speed without reducing accuracy or feel.
The P790 forged irons have a tungsten weighting bar injected at a low profile inside the clubhead to bring down the center of gravity. This results in a higher launch that’ll wow your partners on the course.
You can get these golf clubs with either steel or graphite shafts, available in right-handed and left-handed orientation. Additionally, these iron clubs feature the manufacturer’s Speed Pocket technology to give you more distance with improved accuracy
While the TaylorMade P790 forged irons are meant for higher-skilled golfers, we believe that the technology involved makes them also beneficial for mid to high handicap golfers looking to enjoy the feel of forged iron.
What We Like
- Supports long-distance shots
- Very durable construction materials
- Offers a higher launch angle without reducing the shot accuracy
- Provides a consistent performance
- Has good workability
- Low center of gravity
What We Don’t Like
- A bit too expensive
- Some golfers expected more upgrades compared to the previous version
3. Srixon Z Forged Set of Forged Irons
Srixon is one of the most popular Japanese golf accessory brands that make exceptional items that are known for their precision and aesthetically pleasing design, and the Z-Forged Iron golf clubs are no exception to their unique craftsmanship!
The Japanese brand focuses heavily on the performance aspect of the club, making it ideal for top-level amateurs as well as tour players. In fact, the golf set does look like the ones used by true professionals and players!
The secret behind this style is, of course, the thin top line with heel-toe length and modest offset. While these design aspects are the common standard among high-end forged blades, this one is made with an unmatched level of precision.
Unlike many other muscle backs that have a sharp appearance with hard angles, the Srixon Z is forged with a wavy and curved design that is quite unique and enhances the club’s aerodynamics.
When you first hold the golf club, you’ll notice that it has a clean design that doesn’t only look good but also feels stable and comfortable in your hand. This is because the iron set is forged from premium 1020 single billet carbon steel.
The design and construction of the forged iron allow it to shoot the ball with a surprisingly high level of forgiveness, all the while hitting the ball with soft feedback.
Although the forgiveness of the blade is surprisingly high, we still believe that it’s more suitable for advanced players because it hits the ball with a much higher spin than normal, giving pro golfers the ability to optimize their shot with a better cut. This is also the reason why a high handicap golfer hits larger hooks or slices with that blade.
What We Like
- Exceptional curved design that is quite rare among forged golf clubs
- Allows you to hit the ball with a higher spin
- The club sole is designed to be resistant to digging
- Remarkably accurate distance control
- Durable construction with muscle back blade design
What We Don’t Like
- Aimed at high-end strikers, so it’s not recommended for beginners
4. Cobra King Forged Iron Set 2020
One of the biggest drawbacks of forged iron golf sets is that they can very easily cost you a lot of money, which is typically not an option to players, especially beginners who want to enhance their distance control, and this is where this highly affordable option comes in handy!
The Cobra King TEC golf club set is the ideal pick for anyone looking for a budget-friendly set. It has the nice and solid feel that premium golf clubs give you while allowing for a decent level of forgiveness, which is essential for weighted strikes off the toe.
The fact that the golf set is reasonably priced doesn’t mean that they lack the design features and technology. The clubhead’s sole features a tungsten alloy, which has a very high density and adds a lot of power to improve your shot distance.
Additionally, Cobra King Forged made the weight of the clubhead evenly distributed so that you have better control of the club and allows you to hit the sweet spot more often. The PWRShell technology the club uses along with the hollow design also boosts the club’s ability to send the ball further and launch it at a higher speed.
The hollow clubface back is also fitted with microspheres of foam that give a crisp strike and absorbs shocks and vibrations, reducing the chance for miss-hits and feedback.
The set also lets you choose between graphite and steel shafts, and you can choose between stiff, extra-stiff, regular, or senior flex.
All in all, the Cobra golf club set is an excellent choice for a budget buyer looking for a decent all-around package that balances between performance and choice variety.
What We Like
- Ideal for beginners and golfers on a strict budget
- Available in both graphite and steel shafts as well as different types of flex
- The foam microspheres absorb vibrations and shocks to reduce miss-hits
- Nice aerodynamic design
What We Don’t Like
- Has a slightly lower launch than other options on the list
5. Wilson Staff Forged Irons D7 Golf
Wilson is another big player in the sports equipment industry that has a huge supply chain, allowing their gold sets to be widely available and come at a great price, even though they still pack a punch when it comes to quality and technology!
The Wilson Staff D7 is one of the most popular sets of forged irons produced by Wilson and is even claimed by many users to be the overall best option out there for a mid-range option!
Similar to Cobra King’s forged iron, this one also comes at a competitive price that makes it a wonderful alternative for price-conscious buyers.
The golf set comes in a huge variety of options, including a full range of flex options (regular, stiff, extra-stiff, senior) as well as steel and graphite shafts.
The D7 is forged from carbon steel iron that gives the golf club enough weight to induce a powerful impact on the ball. This allows the ball to travel far without compromising on forgiveness or feeling unstable.
Wilson also incorporates advanced technology that enhances the club’s performance without affecting the product’s price or efficiency.
For instance, they optimized their patented technology of power holes, which allows the club to increase the contact time between the face of the iron and the ball as well as enhancing the face deflection to shoot the ball at a greater speed and distance.
This technology also reduces the vibrations and shocks caused by the impact, which improves the overall feel of the set.
What We Like
- Comes at an affordable price
- Offers a variety of flexes, shaft materials, and configurations to fit all types of players
- Equipped with Wilson’s patented Power Hole Technology to improve the face deflection and shoot the ball further
- The reduced vibrations for a clinically precise shot
What We Don’t Like
- Not for high-end players looking for a forged set to maximize their performance
6. Callaway X Forged Irons 2018
Another great choice from the renowned brand Callaway is their forged irons from the 2018 X Forged series. Iron clubs in this set are one of the most accurate on the market, backed up by Callaway’s innovative technicalities and high-performing specifications.
The design of the X Forged Irons golf clubs offers players an incredible feel and remarkable control with every shot. These forged irons make for an amazing addition to your golf bag if you’re ready to step up your game and upgrade from cavity back irons.
We made sure to include this particular golf club because it’s available in numerous options that you can choose from depending on your style requirements and comfortability on the course.
You get to pick your preferred hand orientation, shaft material, flex type, and configuration. The one feature that we thought was really impressive is how high of a spin rate these forged irons can generate.
The golf clubs have a low center of gravity and are equipped with precision grooves to effectively deliver an unbelievable spin for every shot. The launch angle is also brilliantly high, landing shots on the green nice and soft.
Additionally, the engineering of the Callaway X Forged irons provides a solid performance out of the rough. The turf interaction is out of this world, making these clubs a favorite among tour players thanks to their shot-making precision and accuracy.
For low handicap players, these forged irons offer huge help when it comes to shaping shots and sticking them closer. Not to mention, they look pretty classy with a polished finish.
What We Like
- Suitable for tall golfers
- Engineered to have the ball cover a longer average distance
- Helps players gain more control over shots
- Has an amazing feel
- Looks elegant
What We Don’t Like
- The sole grind can be improved
- Harsh mishits
7. Mizuno JPX 921 Forged Irons Set
Following the phenomenal success of the JPX 900 and JPX 919 irons, Mizuno released the JPX 921 to further establish the brand as one of the industry’s top manufacturers when it comes to forged irons.
The Mizuno JPX 921 golf clubs take the lead among other irons of the brand as the first irons to incorporate Chromoly into their construction material. This offers multiple benefits including being more durable than carbon steel, making the club resistant to corrosion, and increasing ball speed.
These forged irons provide players with everything they need from a great feel and look to impressive distance and forgiveness. They come with a bit longer blade to improve your hits of straight shots, but keep in mind that this may cost you some slight workability.
The JPX 921 features Harmonic Impact technology to give you good feedback at the impact point. Additionally, the Stability Frame makes room at the club’s heel to promote stability upon launch while producing desirable sound and vibration.
These forged irons are CNC milled to reduce face thickness across a larger area, which maximizes ball speed and consistency. The thinner face on the 4 to 7 irons also raises the coefficient of restitution (C.O.R), delivering a longer distance to your shots.
The Mizuno JPX 921 set is available in regular, extra stiff, and stiff flex levels. These forged irons also sport a beautiful Pearl Brush coating which minimizes glare in sunlight to keep you focused on the ball.
What We Like
- Beautiful look and high-quality construction
- Great consistency speed-wise
- The standard shaft is Nippon Modus 120
- Impressive distance and forgiveness
- CNC milled design
- Anti-glare finish
What We Don’t Like
- On the pricey side
How to Choose the Best Forged Irons
There’s a lot of things a golfer needs to consider when trying to find the best forged irons on the market. Not all players have the same style, so the requirements of one golfer are never the replica of another.
Below, we’ll be discussing a few of the most important features you should take into account before buying forged golf irons.
Ball Distance
Your first order of business is to determine the length of the distance you can cover with the ball when you’re using a forged iron golf club. This is called ball distance and it’s one of the most crucial aspects of golfing.
On the course, you’ll need to achieve a range of distances depending on how you play. To do this, you’ll have to add various irons to your golf bag as well as adjust your stroke speed accordingly.
If you’re looking to get the ball to achieve a long distance, then forged irons will help you get the job done.
Ball Trajectory
This feature is on the technical side and it’s as significant as the previous point, if not more. To sum it up for you, the best forged golf irons are those with a very low trajectory and high accuracy.
You may come across some forged irons with a bit higher trajectory in addition to enhanced accuracy. You have the green light to purchase those too.
However, you should stay away from any set of forged irons that features a notably higher trajectory with low accuracy.
Accuracy
Speaking of which, ask any golfer and they’ll tell you, accuracy is the cornerstone of this sport. Your golf clubs are the main equipment that affects how accurate your shot is.
There are a few reasons for this: the golf club alters the distance and the trajectory of the ball. When it comes to forged irons, the shape of the iron also plays a role in setting the angle and direction of the ball as it travels across the course.
This is why finding a golf iron that offers high accuracy should be at the top of your priorities list no matter your handicap level or stroke style. Such forged irons will up your chances of sticking every shot, so your win rate will also witness a serious improvement.
Feel
The feel of a forged golf iron isn’t a materialistic feature that you can measure and put a number on, but rather a quality that you sense when you hold the club. It differs from one golfer to another as it depends on each player’s stroke style and speed, so what one person finds comfortable may not be the same in the case of another individual.
Don’t take this aspect lightly though. That feeling of comfort when you’re playing with a forged iron can be the difference between a good and a fantastic game. It’s what golfers’ dreams are made of!.
This is why we recommend that you get your set of forged irons while bearing its feel in mind. The best forged irons are the ones that you feel most confident and comfortable using on the course.
Forgiveness
Forged golf irons are known for possessing thin and compact clubheads which, at the point of impact, grants players a nice feel and sharp sound. Typically, these features forced manufacturers to give up some forgiveness, but not anymore.
Nowadays, many players’ distance irons are designed to incorporate both the feel and look you get from forged iron with the forgiveness usually attributed to cavity back irons.
To make sure you end up with decent forgiveness, go for forged golf irons with a higher moment of inertia and a lower center of gravity. This way you’ll get more consistent results when hitting higher and straighter shots.
Sweet Spot
Compared to cavity back irons, forged golf irons have a smaller sweet spot. So if you’re trying to achieve a great distance with such clubs, your hit has to be out of the center.
Playing with a reduced sweet space in exchange for a better look and feel can work in the case of lower handicap golfers. But if you’re higher than a 12 handicapper, then you need your forged irons to have larger sweet spots.
Price
When shopping for forged irons, you need to know that these golf clubs always cost more in comparison with cast irons. The incredible comfort and feel that players get while playing with forged golf irons isn’t as easy to create as, say, pouring liquid steel into molds and letting them cool to make cast irons.
The process of forging iron requires a lot more skilled craftsmanship and workforce. So it makes sense that such golf clubs don’t come cheap.
Also, keep in mind that the elevated cost is a direct link to the quality of the club. If a forged iron is being sold for a suspiciously lower price, chances are it’s somehow defected or below standard when it comes to specifications.
Of course, you can find used forged irons that cost less, but even in this case, you need to make sure there’s nothing wrong with them except for maybe some signs of aging.
Other than that, we recommend that you don’t buy a cheap forged iron unless you want to waste your money on subpar results. Instead, save up and invest in a high-quality golf club that’ll give you great results and stay in your golf bag for many years.
Best Forged Irons – FAQs
Are forged irons better?
The biggest advantage of forged irons is that they have a better feel and control. This, however, doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a better type of golf club than any out there.
The important thing to keep in mind when shopping for golf gear and equipment is that it ultimately comes down to what offers you the best game improvement.
The elevated feel and control of forged irons can really benefit golfers who prefer playing with varying ball flights or hitting fades and draws.
Compared to a forged iron, a cavity back iron can sometimes be too forgiving that it doesn’t give players much room to shape their golf shots. On the other hand, some players think that forged irons don’t provide as much distance as cavity back irons.
This, too, is affected by the overall forgiveness of the golf club. More forgiveness means you don’t need to hit the club right in the middle to achieve good distance.
Who makes the best forged irons?
The best forged irons differ from one golfer to another, but there are some brands that everyone seems to agree on when it comes to who makes the best forged irons on the market. Among the names are Callaway, TaylorMade, Srixon, and Cobra.
What are the most forgiving forged irons?
For the most forgiving forged irons, we recommend the Callaway Golf Apex Forged Irons 2019, Callaway Golf Apex Forged Irons 2019, and the Mizuno JPX 921 Forged Irons Set.
Are forged irons good for high handicappers?
Yes, forged irons can be good for high handicappers. In fact, any player can use a forged golf iron no matter their handicap level.
All you need to do is find a set of forged irons that suits your game strength. Luckily, forged golf irons on the market are available in a wide variety of models, so this shouldn’t be an issue.
For higher handicappers, look for forged irons with bigger clubheads to make up for missing shots precisely at the center. As for lower handicap players, just about any model will do.
Wrap Up
Choosing the best forged irons isn’t an easy task, especially with so many features to think about including ball distance, ball trajectory, accuracy, and feel. This is why we made sure to include only the top-performing golf clubs in our list to guarantee you a reliable deal no matter what. That being said, we recommend the Callaway Golf Apex 2019 Forged Irons as today’s winner thanks to its unbelievable feel, premium multi-material construction, and incredible feel. It’s a bit on the expensive side, but the performance and quality are absolutely worth it.
