What are the best irons in golf for 2019 and possibly 2020?

It’s an interesting question to ask anyone who works in golf equipment since it opens up a Pandora’s box of debate and discussion, which inevitably results in the conclusion that every player has to go out, work with a fitter, and find the best set for him/her. There is no one single best iron for every golfer in 2019, but there is a best iron of 2019 for you—and that’s where we come in to help you find your ideal set.

2019 has been a big year for irons, with OEMs taking bigger steps to push the science of structure, materials, and processing to move mass and further optimize MOI and COG to provide improvements across the board. In certain iron categories, clubheads are generating maximum potential speed over larger areas of the face, just like a driver, while in other parts of the market, some iron models have been shrunk to improve workability for the players looking for shot-shaping control.

So what do you look for? What do you need? With so many great irons released in 2019, the decision-making process can be overwhelming, and that’s why at GolfWRX, we are here to help you go through that process and help you ask the right questions to find the iron set for you.

Best irons of 2019: How we did it

Even before starting the process of building the survey, we reached out to our trusted fitters to discuss how they sort through the endless number of iron options available to golfers. The consensus was simple—the best fitters in the world see all the options available in the marketplace, analyze their performance traits, and pull from that internal database of knowledge and experience like a supercomputer whenever they are working with a golfer.

It’s essentially a huge decision tree derived from experience and boiled down to a starting point of options—and it has nothing to do with handicap.

Since modern iron sets are designed into player categories that overlap the traditional “what’s your handicap” model, we at GolfWRX believe it was important to go beyond handicap and ask specific questions about the most crucial performance elements fitters are looking at to help golfers find the best set of irons for them. From overall performance, to shotmaking, to helping players achieve better trajectories and speed, we strived to ask the right questions.

We have developed separate categories that will help you the reader determine what rankings are most important for your swing and game.

• Most technology packed
• The shotmakers
• Pure enjoyment
• Easiest to launch
• Overall top performers

Just like with our Best Drivers of 2019 survey, we consulted leading fitters in the industry and compiled our results anonymously. The methodology is simple: We want to give you the tools to go out and find what works best for you, with recommendations for your individual needs, with feedback from the people that work every single day to help golfers get peak performance out of their equipment.

We at GolfWRX then worked internally to craft a survey that allowed the fitters to be honest…we want the truth just as much as you do, and to prevent anyone from feeling they couldn’t be, we allowed all of the results and quotes to remain anonymous unless otherwise stated. We can’t thank the fitters enough for their time!

Best irons of 2019: Meet the fitters

Ben Giunta: Owner, The Tour Van
Alex Panigas: Fitter, TXG
Chris Kendall: Fitter, TXG
Cam Kennedy: Fitter, TXG
John Sawatsky: Fitter, TXG
Ryan Johnson: Fitter, Carl’s Golfland
Brent Norton: VP Shop Operations, Miles of Golf
Craig Allan: Golf Performance Manager, Sea Island Performance Center
Timothy Briand: SVP Customer Experience, True Spec Golf
Shawn Zawodni: Fitter, Miles of Golf
Nick Sherburne: Founder, Club Champion
Dominic Choma: Fitter, Miles of Golf
Matthew Sim: Fitter/Director of Operations, Modern Golf

Best irons 2019: Easy to Launch

This category of irons is aimed to help players who need height. With today’s modern golf ball, creating proper flight widows and spin can be difficult for some players, and this is where technology can really help. All of these irons do everything they can to create shot-stopping trajectories regardless of clubhead speed.

These are the top 5

(Q: What are the best irons for golfers with slower swing speeds that need height?)

XXIO Prime: Designed with moderate swing speed players in mind, the XXIO Prime irons feature a Super-TIX PLUS Titanium Cup Face, paired with a CNC milled speed groove, which significantly increases the COR by creating a larger sweet spot. This iron is designed to provide greater distance, ball speed and accuracy.

From the fitters: “Super light weight from head to grip, low head CG, larger & more forgiving head yielding easier height and distance.”… “Speed is king. The XXIO Prime does a great job of increasing club head speed, which in turn helps the player create more height”

Mizuno JPX 919 HotMetal: Another repeat category performer, the 919 HotMetal is the perfect example of an iron that caters to multiple groups of golfers. When you take into account all the NO up-charge shafts options, the 919 HotMetal can fit almost anyone.

From the fitters: “Creates launch and peak height without sacrificing feel or aesthetics” … “Height, spin and distance, checks all the boxes”

Ping G410: He we go again. The fact that higher launching irons are showing up in multiple categories shows a trend that fitters see too many players that hit the ball too low. The Ping G410 offers an easy to launch club, that any golfer can enjoy.

From the fitters: “The G410 creates a bit more spin compared to others in this category without sacrificing too much in ball speed, which helps get the ball up in the air.” … ” For the player that needs some offset with super low CG the G410 provides very high launch and stopping power”

Cleveland Launcher HB: Although they are the oldest irons on the list (currently being replaced by Launcher HB Turbo) The Launcher HB irons prove that hybrid designs work! Built with high-strength, HT1770 steel faces to raise COR and boost distance, if you are less concerned with “traditional looks” and just want power, these are for you.

From the fitters: “The Launcher HB does very well in the hybrid iron set category. They are super easy to hit, super high launch, super forgiving, and ball speed monsters, you just have to get past the look.” … “Not much to say here. Hybrid blended set, allowing fast ball speeds with high launch – these come as advertised!”

Callaway Epic Flash Forged *Star*: The design advantage, beyond the premium multi-material forged head, is the incredibly light total club weight to help players in need of speed maximum their potential. Coming stock with a 40g UST ATTUS Speed ultra-premium iron shaft and 30g JLoo grip, you can’t help but hit them high.

From the fitters: “Fast face and lightweight components make for a great performer in an already great looking package.” … “Lightweight design creates more speed by being easier to swing for slower players. More speed creates potential for more launch and spin, a perfect combination for those needing height”

Read all the comments or make your own in the discussion thread in the forums here.