Equipment
The best iron sets for under $250
Look, we get it, golf clubs, especially a new set of irons, can be expensive. When you factor in the potential cost of a fitting and or other shaft and grip options you could be looking at a set of irons that retails for over $2,000—that’s a lot of dough!
This is why we want to help show you what you can get for your money with the best irons under $250.
As much as we love new clubs and new technology, at GolfWRX we still love to find the best deals to help golfers get the most value and when it comes to clubs and in this case iron sets. There is a lot of value in the marketplace if you know where to look, so we did the looking for you and have assembled the best iron sets you can find under $250.
** Note: Used club prices fluctuate and the clubs selected for this list we’re easily located in good shape for under the stated $250 price point **
Best iron sets under $250
Ping Eye 2’s
The Ping Eye 2 is my perennial favorite when it comes to buying affordable irons that will last a long time, and they are easy to find in the specs you need. Eye 2’s are the most popular, and best-selling irons of all time, and although you can find some newer Ping irons for a little bit of extra money or around the same price—like the Ping i/3’s—the Eye 2’s will always be my all-timer for affordability.
Mizuno MX-25
If it’s a forged iron you’re looking for, the Mizuno MX line, including the 20, 23, and 25, can all be found pretty easily under $250 and offer a forged head with an undercut cavity for added forgiveness in a mid-sized head. The great thing about them being forged is you can get them bent to your spec without much hassle—so shop away!
TaylorMade RAC series
The RAC series was one of TaylorMade’s best selling irons of all time behind the Burner line and the great thing was they offered a club for almost any golfer. The RAC OS (Oversized) was a great cast cavity back that offered a soft feel and confidence-inspiring look from address. The LT (lower trajectory) was a smaller mid-sized cavity back for those looking for extra workability, and then there was a forged iron for those seeking ultimate shotmaking—but at our $250 budget, those ones are harder to track down.
Callaway X-20
Before the Apex line came along, the Callaway X-Series irons were the distance iron for everyone and came in both a standard and pro series model for those golfers looking for a slightly smaller look from address and a thinner sole. You can go back further to the X-18 and X-16s to find some even more attractive deals, but the X-20’s were one of the last X-Series irons and still hold their own for the price.
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
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Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
Asterisk Talley WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Brianna Do WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
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John
Nov 9, 2020 at 11:55 am
Fun article. I’m always glad when Ryan looks around for the values, I constantly look to find those types of deals myself! (Which is why I have a set of MP-32 (100$) and a slightly dinged up set of Z745 (250)) Always enjoy Ryan’s stuff, agree or disagree
Mike
Nov 8, 2020 at 2:37 pm
I agree on the X line like the X-20’s and X-22’s both regular and the Pro versions! I would also have to say that the Hogan Edge CFT’s were very good too!
Aaron Hornbrook
Nov 7, 2020 at 11:51 pm
Still bagging some RAC LTs. Great sticks that will be upgraded this winter/spring, but definitely deserving a place on this list.
Bill
Nov 7, 2020 at 11:26 am
The iron set that has better build quality AND FORGING than all these- yes – better than mixing, is—- Hogan Apex FTX set.
The FTX is a mixed set 8 to equalizer are bladed, 3-7 fantastic muscle back with a blade look!
These have a buttery feel AND are long, placement of the muscle is superb, just enough offset ( not much)!
The look and quality is significantly BETTER than all the clubs in this article,
Good luck finding a set!
Art V.
Nov 9, 2020 at 11:02 am
Na those are junk
Phil Fanatic
Nov 7, 2020 at 8:54 am
The best I ever got under $250
Adam’s MB2 raw
Callaway X Prototype (endo)
Titleist ZB/MB combo
Mizuno MP-33
y2zar
Nov 7, 2020 at 5:49 am
Can’t go wrong with X-20s, the Tour version is practically one of the most versatile irons I’ve ever hit. Pairing it with those M10 shafts, I can easily command my shots to whatever flights/shapes needed.
Jon W
Nov 7, 2020 at 4:12 am
Srixon made great clubs before the Z series.
Recommend Srixon 302 Forged, or my all time favourie Srixon 403AD.
One of the easiest to launch and longest irons Ive ever played.
Branden W
Nov 7, 2020 at 12:47 am
If we’re including old clubs by throwing the Ping Eye 2’s in there, can we go ahead and add the original Tommy Armour 845s Silver Scots from the early 90’s? They were so easy to pure iron shots. Their lofts and gapping is still consistent with current irons. And they can be found on the Bay for $100-$200 for a full set of irons. I loved mine for years.
John
Nov 6, 2020 at 8:51 pm
The Callaway X-20 were not the last. I had Callaway X-20 Tour and then the Callaway X-22 Tour with rifle-flighted project X shafts (Just looked at pictures in my ‘golf club photos’ folder from selling them on Ebay back in 2018).
Steve
Nov 6, 2020 at 7:38 pm
I saw a set of RAC Coin Forged in Goodwill a few months ago, but they were kinda beat and I’d been collecting too many sets so I passed on them. Probably should have picked them up.
I recently got a set of X20pro’s for $40 and sold them for $165 and had people beating down the door.
All of these irons are plenty playable and frankly can be had for under $50 if you get lucky.
Mike
Nov 6, 2020 at 5:51 pm
Why are we showing post of clubs that technology wise are irrelevant. Those even on a tight budget could find a used set on play it agin sports or ebay close to that price point. Are you running out of things to talk about seriously.
Brian
Nov 6, 2020 at 2:38 pm
Factoring in the cost of the Imitrex I’d have to purchase to fight the cluster headaches I would get looking down at those hideous Eye 2’s would put them well above $250.
b.mattay
Nov 6, 2020 at 2:09 pm
Grooves on these will be illegal
Neill A. MacLeod
Nov 6, 2020 at 10:24 pm
The Ping Eye 2 clubs (irons and wedges) were grandfathered for life as part of a settlement in 1993 of a suit Ping filed against the USGA. In short, any Ping Eye 2 manufactured prior to March 31, 1990, is within the rules as long as the USGA governs the game.
averywood4
Nov 6, 2020 at 1:30 pm
I bought a set of Miura CB-202 on ebay last week. 4-PW for $175.
Mr C
Nov 6, 2020 at 3:29 pm
That’s a steal. Best CB ever made. But on average those go for way more which I think what the article was assuming. Regardless, nice find.
Not Gianni
Nov 6, 2020 at 11:28 am
RACs in a shape resembling decent/playable??? For under $250??? Get real Ryan!!!
JC
Nov 6, 2020 at 10:06 pm
$250 Budget= Can possibly buy a decent iron set
… I’ve bought good-condition RAC Forged CB 3i-PW (similar to the Miura Forged) , for $75…
and Immaculated near-mint Bridgestone J36 iron set for <$150!