Equipment

Best irons 2026: Best irons overall, most forgiving irons, and more

Published

2 days ago

Jun 8, 2026

In our effort to assemble the 2026 best irons, we have again compiled an expert panel of fitters to help you find out which of the 2026 irons is optimally suited to your game.

We are not, however, just running it back with the same categories. Instead, we have asked our fitters to shortlist their best irons overall, the best irons for better players, and the most forgiving irons. That’s it. Three categories. We are also featuring all the Best Irons categories in one piece, rather than dedicating an article to each.

We are in the era of not just maximizing distance but also minimizing the penalty of common misses for each player — this applies to irons just as much as it does with any other club in the bag. And of course, proper set makeup and gapping are essential. This is why, now more than ever, custom fitting is essential to help you see results on every swing you make.

Best irons of 2026: The process

The best fitters in the world see all the options available in the marketplace, analyze their performance traits, and pull from their internal databases of knowledge and experience like a supercomputer when they are working with a golfer.

Modern iron sets are designed into player categories that overlap the outdated “what’s your handicap?” model, and at GolfWRX we believe it was important to go beyond handicap and ask specific questions about the most crucial performance elements fitters are looking at.

These are the best iron categories we have developed for 2026.

Best irons overall

Srixon ZXi5

From our launch piece: Srixon developed some new technology and processes to ensure the ZXi line pushed the limits of performance in each iron category. A new forging process and new materials help create strength in the irons while giving better immediate feedback.

Fitter comments:

Immense forgiveness across the face while maintaining consistent ball speeds and reducing flyers. Amazing feel.
If this was a “most underrated iron” survey, the ZXi5 would be #1 by a long shot! Super soft iron that has a lot of forgiveness, is super soft feeling and has the best sole for anyone that is steeper into the turf. This one will win if it is put in the mix. Period.
Best irons for steep players. The v-sole provides effortless turf interaction for steeper players, and the iron helps cut spin for high spin players but provides optimal launch angle. Would recommend to any player with a steep attack angle or out-to-in swing that is looking to get into the Player’s Distance Category.

TaylorMade P790

From our launch piece: The P790 irons feature a forged 4340M face material, which is 20-percent stronger than previous iterations, allowing for a thinner and faster face. The material change contributes to up to a 24-percent larger sweet spot in comparison to the previous P790 model, promoting more consistent distance across the set.

Fitter comments:

A classic that continues to improve and remain dominant in feel, speed, and a more compact look.
Tried and true. Consistently one of the highest performers in all the recent generations. This generation has fixed some of the consistency (flyer) issues. feels great. performance is great.
Best for all golfers.

Titleist T150

From our launch piece: For golfers seeking tour-like feel with added speed and launch, the T150 is the go-to. Slightly larger profile than T100 with stronger lofts. Improved muscle channel for faster ball speeds in mid- to long-ironS. Same VFT and groove enhancements as T100 for consistency across the face. Split tungsten weighting for optimized CG and improved launch.

Fitter comments:

Another Titleist iron that I could have put higher up on the list. The T150 is a much more forgiving iron than the T100, yet you still get the great look of the T100. Really great iron to combo with T100 or even the opposite way and do the T250 at the top and the T150 in the low irons.
Titleist has found a forgiving sweet spot for a players iron that provides amateurs with enough forgiveness without sacrificing all the feel and workability you receive with the T100.
Like most Titleist products, hits all the marks without being to flashy.

Ping i540

From our launch piece: Distance gains come from multiple sources in the i540 iron, including tungsten sole weighting in the 4-7 irons that lowers the center of gravity in design for more ball speed. In addition, the forged, highly flexible maraging-steel C300 face is precisely welded to a 17-4 stainless-steel body, creating metal-wood-like bending in a bid to ensure faster ball speeds with higher max height for more stopping power.

Fitter comments:

This has been one of the longest clubs since it’s arrival in the players distance category. It is hard to find anything close to it in a similar size.
The biggest surprise of this year’s releases. Ping manages to fix the feel, sound, weak spin, and inconsistent performance areas that their prior irons have suffered from. The i540 really gives category giants like the P790 a run for it’s money.
Consistent, fly high, not too low spin. Great all around iron for mid handicappers or combo sets.

Mizuno Pro M-13

From our launch piece: Leading edge bevel provides a sharp leading edge with a high bounce surface, designed for ease of entering the turf without digging. In addition, the trailing edge bevel reduces turf drag as the head passes through the turf.

Fitter comments:

Feel amazing, ball speeds are great, distance and trajectory are phenomenal.
Better players with great feel. Really great follow up to the 243. Sleeker look with great performance.
Mizuno consistently makes solid irons, and this is a nice, traditionally eye-appealing golf club for better players.

Best irons for better players

Srixon ZXi7

From our launch piece: For the ZXi7 irons Srixon knows the focus is on pure strikes, precision distances, and workability. PureFrame is forged behind the sweet spot to help strengthen that section, reducing unwanted vibration and giving the golfer that soft and solid feel.

Fitter comments:

Packing feel and aesthetic with a dash of forgiveness that is not too intimidating to look at. Blends look great.
Srixon just keeps hitting it out of the park with this model. Consistent Endo forged greatness! Smallish profile fits the eye and penetrating ball flight with great balls speed and control.
The V-sole technology continues to deliver excellent performance and turf interaction in this generation of Srixon iron.

Titleist T100

From our launch piece: The updated T100 continues its reign as the most played iron on the PGA Tour. Designed for elite ball-strikers, T100 features, Forged, multi-material construction with a compact, tour-preferred profile, New muscle channel in the 3- and 4-irons for higher launch and better gapping. Variable Face Thickness (VFT) in long irons for more speed across the face. Aggressive grooves in the mid- to short-irons for more consistent spin, even from the rough. A traditional cavity back with a little bit of forgiveness works for a lot of players, even better players looking for a higher ball flight.

Fitter comments

A traditional cavity back with a little bit of forgiveness works for a lot of players, even better players looking for a higher ball flight.
Extreme control over the ball with excellent feel, and the right amount of forgiveness even for lower handicaps.
The T100 is just a great iron for anyone that is in that better player category. It combines look, feel, and proper spin rates leading to steeper land angles.

Titleist T150

From our launch piece: Golfers seeking tour-like feel with added speed and launch, the T150 is the go-to. Slightly larger profile than T100 with stronger lofts. Improved muscle channel for faster ball speeds in mid- to long-iron. Same VFT and groove enhancements as T100 for consistency across the face. Split tungsten weighting for optimized CG and improved launch

Fitter comments:

Provides forgiveness, while maintaining workability and feel.
For those who are not fearful of the more blade-oriented shape, the T150 is incredibly rewarding. Great feel. Great forgiveness.
Best blend of workability and forgiveness.

Callaway X Forged

From our launch piece: Crafted from a single piece of 1020 Carbon steel, the X Forged irons are designed to deliver the crisp sound and soft feel that discerning players seek. Targeted for professionals and elite ball strikers, the irons feature a streamlined cavity back, compact profile, minimal offset, and a thin topline.

Fitter comments:

Solid forged goodness! Nice ‘mid’ look with smaller footprint. Enough cavity to be forgiving but the essence of player iron just oozes from everywhere.
Callaway finally improved on their 2018 version of this iron. This is a soft, sweet feeling iron and gives the player great turf interaction with the pre ground leading edge.
Amazing look and feel with excellent performance.

Mizuno Pro M-13

Fitter comments:

Mizuno, again, just knows how to make irons. The amazing feel is complemented by the look and the performance. Great grind on the leading edge allowing for better turf interaction.
Nothing feels like a Mizuno. You know what you’re getting. Predictable flight, spin and control. Blends well.
Looks and feels like a Mizuno with better ball speed than previous generations.

Most forgiving irons

Mizuno JPX Hot Metal HL

From our launch piece: Mizuno’s latest iteration of its technology-packed JPX iron series continues the company’s history of questioning and innovation by incorporating, for the first time, multi-material construction in the JPX family. Engineers use nickel chromoly and strategically positioned tungsten across the lineup for higher launch and steeper angles of descent.

Fitter comments:

Great Mizuno feel with the performance for the person that doesn’t hit the ball as high. Makes it easy to launch but doesn’t sacrifice on the ball speed.
Great feeling club, super forgiving, launches to the moon with spin in a confidence inspiring profile without excessive size.
One of the best feeling in the high launch category.

TaylorMade Qi Max HL

From our launch piece: “Per TaylorMade, through extensive testing, engineers were able to deduce that the faces in most game improvement irons flex more on the toe at impact than anywhere else on the face. The result is unwanted fade bias that sees golfers losing too many shots to the right (for right-handed players). To counteract this tendency, the faces in Qi Max and Qi Max HL irons are designed to flex in unison and reduce cut spin for shots that stay online.”

Fitter comments:

A good forgiving large iron with very high flight.
Really good mix of ball speed and height for the player that doesn’t mind a bigger, thicker head. Tons of forgiveness.
Players looking for height this is the club.

Srixon ZXiR HL

From our launch piece: Per TaylorMade, through extensive testing, engineers were able to deduce that the faces in most game improvement irons flex more on the toe at impact than anywhere else on the face. The result is unwanted fade bias that sees golfers losing too many shots to the right (for right-handed players). To counteract this tendency, the faces in Qi Max and Qi Max HL irons are designed to flex in unison and reduce cut spin for shots that stay online.

Fitter comments:

The ZXIR HL launches the ball significantly higher than traditional game improvement irons while maintaining a high amount of ball speed. It uses it’s V-sole to help guide players through the turf.
Best addition to this category in years. Gret look and feel that Srixon is known for. Numbers are incredible.
This has been a phenomenal club for the person that isn’t launching the ball or getting any distance from their shots. Great for the person that hits down a good bit.

Titleist T250 Launch Spec

From our launch piece: An upgrade from the outgoing T200, the T250 introduces a sharper, all-steel look while packing in powerful tech. Forged L-Face insert and Max Impact 2.0 for explosive speed with control. V-Taper design and lower CG promote high launch and consistency. Split tungsten weighting enhances forgiveness and stability. Slightly thicker topline and wider sole offer added confidence at address.

Fitter comments:

All of the great stuff about the the T250 with the higher loft to help with peak heights.
A player oriented look, with traditional lofting and exceptional forgiveness.
Higher lofted launch spec irons are great for chasing that extra bit of height for a proper, functional ball flight.

Titleist T350

From our launch piece: Built for maximum forgiveness and distance, the T350 offers. All-steel construction with a clean, premium look. L-Face with multi-zone VFT for ultra-fast ball speeds. Deeper CG and high-density tungsten weighting for higher launch. Max Impact 2.0 and progressive grooves for better consistency from all lies.

Fitter comments:

Great for distance.
People are often intimidated by the name, but performance changes their mind quickly.

Equipment

PGA Tour Superstore launches Golf Simulator Showrooms

Published

2 hours ago

Jun 10, 2026

Will Schube

Looking to get your home simulator built, but don’t know where to start? PGA Tour Superstore is here to help you out. Superstores across the country have announced dedicated Golf Simulator Showrooms in stores nationwide.

According to an official press release, “The new showroom experience gives customers the opportunity to demo and compare a wide range of simulator solutions, from high-end systems featuring launch monitors, enclosures and projectors to entry-level net and mat options designed for residential, outdoor and commercial spaces.”

“At PGA Tour Superstore, we are committed to helping our customers improve and get dialed into their game. Simulator technology has become an incredibly powerful tool for that, giving players real data and feedback to practice more effectively and play better,” said Troy, Rice, CEO, PGA Tour Superstore. “At the same time, it has evolved into something much broader, a fun, social way for people to experience the game and, for many, a gateway into traditional on-course golf.”

The Golf Simulator Showrooms will include offerings from the biggest names in launch monitor technology, including Bushnell, Foresight, Full Swing, Garmin, Rapsodo, SkyTrak, Trackman, and Uneekor.

To learn more about simulator options and packages, visit PGA Tour Superstore’s Simulator Guide on its website.

Equipment

200cc 3-wood recommendations – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

2 hours ago

Jun 10, 2026

Will Schube

In our forums, one user is asking for recommendations for a 3-wood in the 200cc range. Standard 3-woods come with heads in the 165cc to 175cc range.

@driverHATE asked:

“I still have and regularly came the Callaway 2 deep. Looking for something similar in size and function. Ideally, the head would be low spin. I have tried many of the other mini drivers from the past and they are either (a) too large or (b) way too spinny.

“Does not need to be a current offering. My research has pointed me to the OG SIM TI, which I will likely try. Just seeing if there are any other similar options I am overlooking. Thanks!”

Our members in the forum have been offering up advice on options driverHATE might consider trying. 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.

Ben B: “I mean the new Qi4D core is 185cc and the max is 200cc. Much like the Qi10 fairways, the 4Ds are starting to gain a lot of traction.”
phizzy30: “OG SIM ti has a bigger foot print with a deep face. It’s considered lower launch/spin with high ball speeds which I agree with after having one for years. I would recommend it or if you want something a bit newer that’s more versatile, the Qi10 tour is it. Qi4d tour is also amazing as well. These two have deeper faces as well and are great tee options. They’re also good off the deck as well provided you can elevate the ball.”
hammergolf: “You will be very hard pressed to find a better performing club than the OG Sim Ti fwy wood. If you can find a rocket model even better.”

Entire Thread: “200cc 3 wood recommendations.”

Equipment

Building the Bag: How Neal Shipley’s switch-up on spin has developed his setup

Published

21 hours ago

Jun 9, 2026

Alistair Cameron

Neal Shipley survived “Golf’s Longest Day” to qualify for the U.S. Open next week at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, and is set to make his first appearance at his national open since he earned low amateur in 2024. So what better time to be featured in another edition of “Building a Bag.”

It’s also a significant time for Shipley to have a breakdown of his setup featured here at GolfWRX, as the Ohio State alum has been through some substantial gear changes over the past few months to combat one thing – over-spinning the golf ball.

So let’s dive into Shipley’s setup:

Big changes start with the ball

Shipley’s major bag update for this season has been a change in golf balls. Initially, in the Titleist Pro V1, Shipley had to remove loft from his long irons to tackle the fact that he overspins the golf ball. But after testing and transitioning to the Pro V1x Double Dot, he was able to find the right numbers and also launch the ball higher.

“I’ve struggled with spin for a long time and I was battling that, especially in my longer irons and had to take a lot of loft off,” Shipley told GolfWRX. “So I struggled when I got the irons in the right spin rates in the right spin windows, not getting enough height. So I was able to go to this ball and add loft, get the lunch I need, without really adding too much spin.”

The lower-launching and lower-spinning Pro V1x variant is a golf ball that transformed Cameron Young’s game and plenty of players have tested it out on Tour, including Kris Ventura and Jhonattan Vegas.

“It’s been nice to kind of launch the ball a little bit more and get some height more with my launch rather than with the ball downfield,” Shipley added. “So it’s been a nice addition. It’s really good in crosswind. It’s great off the tee.”

Soft stepping experiment

From 5- to 9-iron, Shipley plays Ping’s Blueprint T irons, of which he believes are “one of the cleanest looking blades out there.”

The model has been in his bag even before they even went to retail. What’s most interesting about his iron setup, though, is what he’s doing with the shafts.

Shipley plays Dynamic Gold X100 120 shaft, a pretty common low-spinning, low-launch shaft out on Tour. What he and the Ping team have begun experimenting with is soft-stepping, for a few reasons.

“Trying and get a little more, just touch, more height and spin on the ball, a little more deflection,” Shipley said on the process of changing the stiffness of a set of irons by putting the lower-numbered iron shaft throughout the set and changing the distance from the first step in the shaft to the hosel. (ie. The 8-iron shaft is put in the 9-iron and so forth.)

Essentially, the shift makes the shaft slightly weaker by cutting more off the butt end of the club. The change aligns with the ball swap, with Shipley’s freedom now to launch the ball higher with loft without it overspinning. Shipley has also done the same to his i240 4-iron.

No need to de-loft

Shipley plays some of the lowest-lofted clubs out on the PGA Tour. His older Ping G440 LST has just 6.8 degrees of loft – yes, you read that correctly!

Now with the ability to add more loft, thanks to the golf ball change, Shipley’s current driver is at 7.6 degrees. The 9-degree LST head is cranked down on Big Minus on the Ping adapter hosel.

It’s still a stout build, however, as Shipley plays a Fujikura Ventus TR 7x that has been tipped at 2 inches. He also uses the heaviest high-density tungsten back weight available at 35 grams.

More than just the stamps

Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.

That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.

On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley said. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.

“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”

On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”

“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.

There’s more to just the stamping. He’s stuck with the S159 wedges since graduating from the Korn Ferry Tour, as he feels confident in the head shape.

“I prefer the shape a little bit more of the leading edge, not as rounded of a leading edge, a little bit more straight on,” Shipley added.

The added confidence helps him with adapting to the different grinds needed week-in-week-out on Tour. Shipley is happy to game three different grinds with his lob-wedge.

“Primarily use the T, the H, and then I’ll do a 58S,” Shipley said. “These are actually at 59 degrees. I’ll do the 58 strengthen to take a little bit of bounce off in the S grind and then we’ll shave some trail edge and heel edge relief. Just helps act as like a higher bounce essentially. So kind of stick with those most of the time.”

Heavier the better

The final piece to Shipley’s puzzle is his custom Ping PLD Anser 4D. It’s somewhat of a gentle giant, featuring a heavier-than-usual head, but a custom aluminium insert.

“It’s a little bit heavier, I think this one’s 355 to 360 grams, so a little bit heavier head,” Shipley said. “So the heavier head I feel like has helped me on some of the shorter putts with a little bit of stability.

“But the insert, I think, has been helpful in some of the longer putts. Just kind of slowing the ball down with the softer insert in the grooves.”

Shipley’s one of the few players left on Tour playing an actual Anser blade, having said in the past that he naturally sets up to the right on putts and allows the face to rotate through. Something which he hasn’t been able to mimic with a mallet.

Shipley’s full bag:

Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees @ 7.6)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7X (45 inches, tipped 2 inches)

Mini driver: Ping prototype
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 8X

3-wood: Titleist TSR3 (13.5 degrees, C2 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8X

5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black VeloCore+ 8X

Irons: Ping iDi (3 @ 19.25), Ping i240 (4), Ping Blueprint T (5-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold 120 X100 (4-9 soft-stepped)

Wedges: Ping s159 (46-12S, 50-10S, 54-12S, 60 T or H @ 59)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold 120 X100 (46-50), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (54-60)

Putter: Ping PLD Anser 4D

Grips: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord

Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Double Dot