Best irons in players distance category | ClubTest 2025

Players distance is one of the hottest iron categories in the golf club business. And for ClubTest 2025, we discovered which new models are the best irons in the players distance category.

But what are players distance irons? This category is intended to be the perfect blend between workable performance and modern forgiveness. They can fit a wide range of golfers, from some Tour pros to mid-handicappers, but they’re best suited for better players who are looking for a little distance help. As part of the process, we conducted extensive player testing at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Ariz. Learn all about the best new players distance irons below.

See something you like? Click through and buy your new irons on Fairway Jockey today. For additional exclusive insights on new irons from leading brands, join InsideGOLF for only $40/year. Want to overhaul your bag for 2025? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf. 

MORE CLUBTEST: BEST GAME IMPROVEMENT IRONS | BEST BETTER PLAYER IRONS | BEST SUPER GAME IMPROVEMENT IRONS | BEST ELITE IRONS

Bridgestone 222 CB+

Bridgestone 222 CB+ Irons

$900

Tour Contact Sole with sharp leading edge and camber trailing edge for smooth turf interaction.

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THE BASICS: Bridgestone’s new 222 CB+ irons feature a dual pocket cavity throughout the set, offering a lower CG, higher launch and improved vibration dampening at impact. Combined with a wider sole, the 222 CB+ is the most forgiving model of the three new Bridgestone irons. Bridgestone collaborated with legendary Japan-based Endo Manufacturing to develop these new irons. The 222 CB+ comes with Nippon PRO 950 GH steel shafts.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF BRIDGESTONE’S 2025 IRONS

Callaway Ti Fusion

Callaway Apex Ti Fusion Custom Irons

$300

Apex Ti Fusion Irons are expertly crafted like no other iron in golf. This player performance iron is precisely engineered with a titanium face and a forged hollow- body construction. We’ve leveraged our most advanced materials to provide performance enthusiasts with exceptional power, feel, and consistency. Superior Materials, Unmatched Performance Titanium is an advanced material that provides unmatched iron performance. Our industry-leading brazed titanium construction capitalizes on the power of a titanium face combined with the exceptional forged feel of steel. No other iron combines these performance materials into one iron like we have in Apex Ti Fusion. Revolutionary Speed Leveraging the superiority of titanium, we’ve provided a face with unbelievable ball speed characteristics. Titanium, the same material used in driver faces, is incredibly efficient and produces a larger sweet spot in an iron than steel. Unimaginable Feel Apex Ti Fusion utilizes a combination of advanced materials to achieve an unimaginable feel. The titanium face allows for more deflection and interaction with our patented urethane microspheres. This interaction coupled with a forged, steel body provides a unique feel that is typically only found in single-piece forged irons. Incredibly Consistent Ball Speed, Spin, and Dispersion The titanium Ai Smart Face yields incredibly consistent ball speed, spin, and dispersion. The result is the performance of a 2-piece iron with consistency like a muscleback. Premium DLC Finish Ti Fusion boasts a new, ultra-premium Diamond-Like Coating (DLC) finish. DLC is more durable than PVD and produces a unique and striking aesthetic.

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THE BASICS: Apex Ti Fusion is Callaway’s supercar concept, created with advanced materials science and groundbreaking manufacturing techniques to put game improvement consistency into a player-preferred shape. At the heart of Ti Fusion is a thin and fast titanium face that has been brazed to a forged steel body. It’s the total construction of the head including the internal urethane microspheres that allows the iron to be fast, while still offering a premium solid feel.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF CALLAWAY’S APEX Ai IRONS

PLAYER TESTING TAKEAWAYS: “Decent sweet spot and lots of tech. Shorter blade length. Unique and very different profile” – Anthony Newville on the Callaway Apex Ti Fusion irons

Cobra King Tec

Cobra King TEC Custom Irons

$172

The KING TEC Irons are designed to inspire a better ball striking experience.Featuring a new 5-step forged body and face, and refined shaping, these ironsdeliver true feel and better player looks with all of the forgiveness you need. REFINED SHAPING Experience unrivaled ball-striking through a sleeker and refined shape featuring a thinner topline and reduced offset that inspires precision and playability. ENHANCED FEEL THROUGH FORGING & FOAM TECH Each TEC iron is crafted from 1025 carbon steel and precision-forged 5 times to deliver soft, player-preferred feel. A hollow body design is filled with a new foam that is lighter and softer to enhance feel and feedback. INCREASED SPEED AND STABILITY: PWRSHELL H.O.T FACE & TUNGSTEN WEIGHTING Dynamic distance is unleashed using a hollow body, a thinner and more robust PWRSHELL insert with H.O.T Face Technology, and 20g of tungsten in the toe for added stability.

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THE BASICS: Cobra bills the new King Tec irons as the “ultimate players-distance iron” and, like the rest of the family, the irons are built around a new Forged PWRSHELL face insert with H.O.T Face Variable Thickness Geometry. That means the clubface is thinner and stronger, which helps produce higher ball speeds. With he five-step-forged King Tec, the shaping has been refined from the previous generation to shorten the blade length, soften the topline and create what the company calls a “tucked toe.” The pitching wedge in the set also sports a flatter topline and straighter leading edge.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF COBRA’S KING TEC IRONS

Miura IC-602

Miura IC-602 Custom Irons

$350

Introducing the Miura IC-602 Iron: Precision meets Performance. Crafted by Shinei Miura, this 2024 model sets a new standard in golf club design, delivering exceptional distance and forgiveness. With its premium S35C Carbon Steel face ensuring unmatched responsiveness and the body’s combination of 8620 Soft Steel and strategically placed tungsten weights for optimized launch angles, every swing is precision-engineered for success. The Miura Versatile Sole (MVS) ensures solid contact with unparalleled turf interaction, allowing golfers to feel the club head release and deliver maximum compression to the ball, regardless of swing path or attack angle.

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THE BASICS: For the first time in their history, Miura are bringing the classic Miura feel to more golfers with the introduction of the IC-602 hollow-body iron. The new IC-602 brings together Miura’s desire to create stunning irons that provide valuable feedback with modern manufacturing techniques to offer more golfers the ability to experience Miura irons while delivering confidence into their iron game. Also, with the help of stronger lofts matched with a thinner and more flexible face construction, the IC-602s will help to deliver more ball speed, resulting in more distance.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF MIURA’S IC-602 IRONS

PLAYER TESTING TAKEAWAYS: “Superb finish, love the double sole line on back. Had tight dispersion and ball flight was straight. Shots on the sweet spot are rewarded but you are penalized when you don’t hit it there. These clubs are beautiful and confidence-inspiring.” – Jeff Smith (12-handicap) on the Miura IC-602 irons

“Love the look. Great feel, the ball comes off soft. This is a player’s club — doesn’t travel if it’s mishit. I couldn’t get enough speed to get any distance.” – Charlie Funk on the Miura IC-602 irons

Mizuno JPX 925 Hot Metal Pro

Mizuno JPX 925 Hot Metal Pro Custom Irons

$149.99

The JPX925 Hot Metal Pro redefines the performance of an already industry-leading franchise. Combining the power and speed of Nickel Chromoly with a newly engineered CORTECH Design featuring a Contour Ellipse face, the consistency of distance across the entire impact zone has never been as long and predictable. Designed for golfers seeking a more compact profile, the Hot Metal Pro offers the same advanced technology in a sleeker, more refined package. Contour Ellipse FaceA completely re-engineered multi-thickness face profile, with a 30% thinner face than the previous generation. The Contour Ellipse enhances center ball speed and ensures maximum speed retention at impact. Multi-Material ConstructionTungsten positioned low in the 4-7 irons creates a higher launch with a lower sweet spot, producing a steeper landing angle. Balanced Stability FrameBalanced weighting improves control while maintaining forgiveness and producing a tour preferred vibration and sound. Acoustic Sound RibsPrecisely dialed in vibration patterns for a solid, explosive impact sound.

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THE BASICS: The Mizuno JPX 925 Hot Metal Pro is the better player offering in a lineup that consists of three models (Pro, Standard and HL). The overall feel is what many have come to expect from Mizuno’s Chromoly head material: it’s fast, firm and responsive. The sound bar in the back cavity did a nice job keeping the sound within a range I deemed to be pleasing. It’s not muted, but it’s definitely not loud. Goldilocks would be a fan.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF MIZUNO’S JPX 925 IRONS

PLAYER TESTING TAKEAWAYS: “Data made this club stand out. Height and distance were good. Spin and launch too. Felt harder when hitting but performed well. Mishits still went straight. High launch. Good distance and feel overall.” – Dave Carroll (7-handicap) on the Mizuno JPX 925 Hot Metal Pro irons

“I like less offset in this club. Feel was soft through impact — big sweet spot. Mishits not too penal. 8 yd gain from current gamer! Love the players look at address. Gave both forgiveness and distance like a game-improvement iron. Got ball speed and distance gains.” – Jack Hale on the Mizuno JPX 925 Hot Metal Pro irons

Mizuno JPX 925 Forged

Mizuno JPX 925 Forged Custom Irons

$215

CORTECH Design Featuring Contour Ellipse Face At the heart of the JPX 925 Forged irons lies the revolutionary CORTECH Design, featuring a Contour Ellipse Face. This advanced multi-thickness face bridges the explosive distance of the Hot Metal series with the unparalleled feel of forged irons. Optimizes ball speed across the entire face for consistent performance, even on off-center strikes. Represents a breakthrough in innovation, utilizing new construction methods to deliver precision-engineered performance and forgiveness. Grain Flow Forged HD Mizuno’s signature feel stems from decades of forging excellence at its exclusive facility in Hiroshima, Japan. The JPX 925 Forged irons utilize the Grain Flow Forged HD process for exceptional feedback and playability. Long Irons (4-7): Forged from Chromoly 4120, blending strength and malleability for speed and adjustability. Short Irons (8-GW): Forged from 1025E Pure Select Mild Carbon Steel for unmatched precision, control, and the iconic Mizuno buttery feel. Triple Cut Sole Engineered for superior turf interaction, Mizuno’s Triple Cut Sole enhances versatility and playability in all conditions. Beveled leading edge ensures clean entry into the turf. Hard-cut trailing edge allows a smooth exit for uninterrupted ball contact. Balanced weighting promotes control and precision, even on challenging surfaces. Striking Finishes Traditional Satin Chrome: The classic Mizuno aesthetic for purists. Forged Black: A bold, modern look with reduced glare.

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THE BASICS: With the JPX 925 Forged, Mizuno has redesigned its workhorse player’s distance irons to retain the iconic buttery smooth Mizuno feel the brand’s forgings are known for in a compact package, while updating the technology to bring the performance closer in line with the JPX Hot Metal irons. And for the first time, the clubs will be available in two finishes for the entire retail cycle.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF MIZUNO’S JPX 925 IRONS

Mizuno Pro 243

Mizuno Pro 243 Custom Irons

$200

The Mizuno Pro Irons are the result of a longstanding connection between Mizuno’s club engineers and the legendary Grain Flow Forging plant in Hiroshima, Japan. Every fraction of a millimeter and subtle curve has been meticulously considered, shaping the future of golf club technology. Key Features of the Mizuno Pro 243 / Tour Speed: Grain Flow Forged HD in Hiroshima, Japan 4120 Chromoly with Flow Microslot (4-7 iron) Soft Copper Underlay for sensational feel Harmonic Impact Technology for a soft muscle-back feel Wrap Around Sole Grind for improved turf interaction Exceptionally compact players’ profile Increased bounce angle for enhanced performance Full Satin Brush finish Available 4-GW / RH only

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THE BASICS: The new Mizuno Pro Signature series irons are designed to cater to the most elite ballstrikers and live on for about a four-year life cycle. The Mizuno Pro S-3 uses Mizuno’s Grain Flow Forging process from 1025E Pure Select Mild Carbon Steel and features a copper underlay that has been present since the Mizuno MP-20 to further soften the feel. The Pro S-3 irons also incorporate Mizuno’s Triple Cut Sole to enhance turf interaction by slightly beveling the leading edge and hard-cutting the trailing edge to make for a quick and clean exit.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF MIZUNO’S PRO IRONS

Mizuno Pro 245

Mizuno Pro 245 Custom Irons

$200

The Mizuno Pro Irons are the result of a longstanding connection between Mizuno’s club engineers and the legendary Grain Flow Forging plant in Hiroshima, Japan. Every fraction of a millimeter and subtle curve has been meticulously considered, shaping the future of golf club technology. KEY FEATURES OF THE MIZUNO PRO 245 / TOUR SPEED AND LAUNCH: Grain Flow Forged HD in Hiroshima, Japan Hollow body GFF 4135 Chromoly face and neck (2-8 iron) Internal Tungsten Weighting (2-7) for improved launch More compact partial hollow scoring irons (9-GW) Soft Copper Underlay for exceptional feel Harmonic Impact Technology for a soft muscle-back feel Traditional blade appearance Increased bounce angle for optimal turf interaction Full Satin Brush finish Available 2-GW / RH and 4-GW LH

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THE BASICS: Much like the 241 and 243 models, the Mizuno Pro 245 has gone the opposite of many irons in its category of hollow players distance and focused on the “players” by slightly shrinking in size and address profile. Add that to the adjusted sole shape and you have a club intended for distance hidden in a much smaller player’s preferred package. The biggest focus for the Mizuno design team with the new 24X line was to dig into what each iron truly means to the golfers it’s intended for, and after taking positive and constructive criticism about each model, the engineers went to work with no stone left unturned to make sure each model was a better fit.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF MIZUNO’S PRO IRONS

PXG Gen7 0311 P

PXG 0311 P GEN7 Custom Irons

$239.99

PXG’s flagship 0311 GEN7 Irons, 10 years in the making, push the coefficient of restitution (C.O.R.) to the USGA limit to deliver the longest, most forgiving irons PXG has ever made. These irons feature the thinnest face in golf, combined with a new proprietary core material, lightweight titanium insert, and external and internal tungsten weighting. Together these elements push performance to the limit and deliver a previously unattainable combination of distance, workability, and forgiveness. PXG 0311 GEN7 P Irons provide an ideal balance of workability and forgiveness. These irons, designed for low to mid-handicap players, feature PXG’s patented face and core material, moderate offset, a mid-size head design, a clean aesthetic and a surprising amount of forgiveness.  BENEFITS Exceptional Distance Extremely Fast Ball Speeds Outstanding Workability Tight Dispersion Unbelievable Forgiveness Incredibly Soft Feel Remarkably Rewarding Sound

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THE BASICS: The newest 0311P and XP Gen7 players’ distance irons continue the distinctive looks and aggressive styling that have become synonymous with PXG’s irons, but as much as the style has been upgraded, even more advancements have taken place on the inside of these irons to push them right to the USGA limit. Inside the new 0311 Gen7 irons is PXG’s most innovative polymer system yet — QuantumCOR, which is the result of a continuous push by PXG engineers to find a material that delivers speed and rebound capabilities without ever sacrificing the soft signature PXG feel.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF PXG’S GEN7 IRONS

Srixon ZXi5

Srixon ZXi5 Custom Irons

$185.71

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THE BASICS: Srixon has a new process for forging its ZXi irons: i-FORGED, which is short for Impact Forged. The new process helps strengthen and enhance the steel used to build the clubs. In the ZXi5, the third generation of Srixon’s MainFrame variable face thickness technology is back again to increase MOI and ball speeds. MainFrame features a variable thickness network of grooves, channels and notches milled onto the backside of each face to maximize energy transfer at impact. The ZXi5 irons (available 3-AW) are the players’ distance irons in the new line.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF SRIXON’S ZXi IRONS

PLAYER TESTING TAKEAWAYS: “No notes! Nothing to improve on this club — it’s gorgeous with a topline that is just thick enough. The ball jumps off the face and goes far. The blade length helps on misses. I’ll be buying!” – Anthony Newville on the Srixon ZXi5 irons

“Good distance and look. It’s clean at address with a thick topline. Also pretty forgiving.” – Dave Carroll (7-handicap) on the Srixon ZXi5 irons

TaylorMade P770

TaylorMade P770 Irons

$200/club

Improved for a more solid feel like never before. The 2024 P770 has been strategically tuned using a player’s forged construction and modal analysis to create a notable improvement and the best feeling P770 to date.

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THE BASICS: TaylorMade’s P770 is the slimmed-down little brother to the popular P790 and has always been a popular choice for golfers — even if it never quite escaped P790’s shadow. However, things are changing in a big way with the third iteration of P770. To get P770 out of the P790 shadow, designers removed the high-polish finish and went with a consistent brushed finish throughout. The topline was thinned out to differentiate it even more from P790 — a request Bovee confirmed came straight from the retail marketplace.  

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF TAYLORMADE’S P7 IRONS

PLAYER TESTING TAKEAWAYS: “Like satin finish. Felt responsive without being harsh. Forgiving across the fae. Look and feel fits my game well.” – Jeff Smith (12-handicap) on the TaylorMade P770 irons

Titleist T150

Titleist T150 Custom Irons

$199.99

T150 is built on the same fully forged platform as T100 but engineered to be faster and longer. Now with a more confidence-inducing shape and improved forgiveness. Inspired by the player’s performance and feel of T100 but forged into a more confidence-inducing shape, T150 is a modern Tour iron with dialed-up speed for players seeking a little more distance. T150 is everything players love about T100, only more. The fully forged feel and precise flighting – in 2-degree stronger lofts – offer outstanding touch and control, while the refined Muscle Channel and updated shape enhance feel, forgiveness and player confidence. ENHANCED FEEL AND CONSISTENCY Engineered to provide added speed, the refined Muscle Channel in T150 sits close to the face to create a more solid feel. A new precision CNC face milling process eliminates imperfections in the surface for more precise contact and control, all driving towards more consistent play. SHAPED TO SUIT THE PLAYER Based on player feedback, T150 presents an optimized topline that inspires confidence over the ball. The slightly larger shape provides just the right amount of forgiveness, while still maintaining a compact, Tour-inspired look. Everything sets up for winning iron play. EFFORTLESS TURF INTERACTION Working with Tour Pros and the grind experts at Vokey Design, our engineers were able to further improve our Variable Bounce Sole by softening the trailing edge to allow the club to flow faster through the turf, even after contact. Developed for T100, it brings a Tour touch to T150. BETTER TUNGSTEN FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE By utilizing dense D18 tungsten and a 2000º aerospace brazing process, Titleist engineers can eliminate weld points and be more precise with CG placement. You get outstanding MOI and launch dynamics from a solid, fully forged design.

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THE BASICS: Titleist’s T150 is an addition to the T-series and fits between the T100 and T200 models for looks, forgiveness and overall performance. Although it shares the same loft specs as the previous T100s, the T150 offers a slightly larger footprint to increase forgiveness and provide a more confidence-inspiring look from address for those that find the T100 a little intimidating.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF TITLEIST’S T-SERIES IRONS

Titleist T200

Titleist T200 Custom Irons

$199.99

The Tour-proven player’s distance iron, with the ideal shape, performance, and dramatically enhanced feel. With the new T200, distance has never felt so good. Built with a forged face, hollow-body construction and shaped by Tour technologies, it delivers incredible launch and forgiveness in a pure player’s design. T200 represents a dramatic leap forward in feel. The entire internal construction of this forged-face iron has been reengineered – with a more stable chassis, refined Max Impact Technology and a new dual taper face – to deliver maximum speed with Tour-level feel. ENHANCED FEEL Every component of T200 contributes to its solid feel. The reengineered chassis creates a stiffer structure, while allowing the refined Max Impact Technology to fit tighter against the new dual taper forged face. This leads to better feel and performance across the entire surface. CLEAN AND CONFIDENT SHAPE For all that has changed, the Tour-inspired shape of T200 remains consistent. Players will still draw confidence from a distance iron that looks clean and has less offset, with an optimal blade length and topline thickness based on player feedback. EFFORTLESS TURF INTERACTION Working with Tour Pros as well as the grind experts at Vokey Design, our engineers were able to further improve our Variable Bounce Sole by softening the trail edge to allow the club to flow faster through the turf, even after contact. Developed for T100, it brings a Tour touch to T200. BETTER TUNGSTEN FOR BETTER SCORING By utilizing dense D18 tungsten and a 2000º aerospace brazing process, Titleist engineers can eliminate weld points and shift CG more precisely to optimize every club in the set – from fast, high launching long irons to accurate, forgiving short irons.

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THE BASICS: Titleist’s hollow body T200 utilizes a similar platform as the previous generation but with an improved focus on feel alongside offering the ultimate performance distance iron. A re-engineered body creates a stiffer structure and allows the refined max impact technology to fit tighter against the new forged face design.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF TITLEIST’S T-SERIES IRONS

Wilson Dynapower Forged

Wilson Dynapower Forged Custom Irons

$142.86

Wilson Dynapower Forged irons are ideal for accomplished players seeking improved accuracy, forged feel and maximum distance. Constructed from forged 8620 carbon steel, these players distance irons are AI-enhanced for better-player performance and a soft, responsive feel. Optimized Power Hole construction (4-7 irons only) plus a low Center of Gravity (CG) and high Moment of Inertia (MOI) results in faster, longer shots with higher launch angles, impressive stopping power and enhanced forgiveness. VARIABLE FACE THICKNESS Constructed and tested through our AI technology system, we optimized faster ball speeds across the face while making it one of the most forgiving players distance irons Wilson has ever engineered.

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THE BASICS: Wilson’s Dynapower Forged irons feature a variable face thickness that was designed with the help of AI to help produce faster ball speeds and offer extra forgiveness. Each iron in the set has an optimized face geometry to maximize its performance relative to loft and center of gravity. The forgiveness is extended to the sole of the longer irons with what Wilson calls Power Holes, which is a configuration of thin slots that flex on impact to help shots hit lower on the face retain more speed and help to increase launch and extra stopping power.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF WILSON’S DYNAPWR IRONS