Best Players Distance Irons 2023 – For Ultimate Distance And Feel 

The Players Distance iron is a somewhat new category as the technology advances and more performance is available from a players shaped iron.

The lines between Game Improvement and Players Irons have been well and truely blurred by todays list, which has a bit of something for everybody.

The Taylormade P790 is our top pick for today and it is the top selling Taylormade iron of all time, sparking a wave of similar hollow body players distance irons like the brand new and highly favoured Ping i525’s and the Cobra Forged Tec Irons which also feature on todays list.

We’ve got options on the players side and on the distance/forgiveness side so if you are a Mid Handicapper or a Low Handicapper looking to get the distance and the workability from your irons with a butter soft feeling, we’ve got an excellent line up of players distance irons for your perusal today.

AT A GLANCE

Taylormade P790 Irons – Best Overall Choice – Best Taylormade

Category – Players Distance Irons

The Forged, Hollow Body Players Distance irons that are the best ever sellers from Taylormade and for good reason.

The feel soft and sound amazing on impact, they are workable and give good control in the longer irons and give towering distance with stopping power on the greens alongside superior feel due to the speed foam inside.

Taylormade P790 – First Impressions

The first thing to notice about the P790 irons is the compact, forged heads that come in a shape and style that will suit the better players.

Despite the players feel of the irons, they also come packed with technology that will add distance and forgiveness like the Thru Slot speed pocket, speed foam and inverted cone technology which allows more flex on impact.

The forged irons are actually a hollow construction, filled with speed foam which allows much greater distances to be achieved than the original P790’s and the tungsten weighting keeps the CG low for an easy launch for an iron of this type.

The original P790 irons, released in 2017, were definitely for the players but with the remodelling in 2019, these can also be used for mid handicappers looking to test the waters of players irons.

All in all, definitely not for the high handicappers.

Distance: 92/100

Accuracy: 95/100

Forgiveness: 89/100

Feel And Control: 96/100

Overall Score: 94/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Shop_Now

Ping i525 Irons – Best Ping Option – Best Premium – New Release 2022

Category: Players Distance Irons

Fresh off the press for the 2022 season is the Ping i525 irons. They are a hollow bodied players distance iron, strategically injected inside the face with Polymer to give a butter soft feel.

Don’t be fooled by the pleasing look at address though, these irons play long and high with good stopping power and they offer incredible forgiveness for what you would expect from a regular players profile iron.

First Impressions & Overview

The first thing to notice about the Ping i525 is the sleek looking players shape at address while the soles are still thick enough to offer distance and a towering ball flight.

The hollow body ‘Ballistic face’ construction hasd Polymer injected strategically on the inner side of the 14-7 stainless steel face for an enhanced sound and feel.

Perimeter weighting in the toe, with a visible screw and the shaft strectch the sweet spot and the face in dynamically created to deliver excellent balls speeds.

These irons feel and sound amazing but you are not going to get the same levels of feel as you will with the players irons.

Due to the higher launch and 4 extra grooves being added to the club, there is more workabilty in the longer irons and control in the shorter irons.

The player profile looks really nice in the i525’s at address, very similar to a players iron but it delivers on ball speed with the dynamic, miraging steel construction.

The hydropearl 2.0 ensures these irons perform well in wet as well as dry conditions and the additional flex in the face completes an excellent new set of Hollow Body Players Distance Irons.

Ping i525 Irons Selling Points

  • 4 More Grooves For Control
  • Awesome Players Profile
  • Towering Distance
  • Superior Sounds And Feel
  • Long, Forgiving Players Distance Iron

Who are the Ping i525 Irons for?

The i525 irons are for mid to low handicappers who want a beautiful, compact players profile combines with extra distance and more forgiveness.

These hollow boyd irons live up to their reputation and a worth a look for any superior ball strikers looking for a blend of ditance, feel and forgiveness without giving the full soft feel of a real players iron like the i59.

The i525 Family of Irons

The i525 is set to be the only new iron release from Ping in 2022 but it does pack quite a punch and if you have been looking for more distance from a players or maybe want to tip your toes in the players iron market, this are a great choice.

The i59 irons which came out last year have a thinner profile again resulting in more workability, more feel and less distance.

You wont go too far wrong with the Ping i525 irons.

Distance: 94/100

Accuracy: 94/100

Forgiveness: 93/100

Feel & Control: 95/100

Overall Score: 95/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Shop_Now

Taylormade M2 – Best For High To Mid Handicappers – Best Budget

Category: Distance Irons

A Legacy iron from Taylormade and still going strong years later.

These irons provide all the distance you can need from a set of irons while also offering forgiveness and workability.

The M2 irons are also available a bit cheaper now as they have been around for quite a while.

First Impressions & Overview

The M2 have been extremely popular since their release in 2017 and set the blueprint for the modern Sim 2 Irons that we see on the market today.

The heads on the M2 clubs are smaller and more compact than traditional Game Improvement Irons and they are built for distance more than forgiveness.

The incorporate technology like a face slot for forgiveness on off center hits and a speed pocket to maximize ball speed.

Tungsten weighting lowers the COG of the irons making it easy to get an effective launch angle.

These Irons are perfect for improving players to get maximum distance while also having tremendous feel for high to mid handicappers.

M2 Irons – Selling Points

  • Compact Heads
  • Tungsten Weighting
  • Defined Leading Edge For Workability
  • Face Slots For Forgiveness
  • Speed Pocket For Ball Speed
  • Competitive Price ($500 For The Set)

Who Are The M2 Irons For?

The M2 are going to be perfect for Mid Handicappers that are looking to pick up a bargain.

The irons are primarily built for distance but they also have forgiveness and easy launching built in.

The well defined leading edge, ensures quality turf interaction given these irons the feel need for better players.

Overall, if you’re looking to improve your game and get straight distance, the M2’s are going to be a great option

The Family Of Irons

The M2 started the M series which is the backbone for the irons we see today. The M4 and M6 offered significant new features like the speed bridge and added more forgiveness but the M2’s still easily hold their own.

Distance: 95/100

Accuracy: 93/100

Forgiveness: 92/100

Feel And Control: 92/100

Overall Score: 93/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Shop_Now

Callaway Apex 21 Pro Irons

Category: Forged Players Distance Irons

Coming in 3 varieties, the Apex 21 series from Callaway has plenty to offer for Mid to Low Handicappers and even High Handicappers with the DCB version.

The Apex Pro irons offer a ton of workability and ball control without sacrificing too much in terms of distance.

The Standard Apex will also be workable and a bit longer than the pro with more forgiveness for players who need a bit more help.

Apex 21 Pro Overview And First Impressions

We were really impressed with the sleek “notched” muscle back design of these irons.

This gives them a unique look among muscle back irons and may even make the transition from cavity back to muscle back irons less jarring for some players. What struck us even more is what we saw at the point of address.

The Callaway Apex 21 Pro irons have the lease offset and narrowest sole of any entry into the Apex family. For the better testers in our party this was no problem but for the rest of us, it took some getting used to – and some of us never did.

Still, the feel could not be ignored. On full swings, the The Callaway Apex 21 Pro’s felt soft and buttery. On pitches and short approaches, you get all the detailed feedback you need to inform your shots.

The Callaway Apex 21 Pro irons won’t play as long as standard distance irons if you are a high handicapper but distance should be no problem with these irons if you are a more advanced player.

Callaway Apex 21 Pro Selling Points

  • Hollow body design
  • Urethane microspheres
  • Fully forged
  • Soft 1025 steel
  • Excellent short game control
  • Excellent workability

Who are the Callaway Apex 21 Pro’s for?

The Callaway Apex 21 Pro irons would be a good choice for single-digit handicap players or mid handicap players looking to break into single-digit territory.

Perhaps the best thing about these irons is the spin control you get on mid to short approaches. From about 150 yards out, you get effortless distance with a surprising amount of shot shaping ability and roll control.

On approaches from about 90 yards out, you get the pop and stop that you need to stick to faster greens. One of the things we liked the most is the relatively easy distance control you get which comes mainly from the 100% forged construction.

For any player looking to get a good combination of launch, distance, feel and short game control, the Callaway Apex 21 Pro would be a very good fit.

The Apex Series from Callaway

The Apex family of irons also includes the standard Apex and the Apex DCB’s. With a moderate sole width and head size, the standard Apex irons are set up more as distance irons. They are not as forgiving as the Apex DCB’s even though they share all the same features.

The Callaway Apex 21 Pro is the only model in the Apex line to feature the “notched” muscle back design. The other two entries look more like cavity back irons which adds to the forgiveness factor.

Distance: 93/100

Forgiveness: 92/100

Feel and Control: 95/100

Value: 92/100

Overall Rating: 96/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Shop_Now

Cobra Forged Tec Irons – Best Cobra Option

Category: Players Distance Irons

A real hit from Cobra and their addition to the hollow body players distance iron market.

These irons feel soft, feel great and they are very long. If you are a mid to low handicapper looking for distance and control, the Forged Tec is surely worth a look and they are quite forgiving for an iron of this profile too.

First Impressions & Overview

The irons look amazing in the bag and at the point of address with the thin top line and minimal offset of the muscle bag irons.

The club face is compact at address but the sole are is quite thick which is one of the reasons for the extra distance, we found ourselves shooting an iron less on several occasionals once we got the hang of the irons.

The irons have a nice soft feeling, thanks in part to the foam microspheres inside the hollow body irons.

The irons are also higher launching due to the PWR-Shell wrapping low on the face.

The tungsten weight screw is easily noticeable and a smaller weight towards the heel keep the CG low and towards the toe of the club.

This stretches the sweet spot along the face of the club and while it is compact, a consistent striker will get good use from it.

The clubs are quite workable if you want to play a draw or a fade and you get excellent control around the greens.

Cobra King Forged Tec Irons Selling Points

  • Hollow Body Muscle Back Design
  • Foam Microspheres Allow Distance And Flexibility
  • Nice Sound And Feel
  • High Launching Clubs
  • Excellent Stopping Power In The Greens
  • Quite Forgiving
  • Tons Of Distance
  • Cheaper Than Competitor Irons

Who are the Cobra Forged Tec Irons for?

These irons are aimed at high to mid handicappers and they are direct competition for the likes of the Taylormade P790 irons which cost quite a bit more.

If you want the workability of a players iron with plenty of distance and forgiveness, the Cobra Forged Tec is going to tick the right boxes for you.

They are soft irons to hit, offer a typically high but sensible launch and they are long

The Cobra Family of Irons

The Cobra Forged Tec is one of the mor eplayer friendly clubs aimed at the low handicap range but there are som other options from Cobra for high to mid handicap golfers especially.

The Cobra Radspeed are distance irons with larger heads than the Cobra Forged Tec And Offer More forgiviness alongside more distance.

The Cobra LTDx irons are more forgiving and longer again as a new release in 2022. This are going to be great for high to mid handicappers looking for a game improvement/players distance iron.

Distance: 95/100

Accuracy: 95/100

Forgiveness: 93/100

Feel & Control: 95/100

Overall Score: 94/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Shop_Now

Callaway Rogue ST Pro Irons

Category: Players Distance

The Rogue St Max comes in 4 Versions, the Max variants are game improvement and the pro version is built for the players with an inviting top line and a compact players shape.

Expect plenty of distance and workability from The Rogue ST Pro. They are similar to the Apex Pro except they have a cast body instead of begin forged and as such can be picked up a bit cheaper but may not feel quite as soft on impact.

First Impressions & Overview

The first thing we noticed about the Callaway Rogue ST irons is that they felt incredibly stable on full swings.

While high handicappers may not fully appreciate that benefit at first, it will certainly spoil them as they get better. The large head sizes of the Max models will be a bit off-putting for lower handicappers; but that is what the Pro line is for.

All of the Max models have a wide sole that you can see from point of address. Again this will look more comforting in the eyes of a beginner or high handicapper. Our testers also noted the near-effortless launch of almost all the irons in the set.

Callaway Rogue ST Selling Points

  • Up to 62 grams of tungsten weighting
  • 450 grade steel faces
  • Pronounced soles
  • A.I. designed Flash Face Cup design
  • Layers of urethane
  • Strong lofts

Who are the Callaway Rogue ST Irons for?

The Callaway Rogue ST irons are mostly for high handicappers. The three different Max models are certainly for beginner to intermediate players while the Pro model would be better for single-digit handicappers.

But don’t get the wrong idea. The three Callaway Rogue ST Max irons aren’t as beginner-friendly when compared to some other irons. Just like we explained when we compared them to the Big Bertha’s, the Callaway Rogue ST irons are just a bit more refined than your average distance/game-improvement irons.

While most of the Callaway Rogue ST iron family is focused on upping the ball speed of high handicap players, the Pro model has a lot to offer more skilled players. Speaking of the different Callaway Rogue ST models…

The Callaway Rogue ST Iron Family

Callaway Rogue ST Max

The Rogue ST Max irons have the heaviest tungsten weight (62 grams) of any other Rogue ST iron. The head is not quite as big as the other Max models so it sits somewhere between the Rogue ST Pro and the other two Rogue ST Max models.

Callaway Rogue ST Max OS

If you need a little bit of draw bias in your irons, the pronounced offset of the Max OS irons will be helpful for you. Compared to the Callaway Rogue ST Max irons, the Max OS’s also have slightly stronger lofts. As a result the Max OS irons are more forgiving out near the toe.

Callaway Rogue ST Max OS Lite

As you can imagine, the Callaway Rogue ST Max OS Lite model is almost identical to the Callaway Rogue ST Max OS model. The key differences are lighter shafts and lighter swing weights.

The Callaway Rogue ST Max OS Lite irons also have the lightest tungsten weights (46 grams in the longest iron) and produce the highest launch angles thanks to an incredibly wide sole.

Launch is also helped with stronger lofts compared to the Callaway Rogue ST Max OS irons and the fact that these irons come standard in only graphite shafts should reiterate the emphasis on light weight and easier swinging.

Callaway Rogue ST Pro

The Callaway Rogue ST Pro irons are the most unique of the bunch. They feature the smallest head sizes and muscle backs. They also have a hollow body design. The spirit of the Rogue irons is still alive even in the Pro models though.

For instance, the Callaway Rogue ST Pro irons feature split weighting in the toe and heel to increase MOI and improve ball speeds on shots away from the sweet spot. So while they offer better spin dynamics, they are still pretty forgiving.

Ball speed is still there in the long irons as well – you’ll just have to be a lot more accurate.

Distance: 95/100

Accuracy: 92/100

Forgiveness: 94/100

Feel & Control: 92/100

Overall Score: 96/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Shop_Now

Titleist T200 – Best Titleist Players Distance

Category: Players Distance

Excellent players shaped irons from Titleist with thicker soles that offer more distance from a compact players head suitable for Mid to Low handicappers who strike the ball consistently.
Expect plenty of workability from these irons and stopping power around the greens from irons that have plenty of shelf appeal for low handicappers.

First Impressions & Overview

You can tell just by looking at them that the Titleist T200 irons are player’s irons

The first thing you will notice about these irons is the size of the head. The Titleist T200 feature a player’s profile shape and a very thin topline. However, the Titleist T200’s also have strong lofts which becomes apparent pretty quickly.

You wouldn’t expect the high level of feel that you get from these irons just by looking at them though. The engineered muscle back plates are tuned to enhance feedback and feel while at the same time dampening unwanted vibrations.

The Titleist T200 can surprise in terms of forgiveness and distance too. While certainly not the longest or most forgiving irons in the T series, the L-shaped face insert helps expand the sweet spot out towards the toe.

What advanced players will be able to enjoy almost immediately is the feel from the forged face insert. These irons give an unmistakable forged feel that low handicappers will go crazy for.

The “Max Impact” polymer insert also helps out with ball speed. It acts as a springboard behind the face to push the ball further and faster. The only catch is that you pretty much have to hit the ball dead-center to benefit from the Max Impact insert.

The Titleist T200 feature a unique combination of features that mostly improve feel and accuracy.

Titleist T200 Irons Selling Points

  • Tight shot dispersion
  • Amazing feel from the forged face insert
  • Great for low handicappers
  • Tour-grade irons
  • Plenty of premium shafts to choose from
  • They produce high-arcing shots

Who Are The Titleist T200 Irons For?

It’s apparent that the Titleist T200 irons were designed for advanced, low handicap players.

The Titleist T200 irons are definitely for low handicap player who are seeking irons that feel really nice. They would also be a good fit for you if you like to shape your shots and need higher spin rates and more accuracy.

The T Series

The T series of irons from Titleist run the gamut from beginner-friendly sets to ones reserved for tour-level players.

The great thing about the T series is that every kind of player can benefit from them. They all have technologically advanced features but each one was designed for a specific skill level.

Distance: 92/100

Accuracy: 96/100

Forgiveness: 88/100

Feel and Control: 96/100

Value: 92/100

Overall Rating: 94/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Mizuno JPX921 Hot Metal – (Best Mizuno Options)

Category: Players Distance Irons

The Hot Metal irons from Mizuno are the most forgiving in the series but still boast impressive feel, control and workability.

Add a ton of distance and you’ve got an excellent, forged, players distance iron to hit the course for Mid to Low Handicappers.

Overview And First Impressions

The JPX921 irons couple incredibly sleek looks at address and with an amazing forged feel.

The Mizuno JPX921 Forged irons have a beveled trailing edge on the sole which smooths out turf interaction. This coupled with the obvious amazing feel from the grain flow forging process makes these irons so pleasing to swing.

The blades of these muscle back irons are pretty compact and there is a part of the back area that has been milled to increase stability and thin out the back wall a bit.

These irons also feature the notorious  chromoly construction which contributes to the soft feel.

Mizuno JPX921 Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Good accuracy
  • Forgiving
  • Played longer
  • Great feedback
  • Toe bias
  • Milled back

Cons:

  • Pricey
  • Heavy
  • Fewer long iron options
  • Not for beginners

Who Are The JPX 921 Forged Irons For

For starters,  these irons would work great for any player who wants to emphasize precise feedback and feel as a low handicapper and beyond.

We can’t emphasize enough that you’re not going to want to invest in these irons if you’re just starting out with golf. These are performance irons through and through for the better players.

While the JPX921 Forged irons do give impressive distance the compact heads and points of design emphasis will be lost on beginners who will struggle to find the sweet spot consistently, if they don’t find the higher price point off putting enough already.

The JPX921 irons did play more accurate around the pin and were more forgiving than many forged Irons with their toe bias weighting.

Perfect for single digit handicap pin hunters around the world.

The JPX921 Family

The JPX921 Forged irons are joined by the JPX921 Tour and JPX921 Hot Metal irons.

The JPX921 Tour irons produce surprisingly straight shots for tour-grade clubs. They have sleek, compact heads and feature the same grain flow forging construction.

The JPX921 Hot Metal irons are the most forgiving in the family with a Cup Face design that preserves ball speed around the perimeter.

Distance: 93/100

Accuracy: 95/100

Forgiveness: 89/100

Feel And Control: 96/100

Overall Score: 94/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Shop_Now

Callaway Mavrik Pro Irons – Best Value Option

Category – Players Distance Irons

The Callaway Mavriks are leaders in the market when it comes to game improvement, especially the Mavrik Max Variant.

The clubs have massive sweet spots, deep undercuts and thick soles for forgiveness, distance and consistency from the irons, while they are also smooth to hit with the Urethane Micrspheres.

Callaway Mavrik – First Impressions

The Callaway Mavrik Irons look amazing and deliver a ton of distance and accuracy with low dispersion between strikes.

Each Iron is crafted using Artificial Intelligence that ensures the weighting is in the optimal position and that these Irons maximize their potential.

They have 360 Face Cup technology which allows for some flex in the iron face on impact resulting in maximum ball speed and distance.

The clubs have a lot of loft, allowing you to get the ball in the air while Tungsten Weighting, keeps the center of gravity low in these irons and the Urethane Microspheres reduce vibrations on off center hits.

These are excellent Game Improvement irons from 2020 that come at an affordable price.

Distance: 95/100

Accuracy: 94/100

Forgiveness: 94/100

Feel And Control: 92/100

Overall Score: 95/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Shop_Now

Taylormade P770 – For Low Handicappers

Category: Players Distance

A real players look on these forged muscle back irons which have a smaller and more compact profile than the P770 irons.

These irons are soft feeling, workable and sound great while still offering impressive distances for a players iron.

First Impressions And Overview

The first thing you will notice is the clear line of site you have to the ball thanks to the limited offset of these irons.

When you first take a look at the Taylormade P770 irons, you don’t automatically think distance.

That’s because they lack most of the visual features of your typical distance irons.

You will probably think that they are great for accurate approaches, shaping shots and higher spin rates; but not so much for distance.

After you take your first swing with 7 iron though (featuring 33 degrees of loft) you will be able to feel the speedy engine behind these irons which have a softer feel.

The Taylormade P770 irons feature a forged hollow body design that allow for maximum face flex.

The face is forged from 4140 carbon steel and is wrapped seamless style around the body which is also made from carbon steel.

You also get a whopping 46 grams of tungsten to fortify the sweet spot and launch the ball high and with workability.

Just because these are mid to low handicap player irons doesn’t mean that Taylormade has left out additional forgiveness features.

For instance, the ICT technology is progressive throughout the set which means that you get an optimized sweet spot location as you work down the set.

The Taylormade P770 have to be swung to believe. They look like players irons but they also have a lot of forgiveness features.

Not quite as long as some other irons but plenty else on offer with the P770’s.

Taylormade P770 Irons Selling Points

  • Wrap-around face makes for an expansive sweet spot
  • Hollow body design
  • Clean muscle-back design
  • Great feel from the forged construction and speedfoam
  • Good launch angles
  • Soft, clean feel and excellent workability

Who Are The Taylormade P770 Irons For?

The Taylormade P770 are for mid to low handicappers who are looking for a good combination of feel, distance and workability.

If you want to take a step up in terms of performance from your Big Bertha’s, P790ti’s and other distance irons, the Taylormade P770 irons would be a good next logical step.

They are a great combination of workability and shaping shots without compromising much in either department.

They produce mid-level range spin which can be a problem in the long irons but is a benefit in the shorter ones.

So they’re certainly not perfect but they strike a good balance between distance and accuracy.

If that sounds like the kind of iron set you need then you should definitely check out the Taylormade P770’s.

The P Series From Taylormade

The P series of Taylormade irons run the gamut from pure distance to pure feel to pure accuracy and everything in between.

While only the P790 irons can be considered more distance irons, the P series is mostly focused on the performance that mid to low handicappers need on the course.

In fact, every other line of irons in this series rocks a mid-level range spin so you can control roll around the green and on approaches.

The P7MB and P7MC iron sets offer the highest degree of accuracy and workability if that it your aim.

Distance: 90/100

Accuracy: 95/100

Forgiveness: 91/100

Feel and Control: 96/100

Value: 90/100

Overall Rating: 94/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Shop_Now