In 2024, we analyzed more than 60 sets of irons, rating them for distance, accuracy and forgiveness. We maintain that accuracy is the most important factor when it comes to choosing the right golf iron. However, many golfers believe that improving their iron game depends on maximizing distance. With that in mind, here’s a comparison of the longest and shortest irons of 2024. Does this change your perspective on how much distance really matters?
Super handcuffs for game improvement
Let’s start with the super game improvement irons. in tested 10 ironsAND PING G730 was the best by distance. Their 7-iron carry distance was about eight feet longer than that Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal HL.
The PING G730 was ranked seventh overall because their accuracy and forgiveness were near the bottom of the list. The Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal HL, the shortest iron in the test, was the most accurate and second in forgiveness.
If you’re looking for a mix of distance performance and accuracy/forgiveness, check it out Cleveland Halo XL Full Face. It is third best for distance, but ranks third overall in the test. If accuracy is your thing, then the three shortest irons in the test will give you plenty to choose from.
| Category | The Iron Model | Distance Sorting | Accuracy ranking | Degree of forgiveness | General ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The longest irons | PING G730 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 7 |
| Callaway Big Bertha | 2 | 9 | 10 | 9 | |
| Cleveland Halo XL Full Face | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 | |
| Shorter irons | Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal HL | 10 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Tommy Armor 845+ | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Tour Edge Hot Launch E524 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
Handcuffs for game improvement
ABOUT handcuffs for game improvementwe see MacGregor MACSPD it is the shortest but most accurate iron in the test. She was placed fifth overall due to her lack of distance ability. of Wilson Dynapower it is the longest iron in the test, but ranked last due to poor accuracy and forgiveness.
of TaylorMade Qi10 it’s a good middle ground. It ranks third for distance and fifth for accuracy. It’s just not the most consistent of the irons we tested.
The best iron of the 2024 Game-Upgrade is it Tour Edge Exotics E723which is fourth for accuracy, fifth for distance and best for forgiveness.
| Category | The Iron Model | Distance Sorting | Accuracy ranking | Degree of forgiveness | General ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The longest irons | Wilson Dynapower | 1 | 15 | 17 | 17 |
| PXG 0311 XP GEN6 | 2 | 16 | 16 | 16 | |
| TaylorMade Qi10 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 7 | |
| Shorter irons | MacGregor MACSPD | 17 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| PING G430 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 8 | |
| Cleveland Zipcore XL | 15 | 12 | 7 | 15 |
Player distance irons
There are two distinct irons in the golfer’s distance iron test that work well for a golfer who is stuck between choosing distance or accuracy. of COBRA KING Forged Tec X is the runner-up for distance of the best iron player of 2024. It is also the longest and second most accurate.
of PING i530 it had similar test results with a second-place performance for distance and a sixth for accuracy. You’ll notice that both of these irons struggled with forgiveness (as measured by consistency in impact scores).
of TaylorMade P770 23′ is one of the best options for shorter stroke irons. He ranks second to last in distance, but ninth in accuracy and first in forgiveness. For power players who aren’t concerned about distance, but are more concerned about hitting repeatability, the P770 23′ might be a good choice.
| Category | The Iron Model | Distance Sorting | Accuracy ranking | Degree of forgiveness | General ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The longest irons | COBRA KING Forged Tec X | 1 | 2 | 15 | 2 |
| PING i530 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 3 | |
| Callaway Paradym | 3 | 15 | 18 | 13 | |
| Shorter irons | MacGregor MT-Milled | 18 | 5 | 5 | 11 |
| TaylorMade P-770 23′ | 17 | 9 | 1 | 10 | |
| Kirkland’s signature | 16 | 13 | 6 | 14 |
Player irons
With player irons, you’ll see a pretty clear case that you have to choose between distance and forgiveness. The shortest iron in the test, T-100is fifth overall and the most forgiving player’s iron of 2024. The second-to-last iron for distance performance is TaylorMade P-7MCwhich was so strong in accuracy and forgiveness that it won first place overall, even after lacking distance.
Let’s face it, if you’re using a golfer’s iron, distance probably isn’t your primary concern. The bottom of this chart would be where you want to focus your attention when choosing your next player’s iron.
| Category | The Iron Model | Distance Sorting | Accuracy ranking | Degree of forgiveness | General ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The longest irons | Callaway Apex Pro | 1 | 16 | 12 | 14 |
| Forged axial ram | 2 | 10 | 18 | 3 | |
| Mizuno Pro 243 | 3 | 13 | 17 | 7 | |
| Shorter irons | Title T-100 | 19 | 6 | 1 | 5 |
| TaylorMade P-7MC | 18 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| Callaway Apex CB | 17 | 3 | 6 | 11 |
Conclusion: Does it make sense to go the distance?
Hitting the golf ball undeniably makes golf easier. However, buying irons specifically for distance can be a mistake.
Our 2024 iron tests reveal this accuracy and forgiveness consistently outweigh the pure gains in overall performance. While longer irons in any category can add stride to your game, they often lack accuracy and consistency. On the other hand, shorter irons tend to excel in accuracy and forgiveness.
Ultimately, the best iron for you will depend on your specific needs and priorities. Chasing distance is tempting, but it’s not always the key to improving your game. Go shopping for golf equipment to see what’s best for you.
Post Longest vs Shortest Irons of 2024 (Is Distance What Your Game Really Needs?) appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
