This is our review of the best cavity back irons on the market in 2024.
I’m an avid golfer, an 8ish handicap on my way to a 2 (been a 5.6) and frequent tester of golf clubs and equipment since 2015.
Our Recommendations Are Based On Our Experience.
We tested every club on this page on the range and on the course.
In this best cavity back irons review, we discuss, the benefits and features of each and our recommendations.
Our Top 3 Recommendations for 2024
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Pure Player
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Player's Distance
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Game Improvement
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Primary Rating:
5.0
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Primary Rating:
4.8
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Primary Rating:
4.8
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~$175/club new
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~$200/club
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~$200/club
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Pros:
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Pros:
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Pros:
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Cons:
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Cons:
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Cons:
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- Exceptional Feel & Performance
- Classic Elegant Titleist Design
- Surprisingly long
- Scoring MO-chines
- Nada
- Superb Sound & Feel
- Easy Distance & Plenty Forgiving
- Long irons a breeze to hit
- Launch Easily with High Trajectory
- A little pricey
- Superb Sound & Feel
- Plenty Distance & Forgiveness
- Easy Launch & High Trajectory
- A little pricey
Our Most Recommended Cavity Back Irons (Updated for 2024)
- Titleist 620 CB (Remains Our #1 Pure Player Recommendation)
- Callaway Ai200 Irons (Player’s Distance)
- Callaway Ai300 Irons (Game Improvement)
- Mizuno Pro 243 Irons (Player’s Distance for Better Players)
- Mizuno JPX 925 Hot Metal Pro Irons (Player’s Distance)
- Mizuno JPX 925 Hot Metal Irons (Game Improvement Irons)
- Mizuno JPX 923 Forged Irons (Player’s Distance)
- Mizuno JPX 923 Tour Irons (Pure Player)
- Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Pro Irons (Player Distance)
- Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Irons (Game Improvement)
- PING G430 Irons (Super Game Improvement Pick)
Club Reviews
Titleist 620 CB Irons
- Exceptional Feel & Performance
- Classic Elegant Titleist Design
- Surprisingly long
- Scoring MO-chines
- Nada
Titleist 620 CB irons are our favorite pure player cavity back irons for a few years, now.
What we like:
- They perform precisely how you would expect premium low-handicap irons to perform.
- They feel and play as good as they look…and they look GOOD.
- Surprisingly long.
- Just a splash of forgiveness with Zero harshness on mishits.
What we don’t like:
- Not a thing.
This is the second set of Titleist irons I’ve ever tested. The first was the T200s from a couple of years ago, which I loved. So, I had high expectations for the 620 CBs. They were exceeded.
Online images don’t do justice to how beautiful these irons are. From their minimal, elegant design to their perfectly sized compact head. Titleist knows how to do player irons.
I loved them on the range and I loved them on the course. The long irons are a bit much for me, but you can order any iron combo you want. So, no worries. I play hybrids starting with 4-hybrid anyway.
Customer Reviews: There’s not a whole lot out there on the interwebs, but the few I found had nothing but good to say about them.
Recommendation: Try them. I bet you’ll want to keep them. I did.
Callaway Apex Ai200 Irons
- Superb Sound & Feel
- Easy Distance & Plenty Forgiving
- Long irons a breeze to hit
- Launch Easily with High Trajectory
- A little pricey
Callaway Apex Ai200 irons are our new #1 player’s distance cavity back iron recommendation.
What we like:
- Stellar sound and feel.
- Loads of distance and forgiveness.
- Excellent out of the rough.
- Hittable long irons.
- Launch the ball quickly and fly high and straight.
What we don’t like:
- I prefer smaller, sleeker clubheads, but I’m nitpicking.
I figured the Apex i200s would be good irons with the same “clicky” sound and feel from all of last year’s Apex lineup.
Wrong.
The i200s perform exceptionally well and Callaway massively improved sound and feel. It’s now soft, solid, and refined. Among the best in the game at this point.
Customer Reviews:
- 4 reviews as I write this. All 5-star and all say they would recommend the i200s to a friend.
Bottom line: Callaway nailed it.
Recommendation: Put the i200s on your list to try if you’re in the market for a great player distance iron set.
Callaway Apex Ai300 Irons
- Superb Sound & Feel
- Plenty Distance & Forgiveness
- Easy Launch & High Trajectory
- A little pricey
Another new addition to our list and our new #1 Recommendation for Callaway game improvement irons.
What we like:
- Stellar sound and feel.
- Loads of distance and forgiveness.
- Excellent out of the rough.
- Hittable long irons.
- Launch the ball quickly and fly high and straight.
What we don’t like:
- Nada – they hit the mark for their target audience.
Like the i200s, I figured the i300s would be good irons and have the same “clicky” sound and feel from all of last year’s Apex lineup.
Again, wrong.
The i300s performed exceptionally well for me. I especially appreciated them out of the rough. They launched the ball on nearly the same high trajectory as from the fairway and they held the greens beautifully.
This was an unexpected bonus and will be much appreciated by their target audience – mid and high handicappers.
Customer Reviews:
- None yet.
Bottom line: Callaway nailed it.
Recommendation: Put them on your list to test if you’re in the market. You won’t regret it.
Mizuno Pro 243 Irons
- Superb Feel & Sound
- Long with solid contact
- Beautiful ball flight
- Accurate & Consistent
- Good looks...not the best
The Pro 243s are player’s distance irons for better players.
What we like:
- Exceptional sound & feel.
- Great distance on center contact.
- Some forgiveness on minor mishits.
- Launch the ball easily.
- Accurate & consistent.
What we don’t like:
- Not the best cosmetics…but not bad.
Set Tested
- Model: Pro 243
- Set: 4 iron – gap wedge
- Shaft: Nippon N.S. PRO Modus3 Tour 120g
- Shaft flex: Stiff flex
Club | Loft | Lie Angle | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
4 | 22* | 60* | 38.75″ |
5 | 25* | 60.5* | 38.25″ |
6 | 28* | 61* | 37.75″ |
7 | 32* | 61.5* | 37.25″ |
8 | 36* | 62* | 36.75″ |
9 | 40* | 62.5* | 36.25″ |
PW | 44* | 63* | 35.75″ |
GW | 48* | 63* | 35.5″ |
7-iron Launch Monitor Data
Club Speed | Ball Speed | Carry Distance | Vertical Launch | Peak Height | Descent Angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
79.6 | 109.7 | 167.46 | 15.97 * | 68.6 ft | 36.7* |
My swing is uber-rusty, but I’m working on getting it in shape. And, I’m using the Pro 243s to do it.
So, I’m mostly mishitting them…for now. They are not meant for this. These are precision instruments.
They absolutely sing when I make center contact. Quick launch, high trajectory, and long.
They only cover for the most minor mishits. My standard mishit – thin and toward the toe left me a club short consistently.
Bottom line: Stellar performance and exceptional feel. You need center contact to appreciate their distance. Minor mishits lose significant yardage.
Recommendation: I love the Pro 243s for low handicaps with strong ball striking.
Mizuno JPX 925 Hot Metal Pro Irons
- Best Feel In Golf
- Easy to hit - Easy to launch
- Ample Forgiveness
- Long & Accurate
- Bargain Price
- Good, not Great cosmetics
Our new favorite player’s distance iron from Mizuno.
What we like:
- Exceptional feel – Best in golf.
- Compact head.
- Easy to hit and launch.
- Accurate and consistent.
- Good distance and can add or subtract yardage as needed.
- Best price in premium player distance iron category.
What we don’t like:
- Good, not great, cosmetics.
JPX 925 Hot Metal Pro Iron Specs
- Set: 4 iron – PW
- Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold S300 Mid 115g
- Shaft flex: Stiff
7-iron Launch Monitor Data
Club Speed | Ball Speed | Carry Distance | Peak Height | Spin Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
85 | 119 | 178 | 76 ft | 4505 |
Club | Loft | Lie Angle | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
4 | 19* | 60.5* | 38.75″ |
5 | 22* | 61* | 38.25″ |
6 | 25* | 61.5* | 37.75″ |
7 | 28* | 62* | 37.25″ |
8 | 32.5* | 62.5* | 36.75″ |
9 | 37* | 63* | 36.25″ |
PW | 42* | 63.5* | 35.75″ |
JPX 925 Hot Metal Pros do everything well, but in a more compact clubhead. I think these may take the place of the “Forged” irons from years past.
They are a touch more demanding than the Hot Metal Pros I’ve tested in the past, but they allow for minor mishits. Just not to the degree I was used to.
The heads, though more compact, frame the ball beautifully at address and offer zero intimidation.
You can read more about my experience with the 925s here.
Recommendation: 10ish handicaps and lower should give these a try if you’re in the market for premium players distance irons and you don’t mind saving money.
Mizuno JPX 925 Hot Metal Irons
- Superb forgiveness & distance
- Best sound & feel in golf
- High launch
- Best clubs for the price
- Nada
The new JPX 925 Hot Metals are our #1 recommendation for Mizuno game improvement irons.
What we like:
- Still the best sound and feel in golf.
- Loads of forgiveness and help with distance.
- Helps you get the ball up quickly, even with marginal contact.
- Really hittable long irons.
What we don’t like:
- Nada.
JPX 925 Hot Metal Iron Specs
- Set: 4 iron – GW
- Shaft: Nippon NS Pro 950 NEO
- Shaft flex: Stiff
Club | Loft | Lie Angle | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
4 | 19* | 60.5* | 38.75″ |
5 | 22* | 61* | 38.25″ |
6 | 25* | 61.5* | 37.75″ |
7 | 28* | 62* | 37.25″ |
8 | 32.5* | 62.5* | 36.75″ |
9 | 37* | 63* | 36.25″ |
PW | 42* | 63.5* | 35.75″ |
GW | 48* | 64* | 35.25 |
Launch Monitor Data (Average #s)
Notes about the data:
Yardage gaps between long irons are likely off due to inconsistent ball striking. But, those are the averages I got.
Club | Club Speed | Ball Speed | Carry Distance (yds) | Peak Height (ft) | Spin Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GW | 77 | 93 | 119 | 83 | 8355 |
PW | 78 | 102 | 138 | 93 | 6586 |
9 | 80 | 109 | 154 | 87 | 5755 |
8 | 83 | 113 | 173 | 94 | 4278 |
7 | 83 | 120 | 188 | 71 | 3458 |
6 | 84 | 123 | 194 | 75 | 3729 |
5 | 85 | 127 | 198 | 60 | 2905 |
4 | 89 | 131 | 204 | 64 | 3057 |
I started testing Mizunos with the 921s and they’ve been at the top of all my lists since then.
Dollar for dollar you can’t beat their performance, and no other manufacturer matches their sound and feel.
They tick every game improvement box and do it at a reasonable price.
You can read the full review here.
Conclusion: Another winner from Mizuno for the mid and high handicapper.
Recommendation – Performs with the best of them and at a better price.
Mizuno JPX 923 Tour Irons
- Exceptional Feel
- Accurate & Consistent
- Great Launch & Trajectory
- Player Looks & Profile
- Bring your distance
The JPX 923 Tour irons are our former favorite pure “player” cavity back iron from Mizuno and a solid step up from the JPX 921 Tour irons for me.
What we like:
- Nice feel – improved over the JPX 921s.
- I found the long irons easier to hit – and hit well.
- Improved looks and profile.
- Just forgiving enough on slight mishits.
What we don’t like:
- Good, not exceptional feel like the JPX hot metals and JPX forged irons.
- Not short, but you have to bring your distance.
My strength is iron play, but not long iron play. I was able to hit solid long irons with good trajectory at my target time and again during my round with the 923 Tours.
I’ve improved my ball striking since testing the 921 Tours, but Mizuno has incorporated more performance in the 923s.
Customer Reviews: Early days.
Verdict: I think you should consider upgrading or at least testing the JPX 923 Tour irons if you own the 921 Tours. You may find the difference in performance worth the switch.
Mizuno JPX 923 Forged Irons
- Best Feel in Golf
- Superb Distance & Forgiveness
- Play all the shots
- Gorgeous
- Reasonable Price
- Still looking
Mizuno JPX 923 Forged irons are our top pic for best cavity back irons for 0 – 10 handicaps.
What we like:
- You get every bit of the playability you expect from low-handicap irons.
- Best feel of any iron I’ve ever put my hands on.
- Loads of forgiveness & distance.
- Compact clubhead & clean lines.
- Best price for new premium irons.
What we don’t like:
- Nada
Mizuno took everything that was great about the JPX 921 Forged irons and shoved it into a more compact and better-looking clubhead.
We had 20+ mph winds for one of the rounds I played with them. I was able to flight them down into the wind and elevate them with the wind with relative ease. They perform exceptionally well in all conditions.
Customer Reviews: Mizuno doesn’t collect reviews, but everything I’ve read on the clubs themselves is 100% positive.
Recommendation: Go to your local golf store and get your hands on them or demo a set from Global Golf. You’ll know
Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Pro Irons
- Unbelievably Soft & Solid Feel
- Plenty Distance & Forgiveness
- Premium Looks
- Outstanding Value
- Nada
The Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Pro irons look and perform similarly to the Hot Metal irons, but the clubheads are a little smaller and sleeker to appeal to better players.
What we like:
- Best-in-class feel.
- Exceptional forgiveness and distance.
- Launch easily with excellent carry.
- All the playability better ball strikers look for but can just fly high and straight if that’s what you need.
- Sleek and handsome clubheads.
What we don’t like:
- Nada
The JPX line of irons are exceptional and the Hot Metal Pros are no different. Same superb feel. More forgiving than they look – and they look forgiving. They launched the ball easily for me and carried it on a high, piercing trajectory. They’re also exceptionally long.
Customer Reviews: Mizuno doesn’t collect reviews. But, you’d be hard-pressed to find detractors.
Recommendation: Just try them. You’ll thank me.
Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Irons
- Exceptionally Soft & Solid Feel
- Loads of Distance & Forgiveness
- Absolute Eye Candy
- Great Price
- Nada
Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal irons are the best irons for mid-handicappers and our #1 Recommendation for a few reasons.
- Buttery, marshmellowy, unbelievably soft (yet solid) feel.
- Incredibly forgiving and easy to hit. Great contact is not needed for good results.
- Exceptional distance.
- You can play any shot you want if you’ve got the game.
For this year’s JPX 923s, Mizuno combined Chromoly and Nickel to form Nickel Chromoly which allowed them to make the clubface 8% thinner, yet 35% stronger than last year’s JPX 921s.
So, the sweet spot is bigger for more forgiveness and distance over a larger portion of the face.
ALLL the good things I had to say about the 921s apply to the 923s.
Conclusion: Continued exceptional feel, performance, forgiveness, and distance out of the JPX line.
Recommendation: Just try them. You’ll thank me.
Ping i230 Irons
- Long & Forgiving
- Superb Feel & Sound
- Easy Launch with Great Trajectory
- Price
Ping i230s are my favorite low-handicap irons from Ping.
What we like:
- They’re solid at impact for good control
- Have nice sound and feel with excellent feedback
- Get the ball up easily & send it on a high-penetrating ball flight
- Have just the right amount of forgiveness
What we don’t like:
- Nada
Ping optimized launch, spin, forgiveness, and MOI for the i230s. And did it in a smaller clubhead than the i210s (which I also like).
I love the consistent loft gapping between clubs too. 4 degrees in the pitching wedge through 7-irons. Then, 3.5 degrees in the 7-iron through 3-iron. (I’m not sure why the change from 4-degree gapping to 3.5 degrees, though)
I prefer the i230s over the i59s and i525s because of their superior sound and feel. Not to mention I hit them better. The heads are larger than the other two, but not large. Hitting them reminded me of the G425s, which I also loved.
I was on or around the green all day during my rounds with the i230s.
Customer Reviews: 11 reviews with 100% 5-stars
Recommendation: Give them a try. If you like their looks, you’ll love the way they play and feel.
Ping G425 Irons
- So... so easy to hit
- High trajectory
- Great distance & forgiveness
- Nada
We loooove Ping G425 irons and they will be on our lists as long as we can find a place for our readers to buy them.
What we like:
- Supremely easy to hit and elevate
- All the distance you need
- Can hit good shots all day long without needing perfect contact
- Awesome feel and sound for a mid handicap iron
- You can play any shot you want if you’ve got the game
What we don’t like:
- Shut yo mouth.
I was not expecting the G425s to perform as well as they did. I play soft carbon-steel low handicap irons and I thought the 425s would feel harsh and wooden. No sir. I’m a low handicap ball striker with my irons and these did anything I wanted.
Center contact feels great and slight mishits feel about the same, with no very little loss of distance. There’s a ton of forgiveness built into these irons.
The lofts are already jacked, but Ping offers even stronger lofts if that suits your game.
Conclusion: The G425s are one of the best irons for the average golfer I’ve tested this year.
Recommendation: You’re going to want to at least test these. My money is on you keeping them if you do.
Taylormade Stealth Irons
- Long & Forgiving
- Good Sound & Feel
- Elevates ball easily
- Easy to hit
- Looks...not the best
The TaylorMade Stealths irons are kind of a hybrid between cavity and muscle back game improvement irons.
What we like:
- They launch the ball easily with a high trajectory.
- Generous sweet spot for premium forgiveness and distance.
- Clubheads are big, but not awkward looking.
What we don’t like:
- Looks, not the best.
They’re just not quite as good looking as the G425s. Yes, that’s a silly thing, but it’s the only differentiating factor from my testing.
Stealth irons feel great in my hands. Look great at address. And, hit the ball a ton. You can hit ’em high. You can flight them down. You can play any shot you want with these irons.
TaylorMade Stealth irons are money and exactly what you want out of game improvement irons. They happen to be better looking than the SIM or SIM2 irons too.
Conclusion: Neck and neck with the G425s. Ever so slightly behind in feel and looks.
Recommendation: Need to be on your shortlist if you’re in the market for new mid-handicapper irons.
Ping G430 Irons
- Easy to hit & Elevate
- High trajectory & Straight Ball Flight
- Great distance & forgiveness
- Can shape & flight the ball as well
- Looks, not the best
Ping G430s have all the playability, performance and feel of the G425s, but in an updated package.
What we like:
- They’re easy to hit and elevate.
- They want to fly high and straight.
- You can still work them left or right, flight them down, or take off distance if that’s part of your game.
- Same great feel.
- Same forgiveness.
What we don’t like:
- Big step down in looks.
- Not as refined as the G425s
The lofts are stronger in the G430s and they’ve added more tech for distance. Well-struck shots were about half a club longer for me on the course and I got a couple of crazy-long numbers on my launch monitor.
As with the G425s, center contact is stellar, but slight mishits will get you good results too. I was on or around the greens all day.
Conclusion: Not a significant improvement over the G425s. I don’t think that would be realistic. The G425s are too good.
Recommendation: Keep your G425s. Test both sets if you own neither, and you’re in the market.
FAQs
Do any PGA pros use cavity backs?
Yes, quite a few PGA pros use cavity back irons – Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay, Xander Schauffele, Sam Burns, Jon Rahm, etc.
What are the best cavity back irons for mid-handicappers?
The best cavity back irons for mid handicappers are Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal Irons.
Do blades or cavity backs go farther?
Cavity back irons go farther than blade irons. They have better MOI and more forgiveness, thanks to their construction.
Can you shape shots with cavity back irons?
Yes, you can shape shots with cavity back irons. I’ve shaped shots as long as I’ve been playing golf, and I’ve used cavity back irons most of that time.
Final Verdict
We’ve got something for every handicap, and we’ve just added new selections for the end of 2024…
My #1 suggestion is to get your hands on them before you buy. Either at your local golf store or take advantage of Global Golf’s Utry trial program. I use it and recommend it.
Thanks for checking out our review of the best cavity back irons in 2024.
|
Pure Player
|
Player's Distance
|
Game Improvement
|
|
Primary Rating:
5.0
|
Primary Rating:
4.8
|
Primary Rating:
4.8
|
|
~$175/club new
|
~$200/club
|
~$200/club
|
|
Pros:
|
Pros:
|
Pros:
|
|
Cons:
|
Cons:
|
Cons:
|
- Exceptional Feel & Performance
- Classic Elegant Titleist Design
- Surprisingly long
- Scoring MO-chines
- Nada
- Superb Sound & Feel
- Easy Distance & Plenty Forgiving
- Long irons a breeze to hit
- Launch Easily with High Trajectory
- A little pricey
- Superb Sound & Feel
- Plenty Distance & Forgiveness
- Easy Launch & High Trajectory
- A little pricey
