If you’re one of those gamers who prefers the long iron look but wants the performance of a hybrid, then a driving iron is the perfect club for you. You should look for the best driving iron.
Well, in this article we’ve put together a list of the best driving iron.
Driving irons were introduced to the market before hybrids when hybrids hit the market. Conduction plates have taken a back seat, but conduction iron has been revitalized in recent years.
If you’re a beginner golfer, then you should check out our article on the best golf irons for beginners, where we reviewed our top 10 options.
The rebirth of conductive iron has been fueled by the technology that manufacturers use in hybrids.
With the help of hybrid technology, driving irons now offers the best of hybrids and long irons combined in one club. The adjustable weight, along with many other technological factors, ensure that the modern driving plate is a must-have in any golfer’s bag.
Table of Contents
Here are our top 10 Best Driving Iron of 2020:
- Taylormade GAPR MID
- Srixon Z U85 Utility Iron
- Cobra King Forged Tec Iron
- Titleist 718 AP3 Irons
- Callaway Rogue Irons Set
- Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Iron Set
- Fourteen Hybrid Golf Club
This can be challenging as there are many styles and options available. However, we try to solve this problem and select the 10 best driving iron that offers quality features.
This is EXACTLY where golf driving iron comes in and our reviews of today’s best driving iron for beginners below will help you choose the right aid for you.
So you can improve your game MASSIVELY or just enjoy it again!
? Quick Look at the Best Driving Iron ?
Table could not be displayed.10 Best Driving Iron Reviews
Now we come to the actual detail of the review, where we delve a little deeper. Below you’ll find our Top Picks, why we liked them, and the pros and cons of each.
Within a few minutes, you should have a pretty good idea of which putters best suits your needs and be confident in making a purchase.
1. Taylormade GAPR MID
No products found.Our best option for senior handicapped people looking for an indulgent Best Driving Iron is the Taylormade GAPR MID. This beautiful club is a relatively new release from TaylorMade and has been a big part of Driving Iron’s revival.
The theory behind the GAPR line is that there is too great a distance jump from 3-wood to 4-iron wood, so a GAPR can serve as a conduit plank and stick that helps bridge that distance gap.
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✅ Pros
- Confidence-inspiring look
- Very straight ball flight
- High-Quality Golf brand
- Multiple Loft Options
- Incredible Forgiveness
? Cons
- Less Control Than Low Handicap Driving Irons
The TaylorMade GAPR series of clubs is designed to have an iron profile with some of the added benefits of a hybrid.
It comes in LO HIGH versions in addition to this model, the GAPR MID.
As we also see in the TaylorMade P790 UDI, TaylorMade uses its patented Speedfoam technology to complete the hollow head design.
It unfolds to great effect here, providing an active and lively clubface from which the ball simply bounces. The GAPR feels smooth as butter and has one of the best sounds of any iron you’ve hit this year.
You may have noticed that there is an identical entry in the Pros and Cons section above: the GAPR produces a very straight ball flight.
This is a pro in the sense that as long as you swing well and square the clubface to the target, the ball will go straight down the street.
It will not impart any lateral twists, and it is very difficult to hook, cut, fade, or draw the ball.
However, many players in the market for a driving iron want to curve the ball, so a flight too straight like this ends up being more of a scam than a pro.
However, slow swing players and higher handicaps will probably love the GAPR MID. And if your specialty is Francesco Molinari-Esque laser straight bullets, then the GAPR MID is a great choice for you.
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2. Srixon Z U85 Utility Iron
No products found.This Srixon Iron Plate is another addition to the list of newest Driving Plates on the market and is our top pick for the best Middle Handicapped Driving Plank.
Make no mistake, these are irons for elite golfers: players who play on par regularly and compete for club championships year after year.
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✅ Pros
- Fully forged construction for iron feel
- Perfect for scratch golfers
- Designed to offer more forgiveness
- Looks Like Iron Upon Address
- One of the most workable clubs
- Great spin control
? Cons
- Needs higher swing speeds for best results
- Higher End Price
Srixon is a company known more for its golf balls than anything else, but in recent years its blades have been recognized as some of the nicest and best-made irons. This is one of them.
Srixon offers utility irons that give you the power you need with relatively high throwing trajectories and are ideal for medium handicap players. You have freedom in the configuration option to fill the gap you have in your clubs. Get regular or stiff flex in three configurations: 3 iron (20 degrees), 4 iron (23 degrees), and 5 iron (26 degrees).
The hollow-head design and deeper stick placement give you more forgiveness on the swing. More features include a fully forged construction design for an iron look that instills confidence, plus a larger sole for turf interaction.
If you are a medium handicap player looking for a consistent club that gives you considerable distance, this Srixon Driving Iron is a great option.
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3. Cobra King Forged Tec Iron
No products found.Many of the iron clubs on this list will improve their shooting distance and also generate improvements in other key areas, such as shot accuracy and forgiveness.Cobra King Forged Tec golf irons are arguably the best or nearly the best in all of these areas and when you include considerations like price, value, overall feel, and other perks these guys will come out on top.
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✅ Pros
- Terrific value most golfers
- Solid Design
- Launches the ball very high
- Adjustable
- Very tight shot dispersion
? Cons
- Less of a classic feel than other irons
- Lower on the price range
The Cobra King Utility Iron is more than just a driving iron, making it an attractive option, but slightly reducing its effectiveness from the tee.
I found that some of his other strengths could make up for the slight drop in performance off the tee.
The Cobra King Utility Iron features the same hollow-headed tungsten weight design as the other irons on this list. And as stated above, this helps create a low center of gravity that facilitates an easier launch.
The true beauty of this club and what sets it apart from the rest of the pack is its adjustability.
This club has the unique ability to play as a 2 iron or 3 iron. You can also choose from 8 adjustable loft settings to manage your trajectory and launch conditions.
The eight adjustable loft settings allow you to choose eight different lofts from 18 degrees to 24 degrees.
This feature is incredibly useful for multiple purposes. If you are trying to fill a gap in your bag, these adjustments ensure that it is possible. And if you’re trying to find a club to hit the starting blocks, these settings allow this club to work for almost any situation.
The overall forgiveness of this club is above average for a Best Driving Iron. Although it’s still hard to hit compared to a standard iron, this club is more forgiving than some of the higher-end driving irons.
Clubs look a bit flashy, yes, and they’re not from an old-boy brand like Cleveland or TaylorMade, but when it comes down to it, none of it will matter too much when it comes to the quality of your game. These irons are winners in terms of overall results, and especially in terms of value.
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4. Titleist 718 AP3 Irons
No products found.The Titleist is an iron designed with a large forgiving stick head.
Made with high-density controls that are made of tungsten, this club offers more stability and more consistent throwing power.
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✅ Pros
- Gets the ball in the air quickly
- Solid Design
- Launches the ball very high
- Adjustable
- Very good distance on well-struck shots
? Cons
- Right-handed only
- Lower on the price range
The face of this stick is designed with an L-shaped insert, which will add a twist to your shots.
However, this option won’t provide as much spin as a hybrid, making it an excellent high-performance driving iron that will give you plenty of distance.
This club is designed to be easy to throw because it has a muscular shape that makes it easy to hit the ball from a far distance. It is available with a one to four mezzanine, and this utility iron can have either a rigid or extra rigid flex.
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5. Callaway Rogue Irons Set
No products found.Supposedly one step away from his brothers in arms, the Callaway Rogue Irons.
Like Callaway Rogue golf irons, Callaway Rogue X irons promise to increase distance, precision, and control.
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✅ Pros
- Greater distance
- Tungsten manufacturing for higher stability
- 360 Face Cup technology for more distance and less sidespin
- Name Brand
- Greater loft
? Cons
- Offset is a little too much
- Not a true driving iron
Rogue Irons includes several unique features, such as a 360-degree front cup for improved distance, an internal standing wave for maximum flight and precision, and a classic cool and cold look.
It is designed for right and left-handed people, and you can also choose a steel or graphite shaft in a regular or rigid option.
360 face cup technology is designed to provide more distance and speed to the ball so you can get a good distance on your shots compared to a traditional long iron.
Designed with performance, control, and feel in mind, it remains a favorite among top golfers. It has a classic finish that looks great, and it has a fair amount of forgiveness so you don’t lose too much on off-center hits.
Callaway Rogue irons will make you hit higher when you want it, harder when you want it, and further away as needed. Many of Callaway’s promises are true. It is a solid club and will improve your game, whether you like it or not. Listen, it’s just not a great value.
Are you really getting much more with Callaway Rogue clubs than with Rogue golf irons, or any other similarly priced contemporary model?
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6. Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Iron Set
No products found.Cleveland is a brand with a long history of producing high-performance playable clubs.Launcher HB irons are no exception. They will give you the extra shooting distance you need and forgive you for some of those mistakes and errors.
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✅ Pros
- More distance on mid/long-range shots
- Greater forgiveness in general, due to weight distribution
- More accuracy on close-range shots – great for mid handicapper
? Cons
- Graphite shaft may take some getting used to if you’re making the switch
It’s called progressive shaping and it has the power to change your game. They will also allow you to choose what type of material you want the shaft to be made of. Later in this article, I’ll talk about the positives and negatives of graphite vs. steel shafts, and that’s important for these Cleveland irons because the company will allow you to choose your material.
Cleveland likes to tout a couple of main features with these irons, and I don’t blame them, because the progressive way they are so big is, in fact, giving you more control with those lower-ranking irons, and greater distance and launch in those medium and long-range shots.
The other great thing to know here is that all the irons in the set have a hollow construction, and that will redistribute the weight of the stick around the head, giving you a little forgiveness as you lean on your swing. These two features will give you greater precision and distance when needed and will forgive you for your (very rare, I’m sure) mechanical errors. A set of golf irons to improve the game
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7. Fourteen Hybrid Golf Club
No products found.Fourteen Golf is a relatively new, boutique clubmaker, who first launched on the scene in 2002 when Ernie Els won the Open Championship with a fourteen iron in his bag.
After years of designing clubs for other major manufacturers like Yamaha, Fourteen Golf finally hit the world stage and has slowly but surely increased brand recognition with impeccably clean designs and expertly made plates and wedges.
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✅ Pros
- Well-designed sole adds versatility
- Good trajectory control
- Good distance
? Cons
- More forgiving than workable
The HI 877 appears as a hybrid, but I think there may be something missing from the translation (Fourteen is a Japanese company) because it looks and plays much more like a driving iron than a hybrid.
The clubface looks like an iron, and there is a slight bump behind the clubhead that is really too small to fall into the hybrid category.
Like many other best driving irons, the Fourteen HI 877 features a socket head construction to maximize forgiveness.
This is a driving iron aimed more at the average golfer as it is quite forgiving. But it still has a great low penetrating trajectory and can produce a surprisingly good version of a stinger.
Perhaps the best aspect of the clever design is the sole, which is thick just below the hitting area and tapers down to the heel and toe.
This shape really helps dig through tough lies and makes the HI 877 useful as more than just a tool.
It is an effective tool against rough, hard, hard, and hard needles, and tight lies.
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What is the Driving Iron?
Driving iron is a long iron that is specifically designed for tee shots. While you can hit from the fairway, they are intended to provide an alternative to hybrids, 5 woods and long irons from the tee.
Driving irons is not for everyone, as you normally need a higher swing speed to benefit from them. Driving irons are great for golf courses or playing in windy conditions to keep the ball low and roll.
Benefits of having a driving iron in a golf bag
Having an iron in your golf bag can be beneficial for many different reasons. Driving plates are very good if you are looking for a reliable club to find the fairway from the tee.
It’s also great to have an iron in your bag when playing in windy conditions. Driving iron is designed to produce shots with a penetrating ball flight that is perfect when playing in the wind.
The driving plates have larger profiles and are therefore much easier to hit, especially when a good shot is required down the stretch.
Driving plates offer the best of both worlds. With a driving plate in hand, players can hit low stingers on a windy day, but if the golf course demands a smooth, high landing iron shot, it can also be easily accomplished with a driving plate.
When should I use a driving Iron?
There are two main situations in which players tend to use Iron Driving. The first is to fill a gap in your game. High-level players who have good control over distances tend to use this stick to fill the gap between their lowest iron and their hybrid or five-wood.
The second reason is the constant iron player. Some golfers struggle to hit woods or drivers constantly. Often times these golfers still have great control over their irons.
While driving irons are a difficult club to hit, they certainly reduce the risks of cutting and snagging compared to a driver or 3 woods.
Now if you are in any of the camps. Driving irons offer you a great opportunity to improve your game and shave a few shots.
How do I hit a driving iron?
Due to the extended length and low loft of a Driving Iron, it can be much more difficult to hit compared to other clubs. Fortunately, we have some tips that should smooth the process out and get you hitting this club from the get-go.
Try to keep your wrists and hands steady. Golfers often let their wrist break too soon, making constant contact very difficult. Keeping your wrists even tighter in your backswing will increase consistency with this club.
Move the ball closer to your front foot. These driving irons aren’t built with a lot of lofts, so moving the ball higher into position will help you throw the ball higher if you’re struggling with that aspect of this club.
When do I use a driving iron?
There are some situations where players would choose to use a Driving Iron on the field.
The first, which is most likely for low handicapped players is when they are filling a gap in their game.
Most iron sets only come down to four iron players and low handicap players tend to have a gap between their four irons and their highest or hybrid.
These leave a place for the Driving Iron or the utility club to occupy.
Another instance where a golfer can use a Driving Iron is when he tries to keep more balls in play. Some golfers tend to balance better with an iron in their hands.
Not to mention, the hardest stick to hit is your driver. By choosing an Iron Driving off the tee, some golfers discover that they can shave off a few shots from their game.
Best Driving Iron Buyer’s Guide
Performance should be your main concern when buying a new utility iron, but there are a few additional factors you can consider before making your purchasing decision.
In fact, think about this: Boys are hitting harder and more accurately than at any other time in human history. Normal boys. Disabled media, like you and me.
What you need from your next set of golf irons, as a medium handicapper, is a combination of the following:
- Greater distance
- Greater accuracy
- And, most importantly for the medium handicapper, more forgiveness
The right irons can raise a few notches and do a lot to improve your golf, but you need to know what you are buying and what to look for.
Distance
Finding one that goes the right distance is one of the most important factors in selecting your new driving iron. In most cases, if you carry an iron, you will have a conductor, 3 wooden, and then 3 or 4 iron. In a perfect world, your driving iron would go beyond your 3 iron and shorter than your 3 wood.
Price
The price is not that bad with conduction boards, as they are generally less expensive than fairway woods or hybrids. It only gets expensive if you replace 2-4 sticks with long irons too.
Playability and Workability
Finding the right utility iron for your game is crucial to making sure it stays in the bag for the long haul. Try some to make sure it’s playable enough for your game. Remember, the more forgiving, the less the ball can work.
Loft
Choosing the right loft for your utility iron is essential to improve your performance. We have said this before; Yard separation is a massive part of the success equation on the golf course.
If you’re looking to create a split set with utilities instead of your long irons, make sure it’s snug, and the loft spaces between the clubs translate to consistent yard spaces on the course. At the other end of the spectrum, if you’re looking for a utility iron off the tee, an offer of 2 or 3 irons might be just what the doctor ordered.
The sheer number of lofts and models available from leading manufacturers can make it easier to mark your distances and find the right club for your game.
Shaft selection
Proper axis selection is a big part of creating a consistent firing pattern for predictable results. A professional installer can help you find a shaft that has the correct specifications (weight, stiffness, bending profile) for your turning profile. If not, we recommend that you take the time to understand the performance characteristics of the available axles.
Graphite is usually lighter, which means it often (not always) sways faster. If you’re having trouble generating clubhead speed, graphite might be a good choice.
Steel is generally heavier, with technological advances, however; Lightweight steel shafts are reasonably common options in the utility category. In the world of standard shafts, when the choice is between graphite and steel, the choice of graphite is often higher pitch and turn and will generally have a smoother overall bending profile.
Also, keep in mind that the weight of the head often varies depending on whether the stock axis is graphite (light) or steel (heavy). In those cases, moving between graphite and steel may not be as simple as changing the shaft.
Swing weight bolts may need to be changed and depending on club design you may not be able to achieve desired swing weight without significant effort, or not at all. Take the time to work with an installer to make sure you get it right the first time.
Adjustability
Four of the fourteen proven utility irons offer an adjustable hosel. That’s not a massive percentage, but it does mean golfers can now take advantage of adjustability in the utility category. It also means installers have a little more adjustability. The little details are often where the differences lie.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Best Driving Iron
Should I use a driving iron or a hybrid?
Driving irons have traditionally been geared toward better players, requiring high clubhead speed and good contact to even put the ball in the air first. Many slow-rocking hobbyists find it difficult to hit anything other than worm burners with traditional driving irons. However, recent technological advancements, like hollow heads and tungsten toe weights, have brought the driving iron to the consciousness of fans with medium disabilities who have trouble hitting forests and hybrids.
How do I know when it’s time for a new set of irons?
This is a difficult question, in part because it is somewhat subjective. Some, for example, argue that you shouldn't buy new golf irons unless you've fallen in love with old ones. If you are a romantic or a purist, then perhaps this will work for you. But if you're a medium handicap player just looking to improve your game, you're probably not that sentimental. Do you only buy new clubs if you don't love old ones? A little emotional, right? A little corny?
Is a 3 Iron a driving iron?
Yes and no. A 3-iron can certainly be used as a driving iron but it’s not specifically designed in the same way. Typically three planks are 20-23 degrees in a loft, while drive plates have less loft. In addition, the driving irons are also usually more forgiving and must be hit from the tee. They usually have a larger design that makes them look very different as you set up the golf ball.
What is the best 2 iron?
The best iron 2 is the one that works for you! There is not necessarily a specific brand, but it is discovering the best clubs for your game. For 99% of golfers, the 2 plates should not even be in the golf bag. If you are ready to have a 2 iron and have the game for that make sure you find the correct axle for your swing. Since the club is harder to hit than most clubs, you will probably want to upgrade to a lighter version of your iron shaft or get a brand new one.
Final words
Look, there’s a little jungle out there. Many different trusted brands are trying to market what, at the end of the day, is quite similar, if also, in a historical, revolutionary sense, game-enhancing technology.
As I said before, all the clubs on this list will give you a greater distance, many will give you more precision and some will give you much more forgiveness.
As a buyer, you need to make sure that your new irons include that famous head cavity shape. If they don’t, they may not be for you. Beyond that, there are additional considerations on shaft material, price, value, and any additional benefits that golf clubs may include. Keep all of this in mind, and again be suspicious of those who promise too much.
If there is a problem with a popular club, it is likely to appear online. Not that you are easy to fool. You are a medium handicapper and you know what you are doing.
