Best Players' Distance Irons 2024: Buyer's Guide and things you need to know

Players' distance irons are specifically designed for mid-handicap golfers who prefer the profile of a more refined iron but still desire the distance and forgiveness of something a bit bulkier.

The category of players' distance irons has made significant strides in recent years, thanks to advancements in technology. The introduction of hollow body designs and variable face thickness faces has revolutionised the game, allowing brands to push the boundaries of performance without compromising on aesthetics. 

Players' distance irons are incredibly popular and almost every brand in the game has their own offering. 

We've also recently tested the best game improvement irons and the best irons for low handicap golfers, with all the best offerings available in one place thanks to our best irons buyer guide.

Here at golfMagic we've been fortunate enough to test almost all of them from brands like Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, Wilson and Cobra.

Our team of testers has hit hundreds if not thousands of shots over the past year to deside which players' distance irons are worth your time and attention, and which should be left on the shelf.

Using our trusty Foresight GC3 launch monitor we've been able to really dig deep into the performance of each club, assessing ball speeds, launch angles, carry distances and a whole host of other metrics.

Some players' distance irons offer, speed, some offer forgiveness, but few have it all. Below is our list of the best players' distance irons of 2024, starting of with our favourite.

Let's get into it.

TaylorMade P790 Irons

Key Features:

• SpeedFoam Air: is 69% lighter than its predecessor to save 3.5g of weight, which is then redistributed for a better launch
• FLTD CG: a strategic design that positions the centre of gravity (CG) lowest in long irons and progressively shifts it higher throughout the set
• Thru-Slot Speed Pocket: is engineered to maximise forgiveness and provide additional ball speed on miss-hit low strikes off the face
• AI-optimised internal structure: ensuring every gram of weight is strategically placed to deliver the best possible result with each specific iron.

Price: £1029

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Pros:

• Sleek new design is absolutely stunning
• Five-star power and forgiveness
• Premium feel and sound at impact

Cons:

• Performance improvement from 2021 is minimal

TaylorMade had a tough task on its hands improving the 2021 P790s, but somehow it managed to do it.

The fourth generation of P790 irons are absolutely fantastic. Featuring an AI-engineered internal structure and FLTD CG, which strategically positions the centre of gravity differently in each club, these irons offered outstanding distance and forgiveness right through the set.

A freshly designed aesthetic sees the irons retain the popular satin finish from 2021, with a new chrome bar that spans the length of the blade. looking superb both in hand and at address, these are without a doubt, some of the best irons we have tested this year.

It's honestly hard to find fault with these new P790s, even when put up against the third generation on Trackman there was a slight increase in carry distance, which is very impressive considering the 2021 iteration were some of the longest irons we've tested.

In terms of feel, these irons provide a buttery soft sensation at impact. The Speed Foam Air teams up with the forged 4140 high-speed face, to provide excellent feel across the face, preventing the slightly dead feel you can sometimes experience from a pure blade.

Offering outstanding performance, feel and aesthetics, the new P790s are the ultimate player's distance irons for 2024.

READ OUR FULL TAYLORMADE P790 IRON REVIEW

Key Features:

• Hollow Cavity delivers low CG and helps to maximise the distance, forgiveness and playability
• Flexible foam in the cavity generates a powerful rebound effect that also fine-tunes the sound and feel
• PWRSHELL face increases ball speed and its large sweet spot adds forgiveness and high launch
• Tungsten weight in the toe centres the CG to help you on off-centre hits

Price: £999

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Pros:

• One of the most forgiving better player irons
• Above average distance
• Look superb at address
• Very consistent numbers throughout bag
• Lovely sound and feel on centre strikes

Cons:

• Minor improvements on last Forged Tec line

The latest Cobra Forged Tec irons are so good, they make our list again!

While we have already noted their impressive feel and forgiveness in the previous category, there is plenty of distance to get excited about with these, too.

They aren't as long as the Cobra Darkspeed irons for game improvers, but their strong lofts still deliver plenty of power for you.

Cobra Forged Tec irons are also aesthetically pleasing to look down on at address with a moderate topline that should appeal to all.

As we mentioned previously, we noted a pleasing sound and feel with every club in the bag, testament to the flexible foam placed in the cavity design.

This iron has a bit of everything for better players. Low or mid handicap, we think you'll love these.

READ OUR FULL COBRA FORGED TEC IRON REVIEW

Wilson Dynapower Forged

Key Features:

• Variable face thickness: optimised for increased ball speeds across the face and improved forgiveness
• Power hole design: featured from 4-7 irons to improve face flexion
• Low CG and high MOI: the centre of gravity has been pushed lower, and weight has been moved towards the toe for greater forgiveness and high launch

Price: £769

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Pros:

• Feel and sound are incredible
• Plenty of power and forgiveness on offer
• Chrome finish looks great

Cons:

• Power holes detract from the overall visual appeal

One of the most impressive irons of 2024, Wilson's Dynapower Forged line offers stand out performance, sleek visuals and feel and sound that will leave you wanting to hit balls until the sun goes down.

Benefitting from variable face thickness, the Dynapower Forged irons deliver outstanding ball speeds from across the face, aiding both performance from the centre of the club face but also forgiveness from poor strikes.

The low CG and increased MOI also delivers a towering ball flight that ia accompanied by an incredibly satisfying noise and feel through impact.

Wilson has really upped it's game in recent years, and these irons are a perfect example of the best work the brand can do.

Coming in at under £800, these irons also offer excellent value for money, and would be an ideal fit for golfers who's handicap ranges from 8-20.

Our only issue with the irons is the power holes on the sole, as we believe they diminish the visual appeal, however that's only our personal preference. 

READ OUR FULL WILSON DYNAPOWER FORGED REVIEW

Titleist T200 

Key Features:

• Re-engineered chassis creates a stiffer structure allowing the Max Impact Technology to fit tighter against the face
• Popular Tour-inspired shape remains consistent from the previous model, and identical offset and blade length to T100 and T150 allows for seamless transition through a blended set
• Variable bounce sole allows the clubhead to move faster and smoother through the turf

Price: £1,069

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Pros:

• Hollow body design delivers potent ball speeds
• Classic Titleist looks are superb
• Premium feel and sound

Cons:

• There are irons on this list that were able to produce superior ball speeds

An outstanding-looking player's distance iron, the T200 is the perfect blend of game-improvement performance and player's looks. We loved the newly designed backplate, which marks a noticeable improvement in looks from the previous T200 irons.

The benefits of the T200 don't stop there, though; the re-designed internal structure provides a huge leap forward in feel compared to its predecessor, with the stiffer structure producing a much more solid feel at impact.

The hollow body design is constructed from a forged face and a cast back and hosel, perfectly blending feel and forgiveness. Much like other hollow body-constructed irons on the market, the ball feels hot off the face. This sensation is reflected in the excellent ball speeds and carry distance we were able to achieve.

Producing a solid 'thud' sound at impact, these irons potentially don't provide the feel and workability that may be desired by premium ball strikers, but they will undoubtedly appeal to a broad range of golfers who look for assistance in terms of both forgiveness and distance. 

READ OUR FULL TITLEIST T200 IRONS REVIEW

Callaway Ai200 Irons

Key Features:

• Strategically positioned MIM weighting: ensures optimal CG for ideal launch windows
• Forged face and body: deliver Tour-level sound and feel
• Forged 445 face cup: provides improved ball speeds from across the face

Price: £1,199

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Pros:

• We love the consistent styling throughout the Apex line
• Beautiful forged feel at impact
• Bags of shelf appeal

Cons:

• Soft forged head did get dented quite easily in the bag

Building upon the popular Apex line, Callaway's newest Ai200 irons fit perfectly into the player's distance category, retaining the popular styling of the Apex Pros with some added muscle and to improve both distance and forgiveness. 

Having tested the Ai200s extensively, we were hugely impressed by the level of control and stability they offer. 

From across the face, we found that ball speeds, spin rates and start line remained very consistent, with a noticeable increase in forgiveness when compared to Callaway's Apex Pro irons. 

Aesthetically the Ai200s look fantastic with a compact blade length reassuringly thick topline and a nice rounded toe, which looks fantastic at address and allows you to frame the ball easily.

All in all the Ai200s are excellent players' distance irons and should be right at the top of your list to hit when you next visit a pro shop or golf retailer.

READ OUR FULL CALLAWAY APEX AI200 IRONS REVIEW

Mizuno JPX 925 Hot Metal Pro Irons

Key Features:

• ball speed and ensures maximum speed retention throughout the impact zone
• Tungsten weighting: positioned low in the 4-7 irons creates a higher launch with a lower sweet spot, producing a steeper landing angle
• Acoustic sound ribs: precisely dialled in vibration patterns for a solid, explosive impact sound

Price: £999

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Pros:

• Deliver explosive speed and high launch
• Look fantastic in hand and at address
• Price point is spot on

Cons:

• Occasional jumper shots are a slight cause for concern

Mizuno is one of the brands to beat when it comes to irons and the new JPX 925 Hot Metal Pros are late contenders for the best players distance irons in 2024.

Offering slightly more muscle behind the ball than other irons on this list, the Hot Metal Pros are built with power in mind, and that's exactly what they deliver. Mizuno has attempted to raise the COR rating across the face with the JPX line, and it's certainly succeeded in its aims.

These irons pack one hell of a punch, and saw Reviews Editor, Johnny Percival, pick up over ten yards when compared to his previous gamers. 

Thrown into the mix, the forgiveness across the face, sleek looks and excellent price point, and you have one hell of a set.

The issues we uncovered during testing were few and far between, however the odd jumper shot did cause a little bit of concern.

As is sometimes the case with hollow body irons with variable thickness faces, you can get the odd hot shot that flys an extra ten yards without warning.

That was the case with these irons, but it was rare enough for us not to be too concerned.

If you're looking to add power to your game but still love a players distance profile, then these irons should certainly be tested at your next fitting.

READ OUR FULL MIZUNO JPX 925 HOT METAL PRO IRONS REVIEW

Things to consider with your irons

Moment of Inertia (MOI)

This term refers to the behaviour of our club face and how the club resists opening and closing. It is a measurement of a club’s resistance to twisting.

A high MOI golf club will be more forgiving than a low MOI golf club because it will be less likely to twist by the time the face connects with the ball.

When your club face hits the ball from the heel and the toe, this causes the club to twist and this ends in a loss of distance in most instances.

High MOI makes the club more resistant to twisting and increases the success and quality of off-centre strikes.

Centre of gravity (CG)

This term is the point in the club head where the weight is concentrated and balanced. This is usually found in the middle of the club head.

The centre of gravity is placed lower in the club head in bladed and player’s irons which is why it is so hard to hit these clubs. This is because if the CG is off-centre, this puts more side spin on the ball.

Players with high handicaps or slower swing speeds are suited to irons with a higher CG. These details essentially summarise why it is so important to be custom fitted and in possession of all the facts.

Loft and lie

Loft refer to the angle of each of your irons. This is fairly straightforward. For example, the most lofted club you can get your hands on is a 64-degree wedge and at the other end of the spectrum, you can buy drivers of eight or nine degrees.

The lie in an iron refers to the angle made by the line of the bottom of the shaft and the ground. A club with more lie has a shaft that points towards the ground at a steep angle.

The lie can impact how steep your swing is. A high lie angle could cause you to stand closer to the ball than an iron with a lower lie angle.

If you have a steep swing plane, you will want more lie in your irons. If you have a steep swing plane, this is suited to irons with a lower lie.

An indication of the correct feel of your irons is simple. If you look down at address and the bottom of the club is lying perfectly flat and the middle is facing the target, then this is the lie for you.

If your irons lie at an angle where the heel or the toe hits the ground before the middle of the club face, this is when your ball flights can be skewed. Once again, this is another feature that can be altered in custom fitting.

Sound and feel

The feel of your irons is very important. Regardless of whether you find the middle of the club face, you want a buttery feel from the irons and a satisfying connection.

Many features can contribute to the feel of your irons such as the type of shaft, the grip and the materials used in the club head.

The sound of your irons might not seem like an important aspect, but you don’t want to spend a fortune on your new collection and have them sound like a frying pan.

It is a feature that can become annoying if you play a lot of golf. When you hit an iron out the middle and the ball is soaring towards the hole, the last thing you want is the echo of a horrible sound that lingers each time.

Which irons are in your bag this season? What do you make of our results? Share your thoughts and comments over on the GolfMagic social media channels or come and visit us over on the GolfMagic YouTube Channel where you can check out all of our latest reviews.