So many women golfers consider their irons their least favorite clubs. This is always such a red flag for me. The irons make up the majority of the set, and if you don’t have confidence in these clubs, the game becomes a lot more difficult.
I can tell you that finding the best irons as a woman comes down to a combination of great feel, impressive distance, clean aesthetics, and unmatched forgiveness.
There are some great iron choices out there this year, and I’ll show you which ones could be the best for you.
Best Irons for Beginner Women
Beginner women golfers should consider irons that:
- Are fairly priced
- Have a low center of gravity
- Have lightweight shafts
- Throw in a hybrid or two as part of a combo set.
The Cobra LTDx Combo Set, Wilson Staff Launch Pad 2, and Tour Edge Hot Launch E523 are my top choices for the beginner woman golfer. Here’s what you need to know about each of these club sets…
Cobra LTDx Combo Iron Set
Utilizes Pwr-Cor Technology and Pwrshell Face Design to maximize ball speed and flexibility. Adjustability, precision from CNC milled grooves, and strategic weighting ensure stability and optimal green control.
Pros
- Forged face for a better feel
- Very stable at impact
- Optimized spin with CNC Milling
Cons
- Not the most forgiving iron set on the market
Why it’s good for beginners: The Cobra LTDx is a set you can grow into. There is plenty of forgiveness to get you started but great distance and feel to keep you going.
The Cobra LTDx irons for women hit on all the key features that beginners need:
- Power
- Forgiveness
- Feel
With the new Pwr-Cor technology and multi-material weighting, there is a lot of technology in this fairly priced golf iron. Even if spin doesn’t mean much to you right now as a beginner player, at some point, it will. The CNC Milling that Cobra uses helps your shots stop on the green, right where you need them to.
In addition, this is a high MOI design that offers a lot of stability and plenty of forgiveness. Is this the easiest to hit and most forgiving iron on the market? No. However, I love this option for the serious beginner that knows they are going to invest some time in their game over the next few years.
The LTDx has more of a classic look than other women’s golf irons on the market this year. Looks matter in an iron, so keep this in mind.
Wilson Staff Launch Pad 2 Irons
The Launch Pad's sole design prevents chunking and ensures consistent swings, while its lightweight build facilitates higher and farther launches. Additionally, its durable finish resists wear, ensuring longevity.
Pros
- Optimized to prevent chunk shots
- Large bulky head to increase confidence
- High launching
Cons
- Bulky head can be a bit difficult to get used to at first
- Not very high spinning on the wedges
Why it’s good for beginners: The Wilson Staff Launch Pad 2 golf irons are even more forgiving than the original Launch Pad. Expect a high ball flight and plenty of distance perfect for the new player.
Wilson Staff is a unique company. They make some affordable and forgiving irons for amateurs but also some beautiful blade-style irons for better players. I love that Wilson has a hand in what all types of golfers need to be successful on the course.
The Wilson Staff Launch Pad 2 is made for women golfers that are new to the game or have higher handicaps. With the Launch Pad 2, Wilson removed some of the weight in the club head and put the center of gravity a little lower, helping increase the ball’s flight.
The set comes as a 6-Gap Wedge. Women beginners should be using fairway woods and hybrids in the longer clubs, so this is a good set makeup. Wilson implemented a new painting technique on these Launch Pad irons to help improve longevity.
Tour Edge Hot Launch E523 Ironwood
Boasts a hollow-wood design for easy launches, with the Houdini Sole reducing drag and boosting height. Its hollow-body structure offers metalwood distance and a super-shallow face combats slices, maintaining a sleek look.
Pros
- Easy to launch
- Optimized center of gravity placement
- Mix between a wood and an iron for an increased distance
Cons
- Don’t have a clean or crisp look to the head of the club
- Quality is not quite as impressive as Callaway or TaylorMade
Why it’s good for beginners: The Hot Launch E523 is one of the best deals on the market for women golfers that are new to the game. With plenty of forgiveness and really fair pricing, this set is an easy choice.
The Hot Launch E523 Ironwoods are called “ironwoods” for a reason. The club is designed to improve overall launch and playability and be similar to hitting a hybrid or fairway wood while still getting the playability of an iron.
Tour Edge put a Houdini Sole on these clubs to improve overall turf interaction. Essentially you will have a much easier time making consistent and solid contact with the center of the clubface.
The offset design is great if you are a player that develops a bit of a slice.
Every time I’ve hit with Tour Edge clubs, I’ve been impressed with the forgiveness, launch, and distance that you get for the price they are offered. If you are on a budget, take a look at these irons as a great way to get started in golf.
Best Irons for High Handicap Women
High handicap women golfers may have been playing the game of golf for 30 years or for 3 years. The key for high handicap women golfers is to develop some consistency in the strikes to help eventually lower the handicap. Here are my top 3 recommendations for this group…
Callaway Big Bertha REVA Women’s Irons
Use AI Design and up to 35g of Tungsten for enhanced forgiveness tailored for women golfers. Despite being forgiving, the irons provide impressive control, especially in short irons, making them a top choice for those seeking premium performance.
Pros
- Made specifically for women golfers
- AI Designed Face Cup technology
- Wide sole and enhanced offset
Cons
- Higher pricing, as it’s a new release
- Very thick top line
Why it’s good for high handicappers: The Callaway Big Bertha REVA is made specifically for women golfers, and it highlights the exact specifics that a woman golfer needs in their clubs.
The Callaway Big Bertha REVA Women’s irons are a premium new release. If you are looking for a club that is made specifically for a woman player, this is it.
Callaway used AI Designed Technology to improve forgiveness and give women golfers more confidence in the shots that they hit. Up to 35g of internal Tungsten was used in creating these irons. The Tungsten allows for a little less weight without losing distance or feel.
I was impressed with the overall control that the short irons had in the Big Bertha REVA Women’s set. Sometimes on these more forgiving sets, the forgiveness factor takes away a bit of the control. With the Reva, that wasn’t the case.
If you have the money to spend and you want the best of the best, the Big Bertha REVA Women’s Irons offer a great solution.
Cleveland Women’s Launcher XL Halo Irons
Offer high forgiveness with a unique progressive design. The longer irons emphasize distance and ease, while the short irons, especially the wedges, feature a three-tiered sole for enhanced workability and spin.
Pros
- Very large head with an extensive sweet spot
- Action Mass CB for more control
- Impressive control in the wedges
Cons
- A very large head takes some time to get used to
- Action Mass CB makes the clubs a little longer than standard (not the best for petite women)
Why it’s good for high handicappers: The Cleveland Women’s Launcher XL Halo makes getting the ball off the ground simple, regardless of the lie you are hitting from.
The Cleveland Women’s Launcher XL Halo irons are the product of years of research and evolution. The hybrid type irons have a very large head and a lot of forgiveness. In fact, Cleveland claims the Launcher XL Halo irons have the highest MOI of any iron they have created.
One of the things that stood out to me about the Launcher XL Halo irons is the way they designed the set progressively. In the longer irons, you get easier turf interaction, more forgiveness, and plenty of distance.
However, in the short irons, and especially the Dual and Sand wedges, you benefit from differently shaped soles. The Dual and Sand have a three-tiered shape sole that improves workability and spin. This is not a technology that Cleveland always used in their hybrid style irons.
TaylorMade Women’s Stealth HD Irons
The ECHO Damping system reduces vibration and maintains speed on off-center hits, making them a standout choice for enhanced feel and performance.
Pros
- Cap Back design for increased forgiveness
- ECHO Damping technology for a better feel
- High ball speed and plenty of forgiveness
Cons
- Modern and unique shaping
- Not as many options for customization as the traditional Stealth
Why it’s good for high handicappers: The TaylorMade Women’s Stealth HD Irons offer a high launch, premium feel, and increased ball speed for players with higher handicaps.
The TaylorMade Women’s Stealth HD irons don’t get all that much attention when compared to the standard Stealth. However, it has a lot of the same technology, just geared toward the higher handicap player.
ECHO Damping is a system that TaylorMade has used in iron heads for a few years, and it helps the TaylorMade Stealth HD Irons to be one of the better feeling options for the higher handicap players. If you struggle with vibration in the clubhead and loss of speed on missed hits, you will feel the difference with the Stealth HD Irons in play.
Best Irons for Mid Handicap Women
Mid handicap women golfers still need forgiveness in the irons they choose. However, there is where distance and precision become a bit more important. Those extra ten yards made a big difference.
The Callaway Paradym Iron and the Taylor Made Stealth Women’s irons lead the way for the mid handicap group.
Callaway Paradym Iron
Offer superior velocity, optimal launch, and accuracy, with notable offset for clubface squaring. The A.I. optimized Forged 455 Face ensures impressive rebound and controlled spin. Wide sole navigates rough and fairway lies, boosting distance.
Pros
- Impressive use of AI Technology
- Softer feel than previous models
- Hollow body construction for extra speed and higher launch
Cons
- Still a thicker top-down look from Callaway
Why it’s good for mid handicappers: The Callaway Paradym have a perfect combination of distance, workability, feel, and forgiveness to tap into the needs of a mid handicap woman golfer.
The Callaway Paradym iron is an impressive piece of technology that incorporates AI technology, premium materials, and a soft feel. The first thing you will notice about the Callaway Paradym iron is the speed and launch coming from the clubface.
I immediately noticed the softer feel off the face when I tested the Paradym irons. I think the softer feel is exactly what mid handicappers need to feel a bit more control on the approach shots to the green.
Of course, with this being a hollow body iron, there is plenty of speed and some increased forgiveness in the club head. Callaway was able to use up to 79g of tungsten weights, which is pretty impressive. The Tungsten improves your launch and increases forgiveness at the same time.
Truly, the Callaway Paradym is the perfect fit for the mid handicapper woman golfer.
TaylorMade Stealth Women’s Irons
Offer faster ball speeds than previous M Series models. They feature an improved launch with the lower center of gravity and the ECHO Damping system for better feel, though not as soft as the Paradym irons.
Pros
- Impressive Cap Back Design mixes forged and cavity back feel
- Lightweight yet long distances
- Lower center of gravity
- Thru Slot Speed pocket technology for easier speed
Cons
- Priced higher as it’s still a newer release
Why it’s good for mid handicappers: The TaylorMade Stealth offers impressive distance without sacrificing feel or forgiveness.
You may have seen above that I chose the TaylorMade Stealth HD for higher handicappers, but the TaylorMade Stealth standard women’s irons are the best when it comes to the mid handicap women golfers.
Speed is kind of the name of the game for TaylorMade, and that hasn’t changed with the Stealth irons. These are fast. When the ball comes off the clubface, expect higher ball speeds than you saw with any of the M Series irons from TaylorMade.
In addition, the Stealth has a lower center of gravity which improves launch and increases overall stopping power. If ball speed has been a concern for your game, the Stealth should help.
The ECHO Damping system was used in the TaylorMade Stealth women’s irons to improve feel and decrease vibration. However, these are not quite as soft as the Paradym irons for women.
Best Irons for Low Handicap Women
The lower handicap women golfers have the fewest options on the market that are geared specifically to your needs. If you are a low handicap woman player, make sure you are looking into custom options that allow for shaft and clubhead modifications. The Srixon ZX5 MKII Irons and the Ping G Le Irons offer the type of technology and feel that benefit the best women golfers in the game.
Srixon ZX5 MKII Irons
Offer a premium forged feel aimed at seasoned golfers. With their notable groove patterns, distance capabilities, and V.T. Sole for versatility, they stand out in the premium category, especially for lower handicap players seeking a sleeker design over bulkier options.
Pros
- Premium forged feel
- Lots of power and a sleek look
- Optimized spin to help stop approach shots
- Tour V.T. Sole for workability
Cons
- Won’t have as much forgiveness as other golf irons for women
Why it’s good for low handicappers: The Srixon ZX5 MK II Irons improve overall accuracy, allow for distance and impressive spin rates, all things the lowest handicap women golfers benefit from.
The Srixon ZX5 MKII irons have a premium forged feel that lets you know right away this club is for golfers that understand the game. Srixon is a bit underrated when it comes to the performance of their irons.
However, the impressive groove patterns, strong distances, and forged-like feel should put these at the top of any premium iron category. I loved the V.T. Sole, which is designed to be versatile and accommodating to any lie you encounter on the course.
Mostly, the looks of these irons won me over. As a lower handicap player, the majority of irons geared toward women golfers are just a little too bulky. You won’t have to worry about that with the Srixon ZX5 MKII Irons.
Ping G Le3 Irons
Boasts top-notch performance, impressive technology, consistent playability, and the signature PING sound upon impact. Additionally, Ping caters to different swing speeds by offering two distinct women’s shaft weights.
Pros
- Brand new release to the market
- Lightweight and easy to swing
- Impressive Ping feel and workability
Cons
- The price will be high for a while, as Ping took some time to release this iron head
Why it’s good for low handicappers: Even though the Ping G Le3 offers forgiveness and a high launch, it has the feel and precision needed to score on the golf course.
The Ping G Le3 is one of the newest releases to the market for women players. Although I have this one featured in the low handicap section, I did that for feel. Mid handicap and high handicap women can also use the Ping G Le3 irons and benefit from the technology and performance.
The first thing I noticed with the Ping G Le3 irons was the classic Ping feel and even the look.
These irons look a little like the Ping EYE2, one of my favorite Ping releases ever. Of course, the new Ping G Le3 has more impressive technology, easier to swing golf clubs, and improved consistency.
The Ping G Le3 is a great fit if you are a lower handicap woman golfer that still wants some forgiveness on the course. If you don’t see the need to play with a player distance iron or blade style but you still want great feel and top-of-the-line performance, this is the club.
Overall ball speeds and pure PING sound at impact make these a very versatile new release to the market. Interestingly, Ping also offers this in two different women’s shafts, a lighter and a heavier one, to accommodate your speed.
What to Look for in Irons as a Female Golfer
As we’ve pointed out so far, the best irons for women golfers should first be broken down by skill level. There are options out there that lower handicap women should be using and higher handicap women should be using, the key is to find your category.
Once you do, here are the other things I would consider.
Shaft Selections
Women golfers often have one shaft to choose in a golf iron, the women’s flex lightweight shaft.
Stop thinking this is your only option!
Custom club fitting allows us to put hundreds of different shaft options into a clubhead, and sometimes there is no increase in the price of the golf clubs. Make sure that the shaft weight and flex match what you need.
Not all women golfers need a lightweight women’s shaft; some play better with a senior or even men’s regular golf shaft. If you know you are not a slower swing speed player, go for a fitting to determine the proper shaft technology.
Club Set Makeup
Most women golfers do not need anything more than a 6 iron in their bag. Once you move up past the 6 iron, consider the 5 hybrid.
On the other end of the set, I would recommend carrying the irons down through the pitching wedge and the approach wedge (or gap wedge) and then switching to a traditional wedge-style club for the sand and lob wedge.
If you have a 6 hybrid you love, don’t buy a 6 iron as well, you probably won’t use both. Iron sets are so customizable now you can always purchase just what you need.
Grips
Most women’s irons come with an undersized golf grip. If your hands are bigger, you may need a standard grip. For women golfers with arthritis, looking into a midsize grip is another option.
Grips are something you can replace, but it helps to order a club with grips that you like.
Longevity
Never buy your irons to suit the golfer that you are right now. Purchase women’s golf irons based on the golfer you are going to be over the next 7 years. Ignoring the fact that your handicap is trending up or down is a mistake.
Find a set of irons that are going to grow with you, allow you to reach your goals, and to continually play great golf. You will see when I mentioned the Cobra LTDx or the Ping G Le3 irons, I spoke about how versatile they are and their continued use through the years.
Distance Capability
Finally, make sure you look at the distance technology used in the women’s golf irons you are purchasing. Distance matters and every extra yard that you can get will make a difference on the course.
Things that help promote distance include a thinner face, the use of Tungsten in the clubhead, and lighter overall weight to increase clubhead speed.
Brittany Olizarowicz
Britt O has been playing golf since the age of 7. Almost 30 years later, she still loves the game, has played competitively on every level, and spent a good portion of her life as a Class A PGA Professional. Britt currently resides in Savannah, GA, with her husband and two young children. Current Handicap: 1
