Best Driving Iron: 5 Choices For Precision And Distance

Whether you want to be the next Tiger Woods, or you just really enjoy hitting the course in your spare time, anyone who plays golf can agree how important it is to have a good driving iron in your kit.

With a guaranteed higher hit and longer distance, these clubs can be a life-saver on windy days and a club you can really rely on. 

There are lots of different brands of driving irons on the market which can make it confusing to know which one is the best value for your money. 

But we’re here to help with this tee-rific guide to all the best driving irons on the market, complete with a buyer’s guide and FAQ section to help aid you in your search.

In a hurry? 

If you desperately need a driving iron to add to your set of golf clubs, why not try the Callaway Mavrick.

This excellent device is packed full of features which are certain to improve your playing ability, including:

  • It is the first iron that has used artificial intelligence in its development to improve its design and results. 
  • It has a 360 face that flexes and releases at impact for enhanced ball speed. 
  • It is designed with a sophisticated face architecture that makes each loft unique, creating a significant increase in ball speed and spin with every hit. 
  • It has custom tungsten-infused weights in every iron to identify the point of perfect balance for extreme precision and ball speed. 

Top 5 Best Driving Irons

OUR TOP PICK

Callaway Golf 2020 Mavrik Max Individual Iron (Right Hand, Steel, Regular, SW)

Callaway Mavrick

EDITORS CHOICE

TaylorMade GAPR MID Golf Club (Right Hand, Graphite, Stiff Flex, 5-24)

Taylormade GAPR Mid

BEST VALUE

Cobra Golf 2020 King Utility 4 Iron (Men's, Left Hand, Steel, Reg Flex, 22.5 Degree), Satin Chrome (R4801LSR4)

Cobra Golf King Iron

OUR TOP PICK

Callaway Mavrick

Callaway Golf 2020 Mavrik Max Individual Iron (Right Hand, Steel, Regular, SW)

Our favorite driving iron on the market is the Callaway Mavrick. This excellent club is the first iron to be designed using artificial intelligence to improve the club’s quality.

It features a 360 face cup that flexes and releases upon impact giving an enhanced ball speed for further distance and a better hit. Furthermore, it is designed with a sophisticated face architecture which makes every loft unique and creates a huge increase in ball speed and spin with every hit made by the iron.

Additionally, it has tungsten-infused weights in every club allowing you to identify the point of perfect balance for extreme precision and enhanced ball speed with every hit. With all of these amazing features, there is no doubt that it is one of the best on the market. 

Pros

  • Developed with artificial intelligence
  • 360 face cup for speed and distance
  • Sophisticated architecture for speed and ball spin 
  • Tungsten-infused weights for extreme precision 
  • Natural swing with great balance 
  • Flexibility to choose between a graphite or steel shaft

Cons

  • No notable drawbacks

EDITORS CHOICE

Taylormade GAPR Mid

TaylorMade GAPR MID Golf Club (Right Hand, Graphite, Stiff Flex, 5-24)

Another excellent club to consider is the Taylormade GAPR mid-iron.

This club comes with optimized CG for better balance which can allow you to hit long distances and mid to high trajectories, with a graphite shaft for an increased swing speed. Additionally, it has a loft sleeve which improves the opportunity for perfect gapping and trajectory, with an iron face profile that provides easy alignment for versatility.

Its design guarantees straight hits that travel a long distance while also maintaining an excellent feel within your hands and sound upon impact. The GAPR Mid is designed with so many great features that ensure that it is definitely one of the best driving irons money can buy. 

Pros

  • Graphite build for increased swing speed
  • Optimized balance for extreme distance 
  • Improved opportunity for your desired trajectory
  • Iron face profile for easier alignment 
  • Medium width sole for ease of play 
  • Excellent feel

Cons

  • Does not come with a headcover

BEST VALUE

Cobra Golf King Iron

Cobra Golf 2020 King Utility 4 Iron (Men's, Left Hand, Steel, Reg Flex, 22.5 Degree), Satin Chrome (R4801LSR4)

You should also consider the Cobra Golf King Iron.

This excellent driving iron comes with a hollow construction allowing for a lightweight swing with added tungsten weighting for better precision with every hit. This golf club is fully adjustable covering a range of degrees of loft and comes in a solid build for an excellent feel when it’s in your hand.

Upon impact with the golf ball, this device will emit a crisp sound for satisfaction, making this an all-round excellent choice and one of the best driving irons on the market.

Pros

  • Hollow construction for a lightweight swing
  • Tungsten weighting for better precision
  • Adjustability covering a range of degrees 
  • Solid build for an excellent feel 
  • Crisp impact sound

Cons

  • Heavier than some other driving irons

RUNNER UP

Taylormade P790

TaylorMade Golf P790 Iron Set, 4-P,A/Rh S

Yet another excellent driving iron by Taylormade is the P790 driving iron.

Similar to the Cobra club this also has a hollow construction which allows for a lightweight swing and improved impact with each hit. It has a low tungsten weighting for excellent precision and balance with every swing that you make and speed foam for enhanced speed, distance, and forgiveness throughout your game.

This club is available with either a graphite or steel shaft allowing you to choose between a lightweight swing or better balance, and also comes with a thru slot speed pocket which is engineered to maximize ball speed and provide added forgiveness.

With all these excellent features on offer, there is no doubt that this is one of the best driving irons available.

Pros

  • Forged hollow construction
  • Low profile tungsten weighting
  • Available with a graphite or steel shaft
  • Provides excellent forgiveness with each hit 
  • Allows you to hit a consistent distance

Cons

  • Dispersion of distance can be an issue on occasion

RUNNER UP

Titleist 718 T-MB

New Titleist 718 T-MB Iron Set 4-PW w/Stiff Flex Project X PXI Shafts RH

The final driving iron we think you should consider is the Titleist 718 T-MB.

This driving iron is designed with a cast, hollow head for a lightweight swing, and an unsupported face which allows for maximum ball speed. This iron is known to offer more forgiveness for its user making bad shots better, while also being more responsive and precise than its competitors allowing for an all-round better performance.

It has a 93.9g high-density tungsten weight for extra precision and distance gains with every hit, making it an excellent choice and one of the best driving irons on the market. 

Pros

  • Cast, hollow head for lightweight swing 
  • Unsupported face for maximum ball speed
  • Provides excellent forgiveness
  • Tungsten weighting for extra precision

Cons

  • Cast iron construction makes for a harsher feel at impact

Best Driving Iron Buying Guide

Whether you’re on the search for your perfect driving iron, or just asking fore a friend, you are definitely in the right place. The driving irons listed above are some of the best clubs that money can buy you, but if you’re still not certain we’ve put together this buyer’s guide to help.

It’s packed full of all the information you need to know and things you should consider when buying a driving iron, with an additional FAQ section to answer any questions you may have. Follow this guide and you’re sure to kick putt next time you’re out on the course. 

Forged or Cast

One major thing you should consider when making a purchase is the manufacturing process of your golf club, and whether you would prefer a forged or a cast club. Cast clubs are a lot more common with the majority of manufacturers choosing to make cast iron clubs, they are made by pouring liquid metal into a mold which then forms the club’s head and has the benefit of making the ball airborne quicker once hit.

Whereas forged iron clubs are made by beating or stamping soft steel into the desired shape which is a lot more labor-intensive, which explains why forged iron clubs are generally a lot more expensive than cast iron clubs. However, this cost may be justified as players tend to report a better “feel” when using forged clubs and that they allow them to identify their errors more quickly.

Ultimately, the only way to know which is right for you is by weighing up the pros and cons of each type against your budget and exactly what you want out of your golf clubs before making a purchase. 

Shaft and Flex

You should also consider the shaft and flex of the club you are considering buying before making a purchase. The shaft of the club is the part that you hold when taking a swing and it has a direct impact on the distance the ball will travel once hit, and the speed of your swing.

There are two main options of shaft to consider depending on what you want, if you want to increase the speed of your swing you should consider a lighter shaft which is commonly made of graphite, whereas if you want improved balance in your hits you should consider a heavier shaft which is often made of steel. The flex of the club is directly affected by the shaft as it refers to the way that the shaft twists during your swing.

When considering the perfect flex for you, there are 5 categories you should look at: ladies, senior, regular, stiff, and X-Stiff, as the perfect flex for you will depend on what you are looking for in a golf club as well as your level of experience and so much more. 

Loft and Distance

Additionally, you should think about the loft and distance you want to hit when making a purchase of a golf club. Driving irons are a great choice if you want to hit a longer distance but have a higher swing speed, as they can allow you to hit a larger distance through a faster swing.

Many golfers choose to include a driving iron as part of their set because they can help you achieve longer distance hits while also getting good control over the club and a better feel for the hit. You should also consider the loft of the club you want to buy if you are unsure what the loft is; it is the angle of the face of the club measured against the shaft of the club.

Most driving irons will have a loft of between 18 and 23 degrees, and you should decide what is best for you by looking at the speed of your swing, height, and other factors. 

Enhanced Height Control

Finally, when purchasing a driving iron you should consider the height control. One of the main reasons that driving irons are a popular golf club for both amateurs and professionals is because of the height control benefits they have which other clubs, such as hybrids, do not.

This is what makes driving irons such a great club, especially if you, as a player, tend to hit your shots quite high. Compared to hybrids, driving irons give you excellent control over your hit and the ball itself, allowing you to make hits that travel a greater distance by increasing the impact made from your club.

The importance of this factor will depend on your golfing ability, however, if you do tend to hit high, enhanced height control may be a good factor to consider when making a purchase. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best driving iron on the market?

There are lots of excellent driving irons available to buy, but which one is the best will depend on what you value most in a good iron.

Our personal favorite is the Callaway Mavrick as it uses artificial intelligence for a better impact from the face cup and has custom tungsten-infused weights for a better shot. If you are interested in this club, you should definitely check out our review above. 

Do pros use driving irons?

It used to be common for professional golfers to include a driving iron as part of their set, however, this number is steadily decreasing as more and more golfers are choosing hybrids instead.

But that doesn’t mean they no longer use irons, they just use them less regularly, usually choosing an iron during windy conditions or in links golf. 

How can I hit my iron shots better?

There are a number of ways to improve your iron shots, such as taking it back slowly, remembering your posture, and hitting the ball with the force of your whole body.

Additionally, you could improve your iron shots by using a better club, such as the ones reviewed above. 

Barry
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