A Driving Iron is one of the least common clubs in golf. If it weren’t for a resurgence in the last few years you would likely have trouble finding any of the best driving irons in your local golf shop.
Luckily for those who prefer to hit irons off the tee, this trend has caught on with many pros on the tour. Causing some of the top golf brands to throw their hat back in the ring.
Best Driving Irons For High Handicappers
Many people are under the impression that driving irons are only for pros on tour and those with low handicaps. Fortunately for high handicappers, this is not necessarily the case.
There are many golfers that have found their swing to be consistent and accurate while using irons. While their drivers and fairway woods are totally unreliable.
This leads these high handicap golfers to what are typically considered difficult to hit, low irons.
Luckily, for golfers looking to find some consistency off the tee, new technology has created much more forgiving driving irons.
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Pros
Incredible Forgiveness
High-Quality Golf brand
Perfect For High Handicappers
Multiple Loft Options
Cons
Less Control Than Low Handicap Driving Irons
Our top choice for high handicappers looking for a forgiving Driving Iron is the Taylormade GAPR LO. This beautiful club is a relatively new release from TaylorMade and has been a large part of the Driving Iron resurgence.
Hollow Club Face Structure
Much like our previously reviewed Taylormade club this LO GAPR has a hollowed-out clubface and is filled with “speedfoam”.
With the hollow head, the Taylormade club designers are able to place the weight in the club wherever they choose.
Optimal Weighting For High Handicappers
For this model, the weighting is placed low in the back of the face. There are several reasons for this. First, the low centre of gravity ( referred to as CG ) makes the ball fly further upon contact.
It also facilitates a low launch off of the club which gives the golfer fewer worries when it comes to the spin of the ball as well as wind.
This means that this club will offer you more forgiveness when the ball is hit off center
The look of this club is quite clean and has a stunning black finish. Though this may not seem like an important feature you will come to appreciate the clean look of this club when you are addressing the ball.
The idea behind the design of this Driving Iron was the same as the others on our list. That is to have it look like a traditional iron upon address. This is to give the golfer confidence with this club in their hands.
Mix Between Hybrid And Iron
This Driving Iron is designed to be a mix of a hybrid and an iron. The intention was to look a feel like an iron while still offering the power and forgiveness of a hybrid.
All while the addition of the larger clubhead and a lower centre of gravity would give it the distance of a hybrid.
This club was originally intended to fill a gap in your bag hence the name GAPR. But with the distance and forgiveness, it offers many golfers have begun to opt for this club off the tee instead of their iron or three wood.
Responsive Sound
The sound this utility club makes can be great or terrible depending on where you hit it.
The sweet spot on this club has a great resonating sound that makes it clear you’ve made great contact. Though if you happen to mishit this Driving Iron you will be able to tell right away by the sound it makes upon impact.
Multiple Loft Options
It is also worth noting that there are other driving irons in this line from Taylormade
This GAPR LO club is the furthest hitting club in its line as Taylormade also offers GAPR MID and GAPR HIGH models.
Cost And Value
The price of this Taylormade Driving Iron is on the higher end of the spectrum. But due to it’s incredible performance we found it to be well worth it’s price tag.
Are you looking to bring your game to the next level. Do you have a good sense of consistency with your irons? A utility club like this might be just what you need to make the jump.
Driving irons for mid handicappers present a great opportunity for consistent iron players to add some serious distance to their game.
Many mid handicappers are able to use this club to overcome their fears of mishitting woods and hybrids.
With a consistent Driving Iron longer holes will become much more manageable. Not to mention keeping the ball in the fairway is a much easier task.
To find the best single iron for mid handicappers we wanted to look for something that had great distance and flight. But still offered a little more forgiveness than the top of the line driving irons.
Pros
Best Fit For Mid Handicappers
Looks Like Iron Upon Address
Great Forgiveness
Huge Distance
Cons
Higher End Price
Less Control Than Low Handicapper Options
This Srixon utility iron is another addition to the list of newer driving irons on the market and is our top pick for the best Driving Iron for mid handicappers. Let’s check out the features below.
Hollow Headed Design
Similar to the Taylormade model this club is also a hollow-headed club. By keeping the head of this club hollow it allows for more forgiveness in contact and facilitates a higher ball flight.
The head of this club is also deeper than your traditional iron which also adds to the forgiveness and trajectory.
20 Degree Loft
Available in a 20 degree three iron this club should fit great between your four iron and fairway woods.
Appears As Regular Iron Upon Address
The look of this club is quite nice with a clean chrome iron-like design. The idea behind the aesthetics of this club was to appear at the address as a regular iron.
The hope of their design was to instil confidence in consistent iron players upon address.
Since many mid handicappers still have issues with fairway woods and hybrids, Srixon was hoping to create a confident look to the club prior to taking your swing.
Cost And Value
The price of this Srixon club tends to be around $260 putting at the mid-range point on our list.
The results of this club do not reach the top end capabilities that the Taylormade P790 offers. Though if you are a mid handicapper you will find that due to the forgiveness it is more than likely your game will improve more by using this club.
If you’re a mid handicapper looking for a consistent club that’s going to provide you with some serious distance than this Driving Iron from Srixon is a great option.
If you’re using a Driving Iron, chances are you likely a low handicap golfer. With the struggle many golfers have to hit this type of club it tends to lend itself more to the lower end of handicaps.
That being said, there is still a variance between driving irons. Meaning you must do some research to find which ones are the best fit for your skill level.
Our choice of the best low handicapper Driving Iron consists of one of the hardest to hit on our list. But also creates the highest quality shots.
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Pros
Highest Upside Driving Iron
Stinger Capabilities
Most Distance
Popular On Tour
Cons
Hardest To Hit
Smallest Club Face
If you’re a skilled golfer looking for the cream of the crop Driving Iron you shouldn’t be looking past this piece of equipment from Taylormade.
Throughout our research and testing, we found this club to have the highest upside of all driving irons and utility irons on the market.
Don’t believe us? Heres a few names of golfers that have used this club in recent years. Dustin Johnson, Rory Mcilroy, John Rahm, Justin Rose, Jason Day.
Great Look On Approach
This Taylormade club has a sleek steel finish and looks great upon address. This should lend confidence to golfers who feel comfortable looking down on an iron in their stance.
Hollowed Iron Build
The club features an interesting build that has become more popular with the resurgence of driving irons. This iron is neither a cavity back or a blade iron but rather a hollowed-out iron.
Inside the hollowed cavity is a material called “speedfoam”. This new material used by Taylormade reduces vibration in the club and helps to support the club face.
This utility iron is labelled as a 2 iron and has a loft of 17 degrees.
The face of this club is smaller than the other models on our list. This makes it harder to hit in the desired sweet spot. Though this shouldn’t be an issue for the intended golfers that will use this club.
Stinger Capabilities
Within their design is a featured “speed pocket” that is engineered into the low portion of the clubface. This facilitates “stingers” ( a low long iron shot with lots of roll ) as well as a lower and more predictable trajection.
Cost And Value
The price of this club tends to sit around $220. Though this may seem like a higher-end price point we found it to be well worth it considering the high-quality build and great features of this club.
If you are a low handicap golfer looking to fill or gap in your bag. Or just have a preference for low irons we found this Taylormade P790 to be a great choice.
Sometimes handicap isn’t the best indicator of what club suits you. Instead, you may want to look for the club that is working for most people.
Just like Titleist being the number one ball in golf, sometimes it makes sense to skip over the details and look for the club that people seem to be gravitating towards.
When it comes to driving irons that club is the Callaway Golf Men’s Rogue.
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Pros
Name Brand
Inexpensive Price
Cons
Not A True Driving Iron
Callaway has always been known to create high-quality irons and this Rogue X is just one more piece of proof.
Hollow Head Design
Similar to the other new release driving irons this Callaway utility club also has a hollow head. With a tungsten weight which ways twice as much as steel, they are able to easily control the weighting of the club.
This weighting at the bottom of the clubface creates an easier launch. It also gives the ball more carry than a traditionally weighted club.
This club can come in a full set of irons or each iron can be purchased separately online. Many golfers have opted to purchase the three iron from this set and use it as their Driving Iron.
Traditional Iron Look
The look of this club features a clean solid finish and looks more or less like your traditional iron. The main difference being the thick top line you will see when addressing the ball.
The feel of this club is standard to a traditional iron. Though since it is a 3 iron the club is, of course, longer and slightly heavier.
Club Sound
When hitting the sweets spot there is not a distinct noise like you will find on a hybrid or wood as it will sound much closer to a regular iron.
Mishits with this club create a vibrating sensation through your hands so you will be able to quickly determine if missing the sweet spot is your issue.
Cost And Value
With a price tag sitting right around one hundred dollars we found this club to be a great value buy.
If you’re looking for a name brand Driving Iron at a fair price than this Callaway Driving Iron is a fantastic option you can check out the current price here.
Are you looking for a Driving Iron that you can use off any tee block regardless of the situation? If that’s the case then it may be in your best interest to pursue and adjustable Driving Iron.
These interesting clubs can come in handy if you’ve found consistency with your Driving Iron and you want to build your game around it.
These adjustable features will also come in handy if you prefer to hit utility irons out of the rough or unfavourable lies. As you will be able to get the most out of this club regardless of the conditions.
When it comes to the most adjustable Driving Iron our pick was the Cobra King Utility Iron.
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Pros
Solid Design
Inexpensive
Adjustable
Cons
Less Trusted Brand Name
The Cobra King Utility Iron features the same hollow head tungsten weight design as the other driving irons on this list. And as stated earlier this helps create a low centre of gravity which facilitates an easier launch.
The true beauty of this club and what separates it from the rest of the pack is its adjustability.
This club has the unique ability to play as a 2 iron or a 3 iron. You are also able to choose from 8 adjustable loft settings to manage your trajectory and launch conditions.
The eight adjustable loft setting allows you to choose different lofts ranging from 18 degrees to 24 degrees.
This feature is incredibly handy for multiple purposes. If you are trying to fill a gap in your bag these adjustments assure that is possible. And if you are trying to find a club to hit off the tee blocks these adjustments allow this club to work for nearly any situation.
The overall forgiveness of this club is above average for a Driving Iron. Though still tough to hit compared to a standard iron this club is more forgiving than some of the highest-end driving irons.
If you are looking for an adjustable iron to fill a gap in your bag or hit of any tee block we suggest this Cobra King Utility Iron
If you’re like many of the world’s golfers out there you likely are hoping not to break the bank on any more golf equipment. Between memberships green fees, shoes, hats, glasses you name it golf expenses add up.
If you’re looking to try out a Driving Iron or just want an inexpensive than this is a great option.
Our selection for the best budget Driving Iron is the Momentus Men’s Power Hitter Iron.
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Pros
Best Budget Option
Cons
Lower Quality Build
Non Brand Name
As you can likely see from the image above this club is not manufactured from one of the major golf manufacturers. Despite its lack of brand trustworthiness, this club has a price point so low it cannot be ignored.
Inexpensive cost
At roughly one third the price of most our other options, we thought we would add this model to our list for those golfers looking to try out a Driving Iron.
This club is built to offer its users great distance and forgiveness. This makes it especially helpful for those looking for a driver replacement.
Included with this club is an instructional DVD and how to get the most out of this Driving Iron. This is another reason this club is likely best suited for beginners.
All in all, this model does not offer near the quality of the other options on our list but due to its significantly lower price point, it still is a good value buy for beginner golfers and high handicappers.
A Driving Iron or utility iron is a traditionally a low degree iron that is used off the tee block in order to hit the ball a great distance.
More recently driving irons have become a mix between a hybrid and an iron. This ensures they create even more distance to your shot.
Driving irons are a club primarily used by low handicap golfers. Though they that are quite tricky to hit. Due to the recent increase in technology the clubs have become accessible to more players.
When Should I Use A Driving Iron?
There are two main situations when players tend to use a Driving Iron. The first being the fill a gap in their game. High-level players that have good control over distances tend to use this club to fill the spot between their lowest iron and their hybrid or five wood.
The second reason being the consistent iron player. Some golfers struggle to hit woods or drivers consistently. Many times these golfers still have great control over their irons.
Though driving irons are a tough club to hit they certainly reduce your risks of slicing and hooking compared to a driver or 3 wood.
Now whether you are in either camp. Driving irons present you a great opportunity to step up your game and shave off a couple of strokes.
How Do I Hit A Driving Iron?
Due to the extended length and low loft of a Driving Iron you may find it much more difficult to hit compared to other clubs. Luckily we have some tips that should smooth over the process and have you hitting this club off the tee blocks in no time.
Try to keep your wrist and hands firm. Often times golfers will let their wrist break down too early which making consistent contact much harder. Keeping your wrists firm further in your backswing will increase the consistency with this club.
Move the ball closer to your front foot. These driving irons are not built with much loft so moving the ball further up in your stance will help you launch the ball higher if you are struggling with that aspect of this club.
What else can I Use A Driving Iron For?
There are a few more situations when players would opt to use a Driving Iron on the course.
Another instance where a golfer may use a Driving Iron is when trying to keep more balls in play. Some golfers just tend to swing better with an iron in their hands.
Not to mention the hardest club to hit is your driver. By choosing a Driving Iron off the tee some golfers find they are able to shave a few strokes off their game.
One final instance golfers may choose a Driving Iron is when trying to a hit “stinger”. A stinger is a low loft hard shot that travels a massive distance. Here is a video showing how you can shoot a stinger with a Driving Iron.
These are incredibly difficult shots and should only be attempted once you’ve found consistentcy hitting the ball with your Driving Iron.
Pros And Cons Of Using A Driving Iron
Pros: Windy conditions, Punch-Outs, and Consistency
Golfers who use a Driving Iron will see great benefits in their game when playing in the wind. This is due to the low ball flight that these clubs generate.
You will not be able to find a club that can hit the ball this distance while keeping it lower than a Driving Iron.
Punch outs are another instance in which driving irons come in handy. If you’re looking to keep your ball under tree branches but have some distance to travel a low loft club like a Driving Iron can be a lifesaver.
Consistency is another pro that can come with the use of a utility iron. Many golfers struggle to keep their long-distance shots straight. This is what leads many to use driving irons and if you’re a consistent iron player you will likely see much more consistency on your tee shots.
Cons: Small Club Face, Learning Curve
One of the disadvantages of using a Driving Iron compared to other long-distance clubs is the small clubface. The reduced size gives golfers much less room for error and tends to be less forgiving than hybrids and fairway woods.
The learning curve is another con of using a Driving Iron. These clubs are still referred to as one of the hardest to hit in golf so mastering these is no walk in the park. If you struggle with iron shots you will have a hard time trying to hit a Driving Iron well.
How Far Should I Hit My Driving Iron?
The answer to this question is very subjective and comes down to your swing speed, the type of driving iron you are using and the contact you are making with the ball. It would be tough to tell you exactly how far you will hit a driving iron but we can tell you how long you will hit it compared to your other clubs.
Your driving iron distance should sit between your lowest iron and your 3-wood or 5-wood. For example, say you hit your lowest iron 200 yards and your five wood typically goes 230 when hit well you should find your driving iron will hit in that 210-220 range.
This is why Taylormade named their club the GAPR as it fills this gap between your woods and irons.
Best Driving Irons Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our breakdown of the best driving irons of 2021. If you enjoyed this guide we recommend you check out our guide to golf alignment sticks.
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