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5 Best Budget Game Improvement Irons

Best Budget Game Improvement Irons

Most recommended
Cleveland Golf Launcher
  • Hand Orientation: Right
  • Shaft Material: Graphite
  • Flex: Regular

A good choice too
  • Hand Orientation: Right
  • Shaft Material: Steel
  • Flex: Regular

A good choice too
Callaway Rogue
  • Hand Orientation: Right
  • Synergy, 60G
  • Flex: Regular

  • Hand Orientation: Right
  • Shaft Material: Graphite
  • Flex: Regular

TaylorMade R-Bladez
  • High MOI
  • Shaft Material: Steel
  • Flex: Stiff


Choose the Best Budget Game Improvement Iron

Customer’s Choice: the Best Rated Budget Game Improvement Irons

50 users answered this survey. Please help us improve this review!

44% of users selected Cleveland Golf Launcher, 10% selected TaylorMade M4, 12% selected Callaway Rogue, 6% selected TaylorMade M6 and 28% selected TaylorMade R-Bladez. Every month we analyze your answers and change our rating.

We set out to find the best budget game improvement irons of 2020. After reading through countless customer reviews and testing out a few consumer favorites, we finally made our top five selections. Check them and our buying tips out in the sections below.

Cleveland Golf Men’s Launcher HB Iron Set– Best Overall

Starting off our list is the technically advanced Cleveland HB Iron Set. This package comes with a total of seven clubs. The hollow hybrid design offers players maximum forgiveness, speed, and yardage.

The high-strength steel faces of these clubs increase the speed and distance of balls. Meanwhile, the proprietary Hibore crown geometry gives the clubface a low, deep center of gravity. As a result, your shots should have ample height, maximum speed, and soft landings. In short, these irons are perfect for mid-handicappers who want to develop more confidence on the green.

The clubs’ low crown makes for higher, more accurate launches. As a result, players should have no trouble hitting long-distance targets. Meanwhile, the turbo-charged steel faces offer extra flex and durability upon impact. Moreover, the clubs’ raised soles prevent digging upon impact. You can save money by investing in the 2018 models.

The clubs have thicker top lines and lower profiles. As such, they give slow-swinging players maximum distance on their long-range shots. However, players with high swing speeds shouldn’t expect to see gains when using these game improvement irons.

We love the look of the painted heads. Keep these clubs under covers if you want to prevent the paint from peeling.

Pros
  • Hollow crown with low, deep center of gravity and minimal vibrations
  • High-strength steel face with pleasing black and chrome accents
  • Stiff Flex for more advanced shooters
  • Budget-friendly graphite shaft
  • High, straight launch for players with slow swing speeds
  • Wide, raised sole slides over the green with ease
  • Progressive shaping gives these clubs excellent launching potential
Cons
  • Thicker steel inserts than the turbocharged 2020 models
  • The graphite shafts are extremely light
  • You can expect these painted heads to get roughed up easily

TaylorMade M4 Iron Set– Best for Mid-Handicappers

TaylorMade’s M4 irons enable budget-minded players to get a taste of premium game-improving technologies. These reasonably priced clubs boast extra-long shafts and high lofts. The highly responsive RIBCOR technology offers players provides players with large sweet spots, lots of distance, and ample forgiveness. Heel and toe weights increase the club’s MOI. Meanwhile, TaylorMade’s proprietary Speed Pocket produces unexpected spin on low-face shots.

Customers seem pleased with the vibration-dampening effects and clicky sound of the cast head. These clubs offer a forged steel experience for a fraction of the price. Fluted hosels and 360 undercuts keep these clubs super balanced.

Pros
  • Proprietary RIBCOR technology offers localized face flexibility
  • Speed pocket offers low-face flexibility for more speed on mis-hits
  • Fluted hosel
  • 360-degree undercut for better launch, spin, and forgiveness
  • Fujikura Atmos and KBS Max 85 shafts
  • Optomized heel and toe weighting
Cons
  • Better suited for players who are looking to graduate to players’ irons
  • Strong lofts makes these more difficult to swing

Callaway Golf 2018 Men’s Rogue Irons Set- Best Budget

Callaway’s 2018 Rogue Irons offer players an excellent combination of distance, accuracy, and playability. The proprietary 360 Face Cup and VFT (variable face thickness) give balls sufficient speed. They produce a shallow, flexible rim around the sweet spot.

Meanwhile, MIM’d Internal Standing Wave technology offers optimal flight and control. The clubs also have urethane microsphere inserts for improved feel and sound. The modern black and steel finish on these clubs looks phenomenal.

Pros
  • 360 Face Cup with variable face technology
  • Face flexes to promote ball speed on off-center hits
  • Tungsten weighting optimizes the center of gravity
  • Urthethane microspheres help produce phenomenal sound and feel
  • Regular flex 60-gram Synergy graphite shafts
Cons
  • Not as great of sound and feel as we would have liked
  • Some resistance on off-center hits

TaylorMade Golf M6 Iron– Best Upgrade Option

TaylorMade’s M6 Irons offer players with mid- to high-handicaps sufficient forgiveness. Each iron has a thru-slot Speed Pocket that redirects mis-hits. Balls retain their momentum as they make their way to the club’s proprietary Speed Pocket. The Speed Bridge maximizes the distance, sound, and feel of off-center hits. The combined technologies produce high MOI, high launch, and a massive sweet spot.

While the M6 irons are a bit pricey, they provide you with a truly luxurious experience. Balls produce a pleasing click sound upon contact. Combine that with the club’s distance- and speed-enhancing design, and you get instance confidence.

Pros
  • Chrome, red, and gray accents
  • Regular flex
  • Ultra-thin face for consistent speed and distance
  • Inverted cone technology
  • HYBRAR compression dampers unwanted vibrations
  • Speed bridge offers ultra-fast thru-slot speed pocket
  • Fluted hosel and 360-degree undercut for more speed and height on low-face hits
Cons
  • Sole and club face scratch easily
  • The sole-indent tends to collect dirt

TaylorMade RocketBladez 2.0 Iron Set- Best Runner-Up

If you’re looking for irons that offer maximum forgiveness, be sure to check out the TaylorMade RocketBladez. TaylorMade’s revolutionary Speed Pocket technology makes for an ultra-thin face. RocketBladez irons have 17.5 grams of strategically placed weight. The Speed Pocket gives the iron a low center of gravity. In turn, players get ample height, speed, and distance. At the same time, the invert cone-shaped gives it a high MOI and lots of forgiveness.

The clubs are quite long for game improvement irons. They have chrome heads with black, gold, and gray accents. Alloy clubs produce a bit of unwanted resistance. However, the rigidness of the irons may help those with moderate to high swing speeds. The clubs boast standard grips and low offsets.

These clubs feature specially formulated polyurethane Speed Pockets. As a result, players get excellent sound and minimal vibrations upon contact. Meanwhile, the steel shafts give players ample rhythm and control. Finally, the irons’ ATV soles cut across the green nicely.

Pros
  • Regular flex from RocketFuel 85 Steel shafts
  • Modern yellow, black, gray, and chrome accents
  • Proprietary Speed Pocket technology provided slow hitters with consistent ball height, speed, and distance
  • Proprietary 3M polyurethane Speed Pocket insert
  • Inverted cone shape for high MOI
  • Narrow chrome sole for better green contact
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Doesn’t offer the same feel as a player’s iron
  • Players with striking issues may struggle to hit narrow sole

Buyer’s Guide

How to Choose the Best Game Improvement Irons on a Budget

It’s nice to have options, but the sheer abundance of game-improving irons makes it hard to settle on a single set. Many golfers struggle to find irons that are well-suited for their playing styles. Here are our tips for the best budget game improvement irons. Keep in mind that your playing style and product specs should play into your final decision.

Set Contents

Choosing a golf set can be confusing. Most iron sets consist of five to seven clubs. For example, a 3-PW set includes three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and nine irons. All of the iron sets in our roundup fall into the 4-PW category. That means that they include irons four through nine as well as a pitching wedge.

Flex

Choose a shaft with a flexibility that is suitable for your playing style and capabilities. A well-chosen flex should help you to keep your score low. Generally speaking, stiff (S) flexes offer players with average swing speeds more control and accuracy. Meanwhile, a regular (R) flex provides players with increased momentum. If you have a slow swing speed, you may want to choose a club set with a senior (A) or ladies’ (L) flex.

Material

The head and shaft materials also contribute to an iron’s overall forgiveness. Graphite shafts tend to be lightweight, flexible, and fast. However, they are not usually as accurate as their heavier steel counterparts.

Feel

Many players look for irons that offer exceptional feel upon impact. Dampened vibrations and a signature hit sound are two of the most desirable factors. Forged heads tend to produce fewer vibrations than the cast alternatives. However, the club’s soft insert may also help improve a club’s feel upon impact.

Design Elements

Game improvement irons tend to have thin faces and weighted soles. Many clubs boast head technologies that increase their sweet spots. In turn, these irons should offer mid-handicap players some impressive speed, accuracy, and distance improvements.

Price

Quality irons don’t come cheap. Last season and used sets are usually the best budget options. Still, there are plenty of well-performing mid-range options.

Are Game Improvement Irons Right for Me?

Game improvement irons are ideal for inexperienced or unskilled golfers. They are generally used by mid- to high-handicappers. These clubs tend to be more forgiving. They launch balls high, giving them lots of speed and distance.

Useful Video: Best Beginner Irons under $100

Wrapping Up

We hope you enjoyed our rundown of the best budget game improvement irons. If you’re in a rush, be sure to check out the Cleveland Golf Men’s Launcher HB Iron Set. These hybrid clubs provide players with ample forgiveness. Do you have a favorite game improvement iron? Let us know in the comment section below.