Best Irons For Seniors in 2023

senior golfer with golf clubs on a cart

If you’re in a hurry and just want to find the Best Irons for Seniors in 2023, then we recommend:

Golf is an awesome sport for seniors since it doesn’t require as much strenuous physical activity as other sports like baseball, football, or basketball.  Don’t get it confused though, the golf swing is still an athletic movement and being in good physical shape can only help.

However, as we age our energy, strength, and focus will decrease, making it necessary to make some changes to our gear in order to stay in the game and perform just as well as always.

In this article we’re going to be reviewing the following irons:

To see our other top clubs for seniors in 2022, check out this article: Best Golf Clubs For Seniors in 2022!

Before we get started reviewing the best irons for seniors, let’s look into why senior golfers need special equipment.

Why You Need to Update Your Golfing Gear as You Age

The primary reason why golfers over 50 need to take a longer look at the clubs they choose, is because swing speeds tend to slow down with age.

Choosing the correct golf clubs and balls can mean the difference between doing your best out on the course or struggling to even play since the gear you use plays a big role.

However, everybody is different in what they prefer. Contrary to what most people believe, playing golf isn’t just swinging a club around trying to get the ball in the hole. There is much more to it than that. It takes focus, precision, balance, timing, just the right amount of strength, specific posture, and so much more. Even your grip on the club matters as well as calculating the distance between the ball and your target.

As you age, your body’s strength and flexibility will decrease taking on a whole new stance, and therefore, your needs will change; maybe you will require a longer iron since you are not able to lean forward, bend your back, or knees or it’s getting harder to swing your clubs since they may feel a bit heavier lately and your swing speed is slowing down.

Whatever the reason, you will have to change with the times and once you find the perfect club for you, it will be a pleasure to play again.

How to Choose The Best Golf Irons For Seniors

In order to get the best irons for seniors, you need to know what to look for in a golf club. You want to get something lightweight, but not so light that you won’t be able to control your swing.

What Makes Senior Clubs Different Than Any Other Golf Clubs?

There are a number of different attributes that make golf clubs ideal for seniors today but by far the most important factor is the shaft and it’s flex. 

During your golf swing, the forces you apply will determine how much your golf shaft will bend or flex. Depending on your swing speed (slow, normal, or fast) and tempo (smooth or abrupt) the shaft flex will impact the trajectory, accuracy, and distance of your shot. Having a shaft that is more flexible can allow more distance and also help with angle; however, too much flexibility or stiffness can result in losing distance, accuracy, and going off-target as it can cause the shaft to lag too far behind and twist more. Basically, the slower your swing speed is, the more flex will be needed in your shaft. 

There are five basic shaft flex ratings: Regular (R), stiff (S), extra stiff (X), ladies (L), and senior (A). Note: the “A” is for “amateur,” which was originally used.

Shaft flexes are specifically designed to match various swing speeds. Regular and senior flex shafts are recommended for different swing levels as they provide two measures of flexibility and seniors usually have slower swing speeds. Senior flex shafts are designed for those who carry a driver around 180 to 200 yards with a swing speed of 75 to 90 mph and regular shafts are suitable for golfers who carry a driver around 200 to 240 yards with a swing speed of 90 to 100 mph.

Another factor affected by shaft flex is the launch angle, which is the angle by which the ball will fly from the initial impact of the club.

Generally speaking, a higher launch angle translates to more distance.  The swing speed and angle of attack will determine the launch angle; if your swing speed is slower you will most likely require a lighter shaft to increase swing speed and therefore increase the launch angle.

 

Finally you’ll notice in our reviews, we included many hybrid/iron combo sets since we feel most golfers, especially seniors should be playing hybrids instead of long irons, possibly even mid irons.  To get a quick primer on hybrids check out our article over here.

So now that we’ve covered that, let’s dive into the reviews for best irons for seniors!

Best Irons For Seniors in 2022 Reviewed

 

TaylorMade SIM2 Max Combo Set

The TaylorMade SIM2 Max Combo Set was built for speed and forgiveness, and they are the perfect club for many seniors who have enjoyed the game of golf for years. They are very easy to hit, and the hybrid replacements for the long irons are a great way to maintain distance and accuracy for slower swing speeds.

Best Irons For Seniors - TaylorMade SIM2 Max Combo Set

You get a 3 and 4 hybrid to go along with a 5-iron to PW and these clubs give you great forgiveness and a lot of extra distance.

The SIM2 has a thinner and faster face than its predecessors so that you get more ball speed and distance, and the new “hybar” material which gives you more feel and a better sound at contact.

The SIM2 is a hollow body design which usually means you substitute feel and accuracy with distance and forgiveness, but with these irons you get a little bit of both worlds.

The hybrid clubs are the SIM Max rescue hybrids. On a list of hybrid clubs for seniors, these would be at or near the top. 

red check price button

Pros

  • Having hybrids in a set for seniors is a no-brainer, and these are top notch hybrid clubs.
  • You get a lot of extra forgiveness and distance even at slower swing speeds. 
  • The irons look great on the ground and the hybrids look great at address.
  • Even with the hybrids in the set, it is a decent price.
  • A pretty noticeable increase in the size of the sweet spot between the previous SIM Max irons and the SIM2 Max.
  • The cap back design on the irons maximizes forgiveness and distance while lowering the center of gravity for a higher launch.
  • Some of the best hybrids out there in terms of distance and forgiveness, and they are good from almost any lie.

Cons

  • Some golfers may not want to pay the extra cost for the hybrids.
  • The irons are not very workable if you are used to drawing or fading the ball.
  • The soles are a little thicker than some player prefer.

Cobra King RADSPEED Combo Set

Cobra continues to create innovative golf clubs when it comes to speed, forgiveness, and distance. The Radspeed combo set is no exception to this rule.

In fact, Cobra is the first club manufacturer to use 3D printing in their club production. Similar to the Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology that other companies use, 3D printing allows Cobra to test multiple subtle changes to the club until it is just right.

The result is a really fast, really long, high launching, and forgiving set of irons. You will notice the 3D nylon medallion on the back cavity which is actually a lattice structure used to save weight and lower the center of gravity of the club.

They also use “radial weighting” in both their irons and hybrids to maximize speed and stability based on the weight placement in each club.

This is where the “Radspeed” name comes from. You will probably also notice the screw at the toe of the club which is actually a 10g weight that gets the center of gravity in the right spot.

The hybrids are also very fast and very long and the set gives you 1 hybrid and 6 irons (usually a 5-PW or a 5H and a 6-iron to GW).

red check price button

Pros

  • You have the flexibility to change the makeup of your set slightly.
  • The Radspeed line of hybrids and irons are really long and really forgiving, perfect for seniors looking to add that little bit of extra distance.
  • The distance provided is pretty effortless on the part of the golfer.
  • The weighting and the way these clubs feel in your hands is about as solid as you will find.
  • Great forgiveness across the entire face of both the hybrid and irons. You will not lose much distance even on off center strikes.
  • They look great, very modern and quite stylish.

Cons

  • One less club and for the same price as the SIM2 set.
  • Slightly on the expensive side because you will still need to supplement the set.
  • You lose a little feel and workability with the forgiveness and distance provided.

Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo 

The Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Irons are basically a set of hybrid clubs with lofts similar to what you would find in a set of irons. Just looking at them, you would think you were purchasing a set of hybrid clubs.

Best Irons For Seniors - Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo

Actually, the progressive design of these clubs starts with the 5-iron that is really just a hybrid and then progressively transitions into the higher irons that lose their hybrid shape.

These are supreme game improvement irons in that they give golfers with slow to moderate swing speeds a really high launch, quite a bit of extra distance, and the forgiveness needed to swing away at the ball.

With these irons/hybrids, you get a hollow construction for extra distance and forgiveness, the hi-bore crown for deep weighting and higher launch and trajectory, and a turbocharged face for extra strength that is thinner and hotter.

This is a set made for seniors as it gives you a better ball flight and more distance even as your swing slows down.

red check price button

Pros

  • A perfect set for seniors.
  • You get hybrids and irons together in one set.
  • A great price.
  • The turbocharged face is thinner and hotter than other Cleveland irons.
  • The graphite shaft with a senior flex provides extra whip at the bottom without losing a lot of control.
  • These clubs are made for distance.
  • If your swing is slowing down, these clubs give you everything you need to maintain distance.

Cons

  • These are supreme game improvement clubs and many seniors will still want the traditional iron sets.
  • There is very little feel and workability in these clubs.
  • Do not offer great feel around the greens.

XXIO Eleven

The XXIO Eleven irons have a simple goal in mind…To make the game easier. The Eleven irons are easy to gain distance, they are easy to launch, and they are easy to hit straight, all of the goals that XXIO had in creating these clubs.

Best Irons For Seniors - XXIO Eleven Irons

They were developed specifically for players with slow to moderate swing speeds, and they are especially good for players whose swing speeds are decreasing.

They feature a double undercut cavity that increases flexibility which in turn gives you more torque and more speed. There are rubber and brass weights in the buttend of each club to raise balance points in a way that other clubs do not.

These weights help you find and get to the very top of your swing smoothly so that you get that extra power from getting to the top of the swing.

While other manufacturers are trying to lower club weight, XXIO raises it and you get a smoother and more powerful swing because of it.  

red check price button

Pros

  • Made to make the game easier, and the features that make golf easier are the features that many seniors are looking for.
  • A moderate swing speed can produce increased lift and equal distance.
  • The weights in the butt of the club are different, but very effective for players needing that extra help getting to the top of their swing and smoothing it out on the way down.
  • Easy swings can produce high end distance.
  • Only come with lightweight graphite shafts so that you get the extra speed and torque at the bottom of your swing.
  • These clubs were almost specifically made for the senior golfer.

Cons

  • One of the more expensive sets on this list.
  • Not really made for players with even slightly above average swing speeds.

Callaway Mavrik Max Combo Set 

Callaway uses AI to produce a different face architecture for each club, irons and hybrids, in this set. Each Flash Face architecture maximizes ball speed, spin, and forgiveness for every club and every loft.

Best Irons For Seniors - Callaway Mavrik Max Combo Set

These clubs are game improvement irons/hybrids in that they give you increased distance and forgiveness, but the feel and spin around the green are not sacrificed either.

These are not a senior set of clubs, they were produced to be the most innovative iron on the market, but they work well for seniors too. The added distance and forgiveness are great for slower swing speeds, but the feel and workability are both great for seniors who are still really good golfers.

The hybrids in this set, the 4H and 5H, are both really good clubs in their own right and give you the distance and forgiveness of a fairway wood with the ball flight and feel of an iron.

red check price button

Pros

  • Each club is produced to maximize distance and forgiveness with Flash Face technology.
  • The hybrids are as good as any hybrid you will find and make this set perfect for seniors needing that extra distance.
  • A tungsten energy core in the back cavity adds to stability and a higher launch.
  • You still get great feel without sacrificing distance or forgiveness.
  • Some of the most innovative and technologically advanced clubs out there.
  • You gain significant distance compared to other clubs.
  • You still get some spin and workability.

Cons

  • On the expensive side.
  • Better for players with higher swing speeds.

Wilson Launch Pad 

The Wilson Launch Pad irons were developed specifically for higher handicap golfers to be able to get the ball off the ground more often and they delivered. The question is how does that translate to the senior golfer who is looking for some added distance without losing control and feel.

Best Irons For Seniors - Wilson Launch Pad

The key to these irons are the huge launch pad sole. Players that prefer hitting hybrids at any loft will love these irons. If you are a player that struggles getting the ball off the turf, these soles essentially float over the turf giving you a higher launch every time.

In fact, it might be more difficult to hit the ball fat than to get the ball in the air. They make the game fun, and the oversized head gives you a huge sweet spot and added distance.

They give you great confidence standing over the ball, and you can definitely swing a little harder knowing that the forgiveness is going to be there.

red check price button

Pros

  • With so many golfers moving to hybrid long irons, these basically give you the same type of distance and stability in higher lofts.
  • Great for seniors because they can swing away and know the forgiveness is there.
  • They give you good distance.
  • The launch pad sole will give you confidence and you will never bury your club.
  • The best priced option on the list.
  • Still get good feel in your short game.

Cons

  • These irons are more for higher handicap players than seniors.
  • Really good if you struggle getting the ball off the ground.
  • Not as much distance as the other irons on this list.

Final Thoughts on Best Irons For Seniors in 2023

 

Best Overall Choice: TaylorMade SIM2 Max Combo Set

The choice was difficult between the top 3 clubs on the list, but the quality and performance of the hybrids along with the new distance-increasing technology in the irons won the day for the SIM2 combo set.

Best Irons For Seniors - TaylorMade SIM2 Max Combo Set

red check price button

You get effortless distance, even with slower swing speeds, and the forgiveness and feel are there as well. These clubs were not designed with seniors in mind, but they are more than game improvement clubs and will help good players who need a little extra speed.

Most Affordable: Wilson Launch Pad.

The Launch Pad irons are easily the least expensive option, and they are great for players who struggle to get the ball off the turf. They also give you a little extra distance.

Best Irons For Seniors - Wilson Launch Pad

red check price button

JOIN 2,093 GOLFERS GETTING UPDATES ON THE LATEST GOLF GEAR​

Join 3,125 Golfers Getting Updates on the Latest Golf Gear

  • Consistent updates on the newest gear
  • Reviews by REAL GOLFERS like you
  • Early access to exclusive offers, giveaways, and more!
RBG Logo Vertical

Thank You!

Make sure to whitelist our emails from “redbirdiegolf.com”