Parents of junior golfers are often unsure about when kids should move from junior golf clubs into adult clubs. In addition it can tricky to choose suitable adult size golf clubs for juniors that are transitioning from kids clubs to adult clubs.
This article outlines factors to consider for juniors transitioning from lighter weight kids clubs to adult clubs and provides some examples for different skill levels. These considerations are also appropriate for teenagers picking up golf. The best golf clubs for teens will also depend heavily on their level of experience.
Overview
This guide is intended for juniors that are approx. 12 years old and up and in general is not intended for younger golfers, although, depending the size and strength of a junior, it is possible that kids younger than 12 could use regular adult irons.
For younger juniors that need a lighter golf club and are not yet ready for adult club heads please refer to this article: Best Kids Golf Clubs.
Intermediate to advanced junior golfers with a driver swing speed over ~85 mph (generally over 200 yards for their driver) can benefit from the advanced technology found in modern adult golf clubs. Note that although some of the major brands sell golf club sets that are specifically marketed for juniors from approximately 12-15 years old, these are generally cheaper options and are not the same quality and do not perform nearly as well as most adult adult clubs. Price usually reflects the quality of the design, build and materials.
Club fitting should be considered for advanced juniors and it is generally worth the cost in order to ensure you are getting the best performance for your junior golfer and that you are optimizing expensive sets of clubs. Fitting the right shaft is critical for juniors that are not using regular size adult clubs, since the length and flex of the shafts changes the performance of clubs significantly.
How to Choose Junior Transition Irons
With so many options out there it is easy to to feel overwhelmed in selecting junior transition irons and this can easily lead to "paralysis by analysis". All of the major club manufacturers have irons that are suitable for all levels of juniors from beginner to advanced.
Considerations for buying junior or teen golf clubs:
Budget
Tip: if you want to keep costs down there are many online shops and classified sites that sell high quality new and used golf clubs. Some of our favorites are: eBay and Callaway Golf Preowned. For some clubs, Amazon can be an option but beware of buying new clubs direct from foreign suppliers.
There are also many very good "prior season" iron sets that sell at heavily discounted prices compared to current year models. We recommend that you only buy new iron sets from a reputable shop such the dealer itself (e.g. Callaway) or from a reputable shop such as Worldwide Golf Shops and PGA Superstore.
Size and strength
Do not be in too much of a rush to move younger kids into adult clubs. US Kids Golf and Flynn Golf are still some of the best junior golf clubs available, especially for slower swing speeds and tempo.
Junior skill level
Intermediate or beginner junior golfers should look for irons with more forgiveness. See examples of clubs for different skill levels below.
Look and feel of clubs
Take your junior to the local golf shop to look at various models. Look at clubs in other junior's golf bags, ask if you can take a closer look at them and perhaps even swing them. Many golf club pro shops and coaches have demo irons that juniors can try.
Fitting
If possible, professional fitting is highly recommended and is usually around $100 or less - or sometimes it is free if you are buying clubs at a golf retail store like PGA Superstore. Most of the large golf brands websites (such as Callaway, Ping, and TaylorMade) have club selector tools / have on-line fitting guides, some of which also that take into account size, swing speed, handicap etc. and you can order directly from them.
Junior Transition Irons
Below are examples of irons for juniors and teens, based on different levels of experience and expertise. The club head weight of adult clubs (6 iron is used as a basis) ranges from approx. 252 grams to 265 grams. As a comparison, the US Kids Golf Tour Series 6 irons (size 60 & 63) is approx. 250 grams. The weight of irons is set out in each section below. Note that we have excluded irons priced at over $2,000 a set.
Callaway
Callaway has such a large selection of irons currently on the market (no less than 20 different head options), that it can be difficult to figure out the best options for a regular golfer, never mind a junior golfer. Below is a summary of recent model Callaway irons:
- Mavrik Pro, Mavrik and Mavrik Max: Launched in early 2020, the Mavrik series replaces the already excellent Rogue series. The Pro is aimed at the more advanced player but is forgiving enough for most intermediate golfers to be able to use.
- Rogue, Rogue Pro, Rogue X, Rogue W: These irons are designed for distance, accuracy and playability. They are cheaper option than the Epic and great clubs at the price, starting at ~$600 for a set of 7 irons at Worldwide Golf Shops. Very suitable as junior transition irons and reviewed in detail below.
- Apex 21 line, Apex 19 line, Apex 16 line, Apex Pro: The Apex is Callaway's flagship iron and is used by many tour pro's. It has been around for a few years and is regularly tweaked for new technologies. There is Apex iron for all levels from beginner to advanced juniors. Priced from ~$1,050 for a set of 7 irons. See detailed review below.
- X Forged CB: Less forgiving than all other Callaway irons except the Apex MB. On the more expensive side, starting at ~$1,140 for a set of 7 irons.
- Big Bertha, OS, 21 and older Big Bertha models: These are high MOI, weight distribution for optimal forgiveness. Super Game Improvement irons that weigh from 255 to 260 grams. Typically have an offset face with a wide sole that provides for maximum forgiveness and high launch.
- Epic, Epic Pro and Epic Star: high end irons, expensive materials, the latest technologies, high ball speed, forgiveness and performance. These are "Game Improvement irons" and the Epic and Epic Pro both weigh 260 grams. The Epic irons are one of Callaway's premium product and thus are very expensive (twice the price of the Mavrik and Rogue models). Starting at $1,750 for a set of 7 irons and $2,100 for a set of 7 Epic Star irons.
- Steelhead XR, Steelhead XR Pro: Combination of fast face and very forgiving. Both are Ultra Game Improvement irons and weigh 255 grams and 260 grams, respectively. These can be a great first set of irons for juniors at reasonable price for good condition used sets.
Buying advice - below we have provided links to some good buying options. We also like the excellent Callaway Golf Pre-Owned website. A set of "excellent condition" irons can go for half the price on the Callaway Pre-Owned site than new. The site also has an "other brands" section with some great deals on brands other than Callaway. Prior season Callaway irons can be a great deal for anyone getting into the game or not wanting to shell out too much for a set.
Callaway Rogue ST Irons
Callaway Rogue ST Irons | |
|---|---|
Recommended for: | Rogue ST Pro: Advanced Rogue ST Max: Intermediate Rogue ST Max OS: Beginner/Intermediate Rogue ST Max OS Lite: Beginner/Intermediate |
Retail Price (approx. for set of 7 irons): | Rogue ST Pro: $1,199+ Rogue ST Max: $999+ Rogue ST Max OS: $999+ Rogue ST Max OS Lite: $1,099+ |
The 2022 Rogue ST line of irons replace the Mavrik. A lot of good new technology makes these irons very attractive for juniors, especially for intermediate to beginner junior golfers.
Improvements include a better designed and constructed AI flash face that is faster across the face, due to face optimization and use of 450 steel combination in the face with a 17-4 steel body. The biggest difference is perhaps the use of a lot more tungsten than the Mavrik line, up to 62 grams, an increase of 260%. The use of tungsten allows for a better weight distribution across the club.
- ST Max: all round irons for beginner to intermediate. 50% lower CG than the previous Mavrik (helps ball launch). Despite also having a weaker loft than the Mavrik, these still have stronger lofts than standard as is the case with many modern distance irons. Overall these are excellent irons for juniors scoring in the low 80's to 100's range.
- ST Max OS: slightly larger version of the Max with more forgiveness.
- ST Max OS Lite: this is a new "light weight" iron in response to feedback that a lighter iron with weaker lofts would be good for beginners and golfers with slower club head speed. The OS Lite have 16 grams less Tungsten for a lighter head weight, combined with a lighter shaft and swing weight suited for slower swing speeds. With 3 degrees more lofts (weaker loft), these are designed to help golfers get the ball in the air.
- ST Pro: player look with a shorter blade length and less offset. Designed for low to mid single figure handicap players, this could appeal to juniors scoring in the 70's to low 80's. These irons have stronger lofts than Apex Pro but are not quite as forgiving as the Apex, so fit somewhere between the two.
Callaway Mavrik, Mavrik Pro & Mavrik Max
Callaway Mavrik Irons | |
|---|---|
Recommended for: | Mavrik Pro: Intermediate/ Advanced Mavrik: Intermediate / Beginner Mavrik Max: Intermediate / Beginner |
Club Head Weight: | Mavrik Pro: 264g Mavrik: 257g Mavrik Max: 263g |
Retail Price (approx. for set of 7 irons): | Mavrik Pro: $900+ Mavrik: $655+ Mavrik Max: $800+ |
The Mavrik replaces the Callaway Rogue which were already very good irons for juniors. The irons are not overpriced, yet are full of the latest Callaway technology and materials. The Mavrik Pro are excellent all round clubs that juniors with handicaps in the single digits through teens, can enjoy.
The Mavrik and Mavrik Max are both suitable for intermediate through beginner golfers. With the regular Mavrik getting more distance than the Max, being about as forgiving as the Max, looking very much the same, and being significantly cheaper, it is difficult to see why golfers would opt for the Max. The Callaway Mavrik is definitely a great option for juniors or teens.
Callaway Rogue, Rogue Pro and Rogue X
Callaway Rogue Irons | |
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Recommended for: | Rogue: All Juniors Rogue Pro: Intermediate / Advanced Rogue X: Intermediate / Advanced Rogue W: Beginner / Intermediate |
Club Head Weight: | ~260 grams |
Retail Price (approx. for set of 7 irons): | Rogue: $789+ Rogue Pro: $875+ Rogue X: $789+ Rogue W: $875+ |
The Rogue irons have Callaway's excellent 360 Face Cup (the same as the Great Big Bertha and Epic irons) that provides high speed off the face, Variable Face Technology (as opposed to the Exo-cage structure of the GBB and Epic) that provides excellent speed, even on off-center hits, and tungsten weights that provide maximum forgiveness and playability.
An internal urethane compound provides good feel and sound by soaking up vibrations and high pitched/tinny sounds, while still allowing maximum face flex. The Rogue irons replaced the Callaway Steelhead XR and Steelhead XR Pro iron line.
Below is brief overview of the difference between each of the Rogue models and some of the other major brand clubs that are comparative to these irons.
Rogue: all-round great performance that can be used by any level player. Comparative irons are Taylormade M4 and Titleist AP1. These look and feel like player irons but provide all the forgiveness you could want.
Rogue Pro: smaller face and thinner topline than the regular Rogue, giving a "player iron" look. More workable but not quite as forgiving. Comparable irons are the Taylormade M3, Titelist AP3, and Ping 790. Callaway also brought out the cool looking Rogue Pro Black irons in June 2018.
Rogue X: fitted with longer, lighter shafts and stronger lofts. These irons are for players with a slower than average swing speed. Longer than the other Rogue irons and also longer than most other irons on the market. 6 irons tests were approx. 7 yards longer than the Rogue and Rogue Pro irons. In general juniors do not benefit from the longer shaft and they will generally be using lighter shafts anyway. In addition, stronger lofts does not necessarily benefit juniors.
Rogue W: designed primarily for ladies and seniors, these come with light weight graphite shafts and are designed to get the ball into the air easier and provide more distance. The forgiveness and distance comes from a very low CG, wide sole, and large cavity back design. These are suitable for juniors with slower swing speeds and beginner to intermediate juniors that can benefit from a little more forgiveness.
Callaway Apex 2021 Line
Callaway Apex 21, Apex Pro 21, Apex DCB 21, Apex MB | |
|---|---|
Recommended for: | Apex 21: Intermediate to Advanced Apex Pro 21: Advanced Apex DCB 21: Beginner to Intermediate Apex MB: Advanced |
Club Head Weight: | Apex 261g, Pro 260g, DCB 264g, MB 260g |
Retail Price (set of 7 irons): | $1,295+ |
As with the prior Apex irons, these are excellent forged high performance clubs. New for 2021 is the Apex DCB 21 (DCB = Deep Cavity Back) which are designed for beginner to intermediate golfers (e.g. handicap 15 and more). Mixed sets are also available and a great option for a junior looking for more forgiveness in the long irons and more of a forged look and feel in the short irons.
The 2021 series benefit from Callaway's AI designed "flash face cup" which is designed to optimize speed and spin across the face. The 2021 series also has 5 times as much tungsten as the 2019 series which means the COG can be positions precisely in the club head enhancing forgiveness and launch. All clubs feature forged 1025 steel in their construction.
These are great looking clubs and very popular clubs that should last for many seasons. Callaway has a great ordering tool to tailor your clubs, directly from the company on the Callaway website site.
Callaway X Forged CB
Callaway X Forged CB | |
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Recommended for: | Advanced Players |
Club Head Weight: | 260 grams |
Retail Price (approx.): | $1,400+ for 7-Piece Iron Set |
The 2021 Callaway X Forged is designed for low single digit to plus handicaps. The X Forged is a "forged cavity back" that is more forgiving than the Apex MB blades but still has superb control and workability. Sets comprising 3 iron through PW are available.
In case you need more forgiveness in your long irons but want the X Forged look, the X Forged UT long iron options are a cavity back design / hollow face that has tungsten inserts that provide more forgiveness and a higher MOI than the standard X Forged. The UT's are available in lofts of 18, 21, 24, 27 and 30 (roughly 3 iron through 5/6 iron lofts).
Earlier models of the X Forged (2019, 2013 and 2009) are also great irons and can be found for significantly less than the 2021 model though given the age, some the older sets can very well used.
Cobra
While Cobra do make and sell Cobra junior golf clubs for 13-15 year old junior golfers (see our review here), it more of a beginner set and their adult irons are more suitable for teens and advanced juniors.
King Tour
Cobra King Tour | |
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Recommended for: | Advanced |
Club Head Weight: | 265 grams |
Retail Price (set of 7 irons): | $1,300 |
The King Tour was released in October 2020 and features a manufacturing process called MIM (metal injection molding) that produces an ultra-soft feel similar to grain flow forged irons while also providing for a precision in the shape of the irons.
These irons also have a tungsten weight in the toe of the club head that adds stability and forgiveness as well as a thermoplastic polyurethane insert behind the face to enhance the soft feel and absorb vibrations.
The back of the clubs looks like a players distance iron while the top view for the golfer looks more like a true players iron. Performance wise, the King Tour are suitable for advanced players but could also be used by intermediate players thanks to their relatively forgiving design and performance.
King Forged Tec
Cobra King Forged Tec | |
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Recommended for: | Intermediate to Advanced |
Club Head Weight: | 264 grams |
Retail Price (set of 7 irons): | $1,100 |
The King Forged Tec is Cobra's entry into the highly popular "players distance" irons. Similar to many other big brands in this iron category, the King Forged Tec has a hollow cavity with tungsten weights that provides distance and forgiveness while the club still has a sleek muscle back player look to it. It is also available in a one-length option for those juniors wanting to follow in the footsteps of Bryson DeChambeau.
The King Forged Tec are suitable for a wide range of players such as those previously playing either the King F8/F9 or the Forged Tec Black. They are best suited to high single figure and teen handicaps.
King Forged MB/CB
Cobra King Forged CB/MB | |
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Recommended for: | Advanced Players |
Club Head Weight: | 264 grams |
Retail Price (set of 7 irons): | $949+ |
The King Forged CB/MB are designed for single figure handicaps and better. Used by tour players these are high quality performance irons and are based on Ricky Fowler's custom gamers. The long irons (4 to 6 irons) are cavity backed irons with high MOI to provide forgiveness in these clubs. The short irons (7i to PW) are muscle back player irons designed for precision scoring shots. A 5 step forging process results in pure feel and performance. These irons are suitable for elite juniors who regularly shoot in the 70's or better.
Radspeed
Cobra Radspeed | |
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Recommended for: | Beginner to Intermediate |
Club Head Weight: | 256 grams |
Retail Price (set of 7 irons): | $900+ |
The Cobra Radspeed irons are aimed at higher handicap and beginner golfers. The primary benefit of these irons is that are very forgiving, easy to get in the ball into the air and provide exceptional distance for golfers with slower swing speeds. In addition, beginners may find the one-length versions to be easier to learn with.
Better players will probably not like the rather chunky look, may find that the range of distances from the same club are more than desired and will find scoring with short irons more difficult due to less spin.
Overall these are great looking clubs and priced very reasonably and could be a great club for someone starting to learn the game of golf or just wanting an easier club to hit.
Cobra King F8
Cobra King F8 | |
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Recommended for: | All juniors. |
Club Head Weight: | 262 grams |
Retail Price (set of 7 irons): | On sale from $499 |
The Cobra King F8 irons are best for junior golfers with moderate to high swing speeds. These are good looking clubs with technology designed to help intermediate golfers with longer carry distances and higher trajectory. The irons all come with the Cobra Connect Arccos Technology that provides best in class shot tracking for game analysis and feedback.
The 4i to 7i have a hollow construction to lower the CG and a hot face plate for increased speed and higher launch. The 8i to PW have a cavity-back design for increased accuracy and control on approach shots. Carbon fiber inserts dampen vibrations and improve feel. The irons are approx. 5% longer than the old King F7 irons and we found them to generally be 5-10 yards longer than comparable irons. These are one of the few irons sets that have Gap wedge, Sand wedge and Lob Wedge.
Cobra has a newer version of these irons, the KING F9 Speedback and One Length. The F9's are even more forgiving than the F8's and thus suitable for beginner to intermediate junior golfers. Advanced golfers may find the larger heads a little bulky looking and may not need the high level of forgiveness that these clubs offer. Priced at around $799 for a 7 iron set they are good value for a great set of irons.
There is also the option of one length King F8 irons for the same price. One length irons became very topical when Bryson DeChambeau became only the 5th player in history to win the NCAA Division I championship and the U.S. Amateur in the same year - using Cobra single length irons.
We do not see many juniors using single length irons but there is certainly some merit in the science behind them. For more information about one length irons we like this article by TomWishonGolf.
Cobra also offers light weight graphite shafts including a Lite/Senior flex shaft with a 63 gram weight. In addition Cobra sell a women's King F8 iron set that comes with lighter shaft and swing weight.
Comparable irons from other manufacturers include: Callaway Rogue, Taylormade M4, Ping 400/700, Mizuno JPX900, and Titlesit 718AP.
Cobra King Forged Tec Black 2018
Cobra King Forged Tec Black 2018 | |
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Recommended for: | Advanced Juniors |
Club Head Weight: | 262 grams |
Retail Price (set of 7 irons): | $1,099+ |
Advanced juniors wanting more workability and feedback than the Cobra King irons should consider the King Forged Tec irons. These are better player shape irons with a great look while still having good feel and forgiveness.
Technology advancements have been applied compared to the previous Cobra Forged Tec irons. These multi-material construction irons are made with 4140 stainless steel face insert for longer, high flying, straighter shots. Tungsten weights in the heel and toe provide more forgiveness. The TEC in the name stands for Technology Enhanced Cavity and includes a carbon fiber insert that improves sound and feel.
Cobra offers a 71 gram Recoil 660 shaft that could be well suited to many juniors. Similar to the King F8 there is a Forged Tec Black "One Length" version available. Cobra also offers black utility irons and wedges to complete the set.
The Cobra King Forged Tec (2016) irons are also a great option for advanced juniors and can be found for approx. $200 less than the newer Forged Tec Black.
Mizuno
Mizuno are famous for making the highest quality forged irons, thanks largely to their patented grain flow forging technology that uses a bar of carbon steel to make the whole club head, including the hosel. Historically Mizuno has specialized in blade type irons with "conventional" and "classic" performance, designed primarily for better players (e.g. the MP or "Mizuno Professional" line). Recently, Mizuno has also started producing some very good game improvement irons such as the JPX line.
Below are the excellent JPX options and we have also provided an overview of MP options that might be suitable for more advanced juniors.
Mizuno JPX 921 and 919 Hot Metal / Hot Metal Pro
Mizuno JPX 921 & 919 Hot Metal and Pro | |
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Recommended for: | All junior levels |
Club Head Weight: | 259 grams |
Retail Price (set of 7 irons): | $875+ |
The Mizuno JPX 921 and 919 Hot Metal and Hot Metal Pro irons are great looking and excellent performing game improvement irons. The ultra thin cup face provides very good ball speed and distance, while the cavity design and weight positioning result in a good level of forgiveness for intermediate junior golfers.
While the Hot Metal is not a Super (or Ultra) Game Improvement iron, it could potentially also be used by less experienced juniors golfers.
The Hot Metal Pro is very similar to the regular Hot Metal but has a more compact look to it and is a similar size head as the 921 & 919 Forged but is a cast head vs the forged head. These compare well to the cavity back, fast faced irons like the TaylorMade P790, Ping i500 and Titleist 718 T-MB.
At just over $100 per club these are an excellent choice for juniors looking for a top quality and performing iron while not wanting to break the bank! Used sets of 919 irons can be found at excellent price for what you are getting. There is a good reason that these one of Mizuno's top selling irons.
Mizuno JPX 921 and 919 Forged
Mizuno JPX 921 and 919 Forged | |
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Recommended for: | Intermediate to Advanced |
Club Head Weight: | 258 grams |
Retail Price (set of 7 irons): | $1,150+ |
The Mizuno JPX 921 and 919 Forged irons have the feel of a forged iron but with a little extra forgiveness thanks to weight moved to the outsides of the frame and a thinner, hotter face. The variable thickness frame also allows for higher ball speeds on off center strikes.
The Forged is a great option for teen golfers that are trending to advanced levels of play. We see these clubs in the bags of many accomplished junior golfers. The only downside is that they are one of the most expensive options.
Mizuno MP 20 (Forged MB, MMC, HMB)
Mizuno MP-18 | |
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Recommended for: | MB: Low single figure to plus handicaps MMC: Advanced Juniors HMB: Intermediate to Advanced Juniors |
Club Head Weight: | 259 to 260 grams |
Retail Price (set of 7 irons): | $1,200+ |
Overview of the MP 20 models:
The Mizuno MP 20 Forged CB MMC are excellent irons for advanced players - e.g. single figure and better handicaps.
- MP20 Forged Muscle Back (MB): True blades for advanced and tour players. Beautiful and amazing to hit if you can consistently find the center of the club face!
- MP20 MMC: Suitable for single figure to plus handicap golfers. Replaces the previous model MP18 SC's. The irons heads are only a little larger than the MP20 MB's and they also have tungsten weighting to provide a little stability on off center strikes. One of our plus-handicap juniors recently moved from the JPX 919 Forged to the MP20 MMC's and is enjoying more workability and tighter dispersion - especially in distance consistency.
- MP20 HMB: HMB stands for Hybrid Muscle Back. The HMB is visually only slightly larger than the MMC and flies only slightly further. The benefit it provides is a little more help with dispersion on off-center strikes. It may be a good "mix and match" option with the MMC or MB - i.e. with the HMB being the longer irons in the set - e.g. 3 iron through 6 iron.
Mizuno MP-18 (MB, SC, MMC, Fli-Hi)
Mizuno's MP18 line is actually three (and a half) sets, with different designs to suit different player skills levels and desired look and feel. What is consistent between the models is that they are all manufactured with the quality materials and craftsmanship that Mizuno irons are famous for. This includes 1025E steel and they all benefit from Mizono's grain flow forge manufacturing techniques.
Mizuno MP-18 | |
|---|---|
Recommended for: | MB: Low single figure to plus handicaps MMC: Advanced Juniors SC: Advanced Juniors |
Club Head Weight: | 260+ grams |
Retail Price (set of 7 irons): | $875+ |
Overview of the MP 18 models:
- MP18-MMC (Multi Material Construction): Best for advanced juniors. These are a little more forgiving than other irons in the MP line (other than Fli-Hi). Mizuno uses lightweight titanium and heavier tungsten parts sealed within the 1025E mild carbon steel head to provide a moderate level of forgiveness in great looking irons. According to Mizuno, these are comparable in performance to the old Mizuno MP-54 irons. These are suitable for juniors shooting in the 70's or low 80's.
- MP18-SC (Split Cavity): The slightly wider sole and split cavity make the MP18-SC more playable than the muscle-back (Standard) model. These are superb performing irons for elite players and may be suitable for older juniors that are single digit handicaps (from men's tees).
- MP18-MB (Muscle Back): These are true blade irons with a short blade length and thin top line. Despite the fantastic look of these clubs there is really is no reason for juniors to be using these. Although a fair amount of Tour players do still use MB irons, many are opting for irons with more forgiveness than these types of irons.
- MP18-Fli-Hi: This long iron replacement is a hollow body (cavity backed) long iron with a maraging steel face (the same material as is used in many modern fairways woods) and tungsten toe weighting. These are great to blend with other MP irons. For example, a good setup for advanced juniors might be Fli-Hi's in the 4-6 irons and 7-PW in the MP-18 MMC or MP-18 SC.
Ping
When buying Ping irons either direct from a retailer or a used set, it is important to make sure they are have the correct lie angle. Ping uses a color coded fitting chart for this purpose - see below (click on the image below to expand). You can use the chart to determine the right fit for your junior or visit the Ping "Webfit" page for a static club fitting guide that will help guide you not only for the color code but also shaft and clubs. There are lots of very good condition used Ping irons sets on eBay. Before buying on eBay, use the fitting guide above to ensure you get the right color "dot".
Ping i210
Ping i210 irons | |
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Recommended for: | Advanced Juniors |
Club Head Weight (6 iron): | 259 grams |
Retail Price (approx.): | $875+ for 7-Piece Iron Set |
The Ping i210 irons were introduced in 2018 as the replacement for the Ping i200 irons. These irons are suitable for advanced juniors (e.g. single handicap players) and are Tour player irons.
The performance of these irons is similar to the i200's but with a better feel, thanks to the larger elastomer insert in the 210's. The leading edge is improved for less friction and the Hydropearl face finish is meant to improve ball control from wet and rough conditions as well as prolong the life of the club.
Ping i200
Ping i200 irons | |
|---|---|
Recommended for: | Advanced Juniors |
Club Head Weight (6 iron): | 261 grams |
Retail Price (approx.): | $699+ for 7-Piece Iron Set |
The Ping i200 irons were introduced in 2017 as the replacement for the already great Ping i irons. Both are great options for juniors given the club head weight and fitting options. We see these "better player" ping irons in use with some of the top juniors as well as on the professional tours.
The Ping i200's are mid-sized irons with better player looks and a good mix of workability and forgiveness. Compared to the i-irons, the face is 30% or 1mm thinner making it a little hotter and MOI is increased by 7% through moving weight into the heel and toe areas. Compared to the Ping i-blade, the i200 is slightly more muted (due to slight cavity back design), is more forgiving and has a higher launch.
Ping i Series E1
Ping i Series irons E1 | |
|---|---|
Recommended for: | Intermediate / Advanced |
Club Head Weight (6 iron): | 259 grams |
Retail Price (approx.): | $699+ for 7-Piece Iron Set |
Introduced in 2015, the Ping i model E1 is a very good club for juniors and are quite similar to the i200's in terms of the look and feel, but are slightly more forgiving than the i200's. Ping i-series iron sets can be found on Ebay for less than $300 - a great value! Make sure to use the interactive fitting guide on the Ping website to make sure you are getting the right color "dot" (lie angle).
Ping G425 irons
Ping G425 irons | |
|---|---|
Recommended for: | Beginner to Intermediate |
Club Head Weight (6 iron): | 254 grams |
Retail Price (approx.): | $875+ for 7-Piece Iron Set |
Introduced in 2021, the Ping G425 irons are the next generation of their G-series irons aimed at the higher mid to high handicap golfer.
Ping has done a great job on the look and feel of the G425 irons. They look more like players irons with a smaller head and top line view. The cavity back is filled in with multi-material badging which is aluminum and ABS material that provides a better feel at impact and also decreases vibration. Overall these may be the best looking game improvement irons on the market in 2021.
Weighting has been improved to provide more MOI (less twisting at impact) than the G410, which already had excellent MOI ratings. While overall distance with the G425's is not quite as far as some of the other "distance irons" on the market, accuracy (dispersion) is excellent. Ping also have extended the line through the wedges which are similar to their Glide wedges used by advanced and even some tour players.
Although classified as game improvement irons, the G425 irons are ideally suited to intermediate golfers in the 10 to 25 handicap range. Even some single figure handicap golfers might like the slightly more forgiving nature of these as compared to the i210 irons.
Ping G410 irons
Ping G410 irons | |
|---|---|
Recommended for: | Beginner to Intermediate |
Club Head Weight (6 iron): | 256 grams |
Retail Price (approx.): | $675+ for 7-Piece Iron Set |
Introduced in 2019, the Ping G410 irons are game improvement irons that look more like players irons with less offset and a smaller face than the previous model G400's. Adding tungsten weights on either side of the club provides more stability on off center shots with higher MOI than the G400's.
The G410's have a higher launch angle than the G400's but still carry approx. the same distance. This is definitely a win unless you play in a very windy location where a lower launch and ball flight might be desirable.
Overall Ping has done an excellent job with the G410's. They are ideally suited to intermediate and beginner golfers although some single figure handicap golfers might also enjoy the extra forgiveness while keeping the player look.
Ping G400 irons
Ping G400 irons | |
|---|---|
Recommended for: | Beginner to Intermediate |
Club Head Weight (6 iron): | 255 grams |
Retail Price (approx.): | $699+ for 7-Piece Iron Set |
Introduced in 2017, the Ping G400 irons are a little lighter weight than most adult clubs and are, in fact, only slightly heavier than the USKids TS3 V5 irons. The G400 irons are designed for more distance (thanks to a thinner, hotter face) and more forgiveness. All this while keeping a good look and feel club. These irons have slightly more offset than the Ping i's and i200's.
Ping G710 Irons
Ping i500 irons | |
|---|---|
Recommended for: | Beginner / Intermediate |
Club Head Weight (6 iron): | 256 grams |
Retail Price (approx.): | $1,140+ for 7-Piece Iron Set |
The Ping G710's are both long and forgiving, a great combination for beginner and intermediate golfers! Also on the plus side, they look fantastic. On the downside, they are not the cheapest on of Pings irons in this category. Mid to high handicap golfers with slower swing speeds can definitely benefit from the extra distance these irons provide.
Ping i500 Irons
Ping i500 irons | |
|---|---|
Recommended for: | Intermediate / Advanced Juniors |
Club Head Weight (6 iron): | 258 grams |
Retail Price (approx.): | $1,140+ for 7-Piece Iron Set |
The Ping i500 irons were introduced in 2018 and use more advanced technology than both the G400 and the traditional i-series irons (e.g. the i200's and i210's). These great looking clubs are "fast faced" enclosed cavity back irons and similar in design and looks to the Taylormade P790 and Titleist T-MB irons (see below). The higher launch of these clubs allowed Ping to make the irons with approx. 2.5 degrees stronger lofts, resulting in more distance than regularly constructed irons.
The face is made from maraging steel which is the same high quality material as the hot face G400 fairway wood. The irons have a cavity back that is completely enclosed resulting in a club with clean lines and a great sound.
The Ping i500s have a "players iron" look. The downside is that they are on the expensive side at approx. $1,140 for a 7 club iron set. In general you can also add approx. $200 for the more flexible graphite shafts.
Srixon
Srixon ZX4, ZX5, ZX7 (2023 MKII Models)
Srixon ZX4, ZX5, ZX7 (2023 MKII) | |
|---|---|
Recommended for: | ZX4: Beginner to Intermediate ZX5: Intermediate to Advanced ZX7: Intermediate to Advanced |
Club Head Weight: | ZX4: 262g ZX5: 258g ZX7: 257g |
Retail Price (set of 7 irons): | ZX4: $1,200 ZX5: $1,200 ZX7: $1,300 |
ZX4 - Most forgiving of the line-up. Hollow face iron but still have a great looking, relatively narrow topline. Widest sole and easiest to hit.
ZX5 - A great combination of fast face/high ball speed with a forged feel. Thinner topline and slightly shorter club length. Narrower sole with slightly less offset than the ZX4.
ZX7 - Blade looking iron suitable to good players.
Buyer tip. The prior ZX4/4/7 models (i.e. not MKII) are excellent irons with many of the same features and performance as the MKII but can be purchased for significantly less than the current models.
Srixon Z785 and Z585
Srixon Z785 and Z585 | |
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Recommended for: | Z785: Advanced Z585: Intermediate to Advanced |
Club Head Weight: | Z785: 261g Z585: 259g |
Retail Price (set of 7 irons): | From $350 on eBay |
These are older models but are still great looking and excellent performing clubs. The excellent Z765 was improved upon with the Z785 through adding a little more forgiveness and feel primarily thanks to moving a little weight into to the toe and behind the center of the club face. The back of the club has a slightly more forgiving look but the top line is sleeker and more player looking than the Z765.
The Z585 keeps a lot of the Z565 design but, similar to the changes on the Z785, it has slightly more of a forgiving cavity, moving some weighting out to the toe and behind the face of the club with an improved MOI. The Z585 has a more hotter, more flexing face than the Z785, resulting in about half a club more distance.
Srixon irons still seem to fly a bit under the radar and are one of the best values on the market for excellent clubs.
TaylorMade Irons
TaylorMade makes a number of sets of irons that are suitable for juniors transitioning into adult clubs. The TaylorMade custom ordering page on the TM website is very intuitive and a great tool to help you "fit" new clubs, including selecting which irons you want in your set (e.g. 5i-PW), loft adjustment, lie adjustment, shaft material & flex, grip size etc. Graphite shafts are available for juniors, as are ladies and senior flex shafts.
TaylorMade P770 Irons (2023)
TaylorMade P770 irons (2023) | |
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Recommended for: | Advanced Juniors |
Club Head Weight (6 iron): | 256 grams |
Retail Price (approx.): | $1,300 for 7-Piece Iron Set |
The 2023 TaylorMade P770's are forged, cavity back irons for advanced players who like a more compact style head (slightly smaller with a thinner topline than the P790 heads), providing workability, while still having some forgiveness. Despite the look of these irons, they are relatively forgiving thanks to strategic CG positioning (center of gravity (CG) is positioned lowest in long irons and moves higher through the set), tungsten weighting, forged hollow body with speed foam filling, flexible speed pocket and inverted cone shaping.
The prior season P770 irons (2020) are also very clubs to consider, either new (slightly less expensive than the 2023 versions) or look for good condition used 2020 P770 iron sets on eBay.
TaylorMade P790 Irons
TaylorMade P790 irons | |
|---|---|
Recommended for: | All levels |
Club Head Weight (6 iron): | 260 grams |
Retail Price (approx.): | $1,300+ for 7-Piece Iron Set |
The TaylorMade P790 irons are a great combination of forged look and feel with distance and forgiveness. The distance and forgiveness is partly thanks to the hollow body design with speed foam and intelligent sweet spot. In addition, the 3-7 irons have a high density tungsten weight inside that increases MOI in the longer clubs and also a speed pocket to increase face flex (thus ball speed).
The polished matt chrome finish is a great look. These are high tech clubs suitable as transition clubs for juniors. While they are on the expensive side, certain junior tournaments do offer significant Taylormade discount for junior golfers playing in those tournaments. We see these clubs in use at many high level junior tournaments, junior golf camps and schools.
TaylorMade P7MC and P7MB
TaylorMade P7MC and P7MB irons | |
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Recommended for: | Advanced Juniors |
Club Head Weight (6 iron): | P7MC: 258g P7MB: 252g |
Retail Price (approx.): | $1,300+ for 7-Piece Iron Set |
The P7MC (Muscle Cavity) and P7MB (Muscle Back) are fantastic looking and high quality compact forged irons for advanced and elite golfers and are used on the various professional tours.
The P7MB's are blades and are made for players that want feel and workability. As a full set they are likely not suited for juniors other than very advanced players with plus handicaps. One good option for advanced juniors might be a mixed set with the 8i to PW in the P7MB and the longer irons in the P770.
The P7MC's are similar to the MB's in that they both have tour inspired true blade shapes with no speed foam in sight. The MC's differ slightly from the MB's however, in that there is a little bit of a cavity with perimeter weighting to help the player. However, these clubs still demand that you find the center of the club face and will let you know when you don't. These could also be a good combination with the P770's with longer irons in the P770 model.
TaylorMade SIM2 Max
TaylorMade SIM2 Max | |
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Recommended for: | Intermediate to Beginner |
Club Head Weight (6 iron): | SIM2 Max 254 grams |
Retail Price (approx.): | $799+ for 7-Piece Iron Set |
The TaylorMade SIM2 Max are true distance irons with excellent forgiveness on off-center strikes. The dampening systems provides good sound and feel, not quite like a forged iron but closer than prior models. The look of these irons is also an excellent improvement on the previous SIM irons, especially with a cap on the cavity back and Speed Bridge. These are excellent irons for intermediate to beginner players. The shorter irons and wedges in this set obviously have less touch and feel than TaylorMade's P-series irons.
Titleist
Overview of Titleist irons:
Way back in 2008, Titleist introduced the first AP1 and AP2 irons series. The original AP1 was a super game improvement iron and the AP2 was a game improvement iron. Since then, Titleist has brought out a new series every 2 years - hence the AP1/AP2 710 (in 2010), AP 712, AP 714, AP 716, and the latest AP 718 (2018). The AP2 irons have evolved from a game improvement iron to a tour player iron.
Below we have included the 2018 versions (718's). The prior season 716 irons are also great clubs for juniors and can be bought new (or used) for much less than the 718's. In 2018 Titleist introduced the 718 AP3 which were designed to fill the gap between the AP1 and the AP2.
The T-Series irons were introduced in 2019 as replacements to the AP series. The T100 replaces the AP2 (advanced player irons), the T200 replaces the AP3 (intermediate to advanced), and the T300 replaces the AP1. The T400 is designed for golfers looking for maximum forgiveness.
The other Titleist irons (not reviewed here) are (i) MB Forged (muscle back blade, a true player iron with "Classic" playability factor and not recommended for juniors), (ii) T-MB which is a hollow face iron that is shaped like a MB - i.e. a similar concept to the TaylorMade P790 and Ping i500 (both reviewed above), similar in performance to the AP2 reviewed below, and could work well for juniors, and (iii) the CB Forged which is a blade/ cavity back model and is actually similar in forgiveness to the AP2 and T-MB, and could work well for single handicap junior golfers that really want the look and feel of a forged blade iron. We have selected the AP series here based on what we see juniors playing with most frequently and overall reviews and recommendations.
Titleist T-Series
Titleist T100, T100s, T200, T300, T400 | |
|---|---|
Recommended for: | T100: Advanced T200: Intermediate T300: Beginner to Intermediate T400 Beginner to Intermediate |
Club Head Weight: | T100: 259g T200: 260g T300: 259g T400 258g |
Retail Price (approx.): | $875+ for 7-Piece T300 $1,225+ for 7-Piece T100, T200, T400 |
Titleist managed to improve the AP line, which were already excellent irons. These irons use newer technology designed to provide characteristics desired by users of each line of the series - i.e. tighter dispersion, optimizing trajectory, look of the club at address, sound at impact, and providing more distance and forgiveness in the T200, T300 and T400. Essentially the T100 replaces the AP2 (advanced player irons), the T200 replaces the AP3 (intermediate to advanced), and the T300 replaces the AP1. The T400 is designed for golfers looking for maximum forgiveness.
We see a large number of advanced juniors playing the T100 and T200 irons. There is also a T100s option that is similar to the standard T100 but with slightly stronger lofts, a thinner club face for more ball speed, and weight placements adjusted to lower the center of gravity and promote a higher flight.
Titleist 718 AP1
Titleist 718 AP1 irons | |
|---|---|
Recommended for: | Beginner to Intermediate |
Club Head Weight: | 262 grams |
Retail Price (approx.): | $875+ for 7-Piece Iron Set |
The Titleist AP1's are great clubs for junior golfers of all levels, from beginner to advanced. High density tungsten weights in the corners of the club face provide a high MOI. The lower center of gravity in these irons (thus higher launch) means that the irons could be built with much stronger lofts resulting in longer carry distances. The AP1's are not as workable as some lower handicaps might like while the AP2 and AP3 irons have more workability.
These super game improvement irons do a great job of providing extreme forgiveness while still having the feel and sound of better player irons. It is not uncommon to see single figure handicap players using these irons, and frequently a combination of AP1's for longer irons and AP2's or AP3's for the shorter irons.
The Titleist 716 AP1's are also still very good irons and a set of seven irons (e.g. 5 iron to Gap Wedge) can be purchased new for $650 (+ $200 for graphite shafts) which is a great price for a new set of quality clubs for your junior.
Titleist 718 AP3
Titleist 718 AP3 irons | |
|---|---|
Recommended for: | Intermediate / Advanced Juniors |
Club Head Weight: | 261 grams |
Retail Price (approx.): | $1,140+ for 7-Piece Iron Set |
The AP3's provide forgiveness in a compact design. Titleist was aiming for a "distance iron" with a fast face but that is still a players iron. The longer distances also do not come at the expense of holding the green. The 3-7 irons are more forgiving with tungsten weights in the head and toe. For shafts, Titleist has its ascending weight shafts that are lighter in the long irons and gradually get heavier as you move to the short irons. In addition there are many other custom fitting options through Titleist.
These are great irons for intermediate to advanced juniors. At well over $1,000 for a set of seven irons, these clubs are on the expensive side, especially if you add custom fitting and graphite shafts. If you are looking for something similar but at significantly less price consider combining the 716 AP1 long irons with the 716 AP2 short irons.
Titleist 718 AP2
Titleist 718 AP2 irons | |
|---|---|
Recommended for: | Advanced Juniors |
Club Head Weight: | 260 grams |
Retail Price (approx.): | $1,140+ for 7-Piece Iron Set |
The 718 AP2 is a "better player iron", and was used by a number of PGA Tour players. It is suitable for single handicap players. It is the successor for the 716 AP2 that was the most widely used iron on professional golf tours in 2017. It has a more compact head with slightly more solid feel than the AP3 while being more forgiving than the MB blades (but similar in forgiveness to the T-MB and CB Forged irons). The 3-7 irons have a steel face inserts while the 8-PW irons are forged 1025 carbon steel.
A good option for advanced juniors may be to go with AP2 for the short irons and AP3's or T-MB's for the long irons. In case this helps put these clubs in perspective, in 2018/19 Jordan Spieth played the AP2's for 5-9 irons and the T-MB's for 3-4 irons and Adam Scott used the T-MB 3 iron. If these caliber players feel that they can benefit from a little forgiveness in the long irons then your junior can also!
Conclusion
The transition from kids' clubs (such as USKids and Flynn Golf) to adult clubs can be difficult given the sheer number of options and variables involved.
The basics are:
- Choose a club design with playability suitable to your junior's level. Always go with more forgiveness than less to give your junior the best experience. Forged blades may look cool but they generally are not going to be suitable for juniors.
- Get fitted if you can. If you cannot do professional fitting make sure you choose a shaft that is the right size, flex and weight for your junior (e.g. do not get stiff steel shafts for a junior with a slower swing speed). Get the right size grips put on the clubs.
- Do not be in too much of a rush to move juniors out of U.S. Kids or Flynn Junior Golf clubs. Both are some of the best junior golf clubs - they both make high quality junior irons suitable for kids right up until the time they are big enough and strong enough to play with full size adult clubs. They are also approx. 1/2 the price of new adult clubs so can be replaced every season. In addition, there is a strong second hand market on eBay for good used U.S. Kids club sets and U.S. Kids even has a trade up program that can be used.
- We generally find that there is a need to change shafts approx. once a year given how fast juniors grow and get stronger.
