Understanding your needs
No, this is not couples therapy.
High handicappers (for this review, let’s say those with a handicap of 20+) and beginner golfers face distinct challenges that can significantly affect their performance and enjoyment of the game (trust me, I’ve been there). Selecting the right golf clubs is essential to improving your overall experience and fostering skill development. For these golfers, clubs offering forgiveness, ease of use, and game improvement features can make a substantial difference – we know the TaylorMade p790’s irons look incredible, but they’re not for you (if you’re a high handicapper).
What is forgiveness?
Again, this is not couples therapy!
Forgiveness in golf clubs refers to the club’s ability to minimize the impact of off-center strikes. High handicappers and beginners often struggle with achieving consistent contact with the ball, making forgiving clubs crucial. These clubs typically have larger sweet spots and are designed to reduce the negative effects of less accurate swings, thereby helping players maintain better control and achieve more consistent distances.
What do we mean by ‘ease of use’?
Ease of use is another critical factor. Many beginners find that lightweight clubs with a higher degree of loft on the clubface help them get the ball airborne more easily. Furthermore, oversized clubheads can offer more stability and instill greater confidence in novice players. Such features can simplify the learning process, making the sport more enjoyable and less frustrating.
Let’s talk about Game Improvement tech
Game improvement features often include innovations such as perimeter weighting, which increases the club’s moment of inertia (MOI), but what does this mean? Well, this effectively reduces the impact of mishits and makes the club more forgiving (think less slices or hooks if you don’t hit it centre of the club). Many high handicappers and beginners benefit from clubs with these features as they work on mastering the fundamentals of the game. Hybrids and cavity-back irons are excellent examples of clubs that incorporate these attributes and are well-suited for novice players.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the most common Game Improvement / High Handicapper golf irons
Choosing the right golf clubs can be a game-changer for high handicappers and beginners. To help narrow down the choices, we have compared some of the most popular golf clubs from top brands, offering you options of complete sets or Irons only. Let’s jump into it.
Callaway Strata
The Callaway Strata set is renowned for its forgiveness, making it an excellent choice for high handicappers and beginners. The set includes the driver, fairway woods, and irons (5-SW) and is designed to improve distance and control (they’ve even included the bag!). The large clubheads and weight distribution make it much easier to hit (and the tech will ensure it’ll be straight and far!). On the downside, some users feel the durability could be enhanced, especially for more frequent players.
TaylorMade SIM2 Max
Full disclosure; these were the first golf clubs I bought for myself (after using a 20-year set of McGregor Irons I inherited from my dad)
The TaylorMade SIM2 Max irons are designed with a focus on maximizing distance and forgiveness (in TaylorMade’s own words; ‘Fast Forgiving Face – The SIM2 Max irons use a fast and forgiving face to give golfers more performance exactly where they need it‘). High handicappers and beginners consistently report finding it easier to achieve longer and more accurate shots (just read the product reviews for yourself!). These irons feature a forgiving face that helps reduce the impact of off-center hits. While they offer excellent performance, the higher price point could be a barrier for some budget-conscious golfers. Nonetheless, the advanced technology in these clubs often justifies the investment for those seeking significant improvements in their game.
Cobra XL
The Cobra XL set doesn’t just have a ‘lightweight’ name, but the design is sleek and lightweight too, meaning you’ll generate more swing speed easily. The clubs are engineered to promote easy launch and straight ball flight, contributing to better overall performance on the course. However, the lighter construction might not suit everyone, particularly players who prefer a more substantial feel to their clubs. Overall, user feedback suggests that the Cobra XL is a solid choice for those aiming for both comfort and performance.
This set gives you everything you need, from the driver, some fairway woods and all the irons, it even includes a really nice blade-style putter!
Wilson Stretch
The Wilson Stretch set has an interesting name – because it won’t ‘stretch’ your budget. This set targets high handicappers and beginners who want a reliable and forgiving set without breaking the bank. The clubs are designed to offer consistent performance, particularly in terms of distance and control. While they might not feature advanced technology found in more expensive sets, you’ll appreciate the value for money and reliability. Some golfers find the design ‘basic’ and have said they’re less durable, but overall, it’s an excellent entry-level set.
Our verdict
I had a bias. I wanted to pick the TaylorMade SIM2 Max Irons because I enjoyed them so much. But I think the value for money is just not there as you’ll end up spending even more money to complete your set with a driver, putter, bag, etc. (and, if you’re like me, all the other technology that’s even remotely golf related)
There is a clear winner from both a quality, and affordability perspective. So, without much further ado, we recommend the…..Cobra XL full set!