Top 5 Best Irons for Seniors – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

Like most other aspects of life, golf, as a game changes for you when you start aging. At a certain age (typically over 50), players start noticing that their swing speed is not what it once was. It’s very frustrating for an experienced golfer to not be able to cover the distance they once conquered.

However, unlike every other sport, golf isn’t capped to any specific age group. So, all these difficulties caused by aging can be overcome with a few changes in the gear. Most golf equipment manufacturers nowadays make irons dedicated to old timers for improving their game. But out of all the available options, very few would suit you perfectly.

Here, we will give you insights into some of the finest irons induced with excellent game improvement features for senior golfers. Our buying guide will also guide you on how to make an informed buying decision for a golden ager.

Top 5 Best Irons for Seniors Reviewed

01 Callaway Golf 2020 Mavrik Max Individual Iron (Editor’s Choice)

Why It Stands Out to Us

The Mavrik Max from Callaway is a gold medalist in the 2020 Golf Digest Hot List. It’s a super game improvement iron that has all the characteristics of a perfect golf iron. Coming from one of the renowned brands of golf equipment, the Mavrik Max offers all-around performance. Callaway has put perfect loft angles on each of these irons. So, you won’t find it difficult to find the sweet spots on them. Also, they are the best in terms of forgiveness, which guarantees that they can withstand a lot of torture. No matter what part of the game you’re trying to improve, the Mavrik Max is without a doubt, the best option out there.

Our Experience With the Callaway Golf 2020 Mavrik Max

• We were pretty impressed with the looks and the materials. These were some of the most well-designed irons that we’ve tested. Also, the material seemed top-notch and we couldn’t find anything to complain about.
• These irons come with graphite or steel shafts. After using both of the options, we noticed that no matter what material they’re made of, Callaway made these shafts to be incredibly user-friendly.
• The weight distribution was superb. It seemed that the manufacturers calculated each ounce of weight and put them exactly where they should be. With both graphite and steel shafts, the weight seemed perfect.
• We figured that Callaway focused more on accuracy rather than speed and distance while manufacturing the Mavrik Max. We could feel that these irons made us better in the game after just a few hundred shots.
• In terms of distance and speed, these irons weren’t far behind. We achieved more distance with them compared to most irons we’ve tried.
• During our time with these irons, we noticed that they’re very forgiving. We misplaced hundreds of shots and Mavrik Max took them like a champ.
• With a variety of loft angles, all the long, mid and short irons of the Mavrik Max series performed great. We noticed that hitting the sweet spot with these irons was very easy. After we got used to them, we hardly misplaced our shots.
• The handle grips were just as good as we expected them to be. They were premium-looking and very comforting to hold.

Things We Didn’t Like

• We expected a bit more distance from the Max compared to the standard Mavrik.
• These irons are expensive.

What Could be Improved

• Callaway could have added a hybrid shaft option for those who prefer them.

Specifications

Pros

• Super game-improvement features
• Enhanced accuracy
• Huge sweet spot
• Amazing forgiveness
• Great design and build quality

Cons

• Same speed and distance compared to the standard model.

02 Callaway Golf 2020 Mavrik Individual Iron (Top Men’s Choice)

Why It Stands Out to Us

The Mavrik ensures great quality regarding performance and looks. With tons of game improvement features, these irons can be labelled as one of Callaway’s best products. You can get them with either steel or graphite shafts. The loft angles on the Mavrik irons are well-thought and hitting the sweet spot is very effortless. Even if you don’t manage to hit the ball precisely, don’t worry. Because these are extremely forgiving irons that can take a lot of miss-hits. The Mavrik assists golfers to get an increased amount of speed, distance, and accuracy. If you’re looking for the irons that the pros of the game use, forget everything else and go for the Mavrik.

Our Experience With the Callaway Golf 2020 Mavrik

• In terms of design, there is no match for the Mavrik. We loved the design and the build quality of these irons. They featured a large offset with a top line that’s suitably thick. The construction felt super premium to the touch as well.
• We used both the graphite and steel shaft variants of the Mavrik and both performed well. Naturally, the graphite shafts gave better results overall but the steel wasn’t far behind.
• These irons are available in three different flex types; light, regular, and stiff. We tested all three of them and noticed that each offers a great difference in the swing.
• By using the cavity back style, Callaway smartly pushed the weight towards the area where it’s needed the most. The overall weight of these clubs were well balanced as well.
• Though it’s unusual that an amateur will use the Mavrik, these clubs offer amazing forgiveness. They took hundreds of missed shots like it’s nothing.
• Whether it was the long irons or the short ones, it always seemed pretty effortless to find the sweet spot. The game improvement features on these irons were spot-on.
• Loft angle on every Mavrik irons seemed to be very well-thought. They had different lofts starting from 18° (on the 4 iron) to 51° (on the GW).
• We loved the grips that came with these irons. They felt premium to the touch and comfortable to hold. Also, the length of these grips were perfect for an average golfer. During our time with the Mavrik, the irons never slipped even once from our hands.

Things We Didn’t Like

• The chrome finish is prone to scratches.
• These aren’t suitable for all golfers because of the thick clubheads.

What Could be Improved

• Callaway could add a senior flex option.

Specifications

Pros

• Excellent forgiveness
• Premium feel
• Great design
• Durable
• Amazing game improvement features
• Affordable

Cons

• Not for golfers of all levels
• No senior flex options available

03 MAZEL Single Length Golf Club Irons Set for Men & Women, Right Handed (Top Women’s Choice)

Why It Stands Out to Us

If you’re into single-length iron sets, make sure to check this one out. This iron set from MAZEL can be your helping hand in training your brain for consistent golf shots. Also, it’s suitable for lady golfers, which is very rare for a senior golf set.

With a perfect blend of matte and glossy silver finish, the irons of this set present an eye-catching appearance. This set enables you to choose from silver or graphite shafts and three different flex levels. These irons are also extremely forgiving.

So, you won’t have to worry about damaging your precious gear with each miss-hits. Another astonishing fact about this set is that it won’t cost you a fortune, unlike most other sets available on the market. Overall, it’s the perfect iron set that can enhance your skills as a golfer.

Our Experience With the MAZEL Single Length Set

• In terms of looks and feel, we were satisfied with these irons. The combination of matte and glossy silver finishes made the irons even more attractive. The materials used in the construction seemed sturdy enough to last for a long time.
• We noticed that both cavity back and muscle back styles have been implemented in the irons of this set. All of the irons except for the 5 and 4 irons are cavity-backed.
• This set is available with graphite and steel shafts and we picked the graphite. These shafts were extremely lightweight and easy to swing. You can also try the steel shafts, which will save you a few bucks. We used all three variants in terms of shaft flex and all of them performed nicely.
• We loved the implementation of the same length and weight in all of the irons. Though we lost about five yards on a few of the irons( 4 & 5), we gained a lot more in the others. These irons can help you gain consistency with your maneuvering.
• We shot thousands of golf balls during our time with this set. In those shots, a few hundred were miss-hits, which the irons took like a champ. In terms of forgiveness, we were very happy with the purchase.
• The loft angles on these irons seemed almost similar to a regular iron set. However, unlike a typical iron set, this set has the same length and weight in all of the irons. This gives the middle and short irons (6-9) of this set a huge advantage and boosts the distance covered by them.
• After using these irons for a significant amount of time, we can tell that they need some time to get used to but when you’re used to them, it’s hard to go back to the traditional golf clubs.
• The rubber grips on the handles worked great. Though they’re certainly not the best on the market, at this kind of price, they’re still an amazing option. The grips seemed a bit smaller than the regular size but should be okay for most lady golfers.

Things We Didn’t Like

• The irons make a harsh sound while hitting the ball, which makes it feel cheap
• The implementation of the same length and weight in all the clubs has cost the long irons (4 & 5) to lose a few yards.

What Could be Improved

• MAZEL could have included a carry and stand bag with the set.
• The quality of the grips could be improved a bit.

Specifications

Pros

• Huge Sweet Spots
• Available with both graphite and steel shafts
• Same length and weight in all irons
• Amazing forgiveness
• Easy to use
• Affordable price

Cons

• Same length shafts can be hard to get used to
• Harsh sound on impact

04 TaylorMade SIM MAX OS Irons, Steel Shaft

Why It Stands Out to Us

These irons are the finest example of TaylorMade’s exceptional craftsmanship. The SIM MAX OS Irons have gained popularity amongst senior players for their amazing game-improvement features. With an astonishing design and a world-class build quality, you can’t say no to these irons. The implementation of the cavity back style makes these irons front-heavy. So, you’ll feel very little vibration on impact with the ball. Also, the irons have a large sweet spot and a great amount of forgiveness. If you’re looking to increase your speed and distance, go for these irons and you won’t regret it.

Our Experience With the TaylorMade SIM MAX OS

• We were impressed by the design and overall construction of these irons. They seemed to have thick top lines and wide profiles. They had game improvement written all over them. The irons felt premium in the hand.
• TaylorMade used steel shafts in these irons. The shafts added a good amount of weight to the irons, which helped to maneuver the ball accurately. However, these clubs never felt too heavy on the hand and were very easy to use.
• Since the OS in the name stands for “oversized”, these irons had a good amount of length. They seemed to have the perfect length for most senior golfers.
• The cavity back construction of these irons pushes the weight to the front of the head. We noticed a very small amount of twisting on impact and the sweet spots on these irons were massive. With these irons in the hand, the ball seemed hard to miss, with or without tees.
• We tested the SIM MAX OS irons for about a month. During that time, we spent hours hitting the ball with these bad boys. We missed a few swings here and there and noticed that the irons are incredibly forgiving. They can take a whole bunch of miss-hits without an issue.
• These irons were built with game improvement in mind and we got the proof of it. We noticed an increase in the ball speed and the distance. If you previously used other irons, you can easily increase your distance by at least 5-10 yards.
• TaylorMade included quality grips with these irons. The grips came in standard size and were very easy to hold. During our time with the SIM MAX OS irons, the grip never slipped out of our hands.

Things We Didn’t Like

• The irons seemed slightly overpriced.
• The chrome finish on the irons was easy to scratch.

What Could be Improved

• Graphite shafts would make these irons even more impressive.
• The manufacturers could have included senior flex as an option for more shaft flex. This would have been helpful for so many golfers who are struggling with their swing speed.

Our Recommendations

• If you’re struggling with your swing speed, go for the regular flex option.

Specifications

Pros

• Great design
• Excellent game improvement features
• Easy to use
• Lightweight
• Extremely forgiving irons

Cons

• Expensive
• Chrome finish gets scratch marks easily

05 Cleveland Golf Launcher Turbo HB Iron Set

Why It Stands Out to Us

The Launcher Turbo HB Iron Set is one of Cleveland’s most selling iron sets. Each iron of this set offers an attractive appearance and great performance. With a hollow construction and a suitable amount of bulk in the heads, these irons are extremely forgiving. Also, the weight of every one of the irons is perfectly balanced with the use of graphite shafts. You will rarely miss the ball with these irons because of the huge sweet spots and well-thought loft angles. Overall, it’s the perfect iron set for any senior golfer who wants to bring the golden days back.

Our Experience With the Cleveland Golf Launcher Turbo HB

• The manufacturers kept the design simple and straightforward and didn’t attempt anything fancy. The overall build quality of the set is also praiseworthy. The materials felt premium to the touch and we didn’t find a single issue regarding the construction.
• Although the heads look bulky, the weight in these irons was well maintained. They weren’t the lightest but had a suitable amount of weight on them, which made them easier to maneuver.
• Cleveland used graphite shafts in all of the clubs of this set. The shafts seemed great in terms of quality and offered a great swing speed. We found that the clubs were very easy to swing and the swing speed was impressive as well.
• The manufacturers included three options regarding the shaft flex – stiff, regular, and senior. We tried all three of these and noticed that they offered different swing speeds.
• We used all the irons of this set for about 5-6 weeks and shot thousands of golf balls with them in that time. All of them felt great in the hand and made a satisfying noise on impact with the ball.
• All of the irons seemed fairly forgiving. We could hit the sweet spots easily with them. The loft angles on these irons seemed well-thought and nicely implemented.
• The irons seemed to have suitable lengths. All of them had lengths between 35.5 and 38.88, the 4 iron being the longest in the set.

What We Didn’t Like

• Cleveland didn’t include a bag for carrying the set. Also, there were no head covers included in the package.
• They could be tricky to handle if you’re not used to hybrid irons.

What Could be Improved

• At this kind of price, the manufacturers could include a bag and a few head covers.
• The grips could be made of better quality material.

Our Recommendations

• If you’re buying this set for increasing your swing speed, make sure you go for the senior flex shafts.

Specifications

Pros

• Great design
• Amazing build quality
• Extremely forgiving clubs
• Lightweight
• Big sweet spots

Cons

• Expensive
• No bags included

Best Irons for Seniors: Buyer’s Guide

1. Finding the Sweet Spot

The sweet spot is the area in the clubhead where there’s no or very small amount of twist when the club hits the ball. The bigger the sweet spot, the easier it will be to make good contact with the ball.

To find the sweet spot of a club, hold the shaft and keep tapping on the head. You’ll notice different degrees of twisting while tapping different areas of the clubhead. Find the spot that makes no or the least amount of movement in the club while tapping. That’s your sweet spot.
As most old-timers face difficulties finding the sweet spot, it’s one of the most important things to check while looking for an iron set for them. So, before picking a certain iron, make sure that the sweet spot is sufficient.

2. Forgiveness

Naturally, a golden-timer will miss more hits than an average golfer and forgiveness is just the thing they need in their irons. It’s the feature of a clubhead that allows you to get away with miss-hits. Less forgiving irons will get damaged with each miss-hit.

However, if you make sure the sweet spot is big enough, you’re probably off the hook already. Because irons with huge sweet spots typically ensure forgiveness. Still, check the forgiveness of the iron before you make the purchase.

3. Versatility

As golfers grow older, they tend to lose the efficiency they used to have while maneuvering the ball. To make it right, the selection of versatile equipment is the key. A versatile iron will give you options to make adjustments and to use it in different ways.

It’s almost certain that you need to change the way of swinging the club with time. That’s why you need irons that can adapt to this change. You can lean towards hybrid irons because they’re famous for their incredible versatility. Or you can choose other irons that suit different styles of play. Whichever you choose, make sure it offers versatility.

4. Shaft Materials

Shafts play a crucial role in making an iron world-class. Growing old, you may notice that the clubs have started to feel heavier on the hand. This is where the material in the shaft comes to play. It makes a huge difference in the club’s weight.

Shafts can be made of different materials like steel and graphite or they can utilize various metals at once just like in hybrid shafts. Most senior golfers prefer graphite shafts because they’re the lightest in the bunch. If you’re not having trouble regarding the weight, you can go for whichever material suits you the best.

5. Shaft Flex

Shaft flex is another thing you need to think about regarding shafts. Because aside from adding variation in the weight, shafts also add variety in the flexibility of a golf iron. Golf shafts come in three main flex levels; stiff, regular, and senior.

Stiff shafts are the least flexible while the regulars add a little flex to the shaft. Senior flex shafts are the most flexible ones. A flexible shaft will most assuredly increase the swing speed. So, if you face difficulty in your swing, just go for a shaft with senior flex, keeping your pride aside.

6. Weight

Weight is one of the most important aspects to think about while choosing an iron for a senior golfer. You might be used to playing with heavy irons all your life but when you’re aging, the heavy irons won’t do you any good. In this case, if you’re used to “forged irons”, we’d recommend you to try “cavity-backed irons” because the weight on these irons is managed in a better way.

7. Grip

The last thing you need to make sure about an iron is the grip. Grips are crucial for senior golfers because the grip of an old-timer is far more likely to slip compared to a young golfer. Out of all the club grips available on the market, rubber is the most reliable one. So, while picking the irons, make sure they have quality rubber grips.

Reasons for Updating the Golfing Gear When You Age

We all know that the right gear is the key to do well in golf. But here’s the catch: the right gear is different for every golfer. When you age, you may face a wide range of issues regarding the maneuvering of the ball. You might need an entirely new stance because of the decreasing flexibility of your body, or you can have trouble leaning forward, or you might feel that the clubs are getting too heavy for you.

Different problems require different solutions. If you’re facing any of the issues mentioned above, do consider changing your gear. Think about the aspects of the game that have changed for you in recent years and update your gear depending on them. Keep in mind that no matter what age or condition you’re in, there are always tools that can help you get better at golf.

FAQs

Q. 1: Are graphite shafts better for seniors?

Ans: Because graphite shafts are lighter than steel or hybrid, they offer a faster swing speed compared to them. So, yes, they are the better option for seniors.

Q. 2: How do you know if you need a senior shaft?

Ans: If you’re noticing a decrease in the distance you’re used to achieving in golf and if the weight of the shaft doesn’t seem to be the problem, consider getting a senior flex shaft.

Q. 3: Why are senior clubs more expensive?

Ans: Senior clubs are made with a great extent of game improvement in mind. That’s why the most advanced technology and methods are implemented in these clubs. Apart from that, most senior clubs tend to use graphite shafts, which cost more than the other types of shafts. Considering all these facts, it’s only natural that the senior clubs are more expensive than the other ones.