For the golfing purist, there’s nothing like a pristine set of new blades. Not only do they look elegant and pure, but they are also the best golf irons for feel and control. Many of the top players continue to choose to play blades as they offer the greatest level of workability of any iron. With a blade, you can shape the ball in either direction more easily and flight it up or down to suit the wind conditions and attack pin positions wherever they are on the course.
This guide is for the proper golfing purists out there. It's for the ball striker, the shot shaper, the player who can craft an idea of what they want to do with a shot and then actually execute it.
If you don't think you fall into this category then that's OK, we have you covered with our extensive guides to the best golf irons, best compact mid-handicap irons and best irons for distance. If you do indeed fall into this category then congratulations, I'm very jealous...
With the development of club technology, gorgeous looking bladed irons aren't solely reserved for the professional men and women on tour anymore. Today, the best looking blades are playable for a wider range of golfers, albeit you still need a lot of talent to get the most out of them.
In this guide, we take a look at the most popular across the market, pointing out their strengths and weaknesses to help you pick the one that suits your game the best.
WATCH: Joe Ferguson tests the latest blade irons
The Quick List
These feel like a proper forged blade thanks to the 5 time forging. The improvements in the sole grind means that this is a one of best models out there for better players.
Arguably the best looking irons on the market, the 620 MB irons are commonly seen in the bags of players plying their trade on the PGA Tour, and for good reason.
Another contender at the top of the unofficial 'best looking irons' list, the Pro 241s deliver exceptional feel that will please the many Mizuno loyalists out there.
A model with technology packed in, the Apex MB is a true gem of an iron. It is deal for those wanting a classic muscle-back design but also the ability to work the ball with precision.
The 0317 ST Blades from PXG offered a soft yet springy feel for above average distance, whilst the adjustability available elevates the design further still.
About as classic as an iron can get, the Staff Model blades can compete the best in the category, especially in dispersion. The feel on well-struck shots is exceptional.
Ping has delivered a quite stunning aesthetic here, these clubheads are as clean and crisp as any we've seen and the new shaping frames the ball beautifully at address. Performance is as strong as the looks.
Beautifully crafted with a stunning aesthetic, the Mizar Pro sits very much at the premium end of the blade market. The performance matches the looks and competent ball strikers will definitely enjoy the feel.
Best Golf Blade Irons
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Top pick
An update on the P7MB irons released back in 2020, TaylorMade upgraded and improved the technology on offer in these irons, which are an excellent option for better players out there. They are forged five-times using a 2000 ton press to produce their muscular shape, which boasts a thicker edge on the back of the head. The club is a little more compact than its predecessor but it comes with a little more bounce that helps the 2023 irons cut through the turf better.
And these clubs offer a lot of spin from the face too, allowing easy control of shot trajectory thanks to TaylorMade's 'most aggressive' MX9 score lines on the face. Playability is good too, and while these are blades, they were pretty nice to hit with even the 4-iron not being too scary. Ultimately, there is a lot to like here and these irons with their squared off heads will appeal to the blade purists out there. Equally they are also one of the best TaylorMade irons money can buy right now.
- Read our full TaylorMade P7MB 2023 Irons Review
Best Tour model
Titleist’s real players’ iron, the 620MB is a one-piece forged muscleback that delivers sleek and simple looks as well as tremendous feel and feedback. The muscleback design produces a tour-proven flight that is workable and controllable. The locations of the Centre of Gravity have also been designed to allow players to work the ball and get creative with shot-making, whilst also giving responsive feedback.
We found the feel off the face was supremely smooth and we enjoyed the penetrating ball flight from good strikes. It has to be said, this is really only a club for better golfers, with its slimmer sole and tour-inspired design making this a slightly less forgiving golf club. But those with the required ball-striking skills will get a great deal out of it. Without doubt, it is one of the best Titleist irons in the range in terms of feel.
- Read our full Titleist 620 MB Irons Review
Best feel
The purist will enjoy everything about this club, comfortably slotting in as one of the best Mizuno irons ever. The way it looks, feels but also how it has a little more oomph behind it compared to most other blades we've tested, testament to the Grain Flow Forging process and the evolution of the head shape. All things being equal, from the sweet spot it's one of the most satisfying irons you could hit, but the target market remains relatively niche given the limited distance and forgiveness on offer.
From a shelf appeal point of view, it simply doesn’t get much better than the Mizuno Pro 241. The forging detail and smaller design elements elevate this iron massively, such as leaving the engraved Mizuno logo unpainted, or the simple 'Mizuno Pro' wording on the iron. As a result the Pro 241 is one of the cleanest clubheads in the game.
The Pro 241 has most certainly been designed with shot shaping and feel in mind, and will be replacing the impressive Mizuno Pro 221 irons. They felt exceptionally soft at impact, producing a delightfully muted but crisp strike and a clear turf interaction. The data numbers proved to be consistent too despite perhaps being at the conservative end of the spectrum. It is worth noting the 7-iron comes in a very traditional loft of 34°, so don't expect vast carries. This is a Rolls Royce of an iron that will become one of the best irons for low handicappers, while tour players will almost certainly enjoy the overall performance package.
- Read our full Mizuno Pro 241 Iron Review
Best for technology
The Callaway Apex MB is our final pick in this guide because it delivers a blend of classic aesthetics, with cutting-edge technology, which we always expect from Callaway. First things first, there has been a focus on pure precision and exceptional workability, with the new Apex MB 2024 iron ticking a lot of boxes for precise ball strikers shopping for a new set of the best golf blade irons.
The profile at address is slightly different because it has a topline that comes very directly out of the hosel, instead of a softer, more curved transition from hosel to topline that we see on other models. As a result we thought they were an absolute treat to look at.
When it came to the performance, we were seriously impressed. After taking on Tour feedback Callaway introduced a 'dual chamfer' on the sole which softens the leading edge. This therefore helps cut through turf and we should also mention the forged construction which aided shot control and workability.
- Read our full Callaway 2024 Apex MB Iron Review
Best adjustability
Delivering above-average distance on a consistent basis, this soft iron set from PXG are a dream to play with. The Triple forged 8620 carbon steel boasts a milled pattern on its back that enhances the aesthetic appeal, while the tungsten weight behind the sweet spot sets the 0317 Blades as a very unique addition to this list. They deliver a low profile at the address and having tested these irons on the course, it produces an excellent combination of a dense compression impact that you would love to feel from a blade iron.
What we enjoyed most here was the forgiveness on offer. Most blades feel a bit dead when not struck out the centre, but here, we found marginally off-centre shots were compensated for thanks to the lively clubface. Distance-wise, the PXG carried as long as most other low handicap irons we’ve tried and while the flight was on the low side, better players will enjoy the shot-shaping capabilities these clubs can deliver. And at $199 per club, there's some decent value for money here.
- Read our full PXG 0317 ST Blade Iron Review
Best dispersion
You will do well to find a more classic looking iron anywhere on the market. From the shaping, to the topline and even the high gloss chrome, these irons are a throwback to years gone by, and I am absolutely here for it. The Staff Model blades look like they could have been in the bag for any one of Wilson’s 62 historic major championship victories, and playing them conjures up all sorts of nostalgic feelings.
To just speak of the past however, is doing these irons an injustice. The modern branding and asymmetric topography of the back let you know that this iron very much belongs in modern golf. From a performance standpoint, all is as you would hope. Feel is buttery soft and the acoustic is very muted and dull, while the narrow sole of the Staff Model blades slips through effortlessly, adding to the user experience.
So, if you are looking to upgrade a tired old set of blades and want to stay in the category, the Wilson Staff Model blades should certainly be on your list to try. Beautiful looking, soft feeling and solid performance, there isn’t much to dislike here.
- Read our full Wilson Staff Model Blade Iron Review
Best for elite strikers
The first thing to mention here are the looks, because these irons are stunning. The minimalist design creates a clean aesthetic that really suits the eye. Nothing but a simple ‘Blueprint T’ stamping adorns the back of the club, which is finished in Ping's Hydropearl 2.0 chrome. In this case, less is absolutely more.
When you put the Blueprint T down behind the ball, as you would expect for irons that look to sit in the best golf blades category, the topline is razor thin. The dimensions of the head are small and yet the iron frames the ball beautifully. That being said, with minimal offset and the aforementioned top line, you quickly become very aware of the importance of a high-quality strike.
Moving on to feel, it was everything we wanted it to be. Solidly struck shots were rewarded with a soft and yet deep, impact feel that competes with any of the traditional category leaders in blade irons. A far cry from the lively spring of the modern day, hollow bodied compact mid-handicap irons, the ball seems to stay on the face for an age, providing unrivaled feedback. Undoubtedly one of the best Ping irons out there for the better player.
- Read our full Ping Blueprint T Irons Review
Best exclusivity
Vega has been producing premium forged irons for many years now and precise, Japanese craftsmanship has been the foundation of its identity. Known for its extremely high quality forgings, Vega is extremely popular with club builders industry wide. A slightly longer blade length instills confidence, whereas the relatively thin top line reminds you that you are still about to hit something that will require competent striking!
In terms of performance, we found them to pack a surprising punch for a traditional looking bladed iron. A good percentage of this punch however, could probably be attributed to the very strong lofts the Mizar Pro iron comes with as standard. For comparison, they are a full three degrees stronger than the Titleist 620 MB in every iron.
The Mizar Pro is an exceptional, premium blade offering that is undeniably beautiful. They are certainly not cheap, but if your budget stretches that far, you most certainly will not be disappointed with this stunningly crafted iron.
- Read our full Vega Mizar Pro Iron Review
How we test golf irons
Our testing for golf irons is built upon a comprehensive process combined with the knowledge and expertise of the Golf Monthly test team. As far as the specific procedure goes, before testing, the team will usually attend product launches and meet with the manufacturer's R&D experts to understand the new technology.
We test irons both indoors and outdoors to ensure the fairest test possible. Via an indoor simulator we can test the set in a controlled environment, collecting critical metrics like spin, club head speed and launch angle. After we put each set through their paces indoors we take them out onto the course to see how they fair in different conditions. We also test across a range of different rounds and types of courses to see how performance stacks up when the environment around us is ever-changing.
We pride ourselves with our reviews because we have the simple of goal of giving our loyal readers the best informed buying advice possible. It's never been more important than now either when we consider both the increase in popularity of the amateur game but also the price to pay it. Golf is expensive, but choosing the right equipment at the right time can save you a lot of money in the long run.
We also want to reiterate that our reviews are conducted by golfers, for golfers. We base our ratings and ranking off our extensive knowledge of equipment and nothing else. No brand can 'buy' a good review, nor can a manufacturer get preferential treatment over another. We simply call it how we see it.
How to choose new blade irons
It's tempting to judge blades by simply picking the one that looks prettiest to our eye, but there are other factors to think of when deciding which set to go for:
Feel
With a blade, this is arguably the most important factor and this will differ for every single player. To gain an understanding of how a club feels in your hands and when striking the ball, we would always recommend trying a few models out and seeing which ones you like.
Workability
If you are on this guide then chances are you are a good player who likes to work the ball both ways. The blade is the iron of choice when it comes to workability so to see which model you can move the ball with, once again we would recommend hitting shots with some models. If you find it hard to move the ball with a particular model, then it might not perform the best for you.
Forgiveness
Blades don't offer a lot of forgiveness however there are some models which are better than others, the TaylorMade P7MB for example. Therefore if you want a blade that offers a little bit of help, you need to hit some and see how the ball reacts when you do mishit it.
Looks
We are sure you agree, all the models above look fantastic but each have their own distinct looks at address and in the bag. Therefore it is finding a model you like the look of in both ways.
Price
As you would expect, blades aren't cheap however they do come at different price points as the guide above shows. As a result you should have an idea of how much you want to spend on a set.
FAQs
Which blades are most forgiving?
In our testing we were pleasantly surprised with the forgiveness on offer from the TaylorMade P7MB and Mizuno Pro 221 irons. However these are still blades so the forgiveness is relative to other blades on the market and in this guide, not when compared with game improvement irons or distance irons.
What blades do most pros use?
Of course there are many professional golfers who use blades but given many are signed to different equipment contracts, this means they use a variety of models, most of which have been included in the guide above.
Does Tiger Woods use blade irons?
Yes Tiger Woods uses blade irons and has done for pretty much all of his career. Currently he uses the TaylorMade P7TW blade irons, which he helped design. These go from 3-iron down to the pitching wedge and as you would expect are only for the finest of ball-strikers.
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