Buying new irons guide

The huge number of irons available on the market can at first seem rather overwhelming, but no matter what your standard, it's crucial you get a set suited to your game. One of the major developments for 2010 is the introduction of compact models that also offer a degree of forgiveness. This is an ideal blend for many low and mid-handicap players who like the look of blades, but want the reassurance of forgiveness, too. 

In the game-improvement market, the combination of wide soles, weighted heads and stronger lofts really help those who struggle with distance and accuracy. Progressive sets have shorter irons that are less chunky, offering players more control from close range. A number of these sets also replace long irons with hybrid clubs for added forgiveness. You can also find combination sets that combine shallow cavity long irons with muscleback blades in the shorter clubs.

If you're purchasing a new set of irons, it's worth getting them custom fitted. Length, loft and lie combinations can have a huge effect on the consistency of strike and ball flight. The fitting process will also give you a good idea of how far you hit each club, and result in more even gaps at the top end of your set.

Here, we take a look at a selection of irons, deemed 'Ultimate Forgiveness', 'Forgiveness and Feel' and 'Ultimate Feel'.