These are the 5 most consistent 2023 irons, according to robot testing

2023 Taylormade P770 iron

TaylorMade's P770 irons are built around a smaller profile that should appeal to better players.

Jonathan Wall/GOLF

It doesn’t matter if you’re scratch or just picked up the game — we’re all looking for a tighter iron dispersion. Dispersion is defined as how far your shots span from left to right and back to front.

The smaller the pattern, the better.

A tight pattern generally indicates you’re a good ball striker. Or, in this case, whether a club has just the right amount of ball speed retention (or forgiveness) across the entire face. As we’ve seen in the past with some drivers, it’s possible to hit it all over the face and see very little distance drop-off. The same goes for certain irons.

several golf balls on turf
These golf balls recorded the highest spin rates during our robot testing
By: Jonathan Wall

In this case, we tested all irons at 81 mph (using the same shaft and attack angle) and compared the carry distance on center face contact against an average of heel and toe misses to get a carry distance delta. The smaller the delta, the higher the likelihood you’ll see minimal distance drop off, regardless of where you miss it on the face.

It’s easy to assume irons with larger profiles will dominate the top of the list — due to the high MOI properties baked into the design — but as we found out, better-player offerings can hold their own against game-improvement counterparts.

Below are the 5 models with the smallest carry distance delta.

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1. PXG 0311 P Gen6 (4.8 yards of distance dropoff between center and high-toe/low-heel)

PXG 0311 P GEN6 Custom Irons

$244.99
  Backed by industry-leading engineering and a relentless pursuit of performance, PXG 0311 P GEN6 Irons provide an ideal balance between workability and forgiveness. These irons feature PXG’s patented XCOR2 material, moderate offset, and breakthrough head design with a clean aesthetic. GEN6 Irons advance our original flagship forward and offer an exceptional blend of distance, workability, and forgiveness. Available in Chrome or Xtreme Dark finish. ·Exceptional Distance ·Extremely Fast Ball Speeds ·Outstanding Workability ·Tight Dispersion ·Unbelievable Forgiveness ·Incredibly Soft Feel ·Remarkably Rewarding Sound
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2. TaylorMade P770 (5.2 yards)

TaylorMade P770 Phantom Black Custom Irons

$185.71
FORGED HOLLOW BODY CONSTRUCTION The forged hollow body construction gives golfers the best of both worlds; beautyand performance. A soft 8620 carbon steel body is paired with an incredibly thinforged 4140 steel face and Thru-Slot Speed Pocket™ for a design that is fast,flexible and forgiving even in a compact head shape. FLTD CG FLTD CG strategically positions the center of gravity (CG) the lowest in the long irons and progressively shifts higher throughout the set. Using up to 46g of tungsten, FLTD CG is designed to provide players with improved launch and playability in long irons and increase spin in the scoring irons. SPEEDFOAM AIR All new SpeedFoam Air is 69% less dense than its predecessor, creating mass savingsthat is redistributed to improve performance. SpeedFoam Air dampens vibrations forexquisite sound and feel while delivering a fast, flexible face. TOUR-INSPIRED SHAPING Featuring elegant refinements, including less offset in the long irons, the new P•770is designed to fit the eye of a more discerning player with visual cues including a thintopline, less offset, and shorter blade length when compared to the P•790. THRU-SLOT SPEED POCKET The Thru-Slot Speed Pocket™ provides increased face flexibility while preserving ballspeed and distance on low face strikes.
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3. Mizuno JPX 923 Tour (5.3 yards)

Mizuno JPX 923 Tour Custom Irons

$187.5
LAYERS OF FEEL Consistently Mizuno’s most-played iron model in professional golf and still one-piece Grain Flow Forged in Hiroshima Japan, the JPX923 Tour adds a copper underlay for an even smoother sensation at impact. The JPX923 Tour also presents a narrower top line and sole in tandem with more rounded trailing edge for cleaner turf interaction. Player enhancements made possible through the introduction of Mizuno’s new ‘V-Chassis’. FORGED IN HIROSHIMA JAPAN One-piece Grain Flow Forged HD from 1025E Pure Select mild carbon steel at Mizuno’s iconic facility in Hiroshima, Japan – where Mizuno irons have been produced since 1968. SOFT COPPER UNDERLAY A microlayer of copper between the base Nickel and outer Chrome for legendary feel. Made famous in the iconic TN87. NEW V-CHASSIS ENABLES A THINNER TOPLINE Engineered via Mizuno’s ‘Harmonic Impact Technology’ project to create ‘muscleback’ type vibrations and feel from a cavity design. Prior models required a slightly thicker topline to maintain feel. CLEANER TURF INTERACTION A generously rolled trailing edge enables versatility and immaculate turf interaction. REFINED SCORING IRONS Noticeably shorter blade length and more compact from 6 iron to GW for precision where most needed. WHITE-SATIN BRUSH: Non reflective, Chrome plated finish to reduce bright light glare. “The goal was to engineer a compact, players cavity back that looked and felt like a muscleback at impact. With the copper underlay and new topline the JPX923 Tour is right there.”
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4. TaylorMade Stealth HD (5.8 yards)

TaylorMade Stealth HD Custom Irons

$142.86
DESIGNED FOR SUCCESS Engineered to deliver high launching distance with draw bias, the Stealth HD iron has been designed for the golfer looking to hit more successful shots more often. PERFORMANCE DRIVEN SHAPING The low profile head has a shallow face height and a wide sole with a large step down to keep CG low for easier launch. Increased sole curvature assists with turf interaction. CAP BACK™ DESIGN The multi-material Cap Back™ Design utilizes high-strength stainless steel and ultralight weight polymers. Designed to maximize distance, forgiveness and feel with an extremely low CG. ECHO® DAMPING SYSTEM Positioned inside the iron head, the ECHO® Damping System uses a soft polymer blend and multiple contact points across the face to channel away harsh vibrations creating a forged-like feel. THRU-SLOT SPEED POCKET Patented TaylorMade® technology engineered to maximize face flexibility for increased ball speed and forgiveness for miss-hits low on the face.
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5. Callaway Paradym X (5.9 yards)

Callaway Paradym X Custom Irons

$199.99
Distance irons are obviously long, but discerning players also want an exceptionally high level of feel. So why not have both in one club? Our Paradym Shift Construction combines a Forged 455 Face with the all-new Speed Frame, giving you get the best of both worlds.The Paradym X Irons are designed for golfers who are looking for an iron that’s incredibly long with premium forged feel. OUR MOST POWERFUL A.I. DESIGNED FORGED 455 FACE Industry-leading A.I. face technology is applied to a high-strength Forged 455 face, creating our most powerful forged iron face ever. Each face is uniquely optimized for more speed, higher launch, and increased spin consistency. FAST BALL SPEEDS FROM FORGED 455 FACE CUP AND HOLLOW BODY WITH SPEED FRAME CONSTRUCTION The all-new Hollow Body design features Speed Frame construction for added stiffness to the body and support for the high-strength Forged 455 Face Cup. This unique construction is the catalyst that stabilizes a thinner face for incredibly fast ball speeds. EXCEPTIONAL FEEL FROM A FORGED FACE AND PATENTED URETHANE MICROSPHERES A forged face and patented Urethane Microspheres deliver the ultra-soft feel and premium sound that discerning players demand. IMPROVED LAUNCH VIA DUAL TUNGSTEN WEIGHTING Up to 67g of external and internal tungsten weights are placed precisely to enhance launch conditions and improve speed on miss-hits. This increase in forgiveness is the difference between hitting the green and coming up short. REFINED FORGIVING SHAPE The Paradym X iron features a thicker topline and forgiving sole. A pre-worn leading edge is designed to cut through the turf more efficiently for even more forgiveness.
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Want to overhaul your bag for 2023? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

JWall

Jonathan Wall

Golf.com Editor

Jonathan Wall is GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com’s Managing Editor for Equipment. Prior to joining the staff at the end of 2018, he spent 6 years covering equipment for the PGA Tour. He can be reached at jonathan.wall@golf.com.