Equipment
The best iron sets for under $250
Look, we get it, golf clubs, especially a new set of irons, can be expensive. When you factor in the potential cost of a fitting and or other shaft and grip options you could be looking at a set of irons that retails for over $2,000—that’s a lot of dough!
This is why we want to help show you what you can get for your money with the best irons under $250.
As much as we love new clubs and new technology, at GolfWRX we still love to find the best deals to help golfers get the most value and when it comes to clubs and in this case iron sets. There is a lot of value in the marketplace if you know where to look, so we did the looking for you and have assembled the best iron sets you can find under $250.
** Note: Used club prices fluctuate and the clubs selected for this list we’re easily located in good shape for under the stated $250 price point **
Best iron sets under $250
Ping Eye 2’s
The Ping Eye 2 is my perennial favorite when it comes to buying affordable irons that will last a long time, and they are easy to find in the specs you need. Eye 2’s are the most popular, and best-selling irons of all time, and although you can find some newer Ping irons for a little bit of extra money or around the same price—like the Ping i/3’s—the Eye 2’s will always be my all-timer for affordability.
Mizuno MX-25
If it’s a forged iron you’re looking for, the Mizuno MX line, including the 20, 23, and 25, can all be found pretty easily under $250 and offer a forged head with an undercut cavity for added forgiveness in a mid-sized head. The great thing about them being forged is you can get them bent to your spec without much hassle—so shop away!
TaylorMade RAC series
The RAC series was one of TaylorMade’s best selling irons of all time behind the Burner line and the great thing was they offered a club for almost any golfer. The RAC OS (Oversized) was a great cast cavity back that offered a soft feel and confidence-inspiring look from address. The LT (lower trajectory) was a smaller mid-sized cavity back for those looking for extra workability, and then there was a forged iron for those seeking ultimate shotmaking—but at our $250 budget, those ones are harder to track down.
Callaway X-20
Before the Apex line came along, the Callaway X-Series irons were the distance iron for everyone and came in both a standard and pro series model for those golfers looking for a slightly smaller look from address and a thinner sole. You can go back further to the X-18 and X-16s to find some even more attractive deals, but the X-20’s were one of the last X-Series irons and still hold their own for the price.
Cameron Young’s WITB from his win at the 2025 Wyndham Championship. Cameron is a Titleist staff player but his bag is definitely filled with some unique clubs. Here are the clubs he used to secure his first PGA Tour win!
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus HB Black VeloCore+ 10 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Titleist T100 (5), Titleist 631.CY Prototype (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F @57), WedgeWorks (60-K* @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7
Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Prototype
- Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (10 degrees, C2 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X
7-wood: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T150 (4, 5), Titleist T100 (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper AMT Tour White X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F, 56-08M @57, 60-04T @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Fastback 1.5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Yellow
We’re proud to once again partner with 2nd Swing Golf to bring you GolfWRX Members Choice 2025! 2nd Swing has more than 150,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
What is the best driver in 2025? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. When it comes to the best driver of 2025, we want to know what our forum faithful think.
Since our founding in 2005, the bedrock of GolfWRX.com has been the community of passionate and knowledgeable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members — the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.
Below are the results of GolfWRX member voting for the 2025 best driver, along with the vote percentage for each club.
Best driver of 2025: The top 5
5. Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond: 6.02%
Callaway’s pitch: “For golfers looking for a fast, forgiving, yet workable driver, the Elyte Triple Diamond features a tour-inspired shape and is the preferred model by most Callaway tour players.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond here.
4. Ping G440 Max: 6.86%
Ping’s pitch: “The most forgiving G440 model, MAX has a hotter face to generate speed and distance, and a lighter overall system weight with a longer shaft (46″) for faster clubhead speed, higher launch and longer carries. The Free Hosel and Carbonfly Wrap crown save weight to create our lowest CG ever and increase forgiveness while contributing to a more muted, pleasing sound.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 Max here.
3. Ping G440 LST: 9.53%
Ping’s pitch: “LST is an especially good fit for faster swings, offering less spin and more control with a penetrating trajectory. A hotter face, lighter overall system weight and longer shaft (46″) deliver more speed and distance while maintaining tight dispersion.”
@phizzy30: “Not a fan of Ping drivers in general, but 440 LST takes the cake. It’s super forgiving across the face for a low spin head, looks and sounds good and the ability to make it play neutral or slightly fade biased through the hosel settings is very appealing.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 LST here.
2. Titleist GT3: 16.55%
Titleist’s pitch: “The GT3 Driver offers Titleist’s boldest combination of power and personalization through adjustable performance. Dial in the CG Track to your frequent contact location to make your biggest drives even bigger while taking total control over flight and shaping.”
@mrmikeac: “I’ve been Anti-Titleist for years and years and years (outside of Vokey, of course). With that being said, HOLY BEGEEZUS the GT3 driver is an absolute NUCLEAR MONSTER! This thing blew my G430 10K Max out of the water in every single category. Forgiveness is the biggest thing that stands out of me, the 3 model has always been one of the less forgiving models in the past but this GT3 can take bad shot after bad shot and still end up in the fairway, I think a ton of that has to do with the adjustability, it’s actually effective. Feel and sound is perfect, that solid crack is so addicting to hear and when you hit it out the screws this thing can absolutely bomb it. Titleist, I’m sorry for doubting you. You have converted me.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT3 here.
1. Titleist GT2: 22.91%
Titleist’s pitch: “Delivering impressive distance from any impact point, the Titleist GT2 Driver extracts maximum performance through a forgiving design. Get the stability and added confidence of a high-MOI driver without sacrificing speed.”
@DTorres: “The Titleist GT2 has proven to be the best driver of the year. Packaged in a classic profile, GT2 perfectly balances performance and forgiveness while consistently being a high performer across all categories.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT2 here.
Other drivers receiving >2% of the vote
| Driver | Vote percentage (%) |
|---|---|
| Cobra DS Adapt Max K | 4.85% |
| Ping G430 Max 10K | 3.85% |
| Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond | 3.68% |
| TaylorMade Qi35 | 3.51% |
| Callaway Elyte | 3.18% |
| Cobra DS Adapt X | 2.34% |
| Cobra DS Adapt LS | 2.17% |
| TaylorMade Qi35 LS | 2.17% |
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Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)
Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2025 Wyndham Championship
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX 3-wood: Titleist...
Camilo Villegas WITB 2025 (July)
Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Brandt Snedeker fired a final-round 65 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship to outlast Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan. His 5-under...
John
Nov 9, 2020 at 11:55 am
Fun article. I’m always glad when Ryan looks around for the values, I constantly look to find those types of deals myself! (Which is why I have a set of MP-32 (100$) and a slightly dinged up set of Z745 (250)) Always enjoy Ryan’s stuff, agree or disagree
Mike
Nov 8, 2020 at 2:37 pm
I agree on the X line like the X-20’s and X-22’s both regular and the Pro versions! I would also have to say that the Hogan Edge CFT’s were very good too!
Aaron Hornbrook
Nov 7, 2020 at 11:51 pm
Still bagging some RAC LTs. Great sticks that will be upgraded this winter/spring, but definitely deserving a place on this list.
Bill
Nov 7, 2020 at 11:26 am
The iron set that has better build quality AND FORGING than all these- yes – better than mixing, is—- Hogan Apex FTX set.
The FTX is a mixed set 8 to equalizer are bladed, 3-7 fantastic muscle back with a blade look!
These have a buttery feel AND are long, placement of the muscle is superb, just enough offset ( not much)!
The look and quality is significantly BETTER than all the clubs in this article,
Good luck finding a set!
Art V.
Nov 9, 2020 at 11:02 am
Na those are junk
Phil Fanatic
Nov 7, 2020 at 8:54 am
The best I ever got under $250
Adam’s MB2 raw
Callaway X Prototype (endo)
Titleist ZB/MB combo
Mizuno MP-33
y2zar
Nov 7, 2020 at 5:49 am
Can’t go wrong with X-20s, the Tour version is practically one of the most versatile irons I’ve ever hit. Pairing it with those M10 shafts, I can easily command my shots to whatever flights/shapes needed.
Jon W
Nov 7, 2020 at 4:12 am
Srixon made great clubs before the Z series.
Recommend Srixon 302 Forged, or my all time favourie Srixon 403AD.
One of the easiest to launch and longest irons Ive ever played.
Branden W
Nov 7, 2020 at 12:47 am
If we’re including old clubs by throwing the Ping Eye 2’s in there, can we go ahead and add the original Tommy Armour 845s Silver Scots from the early 90’s? They were so easy to pure iron shots. Their lofts and gapping is still consistent with current irons. And they can be found on the Bay for $100-$200 for a full set of irons. I loved mine for years.
John
Nov 6, 2020 at 8:51 pm
The Callaway X-20 were not the last. I had Callaway X-20 Tour and then the Callaway X-22 Tour with rifle-flighted project X shafts (Just looked at pictures in my ‘golf club photos’ folder from selling them on Ebay back in 2018).
Steve
Nov 6, 2020 at 7:38 pm
I saw a set of RAC Coin Forged in Goodwill a few months ago, but they were kinda beat and I’d been collecting too many sets so I passed on them. Probably should have picked them up.
I recently got a set of X20pro’s for $40 and sold them for $165 and had people beating down the door.
All of these irons are plenty playable and frankly can be had for under $50 if you get lucky.
Mike
Nov 6, 2020 at 5:51 pm
Why are we showing post of clubs that technology wise are irrelevant. Those even on a tight budget could find a used set on play it agin sports or ebay close to that price point. Are you running out of things to talk about seriously.
Brian
Nov 6, 2020 at 2:38 pm
Factoring in the cost of the Imitrex I’d have to purchase to fight the cluster headaches I would get looking down at those hideous Eye 2’s would put them well above $250.
b.mattay
Nov 6, 2020 at 2:09 pm
Grooves on these will be illegal
Neill A. MacLeod
Nov 6, 2020 at 10:24 pm
The Ping Eye 2 clubs (irons and wedges) were grandfathered for life as part of a settlement in 1993 of a suit Ping filed against the USGA. In short, any Ping Eye 2 manufactured prior to March 31, 1990, is within the rules as long as the USGA governs the game.
averywood4
Nov 6, 2020 at 1:30 pm
I bought a set of Miura CB-202 on ebay last week. 4-PW for $175.
Mr C
Nov 6, 2020 at 3:29 pm
That’s a steal. Best CB ever made. But on average those go for way more which I think what the article was assuming. Regardless, nice find.
Not Gianni
Nov 6, 2020 at 11:28 am
RACs in a shape resembling decent/playable??? For under $250??? Get real Ryan!!!
JC
Nov 6, 2020 at 10:06 pm
$250 Budget= Can possibly buy a decent iron set
… I’ve bought good-condition RAC Forged CB 3i-PW (similar to the Miura Forged) , for $75…
and Immaculated near-mint Bridgestone J36 iron set for <$150!