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.
Tour Edge Golf has today introduced the all-new Exotics mini driver, engineered to deliver a powerful combination of speed, control, and versatility in the long game.
The Exotics Mini combines a titanium face with a stainless-steel body in design to balance ball speed with stability and control, creating a versatile option at the top end of the bag.
At the core of the design is Tour Edge’s proprietary Combo Brazing technology, a high-precision thermal bonding process that seamlessly fuses a titanium cup face to a stainless-steel body into a single, continuous structure. By eliminating energy loss found in traditional multi-piece constructions, Combo Brazing is designed to deliver faster face response, more efficient energy transfer, and a uniquely powerful yet controlled feel.
The multi-material construction also allows mass to be positioned lower and deeper in the head in a bid to increase stability, while the thin titanium face is engineered to maintain ball speed across a wider impact area.
“While the initial goal was to enhance control and versatility in the long game, Combo Brazing ultimately drove measurable gains in ball speed and distance within the mini driver category. In robot testing, we’ve documented higher ball speeds, higher launch, reduced spin, and increased carry and total distance compared to leading models.” – Vice President of R&D Matt Neeley
In addition to distance performance, the Exotics mini emphasizes forgiveness through a heavier stainless-steel body that shifts mass toward the perimeter. This configuration increases MOI relative to traditional all-titanium mini drivers, helping preserve ball speed and directional stability on off-center strikes. Paired with Pyramid Face Technology from the Exotics metalwood line, the design is intended to support consistent speed across the face.
To further enhance MOI, a lightweight carbon fiber crown frees additional mass that is strategically repositioned low and deep in the head in design to improve stability and promote optimal launch with controlled spin.
“We designed the Mini to be about five millimeters shallower than other mini drivers on the market. That change improves playability off the deck. From a clean fairway lie, it can function as a strong 3-wood alternative while still providing control off the tee.” – Tour Edge CEO David Glod
An adjustable hosel system allows for loft and lie tuning to dial in trajectory and shot shape, while a fixed 13-gram rear weight helps stabilize the head through impact to improve dispersion consistency. The Exotics Mini Driver is available in 11.5 and 13.5-degree lofts in right-handed models.
Pricing & Availability
The Exotics Mini Driver is available for pre-order beginning today for $399.99 USD at touredge.com, and will be available for purchase at retail outlets worldwide on May 22, 2026.
In our forums, our members have been pitting a Srixon ZXi combo against a TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo. WRXer ‘edutch22’ is on the hunt for a new set of irons and kicks off the thread saying:
“Looking at picking up a new set of irons and think I’ve narrowed it down to Srixon ZXi combo or Taylormade P7CB/770 combo. I am currently a 5 cap and allbeit I feel irons are my weakness. My miss is a little to the toe side. I am decently steep at 4-5 down. Always thought I am high spin but recently on trackman my 7 was spinning at 5800 roughly.
My question or looking for thoughts on which one would benefit me more from a forgiveness standpoint? Or is there another iron is should be looking at entirely? I only get to play about once or twice a week, if I am not playing a 2-3 day event. Thanks in advance.”
And our members have been sharing their thoughts and suggestions in response.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- manima1: “You just can’t go wrong with Srixon ZXi7.”
- MattM97: “You have to hit them to know, the V-Sole on the Srixon can be make or break for many.”
- dmeeksDC: “P7CB is more forgiving for me than ZXi7 because my main miss is low middle and the P7CB still flies and spins great on that miss. These are both really nice irons but I like the P7CB more than the Zxi7 and the P770 (or P790) more than the Zxi5. The Srixons are larger so if that gives you confidence that is the way to go. I don’t feel like I get any benefit from the V-sole and the P7CBs live up to their high Maltby forgiveness rating so the TaylorMades have been great for me.”
Entire Thread: “Srixon ZXi combo or TaylorMade P7CB/770 combo? – GolfWRXers discuss”
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @pianoman0123 has a 2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade combo up for grabs.
From the listing: “2024 Wilson Staff CB/Blade Combo. 4-8 irons are CB’s and the 9,PW are Blades. 5-PW have Project X 6.0 Shafts and the 4 Iron has a Steelfiber CW110 Stiff Shaft. Standard Length, Lie and Lofts. These are in very good condition the shafts just don’t work for me. Like new Lamkin Grips on the 5-PW and a stock Golf Pride on the 4 Iron. $525 OBO.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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John
Nov 9, 2020 at 11:55 am
Fun article. I’m always glad when Ryan looks around for the values, I constantly look to find those types of deals myself! (Which is why I have a set of MP-32 (100$) 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!