Editor’s note: Looking ahead to where we take our golf equipment coverage in the future (launch season will be here soon enough!), we want to look behind us more frequently. What does that mean, exactly? Well, we want to both place new releases in their historical contexts and highlight past coverage by, as we have done from time to time, opening the GolfWRX archives.

For this installment, we’re returning to 2021 and our Best Irons fitter survey. These were the irons our expert fitters were actually fitting the most golfers into, that is, for the widest portion of the fitting bell curve, these were the clubs that performed best. It’s interesting to see what’s similar to the 2025 results (Srixon!) and what has changed, and of course, if you’re looking for a value, many of these irons will still perform adequately four years later. 

In the excerpt below, we ran down the top five vote getters in overall performance. 

2021 Best irons: Overall performance

This category is the perfect place to start if you’re not quite sure what you are looking for. Distance? Check. Forgiveness? Check. Sleek looks? Check. The top five in the “best irons overall” category are perfect for those golfers who appreciate technology and want something that is going to give them shot options.

2021 Callaway Apex

Their story: The new 2021 Callaway Apex Forged irons were created with one goal in mind: optimization, not only through the set but into each specific iron. For the first time, Callaway used A.I. to design its patented Flash Face Cup, which in previous applications created a face that was not only fast but extremely forgiving.

In this newest iteration of the Apex iron, the focus was on control and “spin robustness,” which is another way to say spin optimization. Callaway was able to not only increase ball speeds and forgiveness across the face but with a new weighting configuration, also able to control and optimize spin. Each iron face is tuned to complement the loft (i.e. long irons equal high launch/low spin, mid irons equal mid launch/mid spin, short irons equal lower launch/higher spin).

From the fitters

• In a small way, the very first Callaway Apex created the all-around iron category by combining a great-looking club with distance-creating technology, and the newest Apex continues that tradition. Whether you’re looking for distance or precision, you get both.
• For the 2021 version of the Apex, Callaway really stepped their game up by improving the appearance, feel, and overall performance. For its shape and size, it’s pretty amazing what they have done with this club, and the results show up in our fittings.
• Not only is the Apex great, but it’s also a great foundation to build a set with other irons in the line including the DCB and the Apex Pros. If you are looking at the Apex, make sure to at least consider building a combo set.

For more photos/info, read our launch piece and check out this forum thread.

Srixon ZX5

Their story: The Srixon ZX5 iron uses what the company calls Mainframe Face to optimize each club through the set based on tested strike patterns and was refined using machine learning. The face is composed of varying thickness patterns, which are all individually milled into the rear to expand the COR. The irons combine this Mainframe face made of strong and elastic SUP10 steel to the iron’s forged 1020 body to provide feel and elasticity, resulting in ball speed in an iron that appeals to a large group of golfers.

The ZX5 irons offer an extremely clean look from address and the topline profile matches closely to the popular ZX7—square and sharp! Not only that but the blade lengths and sole widths have all been finely tuned so golfers that do plan to build combo sets will see a smooth transition from one iron to the next and even into the utility.

From the fitters

• This iron is a chameleon because it has the look of a smaller compact club yet offers the forgiveness associated with a larger one. It can fit a wide range of golfers, regardless of skill, even though it looks more like a club geared toward lower handicap golfers.
• Although still a mid-profile design—not too big and not too small—the ZX5 is beyond playable for golfers across skill levels. The next step from here in terms of forgiveness would be the ZX4.
• We have been blown away by the ZX5. For the size, it sounds and looks great and has top-end ball speeds. It is our top-fitted forged cavity back iron across the board.
• The ZX5 is very playable and extremely good-looking. The cambered VT sole results in lovely turf interaction no matter the attack angle of the player.

For more photos/info, read our launch piece and check out this forum thread.

TaylorMade P790

Their story: The P790 is a hollow-body design built with an 8620 carbon steel body attached to a forged 4140 carbon steel wrapped face.

Inside of the iron is SpeedFoam, a low-density material that plays a critical role in the interplay of the elements inside the head along with the acoustics. Compared to the prior generation, the face of the P790 is seven percent thinner and the iron also contains 15 percent more tungsten, which helps lower the CG and boost forgiveness. The final part of the puzzle is the new Progressive Inverted Cone Technology (PICT), which creates more forgiveness and accuracy across the face depending on the iron in the set to further improve control into the shorter clubs.

From the fitters

• These irons have had almost unprecedented longevity, and I don’t see the train stopping any time soon. They boast tremendous forgiveness in an iron that has the looks of a more traditional club which makes them a fantastic choice.
• Without a doubt, the P790 is one of the top-selling irons thanks to its ability to be very easy to hit, while also having mass appeal thanks to its great looks. It is easy to launch and has one of the fastest faces to produce ball speed and distance—and it feels great too!
• The P790 is neck and neck with the Callaway Apex. It’s hot, forgiving, in a great-looking package that fits many golfers its a fitters dream.

For more photos/info, read our launch piece and check out this forum thread.

Ping G425

Their story: The Ping G425 iron builds off the success of the G410 by packing more forgiveness into a smaller package designed to add distance and give golfers the ability to reduce dispersions and land the ball softer into greens.

The most important design feature of the G425 irons is the new metal wood style VFT (variable face thickness), used to increase ball speed, consistency, and launch. The new VFT is possible thanks to the Hyper 17-4 stainless steel material, which allows engineers to go thinner while still maintaining structural integrity and feel. This new VFT is not symmetrical and is instead a more sideways egg-shaped oval. This allows the G425 iron to have more face deflection than Ping has ever been able to create with a cast design. When you add in the new face with an improved hinge (notice the small notch on the toe to also increase deflection) you get a diving board-like effect to send the ball higher to stop sooner.

From the fitters

• Ping G425 keeps being the workhorse iron in their lineup that that works for a wide variety of players.  The G425 has to be one of the easiest irons to hit.  The offset and the bottom work in tandem to help square the face-up and not dig.
• Very forgiving, which is expected from Ping. Launches really high and produces great ball speed
• G425 is such a forgiving clubhead. Easy to launch, long blade length, fast face. Mid-to-high-handicappers who need forgiveness off mishits and need help with height, this club is hard to beat
• The G425 is one of the best irons in the game improvement area. Although at first glance it looks large, from address, Ping has really cleaned it up. The topline is sharp and results when we get them into the golfer’s hands are even better.

For more photos/info, read our launch piece and check out this forum thread.

Srixon ZX4

Their story: The ZX4 irons share the same face technology as the ZX5 and ZX Utility, known as “Mainframe.” This Mainframe face creates a unique thickness optimization for each iron in the set based on tested strike patterns and was refined using machine learning.

The face itself is made from forged HT1770 maraging steel and attached to a 431 steel body for great ball speeds and soft feel. Inside of the 431 stainless steel body of ZX4 mid and long irons is high-density tungsten in the sole to lower the center of gravity, boost forgiveness, and help promote high-launching shots.

From the fitters

• The ZX4 works well for golfers who need performance and can be very different things to different players depending on the shaft. For less consistent golfers that have speed these irons get the ball up quickly without sacrificing control, and for slower speed players a lightweight option brings them to life even more.
• The fact that Srixon carried the VT sole into this iron proves how well it works, especially for those who are more on the steeper side or happen to play in softer more lush conditions regularly
• Even with the hollow design, you get a lot of control in the shorter irons and the sole design helps make them versatile when trying to hit shots.
• Although it is less likely a golfer would need to do it, you can combo them with ZX5 in the shorter irons to build a really nice set.

Read the full piece here.

More from the GolfWRX archives

• From the GolfWRX archives: The best driver of 2017
• From the GolfWRX archives: 2019 Titleist T-Series irons (T100, T200, and T300)
• From the GolfWRX archives: 2013 TaylorMade R1 driver (editor review)