Best Cavity Back Irons 2023 – Distance & Forgiveness In 1

#1 – TaylorMade SIM MAX Irons – Best Choice

 

Selling Points:

• Speed Bridge brace
• Echo sound dampening system
• Free-floating face

Key Features:

“The SIM Max irons provide the stability you need for satisfying feel combined with an incredibly hot face.”

Play the Taylormade SIM Max irons once and it’ll be pretty clear that they were primarily designed for distance. Everything about them has been tweaked to push ball speed as far as it’ll go. The speed pocket is essentially a slot that runs behind the face, allowing it to hinge.

The face is already super-thin to begin with at just 1.5 millimeters. That would all be a problem if not for the Speed Bridge. The Speed Bridge on the back helps stabilize the thin, free-floating face so you still get solid control and feedback with the long irons.

Forgiveness seemed to be the next point of emphasis with these irons. The Inverted Cone sweet spot is progressive throughout the set for maximum sweet spot coverage from 4 iron to the wedges. Speaking of the 4 iron, it starts at 19 degrees all the way through the lob wedge set at 59 degrees.

The SIM Max irons come stock with a Fujikura Ventus Blue or KBS Max 85 shaft. The standard grip is a Lamkin Crossline 360. For anyone looking for maximum distance from their irons, these are the standard.

Pros:

• They play incredibly long
• They produce a low center of gravity
• Good sound dampening

Cons:

• They lack workability

Overall Rating: 96/100

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#2 – Callaway Golf 2021 Apex DCB – Best Premium

Selling Points:

• Flash Face design
• Flash Face design
• Forged design

Key Features:

“The 100% forged bodies of these irons give them a premium feel but the deep cavity back makes them playable to everyone.”

Forged irons are usually played by low handicappers. Callaway thought that everyone could benefit from the shot shaping ability and superior feel of forged irons, though.

That was the impetus behind the Callaway Apex DCB irons.

They feature fully forged 1025 carbon steel bodies but what makes them accessible to higher handicap players is the super-deep cavity.

The deeper than usual cavity creates more MOI which, translates to higher forgiveness.

The sole of the DCB’s are also a bit wider than other models which, helps with turf interaction and launch.

The set runs from a 20 degree 4 iron to a 43 degree pitching wedge and you can choose between a True Temper Elevate ETS steel shaft or a UST Mamiya Recoil Dart graphite shaft. The grip it comes with is a Golf Pride Z soft.

Pros:

• Feels amazing
• Soft feel
• Good apex height

Cons:

• Not great for low handicaps

Overall Rating: 96/100

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#3 -TaylorMade Golf M2 Irons – Best Budget

 

Selling Points:

• Geocoustic sound design
• Speed Pocket
• Thin top line

Key Features:

“Taylormade takes forgiving cavity back irons to the next level with the M2’s which, preserve ball speed on mis-hits.

The compact head design of the Taylormade M2 irons give them a players look but they have all the forgiveness of a cavity back iron. In fact, Taylormade even added slots to the face which, help to preserve ball speed on off-center strikes near the toe.

The M2’s also feature the Speed Pocket which, produces even more ball speed by allowing the face to hinge. The 4 iron is set to 19 degrees of loft and runs through to the pitching wedge set at 43.5 degrees.

The stock shaft is an FST Reax 88HL in graphite or steel. It also comes stock with a Taylormade Dual Feel .600 grip.

Pros:

• Very forgiving
• Clean design
• Deep, satisfying sound

Cons:

• Not the longest-playing irons

Overall Rating: 94/100

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#4 – Callaway Big Bertha B21 Iron Set – Best For High Handicappers

 

Selling Points:

• Tungsten weighting
• Urethane microspheres
• A.I. designed face
• Offset For Slicers
• Massive Sweet Spots

Key Features:

High handicappers around the world rejoiced at the advent of the Big Bertha series.

There is an internal tungsten weight placed behind the sweet spot of the long irons. The Cup Face design also expands the sweet spot out towards the perimeter of the face. You also get a very wide sole and maximum offset.

The set starts with a 4 iron at 19 degrees and ends with a lob wedge at 60 degrees. Callaway offers a KBS Max CT80 steel shaft, a Callaway RCH 65i graphite shaft and a Golf Pride Tour Velvet grip.

Pros:

• Extremely forgiving
• Great distance
• Perfect for high handicappers

Cons:

• They lack short game accuracy
• Limited Spin

Overall Rating: 94/100

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#5 – Wilson Staff Model CB Men’s Golf Irons – Best For Mid Handicappers

 

Selling Points:

• Tungsten weighted toe
• Carbon steel face
• Forged construction

Key Features:

The Wilson Staff CB’s combine luxurious feel with the forgiveness that you would expect from a cavity back iron. The face is made of forged 8620 carbon steel.

The long to mid irons feature high-density carbon weights in the toe to help lower the center of gravity and increase MOI.

This means you have a nice, wide sweet spot to work with. These would be great irons for any high to mid handicappers who prefer that unmistakable forged feel.

You can choose a set configuration that includes an 18 degree 2 iron all the way through a 50 degree gap wedge.

The stock shaft for these irons is True Temper Dynamic Gold and the stock grip is a Golf Pride Tour Velvet. You can also choose a right or left-handed set.

Pros:

• Almost has a muscle back look
• Soft feel
• Good for fast swing speeds

Cons:

• A bit pricey

Overall Rating: 92/100

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#6 – Titleist T100 Irons – Best For Low Handicappers

Selling Points:

• Fully forged
• Perimeter tungsten weighting
• Pre-worn sole

For anyone looking for a good mix of feel, workability and short-game performance from a cavity back iron, we present the Titleist T100’s.

The camber of the shorter irons combined with the pre-worn sole smooth out rough turfs. These are great irons to have for tough chip shots.

There are also tungsten weights in the heel and toe of the long and mid irons to increase MOI and expand the sweet spot but these are very much players irons.

To top it all off, Titleist forged these irons to give them a superior feel. The T100’s go from 21 degrees in the 3 wood all the way to 50 degrees in a utility wedge.

The stock shafts are True Temper AMT Tour White’s and the stock grip is a Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 White.

Pros:

• Excellent Feel And Workability
• Great for mid to high handicappers
• Smooth turf interaction

Cons:

• Limited Forgiveness
• Not For High Handicappers

Overall Rating: 91/100

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#7 – Cobra Golf Men’s 2019 F-Max Superlite Iron Set – Best For Seniors

Selling Points:

• Lightweight
• Progressive CG
• Deep undercut cavity

Key Features:

The F-Max Superlite irons are all about keeping things light. Everything from the thinner grips to the deep cavity was contrived to keep the weight to a minimal. These irons were developed for slower swing speeds but they still generate good distance.

The lower undercut helps launch the ball high without the need for a crazy swing speed. The progressive hosel lengths generate CG where you need it to be throughout the set: low in the long irons and higher in the short irons.

These irons also have a good amount of offset (also progressive throughout the set) to help hig handicappers who are struggling with squaring up to the ball at impact. Overall these are great irons for high handicappers or senior players.

The 4 iron is set to a very generous 22 degrees of loft while the sand wedge offers a staggering 55 degrees. You can choose from a Cobra Superlite shaft or a KBS Superlite shaft and a Cobra Lamkin REL midsize grip.

Pros:

• Great set for anyone with a slow to moderate swing speed
• You get great apex height almost effortlessly
• Very forgiving features

Cons:

• Limited spin control in the short irons

Overall Rating: 89/100

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#8 – XXIO Women Eleven Iron Set RH 7 – Best For Women

Selling Points:

• Butt weights
• Double undercut cavities
• Unique cavity design

Key Features:

We haven’t forgotten about the ladies. The XXIO Eleven women’s cavity back irons have some very unique features that are aimed at flattening the dreaded iron learning curve.

This helps spread the weight out between the shaft and the head more evenly. The result is an incredibly comfortable set of irons that’s easy and fun to swing.

Then there is the double undercut cavity that helps the face flex and rebound to a tremendous degree.

The result of this feature, as you can imagine is nearly effortless ball speed. This would be a great complete set for any female player looking for exceptionally forgiving cavity back irons.

The set starts at the 5 iron which, is set to 24 degrees. It ends with a sand wedge set to 56 degrees.

The stock shaft is a XXIO MP 1100 graphite shaft and the stock grip is a XXIO Eleven Ladies Weight Plus Grip. The set is only available in ladies flex. You can also choose between a pink and a blue set.

Pros:

• Really good ball speed
• They feel really nice to swing
• Great weight balance

Cons:

• Not available in left-handed

Overall Rating: 85/100

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#9 – TaylorMade SIM 2 Max OS – Most Forgiving

Selling Points:

• Cap back design
• Oversized heads
• Speed Pocket

Key Features:

The SIM 2 Max OS irons come with a redesigned Speed Bridge that Tayloarmade calls a Cap Back.

Taylormade calls these the longest irons in their production line but for us, the distance wasn’t the star of the show. Yes, they do play long with the Speed Pocket that pushes the ball further but the enlarged sweet spot was what really endeared us to these irons.

These are exceptionally forgiving irons. They have taller crown heights and larger heads to instill confidence in high handicap players. They also have exceptionally wide soles which, makes it easier to get the ball higher in the air.

There is also a layer of soft polymer in these irons that help dampen harsh noise and vibration. Overall these irons have a lot of what new players need: forgiveness, distance and an accommodating feel. The 4 iron is set at 18 degrees up to the lob wedge which, is set to 59 degrees.

Pros:

• They have a soft feel
• You get great launch angles from them
• They are very forgiving

Cons:

• Not great for low handicappers

Overall Rating: 85/100

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#10 – Callaway Golf  Rogue Irons Set – Best Previous Generation

Selling Points:

• Variable Face Thickness
• 360 face cup
• Urethane microspheres

Key Features:

Rounding out our list is an older version of the Callaway Rogue irons. These cavity backs still hold up very well against newer models, though.

They feature elastic/urethane microspheres to round out harsh vibrations. This gives them an exceptionally soft and comfortable feel.

The 2018 Rogue’s were predicated on forgiveness, though. The Variable Face Thickness essentially turns the entire face into the sweet spot. This coupled with the 360 face cup design means you will get straighter, longer shots even when you miss the center of the face.

The tungsten weights bare a unique shape to fit the shape of the sweet spots throughout the set. This means you get extra oomph and CG where you need it in the long to mid irons. These irons are ideal for anyone looking for quality, forgiving irons on a budget.

The stock shafts include Aldila Synergy 60IR Graphite and True Temper XP 95 Stepless Steel in light, regular or stiff flex. Your set can include a 3 iron at 18 degrees of loft all the way to a lob wedge at 59 degrees.

Pros:

• Available in right or left-handed versions
• Good price
• Great feel at contact

Cons:

• Lacking modern features

Overall Rating: 94/100

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Final Thoughts

The most important thing for a 3 wood is that it reflects your needs as a player. Are you trying to attack pins on par 5’s? Are you trying to replace hybrids or longer irons? Do you need a higher CG for your slower swing speed?

These are all questions you must carefully consider before making your choice. Our list features 3 woods for all types of players though, so make your selection and take your game to the next level!