Black Golf Irons: Top Picks for Every Level of Player

Can using black golf irons help your game? No. Can playing black irons help you enjoy the game? Sure.

Black golf irons are becoming more and more popular, and if you’re drawn to the look of black irons, the good news is there are black irons in every category, from super game improvement options for high handicappers down to blades for professional players.

So let’s explore the world of black golf irons and check out the best black irons for every player.

It’s true that black irons are usually a little more expensive than the silver versions of the same irons, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t great deals on high-performing black irons.

Check out these FXT Players Distance irons from RAM for example. It’s only $449 for a 5-PW set, which comes standard with KBS shafts. 

As the name suggests, these are players distance irons, but they’re packed with forgiveness. The muscle back design is great for mid-handicappers and better, but don’t be intimidated, there is plenty of forgiveness built in here. If you’re anywhere up to a 20 handicapper and you’re feeling these irons, you can game them no problem, especially if your ball striking is still improving. 

Another great thing about this set is that you can have them built to your exact specs if you’d like. If that stock KBS shaft isn’t the best fit for you, there are plenty of other great options for a little bit more money. You can also build the set out to include a 4-iron and/or a gap wedge, have the length adjusted up to an inch in either direction, and even choose from several grip options.

These MacGregor MACSPD irons are all about distance, forgiveness, good looks and great value. That’s a pretty nice package, which is exactly how they ended up on this list.

A 5-PW set only costs $429, which is a steal. The hollow head is filled with MacGregor’s proprietary foam to boost forgiveness and feel. The face of these irons is super thin, which helps boost distance. You also have plenty of shaft options from KBS, True Temper, Nippon and UST Recoil.

Have you noticed game improvement irons look much better the last couple years than they did the previous 20 years? Sleeker, more understated game improvement irons are in, and these KING Forged Tec X Black irons from Cobra are among the best-looking of the bunch.

Don’t be fooled by the sleek looks, these irons are built for distance and forgiveness, thanks to the help of a 65 gram internal tungsten weight inside the hollow head.

The black edition of these irons comes from a QPQ finish, unlike many competitors which use a PVD finish.

PXG’s latest Player’s Distance iron is arguably its best ever. The new 0311 GEN7 XP irons touch the USGA’s Coefficient of Restitution limit thanks to a new material PXG has behind the face, QuantomCOR. Only a steel face that’s 0.05” thick stands between your ball and that QuantumCOR foam at impact, which is part of the reason these irons excel in the distance category.

The weight on the back of the iron can be adjusted during the fitting process to dial in a specific swing weight and further optimize performance.

You’re used to a titanium face on your driver, but did you know Callaway makes a set of irons with a titanium face? The Apex Ti Fusion irons are designed to tighten dispersion and deliver outstanding feel at impact. They’re also really long, especially for a better players iron, thanks to the titanium face, which helps increase ball speed.

The Apex Ti Fusion iron come with a gun-metal-finish True Temper shaft, giving the entire club a really pleasing blacked out look. All that tech and good looks comes at a price, however, as these irons retail for $2,099.

If you’re not paying attention to Srixon irons, you’re missing out. The ZX7 Mk II irons are cavity backs for the better players out there, allowing you to dictate your shot shape and trajectory, and rewarding solid strikes with excellent feel. 

These are one-piece, forged irons with a black chrome finish that simply looks stunning. The ZX7 irons have a progressive groove design, with shallower, wider-spaced grooves in the long irons, and deeper, closer-set grooves in the short irons. This helps you get ideal distance from the longer irons, and preferred spin and stopping power from the short irons.

The Sub 70 659 MB irons pack everything you expect from a blade into an awesome black iron. They’re workable and compact with a thin top line, minimal offset, and a soft feel. The CG is slightly higher in the face than the previous generation, giving you better control of your trajectory. Forged from DT-4 soft stainless steel and finished in a matte black PVD finish, the 659 MBs look as good as they feel.

At only $660 for a set, these irons are a great value, especially compared to other better-players options out there. Built to give elite ball strikers complete control over their shot shape and trajectory, you won’t find too much tech designed to forgive mis-hits in these irons.