The utility or driving iron has made a strong resurgence in golf in recent years and advanced technology has made these clubs better performing replacements for traditional long irons while also being a preferred alternative to hybrids and higher lofted fairway woods for many better players.
There is no doubt that driving irons are used more by the better ball striker, but manufacturers have improved the playability and forgiveness factors allowing the market to open up to include the slightly higher handicap golfer.
They are a fantastic asset to your starting line-up and allow for another powerful option when faced with a narrow tee shot or approach into Par 5’s.
We have highlighted five of the best performing utility irons currently on the market for you to make a more informed decision on which one would be most ideal for your game.
Best Driving Irons For Golf
Below are our top picks for best driving irons for golfers.
- Editor's Choice: Callaway Apex UT
- Best Overall: Titleist 718 T-MB
- Best Hybrid: Taylormade GAPR MID Golf Club
- Best Value: Mizuno MP-18 MMC Fli Hi
- Best Adjustable Iron: Cobra KING Utility
Also check out our buyers guide for golf driving irons.
Best Golf Driving Irons
1. Callaway Apex UT
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The Callaway Apex UT is our number one choice for best driving iron.
This forged hollow-construction golf club has a soft, silky look and feel thanks to the forged carbon steel and the satin finish. This look and finish, and the loft options allow you to easily replace your Callaway Apex long irons in your set. It provides the perfect option for you on slightly shorter narrower Par 4’s where you’re needing to get it in play, but as far down there as possible. Just so pure.
The 18-degree 2-iron Apex UT is very popular among better players thanks to the feel and ease of use. And the ability to adjust the weight through a port in the sole makes it easier to control the launch and spin produced by this club. Undoubtedly one of the longest driving irons we’ve ever tested.
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2. Titleist 718 T-MB
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Arguably the best performing driving iron for better players and the most popular on professional tours globally. The clubhead is much more compact and looks very similar to the 718 MB blade. The 718 T-MB is even available as a full set of irons.
When it comes to distance the 718 T-MB wins that race. Despite being so compact the ball seems to explode off the face with a much lower launch and spin resulting in more roll and increase workability.
As mentioned before this club is very popular among professionals and better golfers for good reason. Higher handicapped golfers with slower swing speeds may battle to get the best performance out of this utility iron.
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3. Taylormade GAPR MID Golf Club
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The Taylormade GAPR irons come in 3 unique shapes and are the perfect blend between a driving iron and a hybrid club.
We have reviewed the Taylormade GAPR MID Golf Club. The Mid iron has been optimized for extreme distance and the loft sleeve allows for improved gaping and trajectory.
Speedfoam is a revolutionary iron technology enhances ballspead and performance, while the Speed pocket technology gives you greater launch conditions for longer distances.
The Taylormade GAPR Mid utilises Flight Control Technology (FCT) which means it has an easily adjustable loft sleeve giving you more trajectory options.
While they are quite pricey for a hybrid club, they are stylish and give you a more forgiving play than most hybrids on the market.
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4. Mizuno MP-18 MMC Fli Hi
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You can never go wrong with a Mizuno iron and the MP-18 MMC Fli Hi is no different. Designed to complement the latest MP-18 range of irons the Fli Hi replaces traditional long irons in these sets seamlessly.
Despite the MP series of irons always being known as the better player’s irons, the Fli Hi is easy enough to hit by golfers of all abilities. The cast clubhead is surprisingly soft feeling and the satin finish looks much more luxurious while also reducing glare.
The Fli Hi offers a great all-round performance in feel, forgiveness and distance. It is also easy to control the launch and workability and the best part is that you can replace as much as a 6-iron in a traditional set with the MP-18 MMC Fli Hi driving/utility irons.
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5. Cobra KING Utility
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The only adjustable driving/utility iron on the market. The two options of KING Utility irons allow you to adjust the loft up to three degrees and add a draw too. These are great clubs for those who have either extra wedges or fairway woods in their bag and need to drop a club.
The 2/3-iron can be adjusted between 18 and 21 degrees while the 3/4-iron can be adjusted between 21 and 24 degrees. These are the traditional long iron lofts making the KING Utility the perfect replacement in your set.
Depending on whether you need a lower, running ball or a higher, soft landing flight you can adjust the club to suit the conditions on the day.
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Best Utility Iron Buyers Guide
Design and Feel
Driving irons will more likely be slightly chunkier in look than traditional long irons.
The topline will be thicker and there will be slightly more offset, unless you are using game improvement irons. Better players will prefer the look of a more compact utility iron, of which there are some on the market.
When it comes to feel, if you are using forged irons you will likely prefer a driving iron with a forged construction or at least a forged face insert. This method of club manufacturing produces a softer, more buttery feel.
Driving irons that have thicker soles and muscle pads behind the face will more than likely launch the ball higher and be less workable for the better player. While this may be the answer as a replacement for a long iron, it may not necessarily offer as much performance if you are looking for a low hitting tee club in windy conditions.
Ease of use
The degree of how easy a driving iron is to hit depends mostly on the design.
Those that are created to be a lower launching and spinning alternative to a hybrid or high lofted fairway wood will generally be more workable and will be preferred by better golfers who possess the high swing speed and ability to compress the ball more effectively.
The majority of driving irons are designed to be easier to hit than a traditional long iron, and longer in distance too. But as the lofts increase on a driving iron the higher they do tend to launch, especially when compared to a traditional long iron.
Value for money
The affordability of a driving iron is mostly dependent on the materials used in the club’s design and construction.
A forged club will almost always be more expensive as the carbon steel costs more.
This does affect feel and again you often pay more for a product that feels more luxurious.
For a beginner – adult. I am awful when it comes to hitting with a driver – all my mechanics go out the window when i pick them up.. i better with an iron. More control and mentally not as intimidating..
What are your suggestions for replacing my traditional driver with an iron?
Thank you..
A million over Par…
Hi Michael, if you are a beginner I would not suggest using a driving iron as these tend to be even more difficult to hit. I recommend going for a hybrid like the Callaway Rogue (https://www.golfassessor.com/callaway-rogue-hybrid-review/), which are a lot easier to hit.