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.
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
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, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4 3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees) Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4 5-wood: Ping G440...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
Si Woo Kim WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
John
Nov 9, 2020 at 11:55 am
Fun article. I’m always glad when Ryan looks around for the values, I constantly look to find those types of deals myself! (Which is why I have a set of MP-32 (100$) 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!