Our Job Is Your Game

In 2020, Most Wanted Testing hit a roadblock due to COVID-19. It impacted our testing schedules and hindered the completion of four tests. Today, we are releasing the most comprehensive Utility Iron Test for 2021.

At MyGolfSpy, our job is to provide independent, unbiased and objective testing so you can make more confident purchasing decisions. Our 2021 Most Wanted Utility Iron Test is an indispensable guide for the off-the-rack buyer or for anyone looking for insight before their next fitting.

Let’s take a look at the Best Utility Irons for 2021!

2021 Best Utility Iron: Srixon ZX

The 2021 Most Wanted Utility Iron is the Srixon ZX. Leading the pack with the best strokes gained, the ZX also excelled in other metrics. Let’s take a look.

1st in Strokes Gained 2nd in Forgiveness 7th in Total Distance

With tremendous consistency, the ZX offers reliability as a utility iron. Utility irons may not be most consumers’ first choice. However, the Srixon ZX might be worth your consideration. Whether you are looking for a long iron replacement or strictly a “driving iron,” the ZX might be the golden ticket.

Utility Iron Buying Considerations

Performance should be your primary concern when buying a new utility iron but there are some additional factors you may want to consider before you make your purchasing decision.

Utility Irons Versus Long Irons

Long irons are a constant in the golf world. However, do you struggle to hit your 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-iron consistently? Most golfers will likely answer with an emphatic “yes.” Utility irons offer more forgiveness than long irons. With wider soles and lower and deeper centers of gravity, utility irons can create more optimum ball flights. Be careful, though. With more optimum ball flight, you may see an increase in carry distance. Be sure to pay attention to your lofts to ensure efficient yardage gapping.

Utility Irons Versus Hybrids

For years, hybrids have served as long iron replacements. However, there are still golfers who prefer the traditional “long iron” look. Well, for those enthusiasts, switching to a utility iron may be the best option. Most hybrids are draw biased. For those that hate a hook, a utility iron might be the better alternative. Also, if you are a golfer with a steeper angle of attack, utility irons may serve you well. Their tendency is to produce a lower, more penetrating ball flight. So, be mindful of your gapping since hybrids tend to launch higher and may result in more carry distance than the utility iron.

Utility Irons Versus Fairway Woods

Arguably, fairway woods are most golfers’ kryptonite. They are one of the most difficult golf clubs to hit consistently. Utility irons offer a lifeline replacement for fairway woods. The downside: Most utility irons only offer, at their lowest, 16 degree of loft. Therefore, they are unlikely candidates as a 3-wood replacement. However, they can be used as direct replacements for 5-woods. Golfers with a steeper angle of attack may benefit from a utility iron. A utility iron offers a sleeker look, more workability and, potentially, more forgiveness than a 5-wood. Typically, utility irons will launch lower and fly shorter than a 5-wood so bear that in mind before you consider the switch.

Loft

Yardage gapping is a key ingredient throughout your golf bag. Even more so, proper gapping is essential when implementing utility irons. Each manufacturer offers a plethora of loft options for their utility irons. COBRA’s KING Utility offers an adjustable hosel to get even more dialed in. Go through a fitting to determine the appropriate lofts in your utility iron when replacing your long irons. You may want to utilize a utility iron as an “off the tee” option as well. Make sure your “2-iron” or “3 -ron” driving iron produces optimal launch conditions.

Shaft Selection

Throughout Most Wanted Testing, we emphasize shaft selection. It plays a vital role in the performance of a club. Whether it is steel or graphite, there is a correct shaft for each individual. Go through a professional fitting and thoroughly analyze whether a golf shaft is right for your swing characteristics. Things to consider are shaft flex, bend profile and weighting. Each can play a significant role in the club’s performance.

Adjustability

In this year’s test, there is one adjustable utility iron, the COBRA KING Utility. In our 2019 Most Wanted Utility Iron Test, we saw four adjustable utility irons, quite the change in a few years’ time. Having an adjustable hosel provides a unique opportunity to add or decrease loft and, in COBRA’s case, a draw option.

FIELD NOTES

During each test, we look for trends that provide insight into where the market as a whole is moving as well as what noteworthy changes manufacturers have made to improve year-to-year performance. Additionally, we solicit feedback from our testers. We want to understand what they liked, what they didn’t like and why. Although we obtain their feedback, their subjective opinions do not influence, dictate or determine our testing rankings.

Trends and Tweaks

As mentioned, the COBRA KING Utility is the lone adjustable utility iron in this year’s test. The 3-iron Utility comes stock at 19.5 degrees with eight different hosel settings. A 2-iron utility is available strictly through custom at 17.5 degrees. Hollow-body designs are becoming a constant in utility irons. The likes of Wilson Staff Model, COBRA KING Utility, Taylormade’s UDI and DHY, Cleveland Launcher UHX, Tour Edge Exotics EXS 220 TI and Titleist U505 all feature hollow-body construction. PING and COBRA both offer Arccos usability with their G425 Crossover and KING Utility. This feature is quite common in both manufacturers’ line-ups.

Notes From the Testing Pool

The following section details subjective feedback from our pool of 20 testers. Gathering feedback is an important aspect of any test. We use their feedback as a representation of what golfers like and dislike about the product we test. That being said, the feedback is strictly subjective. It does not play a factor in the rankings.

Not only did Srixon ZX perform well in strokes gained, it received much praise from the testing pool. According to the tester pool, feel and looks are phenomenal. However, many were not fond of the acoustics. For looks, testers were greatly surprised by the Ben Hogan UiHi. The traditional iron look is pleasing. From the testers’ perspectives, the Callaway 21′ X Forged UT is a wonderful blend of looks, feel and performance. Despite exceptional distance performance, testers were not keen on the bulkier design of the TaylorMade DHY.

2021 Most Wanted Utility Irons Data

To filter and compare by club, use the drop-down list and checkboxes to select the only the drivers you wish to compare. Please keep in mind that the averages are from 20 testers across a wide range of swing speeds and ability levels.

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PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

* denotes measured value vs. manufacturer’s stated spec.

FAQ

BUYING A NEW UTILITY IRON

Q: When should I buy a new utility iron?

A: In most categories, it typically takes three to five years for manufacturers to make any significant performance gains. This is especially true in the utility category where performance breakthroughs are rare. A good bit of what changes comes down to shaping and cosmetics and, while that can alter performance from one iteration to the next, little in the way of revolutionary technology finds its way into the category. Our recommendation is to buy a new utility iron only when it appreciably outperforms what is already in your bag. Of course, if you want a new utility iron because you want a new utility iron, that’s fine, too.

Q: How do I know which utility iron is right for my game?

A: A proper club fitting with a professional will help determine what utility iron will suit your unique game. However, you can assess your own needs by determining what kind of shots you need to hit with your utility iron. Do you use the utility primarily off the tee or mostly off the turf? If you mainly use the utility iron off the tee, a lower-launching, lower-spinning model might help you get the ball running down the fairway. Conversely, higher-lofted, wide-soled, back-weighed utility irons can help you get the ball launching high and landing softly. Make sure to fully evaluate your game in advance of a professional fitting to help the fitter understand what you’re looking for in a utility iron.

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Q: Does the shaft matter?

A: Absolutely. While changes to spin and launch are rarely massive, shaft changes frequently lead to improved accuracy, tighter dispersion and greater overall consistency. We always recommend working with a qualified fitter. If that’s not possible, take the time to understand the different shaft profiles offered and how the performance of each might benefit or adversely affect your game.

Q: What should I look for when testing utility irons?

A: While golfers have been conditioned to consider distance to the exclusion of nearly everything else, we recommended looking at the little numbers and looking for small circles. When comparing metrics like distance and ball speed, be sure to look at your standard deviations (the small numbers usually found under the big ones on the data screen). Smaller numbers mean better consistency, which will usually benefit your score more than an extra yard or two. Similarly, look for tighter dispersion ellipses (small circles). We can’t overstate the importance of consistency with utility irons.

MOST WANTED

Q: What does Most Wanted mean?

A: We define Most Wanted as the best-performing club. Based on Strokes Gained, it’s the club that was shown to be in the top-performing group for the highest percentage of our testing pool. For more detailed information, see our How We Test page.

Q: How is the Most Wanted Utility Iron determined?

A: To determine the Most Wanted Utility Iron, we collect performance metrics with Foresight GCQuad Launch Monitors. To determine our overall rankings, we don’t just focus on averages. With a pool of 20-plus testers across a broad range of ability levels, we find that raw averages often don’t represent the true performance of a golf club. While we do share the raw data, we use a ranking methodology that considers the statistical reliability of the Strokes Gained metric across the entire pool of testers.

Q: How is the “Longest” Utility Iron determined?

A: To determine the Longest Utility Iron, we again look past the raw averages to consider the average total yards across the test pool along with the statistical reliability of that data.

Q: How is the “Most Forgiving” Utility Iron determined?

A: To determine the Most Forgiving Utility Iron, we focus on a narrower set of metrics that includes: Shot Area (dispersion), Radial Distance, Accuracy and the average standard deviation for ball speed and carry yards.

Q: How are the utility irons in the test fit to each golfer?

A: We use a fitting process that we call fit from stock. Irons are fitted to each tester using the stock, no up-charge options from each manufacturer. We test utility irons ranging in loft from 17 to 19.5 degrees. While less so in this category, adjustability is growing in popularity. When movable weights or adjustable hosels are available, we make every effort to optimize each club for each tester. Occasionally, manufacturers will send multiple sets with different stock shafts that we can utilize to improve launch conditions.

Q: How much does subjective feedback like looks, sound, and feel factor into your rankings?

A: ZERO. Our rankings are based purely on launch monitor data and quantifiable performance metrics.

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