Best Muscle Back Irons

1. Best Overall - Wilson Staff Iron Set

• Precision milling gives greater accuracy

• Diamond scoreline pattern gives better control

• Fluid feel hosel removes extra weight

• Optimized sole camber means club won’t stick in the grass

This set of muscle back irons by Wilson is undoubtedly one of the best around, and it’s easy to see why as soon as you check them out. This may not be the first name you go for, but if that’s the case, then you are missing out.

The precision milling is an important feature here. It means there’s a real sense of consistency when you go through the different irons in the set, so they all react and feel the same. Also, the milling corrects some of the difficulties a novice player will often experience with MB irons.

The hosels also have more of a traditional design to them, and it also means there’s less weight being banded around through the club. This lightweight design is going to allow the club to fly through the air faster than before leading to more power mixed in with greater distances.

The shape of the sole camber is another area that can bolster your game. It is more rounded than others, so it’s going to slip through the grass with less friction. That will lead to a smoother shot without you having to force the club through.

Finally, the scoreline pattern and milling combined is going to lead to the club face being more open, and you do have greater control over your shot. This is going to include a large sweet spot should you mishit, and that sort of thing gives greater confidence.

Overall, what you get with this set is something that is well-balanced, easy to hit, and it also gives you some reasonable feedback with your shot.

Overall Conclusion

This set is brilliant at what it does, and it manages to improve your game while still providing you with a real sense of control. Considering these are muscle backed irons, Wilson has done exceptionally well at producing a set that doesn’t even act like most of the MB irons out there, and that is something they should be applauded for.

It’s difficult to think of anything wrong with these clubs. That’s why we have selected it as the best overall when it comes to muscle back irons on the market. Also, that is why it gets full marks.

2. Best Premium Set - Callaway Golf Apex Iron Set

• Forged irons

• 360 face cup included in set

• Precision COG for optimum control and flight

• Soft feel to the club

The Callaway Apex iron set is one of the best around for those individuals that prefer to have some forged irons in their bag. However, they still have an amazing amount of feel about them.

This feel comes from the inclusion of what Callaway refers to as urethane microspheres. These spheres will absorb vibration and reduce the lost energy that would then occur. It means the ball is going to have more power behind it, and that’s going to lead to better distances.

When it comes to the face, then it includes both their 360 Face Cup and VFT technology. This translates to better speed while it also gives you the ability to produce a certain amount of spin from the shot as well. That makes a huge difference when it comes to landing on the green.

The center of gravity is also placed in the perfect position to give you optimum control over the shot. It’s positioned to help get the ball up off the ground and into the air while you still have the ability to control the spin, if required.

Overall Conclusion

These irons by Callaway are outstanding. They give you so much feedback from your shots while the technology makes it easier to get a clean strike while maintaining control of the shot itself.

If you are a regular player, then these irons could be a worthwhile addition to your bag simply because of the way they help you to learn more about each shot. However, Callaway tends to always come with a premium attached to it, but you do get premium clubs in return. In saying that, we will deduct half a point simply because of the price tag.

3. Best for Consistency - TaylorMade P760 Iron Set

• Precision engineering means greater accuracy with shots

• Forged construction

• Speedfoam technology in the irons

• Offers distance, stability, and accuracy with your shots

TaylorMade has been producing high-quality irons for a number of years, and this P760 set is no exception. It’s of a forged construction, but their aim is to make the clubs easy to use which makes them more in line with cavity backed irons.

The short irons come in one-piece, and that’s capable of providing you with sensational feel with each shot. That does mean you will have a better understanding of your shot selection to the green, and that makes a difference to your overall game.

Irons through 3 to 7 also come with their SpeedFoam technology, and while you may be disappointed at it only coming in those irons, it does mean you are covered for a range of shots. 

The idea here is that you have an ultra-thin face which is then backed up by polyurethane foam. This gives a cushioning effect, reduces vibration, and it’s not going to have a negative impact on the speed. Actually, the impact it has will see you lose less energy with your shot, so you get greater distance.

But overall, this club is going to provide you with a real sense of stability and accuracy with your shots. It’s precision engineering in your bag, and that level of consistency is something you should really be looking for.

Overall Conclusion

TaylorMade only ever produces quality clubs, and this iron set is following that history. They provide a real feel for the shot, and they are extremely consistent, which then reflects well on your own game.

However, as they are aimed more at the experienced golfer, they do lose half a point as those starting out in the game may feel excluded. In saying that, if you are an individual with a low handicap, then this may be the perfect set of irons for you.

4. Best Mid-Range - Mizuno MP-18 Fli-Hi

• Optimized weighting included in iron

• Fli-hi iron comes with 28 degree loft

• Hollow construction

• Deep COG included in club

This iron is different in that we are talking about one single club here, but don’t let that put you off. What Mizuno has done here is create an iron that’s going to get you up out of trouble and still provide you with a huge amount of control over your shots.

What you get is an iron that comes with optimized weighting, and this has a number of real advantages.

Here, you have an iron that comes with a hollow body. Mizuno states that this will ensure the ball gets up off the ground, so that’s pretty useful. But that’s not the only advantage of a hollow body.

Instead, it’s also going to mean more powerful hits and better ball speed. It loses less energy when it’s being transferred from club to ball as well, so you get better distances.

Mizuno has also sunk the COG lower and deeper in this club, and this precision placement will improve the consistency factor. Add in a more open face, and what you have is an iron that will certainly be  on your side.

Overall Conclusion

Mizuno has done exceptionally well with this club. It is certainly one that people may overlook when it comes to muscle back irons. It’s going to be a useful addition to any bag, but be warned that your ability as a player is going to largely determine how much this club can change your game.

Due to this factor, we are going to deduct half a point, but apart from that, this club is brilliant. If you get a chance to check it out, then you will be surprised at the difference it could make.

5. Best for Beginner - Lazrus Premium Golf Irons

• Designed for all skill levels

• Deep grooves mean better performance on different lies

• Available in different flexes

• Suitable for seniors

This set of Lazrus irons claims to be suitable for players of all skill levels, and that may be a bit confusing at first. However, what we do know is that these clubs like to involve variety, and that may be the one thing that makes them stand out.

Available in left or right hand, as well as different flexes, you should feel quite at home playing a round with these irons in your bag. 

The clubs themselves have deep grooves in their design. This is going to help move the club head through the grass even if you are finding yourself in some sort of trouble. 

Thanks to these grooves, you will be in a position whereby you have a greater sense of control over the shot, as well as controlling the level of spin you can generate, and that applies even if you are in the deeper rough.

With this set, you get irons through 2 to 9, and that’s going to be sufficient for most players. They are made from steel, but the strange thing is that they don’t feel heavy like steel clubs. Instead, they are lighter than you would expect, and that does take some getting used to.

But the main reason for these muscle back irons to exist is their price. They are suitable for beginners, or those on a tight budget as they are substantially cheaper than almost everything else on the market.

In saying that, they do still perform well, but they do lack a lot of the technology that’s included in premium brands or tour level clubs. However, they won’t let you down as they do still offer a large sweet spot and are well balanced.

Overall Conclusion

These irons don’t claim to do anything too special. However, they are a great way to introduce yourself to the concept of MB irons without breaking the bank. They perform well, are consistent with the strike, and as we already said, they are lighter than you would expect.

However, we do drop a point because of the lack of technology. They could have included just a little bit more, so they won’t be the best option for an experienced player. In saying that, they are ideal if on a budget or just starting out.