The Year's 4 Top-Rated Golf Iron Sets

In golf, skill can only get you so far. Your clubs also play a part.If you're having difficulty choosing which set of irons to buy, go with a set that comes highly praised by third-party golf critics. Between your skill and these clubs, the fairway stands no chance.

1. Nike VR Pro Combo Irons

PGA Tour pros often experiment with a variety of irons, from blade style to cavity back. Nike attempts to create this sort of mix with its VR Pro Combo Irons, a set "Golf" magazine ranked as one of the best for 2011. Although all the irons are forged from the same carbon steel, they all feature slightly different designs that modify the center of gravity, letting you deploy your iron of choice exactly when it's needed during your game. The magazine specifically praises the enhanced groove design of the clubs, which it says will give you enhanced control and consistency.

2. Mizuno MP-58

"Golf Digest" magazine honored this eight-piece Mizuno iron set with its 2010 "Gold" award. Features include a classic steel construction with titanium. This changes the club balance for an improved feel. And it's not just the club heads that deserve praise. "Golf Digest" goes on to call the clubs' shafts "the coolest innovation" since 2004. This set also won the "Top Craftsmanship Award" from "Golf Tips" magazine. (Reference 3)

3. Srixon Z-TX

Srixon's Z-TX iron set received "Top Forged Irons" honors in "Golf Tips" magazine's 2010 tech awards issue, calling it one of the year's best pieces of golf equipment. The set exudes "outstanding design," according to the magazine. Features include soft carbon steel with a chrome finish, along with 5 g of tungsten to keep the heel of each club balanced.

4. Adams Idea A7OS

Adams Golf's eight-piece set was highlighted by "Golf Digest" in 2010 as a "super game-improvement iron." The magazine also awarded it five out of five stars for its exceptional performance. Crafted from graphite, these hybrid irons are a "well-conceived, integrated set," says "Golf Digest," which also praised their versatility.

References:

Golf.com: Find the Best Irons for You

"GoldDigest"; Players Irons; E. Michael Johnson; February 2010

Golf Tips: Golf Tips' Tech Awards 2010

"Golf Digest"; Super Game-Improvement Irons; E. Michael Johnson; February 2010