The 5 Best Cavity Back Irons

Cavity back irons are popular amongst golfers of all levels. Cavity back irons offer the best of both worlds in terms of forgiveness and performance. Cavity back irons produce the forgiveness and workability associated with muscle-back irons and the performance associated with game improvement irons. Currently, the market is flooded with a host of different forged and cast cavity back iron sets.

Based on the overall design, price, and performance we believe the TaylorMade P790 Irons is the best cavity back irons currently on the market.

The 5 Best Cavity Back Irons:

Below we are going to take a closer look at the different types of cavity back irons and we are also going to review 5 of the best cavity back iron sets that money can buy. 

1. TaylorMade P790 Irons

TaylorMade P790 Irons
MaterialForged
DexterityRight & Left Handed
AdjustableNo 
Set Make-Up3 Iron – PW

TaylorMade is known for their driver designs but they continue to impress with every new iron design that hits the market. 

One of their latest releases, the P790’s, is one of the best forged cavity back iron sets currently available on the market. In addition to TaylorMade’s Speedfoam technology, the P790 irons also feature an ultra-light urethane foam injected clubhead that delivers ultra-high ball speeds and exceptional feel at impact.  

The ultra-thin forged clubface of the P790 irons is engineered to improve both accuracy and feel. In addition to accuracy, the P790 irons also promote height thanks to the addition of Tungsten weighting to the bottom of the clubhead. 

The forged steel clubheads of these irons feature a sleek topline which makes them aesthetically very pleasing at address. If you are in the market for a high-quality high-performing set of irons that offers workability, distance, accuracy, and feel then look no further than the P790 irons. 

2. Cobra KING Speedzone One Length Irons

Cobra KING Speedzone One Length Irons
MaterialCast
DexterityRight & Left Handed
AdjustableNo
Set Make-Up4 Iron – SW

When Bryson DeChambeau burst onto the PGA Tour using one length irons his theories were exactly that, but 5 years down the line and now a major winner Bryson is proving all of his naysayers wrong. Bryson’s latest quest to add distance continues to turn heads every time he tees it up in a tournament and I have a feeling he is only getting started on his quest to revolutionize the game of golf as we know it. 

At first, the notion of playing with a set of irons that are all the length of your 7 iron didn’t make sense to many, but this has become very popular amongst players around the globe judging by the success that Cobra has had with their DeChambeau inspired irons. 

The Cobra F8 was the first set of one-length irons and since then Cobra has released one-length irons in 4 additional ranges with one of their latest releases being the King Speedzone cavity back one-length irons. 

The King Speedzone one-length irons are packed with Cobra’s latest technology. These irons feature a carbon fiber topline, the addition of carbon fiber to the top of the club lowers the center of gravity in the clubhead which in return maximizes ball speeds. The forged PWRSHELL face inserts featured in the design of these irons enlarge the sweet spot by 35%, this ensures maximum distance and control on both center and off-center strikes. 

The technology doesn’t end there, the speedback shape of these irons refer to the extreme toe and heel weighting which creates a higher moment of inertia, in laymen’s terms it produces an exceptional feel at impact. The co-mold medallion that is inserted in the cavity of the iron head features aluminum, TPU, and acrylic foam, these materials work together to damp vibrations which in return ensures excellent sound and feel. 

Additionally, the Speedzone family of clubs are all powered by Arccos, the Arccoss system uses A.I. technology via a sensor in your grip to give you access to more swing and shot data than what you will ever need via the Arccoss Caddie smartphone app. 

3. Callaway Mavrik Irons

Callaway Mavrik Irons
MaterialCast
DexterityRight & Left Handed
AdjustableNo
Set Make-Up4 Iron – SW

Callaway continues to impress with every product release and this is no different when it comes to the Mavrik irons. The Mavrik irons are classified as game-improvement cavity back irons that are designed with the mid handicapper in mind. The design of these high-quality irons focuses on promoting distance and accuracy. 

The Mavrik irons feature Callaway’s A.I. powered Flash Face Cup technology, this technology is used to create a clubface that is unique to every loft and the result of this is a boost in ball speed which translates into the added distance with every iron. 

These irons offer more than just distance. The Mavrik game improvement irons also offer exceptional accuracy. The center of gravity (CG) of these irons is positioned optimally thanks to tungsten-infused weights that are positioned with precision throughout the clubhead. In addition to accuracy, this placement of the CG also promotes a consistent ball flight with optimal spin rates and land angles. 

Cast irons tend to lack feel, but that isn’t the case with the Mavrik irons thanks to Callaway’s patented urethane microsphere that are featured in the clubface. These microspheres absorb unwanted vibrations to ensure exceptional feel at impact. 

If you are in the market for a high-quality set of cavity back irons then look no further than the Mavriks. 

4. Wilson Staff D7 Irons

MaterialCast
DexterityRight & Left Handed
AdjustableNo
Set Make-Up5 Iron – GW

Wilson is a very reputable name in the sporting goods industry. In recent years Wilson decided to revive their golf department and subsequently they have invested heavily in the R & D of their equipment designs. 

One of their latest iron releases is currently one of the best cavity back iron sets currently available on the market. The D7 irons by Wilson are jam-packed with technology and what makes these irons even more attractive is their very affordable price tag. 

The D7 irons feature an ultra-thin face design that is both very responsive and it ensures added distance and exceptional feel thanks to increases in ball speeds. Progressive power holes on the soles of the clubhead are another distance-enhancing feature that can be found on the D7 irons. The shorter irons feature fewer power holes, these power holes are replaced with weights to ensure maximum control and feel. 

The D7 irons are classified as game improvement irons, but they look and feel more like a sleek player’s iron thanks to the clean top line and improved weighting in the design of these irons. 

If you are in the market for a new set of high-quality cavity back irons with an affordable price tag then look no further than the D7’s by Wilson. 

5. Mizuno JPX 921 Tour Irons

Mizuno JPX 921 Tour Irons
MaterialForged
DexterityRight and Left Hand
AdjustableNo
Set Make-Up4 Iron – GW

When it comes to the design of irons Mizuno is without a doubt in a class of its own and their latest JPX 921 series has raised the bar yet again.  

One look at the JPX 921 Tour irons and you will see why these irons are so popular amongst the world’s best golfers. These high-quality precision-forged irons resemble the look of a blade but it offers all of the advantages that one expects from a forged cavity back iron in terms of feel and forgiveness.  

The JPX 921 Tour irons are forged out of 1025E pure select mild carbon steel and a grain flow forging process is followed to ensure unsurpassed quality and feel. 

The back of these irons features Mizuno’s signature stability frame with toe bias weighting which optimizes the center of gravity to ensure accuracy and consistency. In true Mizuno fashion extensive research has led to the addition of a thicker cavity pad on the back of the clubhead. This cavity pad dampens vibrations to ensure exception forgiveness and feel at impact. 

The JPX 921 Tour irons come with a rather hefty price tag, but from a quality and performance perspective these irons are second to none and they will be a welcome addition to the bag of any low to mid handicap golfer. 

If you are interested in super game improvement irons instead read our Best Super Game-Improvement Irons article. 

Cavity Back Irons Buying Guide

Cavity back irons are available in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Cavity back irons are the irons of choice for golfers with average and above-average ball-striking capabilities. With that in mind, various important factors need to be taken into consideration before buying a set of these irons. 

Cast vs. forged cavity back irons 

Cast vs. forged refers to the manufacturing process of an iron head. Cast irons are made by pouring hot metal into a cast or mold to give the clubhead its shape hence the name cast irons. Alternatively forged irons are made by carving the clubhead out of a solid piece of metal. 

Forged irons are more expensive than cast irons, but the consensus amongst golfers is that forged irons produce exceptional feel and ultimately many argue that it is a better product. Additionally forged irons are also easier to adjust in terms of lie and loft. Cast irons can be bent, but due to the manufacturing process of these irons, you run the risk of snapping the clubhead in the heel due to the rigid nature of the clubhead. 

Design 

The popularity of cavity back irons continues to rise amongst professional players. Blades (muscle back irons) are renowned for the exceptional workability that they deliver, but the forgiveness offered by cavity back irons has made these irons the irons of choice for both professionals and players with good ball-striking ability. 

From a design perspective cavity back irons feature a sleek profile at address that resembles the look of a blade. The difference between muscle back and cavity back irons is its signature hollowed out cavity on the back of the club. 

Shafts 

Amateur golfers don’t always realize this but your clubs are only as good as the shafts that you are playing with. Shaft design elements such as material, flex, weight, torque, and kick-point all influence distance, strike, and accuracy. When you get into the nitty-gritty of it things get very technical, but at the very least make if you aren’t able to go for a fitting with a professional club fitter make sure to play with the correct shaft flex based on your swing speed. The table below will give you a good indication if you don’t know already what shaft flex you should play with. 

Flex 

Shaft flex and swing speed are directly correlated. As a rule of thumb slower swing speeds require more flex and vice versa for players with fast swing speeds. The below table serves as a guide to which shaft flex you should play with depending on your swing speed. 

Shaft flex Average driver swing speed (mph)Average ball speed (mph)
Ladies flex (L) 53-62>100
Senior flex (A)63-76100-110
Regular (R)77-92110-139
Stiff (S)93-107140-160
Extra stiff (X)  108+160+

How To Hit A Cavity Back Iron 

Rhythm 

Cavity back irons are designed for the better ball-strikers amongst us. Good rhythm is equally as important for the regular golfer as it is for the best players in the world to ensure crisp accurate iron shots. 

A good rhythmic swing is a must to allow the golf club to do its job. Rhythmic swings combined with the forgiveness and workability of cavity back irons will ensure optimal performance on every shot in terms of distance, ball flight, and accuracy. 

Angle of attack 

Cavity back irons feature sleek profiles that are designed to interact with the turf optimally. However, when compared to super game improvement irons angle of attack is very important to ensure that your cavity back iron head moves through the turf without getting caught up. A downward angle of attack is vital to ensure that the golf ball isn’t exposed to the leading edge of the club as it moves through impact which will result in a bladed shot. 

Alternatively, it is equally important to ensure that your angle of attack isn’t too steep. If your angle of attack is too steep the clubhead will get caught up in the turf and it will result in a duffed iron shot. 

To learn more about the importance of angle of attack with your iron plack watch this video. 

FAQs

Do professional players play with cavity back irons?

No rule stipulates that professional players have to play with muscle back/blade irons. Historically blades have been very popular amongst professionals due to the workability offered by them but thanks to modern-day design advance more and more pros are opting for the forgiveness offered by cavity back irons. 

Can a high handicapper or beginner play with cavity back irons? 

Absolutely, super game improvement and game improvement irons are cavity back irons. These game-improvement irons feature additional design elements that ensure maximum forgiveness and distance but in essence, these irons are oversized cavity back irons. 

Is a forged cavity back iron set better than a cast iron cavity back set? 

Forged vs. cast refers to the process used when manufacturing cavity back irons. Forged irons are known for their exceptional feel whereas cast irons are better known for their durability. From a design perspective, one isn’t better than the other but based on the different need

Are cavity backs easier to hit?

A cavity back is easier to hit than a muscle back or blade golf club. They are great for average golfers looking to have a fun game.

Why are cavity backs more forgiving?

A cavity back is a golf club that is designed with a hosel near the club head to create a more forgiving lie when hitting the ball. The hosel makes it easier to hit the ball as it increases the area of contact and reduces torque.

Final Thoughts 

Cavity back irons continue to be the irons of choice for many golfers around the world. These workable, forgiving irons are ideal for players with average and above-average swing speeds that are looking to shape their shot shape with their irons. To learn more about other iron types read our the 4 most popular types of golf irons article. 

If you are interested in a set of cavity back irons make sure to purchase a set with the correct shafts for your needs and golf swing. More often than not golfers underestimate the difference that a shaft can make. 

This article was last updated on January 18, 2023 .

Bertine Strauss
Written by
Bertine Strauss
The Golf Blog