Greetings! My name is Brendon Elliott. I am a PGA Professional based in Central Florida. Upon graduating in 1996 from SUNY Delhi, where I majored in Golf Course Operations, I moved to the Orlando, FL, area to pursue a career in the golf industry.

I became a PGA member in 2009. I have served in various capacities throughout my career. From an Assistant Golf Professional to a Head Golf Professional and General Manager. I have been a high school coach, a golf career college instructor, and a Director of Career Development. Most notably, I am the founder and director of Little Linksters, a youth golf academy and non-profit organization. This year marks our 15th anniversary of Little Linksters.

I have been recognized multiple times as a leader and expert in youth golf, coaching, teaching, and golf business and education. I have won over 25 local, state, and national awards for my work, most notably the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award.

I have pursued a secondary career as a freelance golf writer in recent years. Little Linksters and coaching still encompass a bulk of my time, but writing has been a direction I have become more invested in expanding. I write for multiple golf media outlets such as PGA.com, Golf.com, PGA Magazine, and many others, including now, Curated. Writing allows me to share my years of experience and insight into all things golf with a larger audience.

With introductions now aside, I want to share my thoughts on today's topic: What are the best irons for hitting the ball higher?

Many golf instructors and coaches agree you can not buy a better game. I generally agree with that thinking and feel that true improvement in one’s game comes from learning and understanding how the swing works and practicing those concepts. However, you can gain some assistance and play better by putting the right equipment in your hands.

Reasons Golfers May Hit Shots Too Low

Golf equipment manufacturers have countless ways of designing clubs to help with many of the common issues golfers struggle with. One such issue is that of a ball flight that is too low.

Some common reasons that golfers hit shots too low include:

• Too narrow of a swing radius: As you take the club back, you want to stay wide and create a longer swing path. Many golfers let that lead arm break down far too soon in the backswing and, in doing so, create a situation where their downswing will not be ideal for creating a good impact position.
• Insufficient swing speed: When golfers cannot generate enough swing speed, especially with lower lofted clubs such as long irons, it becomes difficult to launch the ball at the trajectory it was designed to be hit.
• Incorrect impact position: Generally, the low point of your swing should happen after impact. This allows each club's loft to launch the ball at the trajectory it was designed to fly. This means hands the hands and shaft leading as you move into impact. Many golfers release the club too soon as they approach the ball at impact, which kills getting into that good impact position. Others feel they need to “help” or “lift” the ball to get it up in the air. That couldn't be any more counterproductive.

These are just a few examples of the countless reasons golfers may be hitting shots too low. The good news is that there are clubs designed to help golfers hit the ball higher.

The Best High-Launch and Forgiving Irons in Golf

Today, I will share some of the best irons on the market that help golfers hit the ball higher, hit the sweet spot more often, and get forgiveness from off-center strikes. While these clubs are intended mainly to help high-handicap players, they can also help more advanced players.

• TaylorMade Stealth HD
• Callaway Paradym X
• Titleist T400
• XXIO 12
• Srixon ZX4 MKII

All of these irons have design specifics that aid in getting the ball to launch higher coming off the face and are ideal for those who struggle with this.

That older look of a clunkier muscle-back iron design may not appeal to some, but have no fear! Today's designs offer a low CG (center of gravity), perimeter weighting, a deep back cavity, a wider sole, and a high MOI (moment of inertia). Still, they look fantastic and are not clunky.

These irons are great for high handicap golfers and moderate swing speeds and will help with more than a higher ball flight. They will help with spin through unique grooves on the face, increasing your accuracy, helping you have better turf interaction, and much more.

1. TaylorMade Stealth HD

TaylorMade is one of the most popular brands in golf. They create amazing equipment for all levels of golfers. For those who need a little more help with their iron play, you do not need to look any further than the TaylorMade Stealth HD irons.

The TaylorMade Stealth HD’s design allows golfers with a lower swing speed, who struggle to get the ball airborne, loads of assistance from their long irons and down to their pitching wedge.

2. Callaway Paradym X

The Callaway Paradym X irons, like the TaylorMade Stealth HDs, are fantastic game improvement irons. They are ideal for more moderate swingers, newer players, and high handicappers, all of whom will benefit from the game-enhancing characteristics of these clubs.

The Paradym X irons are extremely easy to launch, which equates to more distance for those with a slower swing speed. The dual tungsten weighting at the bottom of the clubhead, combined with a forged 455 face cup and a hollow body construction known as SpeedFrame, are the ingredients that allow for that higher launch.

The steel shafts in the Paradym X irons are lightweight and help create remarkable stability and speed.

3. Titleist T400

The Titleist T400 irons are another excellent example of what a great iron design can do for golfers who struggle to get shots airborne. The Titleist T400 irons have a hollow construction in the heads, allowing weight to be moved and repositioned. Doing so increases your MOI and can hit higher, longer, and straighter shots.

With as much as 100g of tungsten positioned carefully in the heel and toe of the longer irons, those higher-launch conditions golfers with more moderate swing speeds and more frequent mishits are looking for are possible.

The Titleist T400s also have a very thin face, allowing for breakneck ball speeds even on off-center hits.

4. XXIO 12

XXIO is part of the Srixon and Cleveland Golf family. The XXIO brand is all about helping higher handicap golfers or those who need a little extra boost from their equipment because of a loss of speed in their swing.

The XXIO 12 irons help tremendously with getting more launch out of your strikes. The technology-infused XXIO 12 irons include everything a golfer with a more moderate swing speed would need to hit higher shots. These irons have one of the thinnest faces in golf and are titanium to boot! The lighter yet super strong titanium face, combined with XXIO’s Rebound Frame in the sole, helps increase ball speed.

Like many game improvement irons, XXIO 12s get that CG down, back, and spread out to help launch shots higher. The tungsten-nickel weight in the toe optimizes speed and stability while you swing and helps increase that all-important launch.

Additionally, the XXIO 12’s lightweight graphite shafts, of their own making and design, along with its Weight Plus technology in the grips, which positions mass under the grips and behind your hands, you have one of the lightest irons in the game. That will help increase your swing speed.

The XXIO 12s may be one of the most forgiving iron options in the game.

5. Srixon ZX4 MKII

The Srixon ZX4 MKII irons are ideal for middle-to-high handicappers, newbies, and those who need a little more forgiveness from their equipment. However, as is the case with myself, as a golfer with a lower handicap and a long-time PGA Professional and coach, this iron can help more advanced players with more moderate swing speeds. I should know, as these are the irons I currently use.

I have had several injuries over the years, resulting in an ever-increasingly more moderate swing speed as I age. With my 50th birthday approaching in two years, why not look at game improvement clubs? These irons' game improvement features made me seriously consider the new ZX4 MK II Irons earlier this year. It is very often a gross misconception that game improvement clubs are made for and meant only for beginners and those with high handicaps.

Srixon offers loads of tech in these irons. Their MainFrame technology is milled into the backside of ZX4 MK II irons. This repositions mass away from the face and moves it to the toe and the sole, creating a lower CG. This allows for iron shots that pop a little more, especially longer irons, and launch higher.

Despite my doctored-up strong lofts and regular flex shafts, I don't feel self-conscious when playing with these fantastic clubs. I know I will always get the last laugh by getting to put some cash in my pockets at the end of the round.

A Few Honorable Mentions

Before I wrap, I wanted to mention a few honorable mentions to consider. These include the following:

• Cleveland Launcher XL: Cleveland's Launcher XLs are some of golf's best-valued high-launch irons. Incredible launch properties at a great price!
• Callaway Rogue ST Max Iron: These hollow body-designed irons are very forgiving and offer incredible high launch characteristics. The Callaway Rogue ST Max Irons are well worth a demo.
• Callaway Rogue ST Max OS Iron: The oversized version of the Rogue ST Max OS offers a bigger clubhead and sweet spot than the standard version. These irons are great for the golfer who needs a little more forgiveness and launch characteristics from their irons.
• Mizuno JPX Hot Metal Iron: These high-launch and forgiving irons from Mizuno have an amazing look. Sometimes, game improvement irons look thick and bulky, which becomes a turnoff for many. The JPX Hot Metals look fantastic!
• Cobra T-Rail 2 Combo Irons: The Cobra T-Rail 2 Combo Irons offer the best in high-launch iron characteristics with the advantage of a set that progresses into more forgiving hybrids. This set is extremely easy to launch high and hit long.

Finding the Right Iron for Hitting the Ball Higher

I hope this guide has helped you understand more about some of golf’s best high-launch irons. If you want to move into a club that will help you launch the ball higher, your next best step would be to contact a Curated Golf Expert for free, more personalized advice.