Several golf publications have released their lists of the best irons for 2026, with some focusing on the most forgiving irons and others on irons for low or mid-handicappers. The lists appear to be based on testing, with at least one publication using a 6-handicap golfer for testing purposes. The specific rankings and recommendations vary across outlets, with some targeting mid-handicappers and others focusing on low-handicappers or compact mid-handicap irons.