2024 TaylorMade P·770 vs 2023 P·790 irons: Which is right for you?

The TaylorMade P·770 and P·790 are designed similarly but made for different golfers. See which one matches your needs and your game.

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A year ago, TaylorMade released an update to the P·790 irons, one of its most popular clubs. Two months ago, the Carlsbad, California-based equipment maker announced that it has a new version of its P·770 iron, a club that is very similar to the P·790. They are so similar, in fact, that many golfers with a handicap between five and 12 might be confused about what separates the new P·770 and the P·790.

The P·770 and P·790 cater to different types of golfers, so here’s a detailed comparison to help you understand the similarities and differences between them, and then decide which set might be the best fit for you.

Construction and Technology

The 2024 P·770 irons feature a hollow body construction with the inner chambers in the heads filled with SpeedFoam Air, a material that debuted in the 2021 version of the P·770. It is a lighter version of the original SpeedFoam and enhances the feel and acoustics while maintaining a solid, forged feel.

The P·770 irons have L-shaped faces that are forged using 4041 stainless steel. The face plate wraps under the leading edge and into the sole, which TaylorMade claims helps to broaden the sweet spot. The 3-iron through 7-iron have also been designed with a Speed Pocket slot that is positioned directly behind the leading edge, along with tungsten weighs in the heel and toe to increase the moment of inertia (MOI) and provide stability on off-center hits. The center of gravity (CG) is low in the long irons and elevates through the set to optimize the launch angle for each club, making it easier to hit the long irons higher and flight the scoring clubs down for enhanced distance control.

TaylorMade P·770 irons
The TaylorMade P·770 irons have a hollow chamber filled with SpeedFoam Air, along with an internal tungsten weight in the toe. (TaylorMade)

The 2023 P·790 irons also utilize a hollow body construction and feature an inner chamber filled with SpeedFoam Air, which contributes to a softer feel and improved sound. The P·790s also feature a progressive center of gravity, with the CG being lower in the long irons for higher launch and higher in the short irons for better control. The P·790s also have a Thru-Slot Speed Pocket to enhance ball speed, particularly on low-face strikes in the 4- through 7-iron.

Who are the P·770 and P·790 for?

While the construction of the P·770 and the P·790 irons is similar, they were made to appeal to different types of players.

The 2024 P·770 irons are better-player distance irons made for golfers who seek a blend of control and forgiveness. These irons are ideal for low to mid-handicap golfers who want a compact look in the address position but who still want some level of forgiveness on off-center hits. The P·770s feature a shorter blade length, thinner top line, and less offset compared to the P·790 irons.

TaylorMade P·790 (2023)
The progressive center of gravity in the TaylorMade P·790 encourages a higher flight in the long irons and a lower, more controlled flight in the scoring clubs. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

The 2023 P·790 irons, on the other hand, are aimed at a broader range of golfers, from mid- to high-handicappers. These irons should provide golfers with more forgiveness than the P·770 because they are larger, and they should produce more distance and a higher ball flight.

The P·790 should create less spin than the P·770, so if a golfer wants to shape shots from left-to-right or right-to-left, it will be easier to do with the P·770.

The P·790s also have a bit more offset and a thicker top line, which can instill confidence in less consistent ball strikers.

The Takeawy

The best way to find the irons that are right for you is to work with a custom fitter who has a launch monitor and hit shots with lots of different head and shaft combinations. That said, when comparing the P·770 and the P·790, golfers who want a more compact look in the address position, a shorter blade length, more spin and a slightly lower flight might be happier with the P·770.

Golfers who want more forgiveness, more distance and a higher ball flight may get more of what they are seeking from the P·790.

Working with a custom fitter, golfers can easily create a blended set of P·790 and P·770 irons to get the benefits of both clubs in one set, including the forgiveness of the P·790 in the long irons and the control of the P·770 irons in the scoring clubs.

TaylorMade P·7CB irons (2024)

The TaylorMade P·7CB irons are designed for consistent ballstrikers.

While clubs like the TaylorMade Qi irons and Stealth irons offered mid- and higher-handicap players more distance and forgiveness, within the TaylorMade stable, P Series irons have always been for more-accomplished golfers, players who want enhanced control and more feel. The P·7MB is a modern muscleback blade and the P·7MC is a solid muscle-cavity, while the P·770 and P·790 are hollow-bodied clubs designed as better-player distance offerings.

Starting about two years ago, TaylorMade began hearing from players who wanted something between the P·7MC and the P·770. Now, after both Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa tested and started using prototypes of the TaylorMade P·7CB, the Carlsbad, California-based equipment maker is releasing it to everyone.

Who are the TaylorMade P·7CB irons for?

The TaylorMade P·7CB irons are designed for consistent ballstrikers and elite golfers who want a touch of forgiveness to go along with a compact, control-oriented iron.

What you should know about the P·7CB irons

Each of P·7CB head is forged using 1025 carbon steel, but TaylorMade mills two pockets into the sole of the heads. A longer pocket extends from the heel through the middle of the sole, and it is filled with a metal matrix composite (MMC) material that is one-seventh the weight of stainless steel. A small pocket near the toe is filled with up to 11 grams of tungsten.

TaylorMade P·7CB irons
The P·7CB irons have a light metal matrix composite piece and a tungsten toe weight hidden under a steel sole plate. (TaylorMade)

By removing the 1025 carbon steel and replacing it with a lighter metal, then concentrating extra weight in the toe, TaylorMade designers can counteract the weight of the hosel, pull the ideal hitting area into the center of the face and in the long irons, lower the center of gravity (CG) location.

You can not see either of the pockets because TaylorMade adds a co-forged steel sole plate over both areas before the whole head is re-forged.

TaylorMade P·7CB 2024
The TaylorMade P·7CB has a machined face area and grooves. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

TaylorMade has machined the hitting area and grooves in the P·7CB irons to ensure the face is perfectly flat. Good players will be able to generate the spin needed to hit draws, cut shots and work the ball up and down as needed.

Visually, the TaylorMade P·7CB, with an anti-glare Tour Satin finish, fits in with the other P Series irons. The topline is slightly thicker than the topline of the P·7MC, and the blade length is slightly longer, too, but in the address position, it would take a very sharp eye to notice those things. The P·7CB has marginally less offset than the P·7MC.

TaylorMade P·7CB 2024
The TaylorMade P·7CB for 2024 has a thin sole, minimal offset and a thin topline. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

Turf interaction is critical for good iron players, and with a sole that is slightly wider than the bottom of the P·7MC, the P·7CB should work in and out of the ground quickly and easily for low-handicap golfers.

As you would expect, the lofts of the P·7CB irons are traditional, with a 3-iron at 20 degrees, 6-iron at 29 degrees and the pitching wedge at 46 degrees of loft. An attack wedge is also available at 51 degrees, so players and fitters should be able to use the P·7CB with other TaylorMade irons to create a blended set.

How much do the TaylorMade P·7CB irons cost?

The TaylorMade P·7CB irons cost $1,399.99 (seven clubs) and come standard with True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid 115 steel shafts and Golf Price Z grips.

When will the TaylorMade P·7CB irons become available?

The TaylorMade P·7CB irons will be available for pre-order starting July 31 and should be in stores starting September 6.

Collin Morikawa using yet-to-be-released TaylorMade P•7CB irons at 2024 British Open

TaylorMade has not released any specific information about the irons.

Collin Morikawa won the 2021 British Open at Royal St. George’s Golf Club using a blended set of irons that consisted of TaylorMade P•770 (4), P•7MC (5-9) and P•730 (PW) irons. During the seasons that followed, he kept using blended sets that often included some prototype P•7CM irons (with the CM standing for Collin Morikawa).

After tinkering with some prototype cavity-back irons throughout the spring and summer and adding a prototype 4-iron to his bag starting at the Wells Fargo Championship, Morikawa debuted what appears to be the next generation of better-player, cavity-back irons from TaylorMade last week at the RBC Scottish Open, and they are in the bag this week at Royal Troon.

The yet-to-be-released P•7CB irons are, cosmetically, similar to the P•7MC irons that have been in the TaylorMade lineup for about a year. TaylorMade has not released any specific information about them, so we don’t know if there has been a change in the blade length, the width of the topline or sole geometry, which are all things elite players focus on. However, while Morikawa’s irons appear to have the same general shaping at the muscle-cavity P•7MC irons, and the P•7MC irons had milled faces, the yet-to-be-released P•7CB irons have clearly-visible milling over the entire hitting surface while the P•7MC irons do not.

Collin Morikaway's TaylorMade P•7CB irons
Collin Morikawa’s TaylorMade P•7CB irons have milling marks over the entire hitting area.

Is that a big deal, possibly. While high-handicap golfers are usually happy just hitting straight irons shots, low-handicap golfers and elite players want irons that create spin so they can cut, draw and shape the ball around the course. While the milling lines may be cosmetic, it’s possible that TaylorMade is trying to enhance spin, and thereby give good ballstrikers like Morikawa, more control.

Collin Morikaway's TaylorMade P•7CB irons
Collin Morikawa’s TaylorMade P•7CB irons have a narrow sole and very little offset.

Entering this week’s British Open, Morikawa ranks a solid 39th on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green (0.39), but that is down from his season-ending rank of No. 2 (1.012) in 2023.

Best new golf irons you can buy in 2024

Check out Golfweek’s list of the best irons available to purchase in 2024.

As Golfweek explained in our 2024 Driver wrap-up, the undeniable trend in the world of drivers is toward higher-stability offerings that not only perform well when you hit the ball in the middle of the face, but also help you hit straighter shots and help you maintain distance when you mis-hit toward the heel or the toe.

When it comes to irons, the trend continues to be the broadening array of offers to meet the needs of different types of players. Not that long ago, equipment makers sold blades to the best players, cavity-backs to golfers who needed some forgiveness and oversized clubs to high-handicappers and beginners. Those clubs still exist, but they are complemented by better-player distance irons, sets that blend hybrids and irons for forgiveness, and sets that blend hollow-bodied long irons with precision-minded scoring clubs.

Take Ping as an example. The Phoenix-based brand now has the Blueprint T and Blueprint S for elite players, the tour-proven i230 for good players who want more forgiveness, the i525 for golfers who want a better-player’s distance iron, the game-improvement G430 and it still offers the G710 as a max game-improvement club. Brands like Callaway, Cobra, Mizuno, TaylorMade and Titleist have similarly deep stables.

Early this suumer, new irons like the Bettinardi MB24 and CB24, the Cobra Limit3d and the Wilson Staff Model RB Utility iron have dropped.

So much variety is great golfers, but it has never been more important to seek out a good custom fitter, try several different shafts and heads and see what the data reveals.

Below are many of the irons that you will see in pro shops and specialty stores. Use this list as a starting point to discover clubs that might be ideal for you game.

Best golf irons in 2024

TaylorMade P•UDI, P•DHy utility irons (2024)

TaylorMade P•UDI, P•DHy utility irons create lots of distance and a low ball flight.

Gear: TaylorMade PUDI, PDHy utility irons
Price: $249 each with UST Mamiya Recoil DART shaft and Golf Pride Z-grip
Specs: Hollow-body design with forged 41040 stainless steel face, vibration-dampening foam and tungsten weight. Available as 2-, 3- and 4-iron.

Who It’s For: These utility irons are perfect for golfers who want a versatile club that can be used as a long-iron alternative. It flies lower than a hybrid but higher and farther than a typical long iron.

The Skinny: The PUDI and PDHy are designed to be clubs that bridge the gap between a player’s last fairway wood and first iron, producing a hybrid-like distance with a lower ball flight and iron-style control.

The Deep Dive: Every golf has a gap that needs to be filled between the clubs they play off the tee on par 4s and par 5s (driver and 3-wood) and their longest iron. To bridge that gap, players have choices that include high-lofted fairway woods, hybrids and utility irons. For most players, hybrids offer a blend of distance and versatility that is tough to beat, but some players want to create a lower ball flight, so they shy away from hybrids and fairway woods and gravitate to utility irons. In windy conditions and on especially firm courses, a piercing shot that can be turned with a draw or fade can be handy.

For a decade, TaylorMade has offered clubs labeled UDI (ultimate driving iron) and then DHy (distance hybrid), including last year’s Stealth UDI and DHy. For 2024, its newest offerings have been linked to the brand’s P Series in name and appearance.

TaylorMade P•UDI
The P•UDI has a traditional sole width and Speed Pocket slot. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

The PUDI and PDHy utility irons, with a soft chrome finish, look like extensions of the P790 or P770 sets. They share some technologies with those clubs, too, but the PUDI and PDHy are only available as 2-, 3- or 4-irons. They also come standard with a graphite shaft, indicating that TaylorMade intends for them to be played, in nearly every case, off the tee.

The PUDI and PDHy have each been designed with a forged 4140 stainless steel face attached to a stainless steel body, creating a hollow chamber inside each head. Like the 2023 P790, the back walls have thick and thin areas that create a honeycomb look and save weight, and both clubs have an internal tungsten piece that enabled TaylorMade designers to shift the center of gravity (CG) location. It is slightly higher in the PUDI, which helps the club produce a lower ball flight than the PDHy, but both clubs still create lower shots than a similarly lofted hybrid.

TaylorMade added a Speed Pocket slot in the sole of the PUDI and PDHy to help the lower portion of the hitting area flex more effectively on low-struck shots.

TaylorMade P•DHy irons
The P•DHy has a lower profile and longer blade length than the P•UDI. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

To enhance sound and feel, the PUDI and PDHy have SpeedFoam Air injected into the hollow cavity inside the head. It soaks up excessive vibrations but does not impede the face from flexing or reducing ball speed.

In addition to creating a lower ball, the PUDI has a shorter blade length and less offset than the PDHy, and TaylorMade claims the club is more forgiving than the P790. The company says the PDHy is the most forgiving iron in its stable, including all the P Series irons and even the game-improvement Qi10 iron. In the address position, the PUDI looks like a standard better player’s iron, but golfers will see some of the back of the PDHy, but for many golfers, the sight may be reassuring and confidence-inspiring. 

Below are several in-hand images of the P•UDI and P•DHy.

TaylorMade P·770, P·790 Copper irons

The TaylorMade P·770 and P·790 Copper look old, but play modern.

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Gear: TaylorMade P·770, P·790 Copper
Price: $1,499.00 (4-PW) with KBS C-Taper Lite Black shafts and Golf Pride TaylorMade Victory Copper grips”
Specs: Hollow-bodied irons with 8620 carbon steel chassis, forged 4140 steel face, vibration-‘dampening foam.

Who It’s For: Golfers who love the look of vintage clubs but who also want to experience the benefits of modern, distance- and feel-enhancing technologies.

The Skinny: The TaylorMade P·770 and P·790 Copper are identical to the previously-released versions of the P·770 and P·790 but have been given retro styling and details that pay homage to TaylorMade’s 1980s offerings.

The Deep Dive: For the past few years, golf footwear makers have been revisiting popular shoes from “back in the day” and releasing updates and modern interpretations, adding better materials and technologies while trying to maintain what made the shoes appealing in the first place. 

With the release of the Copper Collection, TaylorMade is doing the same thing. Two weeks ago, the BRNR Mini Driver Copper was released, complete with a throwback logo on the sole and a shaft that was cosmetically designed to harken back to the old Burner Bubble shaft from the 1990s. Now, the brand is releasing the P·770 Copper and P·790 Copper, two better-player distance irons that are identical in design to the previously-released P·770 and P·790. However, both clubs look like they would have been at home in the bags of players at Baltusrol Golf Club back in 1983 when Lee Janzen was battling Payne Stewart at the U.S. Open.

TaylorMade Copper family
The TaylorMade Copper family, including the BRNR Mini Driver, P·790 and P·770 (TaylorMade)

Both irons feature a hollow-body design that allows the forged 4140 stainless steel faces to flex more efficiently at the moment of impact, resulting in more ball speed and distance. They also have a Speed Pocket slot in the sole that helps to enhance performance on thin shots and TaylorMade’s FLT CG system. It shifts mass inside the heads, so the center of gravity (CG) location in each iron is optimized. In the long irons, it’s lower to help get the ball up more easily, while in the scoring clubs, it is elevated to help keep the ball down for enhanced distance control.

The hollow chambers in both clubs are filled with SpeedFoam Air, a second-generation material that absorbs vibrations, enhances sound, and removes weight from the center of the club.

The smaller P·770 has a body made from 8620 carbon steel, while the P·790 has a thick-thin back wall construction to save weight. 

But let’s be honest, all those performance features are available in the standard P·770 and P·790. If these clubs spark your interest, it’s because of the copper-toned finish and the retro style. You like the way copper-toned irons create a throwback look to your bag and how the old-school grips feel in your hands. You probably also like the use of TaylorMade’s original logo on the toe instead of its current logo. 

TaylorMade says the copper finish will “mature over time,” but for golfers who love the throwback style of the P·770 and P·790 Copper, that will only enhance the vibe.

Below are some close-up looks at the P·770 Copper and P·790 Copper irons

TaylorMade Qi, Qi HL irons

TaylorMade Qi and Qi HL irons aim to enhance consistency and forgiveness.

Gear: TaylorMade Qi, Qi HL irons
Price: $1,099 with KBS Max 85 steel shafts and Lamkin Crossline 360 grips; $1,199 with Fujikura Ventus Blue TR graphite shafts
Specs: Hollow-body heads with multi-material back badge
Available: Feb. 2 (Qi), March 15 (Qi HL), but available for pre-order NOW

Who They’re For: Golfers with a handicap between 10 and 20 who want more consistency from shot to shot and enhanced ball-speed protection on mis-hits.

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The Skinny: By modifying the thickness of each iron face and managing how the hitting area flexes, TaylorMade aims to improve accuracy and consistency for mid- and higher-handicap golfers.

The Deep Dive: For golfers who typically shoot in the 80s and 90s, the most-common miss off the tee with a driver is to right because they slice. With game-improvement irons, many of the same players also struggle with a right miss, especially with their long irons, but for a different reason. With the release of the new Qi and Qi HL irons, TaylorMade set out to help golfers improve their accuracy from the fairway, especially with their long irons, while also providing more distance and enhanced feel.

TaylorMade said the typical construction of a game-improvement long iron can significantly contribute to the right miss. As the blade length grows longer, the toe side of the hitting area bends back more at impact than the heel side, even on shots hit in the center of the face, creating a fade bias. As blade lengths grow shorter in the scoring clubs – such as the 7-iron, 8-iron and 9-iron – the effect decreases, which is why many golfers don’t see the impact in fittings because the 7-iron is commonly used in iron fittings.

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TaylorMade Qi irons
The faces of the Qi irons have been made thicker in some areas and thinner in others to enhance consistency. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

With the Qi and Qi HL irons, TaylorMade has brought a design philosophy that debuted in its recently released P·790 irons – individual head optimization – to game-improvement clubs. In the P·790, that meant shifting the center of gravity in each iron to a different location to make it easier to hit the type of shots players often hit with that specific club. In the Qi and Qi HL, it involves integrating the face thickness, the Speed Pocket slot, topline ribs and the toe wrap.

In the long irons, TaylorMade made the low-toe portion of the face thicker so it flexes less, and the area close to the heel is thinned so it bends more easily at impact. In addition to making the hitting area flex more uniformly, which should help golfers hit straighter shots, by adding mass low in the hitting area and stiffening the metal around the Speed Pocket slot in the sole, the Qi and Qi HL long irons can help golfers get long-iron shots up more quickly.

Most golfers don’t struggle to get a 7-iron high in the air because it has more loft, so TaylorMade designers modified the construction and made the high-toe area stiffer while the area around the Speed Pocket is thinner and more flexible. To enlarge the sweet spot, the area around the edge of the face is very thin.

The Speed Pocket has not been designed into the 8-iron, 9-iron and wedges, and the thickest regions of the hitting area are once again high in the toe. This design should help golfers control spin and trajectory more easily.

While each Qi and Qi HL iron is designed slightly differently, they share several common technologies that make the set cohesive.

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All the Qi and Qi HL irons have an internal Echo Dampening Bridge that runs from heel to toe behind the face and soaks up excessive vibrations to improve sound and feel. They also feature a 360-degree undercut cavity design covered by a multi-material back badge. TaylorMade refers to this as Capback, a feature that debuted in 2021’s SIM2 irons. The composite back section reduces weight from the back of the head while still allowing the face to flex efficiently.

These irons have a thicker topline and ample offset, which is common among game-improvement irons. The sole is also fairly broad, but the leading edge is lower. Accomplished golfers tend to shy away from features like these, but they can be visually reassuring to many recreational golfers because the clubs look easy to hit.

While the standard Qi makes it easier for mid- and higher-handicap golfers to hit the ball straight and long, the HL model takes it further. The HL stands for higher and lighter, and with the club’s lighter shaft and grip, moderate-swinging players should be able to generate more speed with it. The lofts in the HL version are also 2 degrees weaker (higher lofts), so shots should also fly higher.

Cosmetically, the Qi and Qi HL irons look similar to the Stealth irons they replace, but TaylorMade is now complementing the visible carbon fiber on the badge with chrome-plated metal to create a more premium, aspirational look.

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Below are several close-up images of the TaylorMade Qi and Qi HL irons:

See what’s new in the TaylorMade P·790 irons for 2023

TaylorMade P·790 have a new internal weighting system that boosts performance.

Gear: TaylorMade P·790 irons (2023)
Price: $1,399 (seven clubs) with True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shafts and Golf Pride Z grips. $1,499 with Mitsubishi MMT graphite shafts
Specs: Hollow-body construction with a forged 4140 stainless steel face, internal tungsten weights (3-7 irons), vibration-dampening foam and polymer-covered sole slot.
Available: NOW (pre-orders), September 1 (in stores)

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Who It’s For: Golfers who want an iron that looks like a better-player’s club, but packs the distance and forgiveness of a game-improvement iron.

The Skinny: TaylorMade redesigned the inner chamber and the weight system in the P·790 to make the long irons easier to hit and provide more feel and consistency in the short irons without sacrificing the ball speed and distance.

The Deep Dive: In 2017, the original TaylorMade P·790 was among the first golf clubs that could rightfully be called a better-player’s distance iron. It looked like a muscleback blade, although slightly larger, but it delivered more ball speed, forgiveness and stability than irons made for golfers who might contend for a club championship.

Those clubs were updated in 2019 and again in 2021, and now TaylorMade is releasing the fourth generation of the P·790 irons. Once again, on the outside the club blends easily with the rest of TaylorMade’s P Series irons, but the 2023 P·790 has been radically changed on the inside to give golfers more consistency and a better feel without sacrificing ball speed or distance.

From a design standpoint, the P·790 is still a hollow-bodied iron that has a relatively thin topline, moderately narrow sole and some offset. The hollow-body design allows the forged 4140 stainless steel face to flex more at the moment of impact for increased ball speed. The 2023 version also has the same Speed Foam Air found in the 2021 P·790. It is 69 percent lighter than the original vibration-dampening foam TaylorMade used in the first P·790 irons, so it not only makes the irons feel and sound better at impact, it pushes more weight out of the center and toward the perimeter of the head for added stability. The Thru-Slot Speed Pocket has been designed into the long and mid-irons again to help improve performance on low-struck shots.

Among the features found in the new P·790 is the addition of a Thick-Thin back wall. Instead of being smooth, the inner-facing side of the back of the club is covered with thin areas that give it a snakeskin-style appearance. Before the adoption of carbon fiber crowns, TaylorMade used this technology to take the weight out of titanium crowns in drivers. It does the same job in the P·790, reducing weight in an area that does not enhance performance and allowing designers to repurpose it somewhere else.

TaylorMade P·790 (2023)
TaylorMade P·790 4-iron (top left) has a low CG thanks to a flat tungsten weight in the toe, while the 6-iron (lower left) has a weight that is higher and the 8-iron (right) has no tungsten. The sound stabilization bars in the 4-iron and 6-iron are different too. (David Dusek/Golfweek)

After running thousands of simulations using artificial intelligence (A.I.), TaylorMade designers used some of the weight saved in the back of the heads and designed unique bars and weight areas in the bottom of each head. Some have curves and others are straight, but each is designed to help a specific club perform better. So, for example, there is a curved area in the 6-iron that has extra mass in the heel and toe, along with a tungsten bar that rises vertically in the toe area for extra stability. The 4-iron, however, has a bar that is significantly lower in the head and its tungsten piece lies flat in the toe area, to drive the center of gravity (CG) down even further and encourage a higher launch angle.

The precise location of the CG was a point of emphasis for TaylorMade in this version of the P·790, and by manipulating the weight of each head, the company is touting a “flighted CG” progression through the set. With a better weighting system, the 3-iron and 4-iron in 2023 P·790 now have the lowest CGs, and the CG height gradually elevates as you progress through the mid-irons and into the scoring clubs, which should result in more consistent ball flights. Long irons should be easier to hit high and golfers should be able to flight short irons lower for better distance control.

Finally, TaylorMade has added a Sound Stabilizing bar inside each P·790 iron, to stiffen the topline and help tune the frequencies created when the club hits the ball. Each club’s bar is uniquely designed and in a different location because the mass is distributed in different parts of each club.

Many golfers will opt for a traditional set of the new P·790 irons, but cosmetically they blend very well with the P·770 irons that were released last year. The P·770 is smaller but shares the same hollow-body design, so working with a good fitter should make designing a personalized combo set of P·790 long irons and P·770 short irons easy.

Below are several close-up images of the new TaylorMade P·790.

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TaylorMade releases the Stealth Black game-improvement irons

In April, TaylorMade dropped the P•790 Black irons and the clubs were a hit on social media. Now come the Stealth Black irons.

The vast majority of irons for both accomplished players and intermediate golfers come in a silvery-chrome finish. However, starting about a decade ago, manufacturers began to release some irons in darker tones, often applying a PVD finish (physical vapor deposition) on top of the steel to give it a black or nearly-black look. Apparel companies have known for years that black is slimming, and golf equipment companies realized that many players prefer the look of black irons because they are not only unique, but black finishes make clubs look smaller in the address position.

In April, TaylorMade dropped the P•790 Black irons and the clubs were a hit on social media.

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Now TaylorMade is releasing the Stealth Black irons, a dark-finished version of the game-improvement clubs the company released last season.

Like the P•790 Black irons, the Stealth Black irons have been given a PVD finish that the company claims is strong and durable, but with play steady usage and play, it can wear down and fade over time in the hitting area and on the sole.

TaylorMade-Stealth-Black
The Stealth Black has a polymer black piece on the back that saves weight. (TaylorMade)

From a performance standpoint, the Stealth Black irons are identical to the standard Stealth irons. TaylorMade designed the hollow-bodied head to have 450 stainless steel faces to flex efficiently at impact for increased ball speed. But instead of making the back of the head using steel, TaylorMade gave the Stealth Black irons a polymer cap that covers the back section. It’s strong and supportive, but lighter, so more of the head’s overall weight is lower in the club. That helps to drop the center of gravity location and encourage higher-flying shots.

The 4-iron though 8-iron have a Speed Pocket slot to allow the lower portion of the face to flex more easily on thin shots, and an internal polymer piece that TaylorMade calls an  Echo Dampening system reduces excessive vibrations to improve sound and feel.

TaylorMade Stealth Black
The hitting area of the TaylorMade Stealth Black is slightly less dark, to help golfers frame the ball more easily at address. (TaylorMade)

The TaylorMade Stealth Black irons come standard with black KBS Max MT shafts and black Lamkin Crossline 360 grips. They are available in 4-iron through Attack Wedge (49 degrees) and a set of seven clubs will cost $1,199.99 in stores and on taylormadegolf.com.

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TaylorMade P·790 Black Irons

TaylorMade is offering the P·790 in a new finish, black, for golfers who love the look of dark-toned clubs and who want reduced glare.

It has been nearly two years since TaylorMade released the current P·790 irons, and the clubs are among the most popular offerings in the brand’s stable. Why? Accomplished golfers who crave distance appreciate the clean looks in the address position and the enhanced feel boosted by Speed Foam Air inside each head, while mid-handicap golfers who need forgiveness benefit from internal tungsten weights that add stability. That makes the P·790 a contender for a broad range of players.

Now TaylorMade is offering the P·790 in a new black finish for golfers who love the look of dark-toned clubs and who want reduced glare.

From a performance standpoint, the P·790 Black irons are identical to the standard P·790, with 8620 carbon-steel bodies and thin, forged 4140 stainless steel faces. The clubs have a hollow-body construction to allow the face to flex more efficiently at impact for increased ball speed and distance. The inner chamber is filled with Speed Foam Air, a lighter version of the original material that was in the 2017 and 2019 versions. The lighter foam reduces weight in the center of club, which elevates the perimeter weighting and stability while still absorbing excessive vibrations. Finally, an internal tungsten bar drives down the center of gravity and encourages a higher launch and steeper descent of the ball for better stopping power on the greens.

The TaylorMade P·790 Black irons will be available for $1,299.99, the same price as the standard chrome set, and come standard with black KBS Tour shafts and black Golf Pride Z grips. Get a close-up look at the P·790 Black irons below.