The TaylorMade P790 irons have been helping gofers realize what is possible with a mid handicap iron for many years. The P790 took the market by surprise and had people questioning why they were ever playing with large cavity back style, poor feeling irons when the P790 technology was there all along. Now that the P790 has taken off and really impressed golfers across the world, the P770 is a slightly modified version that is helping some players mix the performance they need with the forgiveness that the P790 offers. If you are intrigued by both of these iron sets, we will go over everything you need to know. The TaylorMade P770 and TaylorMade P790 are both irons that I have personally tested. As a former PGA Class A professional, I can tell you that TaylorMade knows what they are doing when it comes to ball-striking.
| TaylorMade P770 | TaylorMade P790 | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | Newest Model Late 2020 | Newest Model 2021 |
| Player Handicap | Mid to Low | All handicaps, better for mid to high |
| Look | Players blade | Longer blade length players iron |
| Ball Speed | High | High |
| Construction | Hollow Back | Hollow Back |
| Specs | 3-AW availability | 3-AW availability |
| Shaft | KBS Tour 120 S | Steel- Dynamic Gold VSS; Graphite- Mitsubishi MMT |
| Shaft Spin | Mid | Mid-High |
| Pros | Shorter blade length Excellent control in the long irons Tungsten weighting Good forgiveness for a players type golf club Very precise mid irons Thinner top line | Players looking shape with game improvement forgiveness Higher launch than players irons Large sweet spot than previous models Thru slot speed pocket technology A thin face with very high ball speed Perimeter weighting |
| Cons | Smaller sweet spot than P790 Only available standard in steel shaft | It can be expensive for beginners and higher handicappers that don’t play often The top line is a bit thick |
| Link | TaylorMade P770 | TaylorMade P790 |
TaylorMade P770 vs P790
The most important thing to remember before comparing these two irons is that they both offer some impressive performance. Each of the irons can be considered part of the same family, and sometimes the difference you see between these sets will be very minimal. It makes it take a session at the range to hit and feel the differences that the P790 and P770 offer.
TaylorMade P770 Vs. P790: Forgiveness
As you have likely noticed, TaylorMade continues to rerelease the P790 irons. This is because the technology keeps improving, but the basic design of the iron is still something that they want in their lineup.
The most recent version of the P790 irons features a sweet spot that is 60% bigger than the sweet spot in the last version. With the size of an iron club head, it is almost hard to imagine an increase in size this large.
The P770 has a slightly smaller sweet spot but still offers more forgiveness than a traditional players-type golf iron. Overall, forgiveness is primarily positive, but there are times that it can decrease the workability of a golf club.
Golfers that like to hit intentional fades and draws will enjoy the technology behind the P770 a bit more.
Winner: P790
Although the differences are subtle, the fact that the blade length on the P790 is longer just allows for more forgiving technology and a larger sweet spot. The fact that both of these irons are hollow back construction really helps them to be quite forgiving overall. Don’t let the P770 scare you when it comes to forgiveness; just be aware of the strengths and weaknesses in your own game.
TaylorMade P770 vs. P790: Feel
The P770 and the P790 have very similar construction. Something that you see in these clubs but not in a SIM Max iron is the speed foam center. Essentially the clubhead is a hollow design but inside that hollow space is room for a speed foam injection. The speed foam does not increase the weight of the club, but it does help the feel to be more stable and pure at impact.
There are two things to look for when you consider the feel of a golf club, the first is feedback, and the second is vibration. You do not want a your club head to vibrate when you make contact with it. If it does, it gives you a poor feeling and will feel almost like a cheap iron.
We can ensure you there is little to no vibration at impact with either of these irons.
Feedback from a golf club allows you to learn to hit draws and fades and to control the overall ball flight. The P770 gives golfers more feedback than the P790. This has a bit to do with the shorter wedge length and the slightly smaller sweet spot.
The shape of the club won’t attribute to the feel all that much, but the compact size of the P770 tends to let better players feel as though they can improve accuracy and performance.
Winner: P770
This one was almost a tie. Since both of the golf irons feature the speed foam technology and are made to have an impressive feel, with forgiveness, it was hard to declare a winner. The reason we went with the P770 is simply because of the feedback and workability. When you want this club to do something, you can get it to do it.
TaylorMade P770 vs. P790: Distance
If you are getting tired of us telling you that the P790 and P770 are very similar, buckle up because we are not done. The P770 and P790 both feature the same thin 4140 forged face. The fact that the face of the club is kept thin is what helps to promote more distance.
So the interaction between the golf ball and the clubhead in both of these popular irons will be very similar. Therefore the ball speeds should also be relatively close. However, there is a big difference in the lofts of the clubs.
The P790 irons are considered to be slightly more game improvement than the P770. With new models of modern game improvement type irons, we find that the lofts are continuing to get lower. The market’s golf technology has helped players get high enough launch, decent spin, and impressive overall performance even while using lower lofted irons.
The P790 seven iron has a loft of 30.5 degrees. The P770 seven iron has a loft of 33 degrees. This is a pretty significant difference, and the end result is that the P790 will likely fly a little further. A good player with higher swing speeds does not mind weaker lofts.
The weaker lofts can help players get more consistency and feel like they are playing with a classic player iron. So, although the P790 may seem as though it is going further, when you compare loft to loft, both irons will be about the same.
Winner: P790
If you are purely looking for distance in your irons, the P790 irons are the way to go. You will absolutely love how easy it is to hit the ball high and far with this forgiving golf club in your hand.
TaylorMade P770 vs. P790: Pricing
When choosing new golf irons, it is only going to make sense to consider the pricing as well. A club has to be affordable to make sense for you to purchase it. The P790 and P770 irons are both considered premium irons. The clubs essentially have the same DNA, similar materials, and the same hollow body construction.
Therefore, the pricing is almost exact. The only way you will find a deal on some of the most popular irons on the market is to look at previous season’s versions of the taylormade P770 iron or P790 iron. If you don’t buy something that was the most recent release, you may save a few dollars.
Winner: TIE
When these clubs are constructed of similar materials and marketed towards the same group of people, you can expect the pricing to be similar. Keep in mind that if you add graphite shafts to the P790, they are going to be considerably more expensive.
TaylorMade P770 vs. P790: Workability
The irons make up the majority of the clubs in your bag. If you are looking down at a club with a top line that is too thick or an offset that doesn’t appeal to you, your golf game is going to suffer. Ultimately the best performance is found from an iron that you trust, and that feels good for your golf game.
When it comes to workability and the ability to hit shots that shape the way you want them to, the TaylorMade P770 is going to be the better option. The head size, the higher spin, and the lower lofts all lead to more workability. This is really the better choice when you are a lower handicap player looking to really perfect your game with these P series irons.
Of course, there are other options in the TaylorMade lineup that will have even more ball control, but you are going to have to give up a bit of forgiveness as well, and that is something most golfers would prefer to avoid.
The P790 is not a traditional cavity back beginners club. Therefore you can still learn to hit a draw or a fade or control the height of your golf shots; it is just simply not as effective as the taylormade P770.
Winner: P770
You can learn to play a draw or a fade with the P790 and shape your golf shots. The forged hollow body construction of both golf clubs help to ensure that they stay very true at impact. However, with the taylormade P770 leaning a bit more towards the player iron side of things, it is a better choice for overall workability.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Now that we have given you the run down on the TaylorMade P770 and P790 irons, it’s time to answer a few last questions. Good players ask lots of questions before purchasing a set of golf clubs. They want to know the main difference between clubs, how they are compared to current golf models, which has more spin and more.
What is the difference between TaylorMade P770 and P790?
The main difference between the TaylorMade P770 and the TaylorMade P790 is the size of the club head. The taylormade P770 is a smaller head with a thinner top line and a slightly more player iron type look to it. The P790 has a thicker top line, will resemble a player’s golf iron, but still has the forgiveness of a traditional game improvement club. The compact players head in the taylormade P770 also means that it is a bit less forgiving.
Are the TaylorMade P770 forgiving?
The TaylorMade P770 has a medium amount of forgiveness. Remember that this iron is a bit more of a player’s design than the P790, but it is certainly not like a complete Taylormade blade. You can still get plenty of distance, ball flight, and forgiveness when using the TaylorMade P770 irons.
For a golfer that is new to the game looking for their first set of irons, we would recommend the P790 over the P770.
What handicap should play taylormade P770?
Golfers with a ten handicap or less are going to see the most benefits from the P770. If you are currently a 12 handicap and looking to try and get distance, while still hitting shots that can be controlled, the P770 is a smart choice.
Golfers should not limit themselves so much by what their handicap is; if you find a golf iron that you love the feel of, purchase it and learn to adapt your game. As long as it is not causing your trouble or headaches, the club can work.
Many golfers find that the combo set of the P790 and P770 is another good choice.
Do any pros use TaylorMade P770?
The TaylorMade P770 is a bit more of an amateur golfers model than a professionals. However, professional golfer Tommy Fleetwood uses the P770 irons in his long irons. Even heavy hitters have a hard time controlling long irons and getting them to do exactly what they need. Therefore putting something like the P770 in place is the best choice. The rest of Tommy Fleetwood’s irons are a bit more of a blade style than the hollow back construction.
Conclusion: Which Is Better TaylorMade P770 or P790
Now that we have given you the complete run down on the TaylorMade P770 vs. TaylorMade P790 golf irons, it’s time to declare an ultimate winner. The only trouble is that the P770 iron and the P790 iron are built for slightly different players. If we have to choose an overall winner, it is going to be the P790.
This is the golf iron that really brought the hollow back technology to the world of golf. Those that were tired of being forced to play with an ugly cavity back because of forgiveness could now have a players-style club with the performance they needed.
The P790 has helped so many golfers improve their overall performance on the course, and we don’t think TaylorMade is done with where they will take this impressive set of golf clubs.
