In this comparison guide, we go over the 2023 TaylorMade p770 and the 2021 TaylorMade P790 irons to help you decide which irons are perfect for you. Both of these TaylorMade irons are highly touted, but I’ll show you small details to look at between the P770 vs P790 iron sets.
Did TaylorMade make enough changes to warrant an upgrade over the previous 2021 model?
How do they compare against the 2021 P790s?
We will review all of the changes and new technology below between the two different irons and outline which will work best for your golf game.
Use the buttons below to check out the store page for each iron:
Key Takeaways
- Both TaylorMade P770 and P790 irons feature Thru-Slot Speed Pocket and SpeedFoam Air technology for increased ball speed and distance.
- P770 irons have a shorter blade length, less offset, and a thinner top line, while P790 irons have a larger sweet spot and more forgiveness.
- P790 irons have a larger sweet spot and club head, while P770 irons offer better feel and workability.
- The new P770 released in 2023 are much easier to hit than the 2020 version, despite having more compact heads.
TaylorMade P770 Irons Overview
Key Features
- Thru-Slot Speed Pocket: Increases flexibility on the face of the iron while keeping golf ball speeds and distance up.
- Speedfoam Air: TaylorMade injects SpeedFoam technology into the iron head, which helps dampen vibration while offering a premium sound at impact.
- FLTD CG: Center of gravity is positioned the lowest in the long irons and gradually shifts higher. It uses tungsten weighting to help improve launch and spin.
- Forged Hollow Body Construction: Less offset in the long irons, thinner top line, and shorter blade length all inspire confidence when lined up to the ball.
Pros
Technology
The TaylorMade P770 irons are a very visually appealing golf club. TaylorMade packs a lot of technology into a sleek, forged design. There is a chrome triangle at the toe end of each iron.
The four-to-seven iron also includes the speed pocket line, and there is a tungsten screw in the toe of each iron. These irons help to inspire a lot of confidence, and you will get some second looks out on the course with these.
Forgiveness
Even with a shorter blade length, the forgiveness of the TaylorMade P770 irons is unmatched. For being more of a player’s iron, you will still get solid strikes even if you don’t hit the ball right off the sweet spot. TaylorMade has really improved the forgiveness in this compact player’s distance iron despite being tour sized.
The only thing you will notice on mis-hits is a not-so-great feeling in the hands.
PerfoRmance
Another pro for the TaylorMade P770 irons is their overall golf course performance. I noticed that my ball speed was higher than ever using these irons. The SpeedFoam Air is 69% less dense than the previous model, and the ball launched off the face on every strike.
You will get more distance when using this iron set.
Cons
Price
Regarding cons, only a few things are holding the TaylorMade P770 irons back. One of the main cons when it comes to these irons is going to be the price.
TaylorMade released a model of the P770 irons in 2021, so justifying the upgrade in just two years might be a stretch for some golfers, especially when paying the total price for a set. You must decide if there are enough key differences to make that switch.
Sweet Spot verses the P790s
Another con regarding the TaylorMade P770 irons is that the sweet spot is slightly smaller than the P790 irons. This means you must be more precise in your ball striking to ensure you get solid contact with each hit.
Steel Shaft Only
Lastly, not a huge deal, but the P770 irons are only available with steel shafts rather than graphite shafts. Consider looking elsewhere if you rely on graphite shafts for your irons.
P770 Iron Specs
TaylorMade P790 Irons Overview
Key Features
- Speedfoam Air: TaylorMade injects SpeedFoam technology into the iron head, which helps dampen vibration while offering a premium sound at impact.
- Thru-Slot Speed Pocket: Increases flexibility on the face of the iron while keeping ball speeds and distance up.
- Intelligent Sweet Spot: Sweet spot size has been increased by 60% compared to the original P790 irons to provide even better contact.
- Ultimate Forgiveness: New construction method allows for 31g of tungsten weighting in the toe, offering even more forgiveness on every shot.
Pros
Ease of Use
The best thing about the TaylorMade P790 irons is that they are a player’s forged iron that performs like a game improvement iron. Mid-to-high-handicap golfers don’t always want to play with big cavity back irons, so TaylorMade wanted to change that by creating premium irons that play elite for these specific golfers.
At first glance, the P790s have a massive sweet spot and inspire confidence at address. They include TaylorMade’s patented speed foam technology, which helps the ball launch off the face and offers excellent ball control.
Club Head Size
Although they are considered a player’s game improvement iron, they feature compact heads and make it feel like the iron is smooth during your swing.
Launch
The P790 irons also feature perimeter weighting, which helps keep the center of gravity low and helps you get good ball flight. If you have a slow swing speed, the P790 irons will improve ball speed and keep your ball straight, even on mis-hits.
Hitting these irons will give you maximum distance on every shot, which we, as golfers, are looking for.
Steel and graphite
Another pro about the TaylorMade P790 irons is that they are available in steel and graphite shaft options. This gives more options, especially for beginner golfers who may be used to hitting graphite shafts.
Cons
Price
The biggest downside to the TaylorMade P790 irons is the price tag. These irons are marketed towards mid-high handicappers, which includes beginners in the game of golf. If you are starting, this may seem like a lot of money to drop on a set of irons.
You have to ask yourself what you want to get out of the game of golf and whether it is worth spending that money on clubs.
Thick Top Line
Another small con about the TaylorMade P790 is that the top line of the irons is quite thick compared to other irons on the market. This wouldn’t make a massive difference to most golfers, but it depends on who uses the club and what you prefer.
P790 Iron Specs
TaylorMade P770 vs P790: Head-to-Head Comparison
After hitting both irons for a while, here is my head-to-head comparison between the 2023 P770 vs 2021 P790.
Design
In regards to the design of both the TaylorMade P770 and P790 irons, there is little difference between the two. Even with the P770’s newest release in 2023 compared to the P790’s latest release in 2021, they share similar design technology with some minor adjustments.
The P770 irons have a thinner top line, and the blade length is not as long as the P790. The P770s also feature less offset and are considered near the large end of the player’s iron debate.
Other than that, they both include the SpeedFoam Air and Thru-Slot Speed Pocket technology. The P790 irons have a slightly thicker topline, and the blade is longer, allowing for a slightly larger sweet spot.
Winner: P770
Forgiveness
Although the TaylorMade P790 iron hasn’t been updated in 2 years, the basic design of the club has stayed the same. The 2021 version of the P790 features a sweet spot that is 60% bigger than the previous model. This may not seem like a massive change, but it makes all the difference in the golf world.
The P770 has a slightly smaller sweet spot due to the blade not being as long as the P790. But, the P770 stills offers plenty of forgiveness, probably the most out of any players iron.
Both these irons have a hollow body construction, meaning both will offer great forgiveness. The fact that the blade length is slightly longer on the P790 allows for more forgiveness, control, and a more prominent sweet spot.
TaylorMade has really improved the P770 golf iron. It’s forgiveness is nearly the same as the P790 despite the smaller size. This will be one of the most popular irons for a long time.
Winner: P790
Feel
The feel is one of the most important things to look for when trying out new golf irons, and we can confidently say that the feel of the P770 and P790 irons is excellent.
Both irons are constructed similarly with a hollow body design and the SpeedFoam center. Speedfoam technology is injected into the head of the iron and helps dampen vibrations and offer a smooth feel on every shot.
We would lean slightly towards the P770 regarding feeling, mainly because of the shorter wedge length and marginally smaller sweet spot. This helps provide more control, and the smaller head of the P770 does just that.
The thin top line of the P770 also helps when lined up to the ball and allows for more workability on each shot. It is easier to get decent spin with the new P770s!
Winner: P770
Distance
Hhow far can we hit each iron?
Both the P770 and P790 are constructed with the same forged face and technology. There is, however, one significant change when it comes to these irons.
The P790 irons are considered more game-improvement and have slightly different lofts than the P770. This results in hitting your golf shots further with the P790 than the P770.
The weaker lofts help inspire a little more confidence in mid-handicappers, and confidence is king on the golf course!
Winner: P790
Price and Value
When you purchase new golf clubs, the price is one of the main factors that come into play. Due to the P770 and P790 irons essentially being the same, the price will also be the same. Even though the P790 irons are from 2021, they still carry many of the same characteristics as the brand-new P770 irons.
The P770 is considered more of a player’s iron, whereas the P790 is regarded as a game-improvement player’s iron. We recommend going into a golf retailer and hitting both to see which fits your swing speed.
Winner: TIE
Which Irons Are Better?
For Beginners
If you are starting golf, we recommend the TaylorMade P790 iron set. They feature a giant club head and a more prominent sweet spot, which should work better for a beginner.
These distance irons will help you get fast ball speeds, all while keeping the ball in play. These irons also have slightly lower lofts which should help you launch the ball and keep your shots under control.
For Low Handicappers
For low-handicap golfers, we recommend the TaylorMade P770 iron set. The P770 irons have a slightly shorter blade length, less offset, and a thin club face.
This helps workability and allows for a better feel. With the smaller club head, you should be able to control your shot shape easier and get more spin on the ball. The P770 are great players irons for a low handicap golfer.
For Golfers With a High Swing Speed
You can choose whichever of the two irons you want if you have a high swing speed. If you are solely looking for maximum distance, you will likely find more success with the P790s due to the lower lofts and larger club heads.
The P770s will allow for a better feel and workability around the golf course. You will roll off less greens with the P770s.
For Women
For women, it depends on their skill level and preference while out on the golf course. The P790s will offer a little more forgiveness and distance. They are also available with graphite shafts, which some may prefer.
Video Comparison
Want to see these two irons in action against each other? Check out this video below:
Conclusion
In conclusion, both the TaylorMade P770 vs P790 irons are packed with technology to help you succeed on the golf course. The pricing is the same due to the similar characteristics, with slight differences.
If you want more forgiveness and distance, we recommend trying out the P790s.
If you want a better feel and more workability around the golf course, we recommend the P770s.
You can go right with either option. Use the buttons below to check out each iron set in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between the P770 and P790 irons?
The main difference between the two is the P770 has a shorter blade length, less offset, and a thinner top line when lined up to the ball. The P770 is considered more of a player’s iron, whereas the P790 is more of a game improvement iron.
Can beginners use either of the TaylorMade P770 vs P790 irons?
They could use either one and see success on the golf course. Even mid-handicappers may succeed more with the smaller head of the P770. This is why we always recommend heading into a golf retailer and hitting both to see how your swing fits and which works better for you.
Are TaylorMade P770s more forgiving than P790?
The TaylorMade P770 irons offer impressive forgiveness for a player’s iron, but the P790 irons have a larger sweet spot and are considered more forgiving due to their slightly longer blade length and bigger club head. The 2023 P770 irons are much more forgiving than the 2021 P770s.
What handicap should play TaylorMade P770 irons?
Low-handicap golfers would benefit from playing TaylorMade P770 irons, as these irons offer better feel, workability, and control, which are desirable traits for skilled players.
Will there be a new P790 iron in 2023?
No, all rumors indicate that an update to the TaylorMade P790 irons will be coming out in early 2024.
