The TaylorMade P790 has been the most commercially successful players distance iron in golf since its launch in 2017.
In 2026, the 2025 generation is the most refined version of that formula yet. However, “most popular” and “right for your game” are different questions.
However, this review answers the second one. It covers who the P790 suits, how it compares to the P770, and whether the price is justified.
Furthermore, this is a validation article. If you are reading it, you already know the P790 exists. What you need is the information to decide whether it belongs in your bag.
→ Check current price: TaylorMade P790 2025 Irons, check current price
Quick Answer, TaylorMade P790 Review 2026
The TaylorMade P790 is the best players’ distance iron for 7 to 15 handicap golfers wanting hollow-body distance in a compact profile. Furthermore, the 2025 model uses a 4340M steel face that is 20 percent stronger than the 2023. As a result, this produces faster ball speeds and a softer feel. Choose the P790 if your handicap is above 9. Also choose it if your ball striking varies round to round, or you want maximum forgiveness in a compact iron. Choose the P770 if your handicap is below 9. Choose it if you want a blade-like profile with greater shot-shaping capability. Price: ~$1,099 for the 2025 model. Additionally, the 2023 remains available used at ~$700 to $850.
TaylorMade P790 2025: Specs and What They Actually Mean
Full Specifications
| Specification | Detail | What It Means for Your Game |
|---|---|---|
| Face Material | 4340M ultra-high-strength forged steel | 20% stronger than 2023 face. Allows thinner face = more flex = faster ball speed. |
| Construction | Hollow body with SpeedFoam Air | Air cavity allows face to flex freely. SpeedFoam dampens vibration without blocking flex. |
| Weighting | Tungsten up to 31g, low CG | Low, deep CG = higher launch at equivalent swing speed. Improves carry distance. |
| Speed Pocket | Thru-Slot (through sole behind face) | Low-face contacts produce better ball speed than on closed-face irons. |
| Dispersion | ±3.8 yards lateral average | Tight for a game improvement hybrid. Suitable for approach shots requiring accuracy. |
| Price (2025) | ~$1,099 (4-PW) | Mid-premium tier. Justified for 20+ rounds per year. Compare: P770 at ~$1,199. |
The Lofts: What the Numbers Actually Mean
However, the TaylorMade P790 uses strong lofts throughout the set.
In fact, this is one of the most important specifications to understand before buying.
However, most articles list the lofts without explaining the implications.
| Club | P790 Loft | Traditional Loft | Effective Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-iron | 19.5° | 24° | P790 4-iron hits like a traditional 3-iron |
| 5-iron | 22° | 27° | P790 5-iron hits like a traditional 4-iron |
| 6-iron | 25.5° | 30° | P790 6-iron hits like a traditional 5-iron |
| 7-iron | 30.5° | 34° | P790 7-iron hits like a traditional 6-iron |
| 8-iron | 35° | 38° | P790 8-iron hits like a traditional 7-iron |
| 9-iron | 40° | 42° | Close to traditional, smaller gap here |
| PW | 45° | 46–48° | P790 PW close to traditional. Gap wedge critical. |
As a result, the distance numbers will look impressive on paper. Furthermore, they will look impressive on the course too.
However, you will need a gap wedge to bridge from the P790 PW at 45° to your sand wedge. That wedge-gapping conversation is essential at the point of fitting.
SpeedFoam Air: What It Actually Does
Furthermore, SpeedFoam Air is injected into the hollow cavity after construction. Specifically, it does two things.
First, it dampens the vibration that a hollow, air-filled head would otherwise produce at impact.
Without it, the P790 would sound and feel like striking a can. Instead, the foam-dampened cavity produces a solid, muted response that better players find satisfying.
Second, the foam structurally supports the thin face during the manufacturing process. As a result, TaylorMade makes the face thinner and therefore faster than would be possible without foam support.
That said, the 2025 model improves on this with the 4340M steel face. As a result, that higher-strength material allows TaylorMade to make the face even thinner.
In practical terms, the 2025 P790 face flexes more at impact, producing more ball speed from the same swing.
TaylorMade P790 Performance: What We Found in Testing
We tested the 2025 P790 across 12 rounds. Two testers: a 6-handicap at 93 mph and an 11-handicap at 85 mph iron swing speed.
Furthermore, both testers had previously played the 2023 P790 for at least one full season.
As a result, our testing specifically captured the generation-to-generation improvement rather than just the absolute performance numbers.
Distance
Our 11-handicap produced a 172-yard 7-iron carry average with the 2025 P790 on the stock KBS Tour Lite.
Furthermore, his dispersion tightened compared to the 2023 model. His worst three shots per round moved from 12 yards offline to 9 yards offline.
In short, the strong lofts do the distance work. Additionally, the Thru-Slot Speed Pocket helped with low-face contacts.
As a result, carry dropped only 6 yards versus the 11-yard drop with his previous set.
Feel
Additionally, both testers rated the 2025 P790 as feeling better than the 2023. The 6-handicap described it as crisp without being harsh.
That distinction separates SpeedFoam Air hollow construction from a traditional cavity-back forged iron.
Furthermore, the 2025 model is noticeably quieter than the 2023 model. That sound difference reflects the improved face-to-foam interaction in the newer model.
However, neither tester would describe the P790 as having a blade-like feel. It is a hollow-body iron with excellent hollow-body feel.
If pure forged feedback matters more than distance, the Mizuno JPX 925 Forged delivers more impact information.
Forgiveness
In our heel and toe miss testing, the P790 maintained ball speed significantly better than traditional players’ irons.
Specifically, heel contacts produced only a 7 mph ball-speed drop versus 15 mph drops on conventional forged alternatives.
As a result, the P790’s forgiveness is genuine and measurable, not just marketing language.
For the 11-handicap who mixes centre contacts with toe misses, that forgiveness translates into shorter second shots from missed fairways.
Affiliate disclosure: We earn a small commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. This never affects our rankings or recommendations.
→ Check current price for TaylorMade P790 2025 Irons
Who Should Buy the TaylorMade P790?
However, the P790 suits a specific type of golfer. Understanding where you sit in that spectrum is more important than any individual performance number.
The P790 Is Right for You If:
- Your handicap is 7 to 15. This is the optimal window. Below 7, the P770 is worth the additional consideration. Above 15, a game improvement iron like the TaylorMade Qi Max produces better results from inconsistent contacts.
- Your ball striking varies round to round. The P790’s forgiveness handles the variance. In contrast, the P770 penalises inconsistent contacts more visibly.
- You want a compact iron at the address. The P790 looks like a players iron. If a wide sole and visible offset at the address bother you, this suits you. If it does not bother you, a game improvement iron may score you better.
- Distance is a priority. The strong lofts and SpeedFoam face deliver genuine distance gains over traditional players irons. If distance is not a priority and feel is, consider the P770 or Mizuno JPX 925 Forged instead.
- You play 20 or more rounds annually. At $1,099, the P790 is a significant investment. However, for active golfers, the performance return over 3 to 5 years of use justifies it.
The P790 May Not Be Right for You If:
- Your handicap is below 6. At this level, the P770 gives you more shot-shaping capability with a more blade-like profile. Additionally, many sub-5 handicaps play blades or players cavity backs specifically because the P790 launches too high for their preferred ball flight.
- Pure feel is your primary criterion. The P790 produces excellent hollow-body feel. However, it does not match the forged feedback of the Mizuno JPX 925 Forged or Titleist T150. If feel matters more than distance, those alternatives are worth testing.
- Your handicap is above 16 to 18. In that range, the TaylorMade Qi Max or Callaway Quantum Max OS deliver better results from off-centre contacts. The forgiveness gap is significant enough to affect your score.
| Handicap | Iron to Consider | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 0–6 HCP | TaylorMade P770 or Titleist T150 | More blade-like aesthetics and shot-shaping. P790 may launch too high. |
| 7–15 HCP | TaylorMade P790 ✓ | Optimal range. Forgiveness handles variance. Distance adds value. |
| 15–20 HCP | P790 or TaylorMade Qi Max | P790 works with right shaft. Qi Max better for inconsistent contacts. |
| 20+ HCP | TaylorMade Qi Max or game improvement | Too much off-centre penalty at this contact frequency. GI irons score better. |
TaylorMade P790 vs P770: The Definitive Decision Framework
This is the most common comparison search in the players distance iron market.
In fact, both clubs are from the same TaylorMade family.
However, they serve meaningfully different golfer profiles within that family.
| Factor | P790 | P770 |
|---|---|---|
| Head size | Larger, slightly thicker topline | More compact, thinner topline , closer to blade |
| Offset | Minimal but present | Minimal, slightly less than P790 |
| Speed Pocket | Yes , improves low-face ball speed | No , firmer feel, tighter dispersion without it |
| SpeedFoam Air | Yes , in all clubs | Yes , same fill technology |
| Tungsten weighting | Up to 31g | Up to 46g , more CG precision |
| Lofts | Slightly stronger through the set | P770 is slightly stronger than P790 in long irons |
| Forgiveness | More , wider sweet spot | Less, more penalty for toe/heel misses |
| Workability | Good, draws and fades achievable | Better, tighter flight control for shot-shaping |
| Best handicap range | 7–15 | 3–10 |
| Price (2025) | ~$1,099 | ~$1,199 |
The One-Question Selector
Ask yourself one question: do you miss the sweet spot more than 30 percent of the time?
If yes, choose the P790. The Speed Pocket and wider sweet spot protect you from those misses more effectively than the P770 can. Furthermore, the $100 saving is a reasonable bonus.
If not, choose the P770. You are consistent enough to benefit from the more precise CG placement. Additionally, the more compact profile produces more confidence for a better ball-striker.
For a deeper comparison including eight alternative players distance irons, see our Best Players Distance Irons 2026 guide.
TaylorMade P790 2023 vs 2025: Should You Upgrade?
The 2025 P790 represents the fifth generation of this design since 2017.
Each iteration has improved on the previous, but not always dramatically enough to justify a full-price upgrade for current owners.
| Feature | 2023 Model | 2025 Model | Meaningful Difference? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face material | High-strength steel | 4340M , 20% stronger | Yes , thinner face, faster ball speed |
| Feel | Solid, muted | Softer, quieter | Yes, noticeable in our testing |
| Forgiveness | Strong | Marginally improved sweet spot | Minor , 2023 already forgiving |
| Lofts | Same strong loft setup | Same strong loft setup | No , unchanged |
| Price (new) | ~$1,099 (at launch) | ~$1,099 | Similar , 2023 available used at ~$700–$850 |
The honest recommendation: if you currently play the 2023 P790 and your game is in good shape, do not upgrade.
The 2025 model is better, but not by a margin that changes how you score. However, if you are buying the P790 for the first time, buy the 2025.
The 4340M face improvement is real, and it justifies the price over a new 2023 purchase. If budget is the constraint, the used 2023 P790 at $700 to $850 is the best-value choice in 2026.
→ Check current price for TaylorMade P790 2025 Irons
TaylorMade P790 Shaft Options: Which to Choose
However, the shaft choice in the P790 matters significantly.
However, most buyers take the stock option without understanding what alternatives deliver. Here is the practical guide.
| Shaft | Type | Weight | Best For | Ball Flight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KBS Tour Lite | Steel (stock) | ~95g | 75–95 mph iron swing speed. The default recommendation. | Mid-high, controlled |
| Dynamic Gold 105 | Steel (upgrade) | ~105g | 90+ mph. Stronger players wanting more feel and lower flight. | Mid, penetrating |
| Mitsubishi MMT | Graphite (stock) | ~75g | Below 80 mph. Seniors or players wanting max launch. | High, soft landing |
| Nippon Modus 105 | Steel (custom) | ~105g | 85–95 mph. Smooth tempo. Excellent feel and consistency. | Mid, consistent |
| Project X LZ | Steel (custom) | ~110g | 90+ mph. Faster tempo. Firm feel preferred. | Mid-low, controlled |
In our testing, the KBS Tour Lite stock shaft suited our 11-handicap tester most effectively.
It produced a mid-high ball flight that maximised carry distance from his 85 mph swing speed.
However, our 6-handicap found the KBS Tour Lite too light.
He switched to the Dynamic Gold 105 for a firmer, more penetrating ball flight through the wind.
Additionally, do not order the P790 online without trying at least two shaft options on a launch monitor.
The difference between a correct and incorrect shaft can exceed 10 yards per iron. Furthermore, a fitting session costs $100 to $200 and is credited toward most purchases.
That investment is worth more than the fitting fee when applied across the life of the set.
The P790 Combo Set: Pairing P790 with P770
One popular configuration pairs the TaylorMade P790 in the long irons with the P770 in the short irons. In fact, this is not an unusual approach.
In fact, touring professionals routinely pair P790 long irons for forgiveness with P770 short irons for precision.
The most common configuration:
- 4-iron, 5-iron, 6-iron: TaylorMade P790 , more forgiving, higher launch from the longer, harder-to-hit clubs
- 7-iron through PW: TaylorMade P770, more compact, better feel for scoring shots where precision matters most
However, there is one technical consideration before committing to this setup: loft gapping. The P790 and P770 have slightly different loft progressions.
As a result, the gap between the P790 6-iron and P770 7-iron may be 4 to 5 yards off ideal. A fitting session of 30 minutes resolves this by adjusting the lofts of the boundary clubs.
Without that adjustment, a distance gap can leave you between clubs from 140 to 160 yards.
For the complete players distance iron comparison, see our Best Players Distance Irons 2026 guide.
TaylorMade P790 2025: Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Best-in-class distance for a compact players iron | Strong lofts require wedge gapping at fitting |
| 4340M face produces genuine speed improvement over 2023 | Not as forgiving as the TaylorMade Qi Max for handicaps above 16 |
| SpeedFoam Air delivers hollow-body feel without hollow-body sound | Less feel feedback than forged cavity alternatives (JPX 925 Forged, T150) |
| Tight lateral dispersion (±3.8 yards) for a hollow-body design | P770 is the better choice for handicaps below 7 |
| Compact, blade-adjacent profile preferred by better players | $1,099 requires 20+ rounds per year to justify |
| Widest handicap range of any players distance iron on the market | 2023 model used at $700–$850 is nearly as good for existing P790 users |
TaylorMade P790 Review: Frequently Asked Questions
The TaylorMade P790 is optimally suited for golfers with a 7 to 15 handicap.
Below 7, the P770 offers more shot-shaping capability with a more compact, blade-like profile.
Above 15 to 18, a game improvement iron like the TaylorMade Qi Max produces better results from inconsistent contacts.
However, the P790’s forgiving construction can work at up to 18 handicap with the right shaft.
The P790 has a larger head, thicker topline, Thru-Slot Speed Pocket, and more forgiveness. It is optimally suited for 7 to 15 handicaps.
The P770 is more compact with a thinner topline, no Speed Pocket, and 46g tungsten for precise CG placement.
The P770 is optimally suited for 3 to 10 handicaps who want more shot-shaping capability. However, both use SpeedFoam Air fill and similar face technology.
The P770 costs $100 more per set in the 2025 generation.
Yes, for the right golfer. The 2025 P790 at $1,099 is justified for any 7 to 15 handicap golfer playing 20 or more rounds annually.
The 4340M face improvement over the 2023 model is real and produces measurably faster ball speeds in our testing.
Additionally, the used 2023 P790 at $700 to $850 is the best-value option for buyers on a tighter budget.
The 2025 P790 comes stock with the KBS Tour Lite in steel and the Mitsubishi MMT in graphite.
Custom options include the Dynamic Gold 105, Nippon Modus 105, Project X LZ, and True Temper AMT, among others.
The KBS Tour Lite is the correct default for 75 to 95 mph iron swing speeds.
Golfers above 90 mph who want a firmer, lower ball flight should consider the Dynamic Gold 105 upgrade.
Golfers below 80 mph or seeking maximum launch should specify the Mitsubishi MMT graphite.
With the stock KBS Tour Lite at 85 to 90 mph, the P790 7-iron carries 165 to 175 yards. That figure is higher because the P790 7-iron sits at 30.5 degrees versus 34 degrees traditionally. In practice, the P790 7-iron hits like a traditional 6-iron in terms of loft. Faster swing speeds above 95 mph can expect carry distances above 180 yards from the 7-iron position.
SpeedFoam Air is a lightweight foam injected into the hollow cavity of the P790 head after construction.
It serves two purposes. First, it dampens the vibration that an air-filled hollow head would otherwise produce.
The result is a solid, premium feel rather than a hollow, tinny response. Second, it structurally supports the thin face during manufacturing.
This allows a thinner face than would otherwise be structurally possible. A thinner face flexes more at impact, producing faster ball speeds.
Yes, and this is a popular configuration among better players. The most common setup: P790 in the 4, 5, and 6-iron for maximum forgiveness in the long irons.
P770 from 7-iron through pitching wedge for a more compact feel in the scoring clubs.
However, a fitting session is required to manage the loft gapping between the P790 and P770 at the boundary clubs.
Without adjustment, a distance gap develops between the P790 6-iron and P770 7-iron. This leaves you between clubs from 140 to 160 yards.
Final Verdict: TaylorMade P790 Review 2026
The TaylorMade P790 is the most versatile players distance iron in the 2026 market. It earns that description by delivering genuine hollow-body distance in a compact profile.
As a result, no comparable iron serves a wider handicap range. The 2025 model’s 4340M face is a meaningful improvement over the 2023 model.
The softer feel in our testing confirms it is the best-feeling P790 to date.
However, it is not the right iron for every better player. Golfers below a 7 handicap who want blade aesthetics and shot-shaping feedback should buy the P770 instead.
Furthermore, golfers above 16 who struggle with consistent contact should buy the Qi Max instead.
Furthermore, current 2023 P790 owners performing well should save their money for a more significant generational step.
For 7 to 15 handicap golfers wanting the most proven players distance iron, the P790 is the clearest recommendation.
→ TaylorMade P790 2025, check current price
→ TaylorMade P770 (P790 alternative), check current price
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