TaylorMade P·790: The Player’s Distance Icon’s Next Chapter

It’s arduous to speak about TaylorMade’s P·790 with out acknowledging the seismic shift it brought about within the iron market. Earlier than the unique P·790 debuted in 2017, “participant’s distance” wasn’t actually a factor.

I’m not suggesting P·790 was the primary but it surely was inarguably the best contributor to the emergence and subsequent development of the class.

As we speak?

Participant’s distance is the second-largest iron class in golf, trailing solely game-improvement. TaylorMade’s flagship mannequin is the talismanic chunk of metal and foam by which different participant’s distance irons are in contrast.

So when TaylorMade releases a brand new P·790, it’s a giant deal.

Coming into its fifth era, TaylorMade says the 2025 P·790 is quicker, extra forgiving and better-feeling than ever.

Daring declare?

Certain, however totally par for the course. Let’s dig a bit deeper and take a look on the particular the explanation why TaylorMade says this P·790 is its best but.

If it ain’t broke, make it higher

By no small measure, P·790 has at all times thrived out there as a result of it checks a number of bins for a number of varieties of golfers. It’s unapologetically a distance iron however with every launch, it seems to be much less like one. It’s forgiving however, once more, it doesn’t essentially scream “mis-hit me, no matter, it’s high quality.” And whereas few (at the least those that don’t work for TaylorMade) would recommend it gives the pure buttery really feel of a muscle-back, the SpeedFoam-infused P·790 can maintain its personal with most the rest within the class.

As a result of TaylorMade has constantly blended these efficiency components inside an aesthetically refined bundle, the P·790 has one of many broadest reaches of any piece of golf tools out there at the moment. Whereas TaylorMade lists the target market as 5-15 handicaps, you’ll discover it within the baggage of everybody from near-scratch golfers to aspirational 20-somethings.

It’s not a real “Tour” iron insomuch as you received’t discover full units of P·790 on the PGA Tour but it surely’s not unheard of for the occasional P·790 lengthy iron to search out its manner right into a bag each from time to time.

For 2025, P·790 retains a lot, if not all, of what golfers love about with some key upgrades that ought to preserve it high of thoughts (and demo lists) for golfers buying the class.

New or improved

Right here’s a fast rundown of what’s new and presumably improved within the 2025 P·790.

New 4340M solid face

For 2025, P·790 will get a brand new face materials. The brand new face is 20-percent stronger than the earlier mannequin’s which allowed TaylorMade to make it thinner. A thinner face is a sooner face. Along with extra velocity, 4340M creates a candy spot that’s 24-percent bigger which in the end makes the brand new mannequin extra constant, too.

FLTD CG (Flighted Heart of Gravity)

TaylorMade launched Flight CGs within the earlier P·790. With the brand new mannequin, they’ve continued to refine the inner geometries and use strategically positioned tungsten (as much as 40 grams) to supply easy-to-hit, high-flying lengthy irons, extra forgiving mid-irons and flatter, spinner trajectories for extra management within the scoring golf equipment.

Up to date Stabilization Bars

Inner constructions distinctive to every loft work to regulate vibrations, tune frequencies and enhance sound and really feel.

Thinner topline, improved sole geometry

A sleeker, barely extra compact profile with an optimized sole radius produces higher turf interplay. Massive image: Regardless of being a bit extra constant than the earlier mannequin, the brand new P·790 seems to be much more like a participant’s iron.

Up to date loft bundle

TaylorMade says the brand new P·790 is engineered to create extra constant gapping between golf equipment. To that finish, lofts on the brand new mannequin are barely stronger than the earlier model. The notables are that the 7-iron is half a level stronger (now 30 levels) and the 4-iron (now 20) and PW (44) are a level stronger.

It’s the type of static change that may little doubt elicit rage however golf is a dynamic recreation and it’s arduous to know a lot of something till you hit them. Additionally, irons are supposed to be bent so what’s on the spec sheet ought to at all times be handled as the start line.

P·790 continues to be a distance machine, however …

This can be a story about golf golf equipment in order you’d count on, TaylorMade says the brand new P·790 is quicker (and longer).

The elevated velocity comes by the use of a brand new 4340M solid face. The added energy of the fabric allowed TaylorMade engineers to make it thinner (and, by extension, sooner) than the earlier mannequin. Extra velocity equals extra distance with the additional advantage of the velocity being extra constant throughout the face.

Remember the fact that 24-percent bigger candy spot is relative to the fourth-generation P·790. If you happen to’re upgrading from a Gen 2 or Gen 3, the distinction might be even larger.

The problem, arguably the issue, with the participant’s distance class is that the hollow-body designs (together with those full of foam and different assorted goos) are susceptible to scorching spots. I’d wager anybody who has performed a playe’rs distance design has skilled a random nuclear flier that flew 20 yards longer than it ought to have. In my expertise, a 190-yard 7-iron isn’t good for a lot apart from bragging rights (and that’s provided that you allow out the half concerning the white stakes behind the inexperienced).

Whereas I can’t promise that may by no means occur, TaylorMade says P·790’s new face delivers extra constant velocity and launch situations.

Translation: Loads of distance, extra predictability, fewer disagreeable surprises.

The Really feel Issue: What good is velocity if it seems like crap?

Velocity is nice but when an iron feels clunky, sounds skinny or clangs like a metal rubbish pan lid, golfers received’t chunk. Effectively, a few of you’ll, however all of us have our limits.

With each iteration of P·790, TaylorMade has labored to enhance sound and really feel. OG SpeedFoam developed to SpeedFoam Air. The earlier era introduced us individually optimized sound stabilization bars.

The newest iteration builds on these applied sciences with some up to date inner geometries designed to work particularly with the brand new face materials and supply even higher really feel.

Forgiveness with out wanting chunky

For all of the expertise discovered inside P·790, a great little bit of its success out there may be attributed to the stuff you possibly can see. Clear (and infrequently generationally improved) seems to be have at all times been a part of the P·790 story.

That hasn’t modified.

We’ve talked concerning the tweaks to the topline and sole however as was the case with the Qi35 drivers, there are plenty of delicate aesthetic adjustments to P·790 which may go unnoticed.

The P·790 brand has been shifted to the middle which TaylorMade says offers the design a brand new angle. The up to date design contains a Tour satin scratch end with a mirror polish on backbar. The distinction is supposed to subtly recommend perimeter weighting. There’s additionally a little bit of machined texture beneath the brand which I suppose may recommend precision.

As a bundle, the up to date design language is supposed to recommend a design that’s inviting and aspirational. To no small extent, that’s at all times been P·790’s secret sauce.

Ultimate ideas: Who’s it for?

As has at all times been the case, the brand new P·790 ought to work for a variety of gamers from near-scratch golfers to 15-plus handicaps who need distance, forgiveness and one thing kinda like solid really feel in a glossy bundle.

But when we’re being particular:

If you happen to play a game-improvement iron however need one thing extra compact and extra refined, P·790 suits the invoice.

If you happen to’re a single digit searching for additional pop with some forgiveness with out giving up a lot really feel, P·790 is a textbook alternative.

If you happen to’re already a P·790 participant however you need the most recent, better-looking and extra constant model, TaylorMade says that is it.

Backside line: Whereas I’d by no means recommend it’s the best choice for each golfer, the P·790 stays the benchmark participant’s distance iron. The 2025 model is quicker, extra forgiving and better-feeling than evee wll whereas protecting the look and DNA that made it an icon.