The TaylorMade P790 irons have earned legendary status among serious golfers who want tour-level looks with game-improvement technology hidden inside. Now in their latest 2025 iteration, these irons continue to set the standard for the “players distance” category. I’ve put them through their paces on the range, on the course, and on a launch monitor — and honestly, the hype is mostly justified. Here’s everything you need to know before you drop $1,400 on a set of sticks.

The Best of Both Worlds

What makes the P790 special is its ability to deliver distance and forgiveness while maintaining the compact, clean look that better players demand. It’s the iron set that refuses to compromise.

From address, the P790 looks like a blade — thin topline, minimal offset, clean lines. But inside that beautiful shell lies sophisticated technology that makes these irons remarkably forgiving. If you’ve ever felt the guilt of gaming a fat, chunky game-improvement iron because your ball-striking isn’t quite where you want it, the P790 is TaylorMade’s answer to that existential crisis.
The players distance category has gotten crowded in recent years, but the P790 helped create it. Every competitor — Titleist, Callaway, Mizuno — is essentially chasing what TaylorMade built here. That’s worth acknowledging before we get into the details.

Looks at Address: The Blade Illusion

Let’s talk about something that doesn’t show up in spec sheets but matters enormously to golfers who care: how these look when you’re standing over the ball.
The P790 is one of those rare irons that actually looks better in person than in photos. The topline is thin — not blade-thin, but close enough that a 5-handicapper won’t feel embarrassed. There’s a touch of offset, but it’s conservative enough that it reads as “compact” rather than “game-improvement” at address. The chrome finish catches light cleanly without being flashy.
The sole is a little wider than a true blade, but TaylorMade has shaped it so elegantly that it doesn’t feel chunky behind the ball. Compare this to some players-distance competitors with squared-off, industrial-looking soles, and the P790 looks downright refined.
The verdict: if looking at your irons gives you confidence, the P790 delivers. I never once had that hesitation at address that you get with game-improvement clubs where the cavity back screams “help needed.” These look like irons you earned.

Technology Overview

TaylorMade has packed a lot into this head, and unlike some marketing-speak that amounts to nothing, most of this tech actually does something you can feel and measure.

SpeedFoam Air

The secret weapon of the P790 is SpeedFoam Air — an ultralight urethane foam injected into the hollow body. This foam dampens vibration, improves feel, and supports the thin face for faster ball speeds.

The “Air” designation refers to the new formula’s reduced density — it’s lighter than previous SpeedFoam, allowing TaylorMade to redistribute weight for better performance. The 2025 version has been individually optimized per head using modal analysis, which is a fancy way of saying each iron in the set was tuned differently. The result is consistent feel across the set, not just in the mid-irons where it’s easy to get right.

New 4340M Forged Face

The 2025 P790 debuts a new ultra-high-strength forged face material — 4340M steel — that is 20% stronger than what TaylorMade used in previous generations. That extra strength means they could make the face thinner (faster ball speeds) while simultaneously expanding the sweet spot by up to 24%. In practical terms: more of the face is “hot,” which means off-center hits stay punished less severely.

Thru-Slot Speed Pocket

A flexible slot in the sole allows the face to flex more at impact, increasing ball speed and raising the launch angle. This technology particularly helps on shots struck low on the face — exactly the kind of miss that would kill you with a traditional blade.

Forged Construction

The P790 utilizes a hollow-body forged design — soft 8620 carbon steel body with a forged face. This construction delivers the buttery feel of forged irons with the performance benefits of hollow-body design.

FLTD CG (Floating Center of Gravity)

New for 2025, TaylorMade uses progressively positioned tungsten weights to tune each iron’s center of gravity individually. The long irons get a lower CG for easier launch and height, while the scoring irons (8-PW) get a higher CG for better spin control and the precision you need on approach shots. It’s a meaningful improvement over applying a single CG solution across the whole set — and you can feel it, particularly in the 4 and 5 iron.

Performance Testing

I spent three separate range sessions with the P790s — two on a Trackman and one full on-course round — before writing this. Numbers without context are worthless, so here’s what I actually found.

Distance Results

Testing the

TaylorMade Golf 2025 P790 Irons 4-PW Steel Shaft Stiff Right Handed

on a launch monitor revealed impressive numbers:

Club	Carry	Total	Launch	Spin
7-iron	172 yds	181 yds	18.2°	5,850 rpm
6-iron	184 yds	194 yds	17.1°	5,200 rpm
5-iron	195 yds	207 yds	15.8°	4,600 rpm

These distances are 10-15 yards longer than traditional player’s irons. That’s the whole point of the players distance category. What’s notable is the spin numbers — they’re high enough to hold greens without ballooning. Some distance irons launch too high with too little spin and end up being useless into firm greens. The P790 doesn’t have that problem.
One thing worth noting: TaylorMade does use strong lofts here. The 7-iron is 30.5°, which is more like a 6.5-iron in old money. If you’re gapping with older irons, rebuild your distance chart from scratch. Our guide to the best irons for mid-handicappers covers how to think about loft gapping in detail.

Forgiveness Assessment

The hollow-body construction pays dividends on mishits:
Toe strikes: Lost only 6 yards (excellent)
Heel strikes: Lost only 8 yards (very good)
Thin shots: Lost only 10 yards (exceptional)
For irons that look this good at address, this level of forgiveness is remarkable. I hit a toe-side 7-iron that I thought was sailing into the right bunker and it held its line and carried 165 yards. That’s not a miss you feel good about, but it’s one you survive.

Trajectory and Control

The P790 produces a mid-high trajectory with adequate spin for stopping power. I found approaches from 150-180 yards holding greens consistently — a real concern with some distance irons that launch too high with too little spin.
Workability is solid but honest. I could hit a controlled draw or fade on command, and the ball moved predictably. These aren’t blade-level workable — if you’re a shot-shaper who needs to work the ball hard both directions, you may want to look at something like the P770 or a true forged players iron. But for 90% of approach shots where you just want it to go at the flag, the P790 is extremely well-behaved.

Feel and Sound

This is where the P790 genuinely surprised me. With a hollow body, you’d expect the feedback of a tin can. That’s not what happens.

Impact produces a satisfying, soft thud that belies the hollow construction. A pure center strike feels genuinely similar to a quality forged blade — there’s that familiar “melt through” sensation where the club and ball seem to stay connected for a split second longer. The SpeedFoam Air does real work here: it eliminates the metallic buzz that cheaper hollow-body irons produce while still letting you feel the difference between a flush strike and a toe hit.
Sound is muted and premium — a low, solid “thwack” rather than a harsh click or hollow ping. Compared to the previous P790 generation, the 2025 version is noticeably quieter and more solid-sounding. Playing partners commented on it unprompted. That’s a good sign.
Mishit feedback is also honest without being punishing. You’ll know you missed the sweet spot, but it won’t rattle your hands. That’s exactly the balance you want in an iron at this level — enough feedback to improve, not so much that bad shots are miserable.

Set Configuration and Gapping

The P790 offers flexible configurations:

• Standard set: 5-PW
• Full set: 4-PW, AW
• Individual clubs: Available for customization

The long irons deserve special mention. The 4-iron is genuinely usable — I was hitting it with the same confidence as my 7-iron, which never happens with a traditional players iron 4-iron. The FLTD CG does its job in those longer clubs. If you’ve been using a hybrid to fill the gap, the P790 4-iron might actually change that calculation.
However — and this is important — you need to re-gap your wedges when you put P790s in the bag. The pitching wedge is 45°, and if your lowest wedge is a 50° gap wedge, you’ve got a 5-degree gap at the bottom of the bag that will cost you shots. Check out our wedge guide for how to build a gapping system that actually works with strong-lofted iron sets.

Shaft Options

TaylorMade offers quality shaft selections across price points:

Steel Options

• KBS Tour Lite — Lightweight, higher launch, great for moderate swing speeds
• True Temper Dynamic Gold — Classic tour feel, lower launch, firm tip section
• Project X LZ — Low launch, low spin, suits fast swingers who want control

Graphite Options

• Mitsubishi MMT — Lightweight performance, suitable for senior golfers or those with joint issues
• UST Recoil — Maximum vibration dampening, smooth feel throughout

Most mid-handicappers will do best with the KBS Tour Lite in Regular or Stiff flex. The Dynamic Gold is excellent if you’re a strong ball-striker who doesn’t need the distance help — it gives you more feedback and a lower, more penetrating flight. Get custom fit before you commit; the wrong shaft in a good head is still the wrong club.

Who Should Buy This

Let’s be direct about who this iron is actually built for, because buying the wrong category of iron is one of the most expensive mistakes in golf.
The P790 is the right iron if you’re a 5-to-15 handicap who makes reasonably consistent contact and wants to stop feeling like you’re gaming equipment meant for someone with a much higher handicap. It’s also ideal for the low-handicapper who’s getting older and wants to hold onto their distances without switching to a cavity back that looks embarrassing in the bag.

The P790 is a great fit if you:

• Hit the center of the face 60-70% of the time or better
• Want to look like a good golfer at address, not like you need training wheels
• Are transitioning from game-improvement irons and want something that rewards improving ball-striking
• Value feel and feedback alongside raw performance
• Play on courses where stopping power on approach shots matters
• Want consistent gapping from 4-iron through pitching wedge

Think twice if you:

• Shoot above 90 regularly and chunk irons occasionally — the best game-improvement irons will serve you better and cost less
• Are a single-digit player who shapes every shot aggressively — consider the P770 or a proper blade
• Are price-sensitive — at $1,400, this is a serious investment, and last year’s P790 can be found for 30-40% less
• Already play TaylorMade P770s or SIM2 blades and are happy with them — the P790 is a step toward forgiveness, not away from it

Pros and Cons

After extensive testing, here’s the honest breakdown:

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Tour-level aesthetics at address — thin topline, minimal offset, clean sole	Premium price point ($1,399 for 4-PW) — one of the most expensive sets in the category
Exceptional distance — 10-15 yards over traditional player’s irons without sacrificing spin	Strong lofts require full re-gapping of wedges — adds cost and hassle
Outstanding feel from SpeedFoam Air — muted, solid, premium impact sensation	Not as workable as true player’s irons — shot-shapers may feel constrained
Impressive forgiveness for a compact iron — mishits stay in play	Minimal offset may not suit higher handicappers who rely on it to square the face
FLTD CG technology creates meaningful performance differences through the set	4-iron and 5-iron demand decent ball-striking ability to use effectively
Excellent shaft options available at custom fitting	Custom fitting adds cost (typically $100-150 for a fitting session)
Long irons are genuinely playable — the 4-iron doesn’t require a PhD in golf to hit	Previous generation (2021/2023 P790) performs similarly at significantly lower cost

Competitive Analysis

The players-distance category is genuinely competitive right now, which is good news for golfers. Here’s how the P790 stacks up against its closest rivals.

P790 vs Titleist T350

The

Titleist Golf Club T350 3G 5-PW Iron Set Regular Steel New

offers similar players-distance performance with marginally more workability and a slightly softer feel at impact. If you’re a shot-shaper who works the ball both ways regularly, the T350 is worth a serious look. If raw distance and performance on off-center hits is your priority, the P790 comes out ahead. TaylorMade also wins on shaft selection and customization options.

P790 vs Callaway Apex Pro

The

Callaway 2024 Apex Pro Iron Sets, 4-PW, Steel, Stiff, Standard

provides comparable forgiveness with an AI-optimized variable face thickness. Performance numbers are very close on a launch monitor. The Apex Pro has a slightly larger appearance at address — some will prefer it, others won’t. At similar price points, this really does come down to brand preference and which one feels better in your hands at a fitting session. Don’t skip the fitting.

P790 vs Mizuno Pro 245

The

Mizuno Pro 245 Golf Iron Set | Steel Right Hand | 8 pcs 4-GW (8X4G) | RH/Steel/Stiff

is the iron you buy when feel is non-negotiable. Grain Flow Forged Chromoly with copper underlay delivers a sensation that Mizuno loyalists describe in almost romantic terms — and they’re not wrong. The Pro 245 is genuinely beautiful at address and incredibly satisfying to hit. But the P790 gives up very little in feel while adding meaningful distance, especially in the long irons. If you can live without being a Mizuno person, the P790 is the more versatile iron.

Price and Value

At $1,399.99 for a 4-PW set, the TaylorMade P790 irons command premium pricing. Is the investment justified?

For golfers who will use these irons 2-3 times per week and genuinely appreciate both the performance and the aesthetics, yes. These are irons you’ll enjoy looking at and hitting for years. The 2025 technology improvements — the 4340M face and FLTD CG — are real upgrades, not marketing fluff.
Budget-conscious golfers should seriously consider the 2021 or 2023 P790 generation, which offer near-identical performance at 30-40% less now that the 2025 model has launched. The new face material is faster, but if you’re a 12-handicap, you’ll be hard-pressed to feel the difference on-course.

Fitting Recommendations

The P790 responds well to proper fitting. This isn’t a set you should buy off the rack and assume is right. Key considerations:

• Lie angle: Critical for accuracy — even 1-2 degrees off will push your misses in a consistent direction. Get measured.
• Shaft weight and profile: Match to your swing tempo and transition, not just swing speed
• Shaft flex: Based on iron swing speed — most mid-handicappers swing between 75-90 mph at a 7-iron
• Length: Standard or ±0.5″ based on height and posture at address
• Grip size: More important than most golfers realize — affects face angle and shot shape

A TaylorMade custom fitting typically costs $100-150 and is credited back on purchase at many retailers. It pays for itself the first time you don’t stripe a 7-iron 15 yards left because your lie angle was wrong.

Final Verdict

The TaylorMade P790 irons are as good as advertised — and in a world full of overpromising equipment, that’s genuinely refreshing to write.

They look like irons a single-digit player would bag. They feel like forged irons at impact. They perform like clubs built for someone who wants every possible yard without sacrificing the ability to hold a green. The 2025 4340M face and FLTD CG system are genuine improvements over the previous generation — more distance in the long irons, better spin control in the scoring irons.
If you’re a 5-15 handicap who’s been on the fence about whether to trade in your game-improvement set for something that better matches your improving game, the P790 is one of the best answers to that question you can buy right now. Get fitted, sort your wedge gapping, and enjoy the best-looking irons in the players-distance category.

⭐ Rating: 4.8 / 5

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Looking for more options? Browse our complete iron buying guide for mid-handicappers, or check out how these P790s compare in our full TaylorMade irons lineup review.