TaylorMade P790 irons review

The 2025 TaylorMade P790 pairs a compact, forged-face look with distance and forgiveness. Independent testers rate it among the best players-distance irons.

The 2025 TaylorMade P790 is the latest version of the iron that made "players distance" a category: a hollow-bodied, forged-face iron that looks compact like a better player's club but adds distance and forgiveness. It suits single-figure to mid-handicap golfers, and independent reviewers rate it among the best in its class, with National Club Golfer calling it the market leader. The main caveats are its price, a compact shape that won't suit everyone, and reports of slightly low spin.

How we put this review together: we haven't hit these irons ourselves. This review brings together the maker's specs, Australian pricing and what independent testers have published, with links so you can check them.

At a glance

  • Australian price: $1,675.20 for a 5-PW steel set (six clubs) or $1,954.40 for 4-PW at House of Golf. Drummond Golf lists custom-built P790 irons from $279 per club.
  • Key specs: 7-iron loft of 30°, according to Golfalot. Stock steel shaft is the Nippon Modus 105, with a Mitsubishi Chemical MMT graphite option, according to National Club Golfer.
  • Set options: 4-iron to PW plus an approach wedge.
  • Construction: hollow body filled with SpeedFoam Air, with a forged high-strength face.
  • Release: February 2025, and still the current P790 on Australian shelves.
  • Best for: roughly 5 to 18 handicappers who want distance and help on mishits without a chunky head.

What's new

TaylorMade says the 2025 P790 uses a new ultra-high-strength forged 4340M face that is 20% stronger than before. A stronger face can be made thinner, which TaylorMade says adds speed and enlarges the sweet spot by up to 24%.

Inside the hollow head, SpeedFoam Air supports the face and is meant to improve feel. TaylorMade's "FLTD CG" approach places the centre of gravity low in the long irons for easier launch and higher in the short irons for control, and each head has been tuned individually. Golfalot notes up to 40 grams of tungsten and a sole slot in the long irons.

On looks, the topline is thinner and the TaylorMade logo has moved to the middle of the back, giving a cleaner appearance than the 2023 model. A larger sole radius is meant to smooth turf contact.

What independent testers found

  • Golf Monthly: Golf Monthly's iron tester saw the new model as a refinement of the 2023 version, with the biggest step forward in feel, which the review describes as softer yet more powerful. It also praised the slimmer topline, neater shaping and the new sole. The only con listed was that the more compact address profile won't suit every golfer.
  • National Club Golfer: NCG gave the P790 5 out of 5. The reviewer found the irons launched high and carried 10 to 15 yards further than their own set, averaging 144 yards with a 9-iron, with tight dispersion and roughly 20 yards between the 9-iron, 7-iron and 5-iron. Despite concerns about hollow irons coming off flat and spinless, the reviewer had no trouble stopping the ball on greens over two rounds.
  • Golfalot: Golfalot recorded a 7-iron average carry of 171 yards and spin of about 5,000 rpm, which the review rated as a little low but consistent on mishits. It praised the easy-to-hit long irons and repeatable flight, but said the flight was hard to shape in either direction and the feel was less soft than the P770. It also argued there is little real improvement over recent generations and that the price keeps rising.

The sources agree on distance, launch and forgiveness, but Golfalot thought owners of a recent P790 have little reason to switch.

Who it suits

The P790 suits golfers who strike the ball reasonably well but want help with distance and long irons, and who prefer a slim, forged-looking head at address. Golfalot puts the target range at about 5 to 18 handicap, and NCG suggests it can appeal to golfers anywhere from scratch to 20 handicap.

Who should look elsewhere

Higher handicappers who need maximum forgiveness will likely do better with a game-improvement iron such as the Callaway Quantum Max, which costs less in Australia. Better players who like to shape shots may find the flight too straight. Srixon's ZXi5 is another players-distance option worth comparing, and the first-generation model is often cheaper per club at Australian retailers.

Buying it in Australia

House of Golf sells the P790 in 4-PW and 5-PW steel sets, plus a single approach wedge at $279.20. Drummond Golf lists custom builds in steel and graphite, including ladies' graphite options, and notes that custom orders can take longer to ship. Because lofts are strong, check your gapping with a fitter, especially at the wedge end of the bag.

Visitors on a short golf trip will usually find hiring clubs at the course simpler than travelling with a new set.

The verdict

Based on the published reviews, the 2025 P790 remains one of the benchmark players-distance irons: long, high-launching and forgiving for its size, with improved feel and cleaner looks. Testers' reservations are its price, slightly low spin, a straight flight that limits shot shaping, and a compact head that won't suit high handicappers. For a capable club golfer who wants extra distance from a good-looking iron, the research makes it an easy one to shortlist.

Sources

Photo: DSC 7008 A golfer in a white hat and polo follows through on a swing sending a divot of grass into the air on a sunny course lined with trees by PattayaPatrol, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence), via Wikimedia Commons.