I Hit Every TaylorMade P-Series Iron And Here Is What I Learned…

TaylorMade has long been synonymous with creating some of the best irons in the game. Iconic models such as the Tour Preferred MC and the RAC TP irons are a couple of my personal favorites from the archives, but in more recent times the P-Series has really caught my eye. I decided to put the full range - which comprises the P790, P770, P7CB and P7TW - to the test and see what was on offer in terms of playing characteristics and which type of golfer might benefit from each model.

Looks

In terms of the aesthetic of the P-Series range as a whole, TaylorMade has focused heavily on refining all elements of the clubhead design, creating definitive positions within the range and clearer definitions of how each model relates to one another.

The latest P790 model has had a very classy makeover with a slightly thinned-out topline from previous iterations and an overall cleaner, neater look. Furthermore, the hosel to topline transition has been beautifully smoothed out, which helps to frame the ball at address. Both the P790 and the P770 feature a very premium-looking brushed steel finish, which adds a genuine cohesion to the family.

Speaking of the P770, this model slots in beautifully between P790 and P7CB in terms of size and shaping, being a touch shorter in blade length and with a marginally thinner topline, which will suit those more used to traditional dimensions. It’s subtle, ‘better player’ aesthetic cleverly disguises the game-enhancing technology hiding within.

I may be a touch biased around the P7CB as this is my ‘gamer’ iron, but I genuinely feel it is one of the very best-looking irons in the game right now. From the ‘in the bag’ position, the back cavity is a thing of beauty with its topography, subtly embossed logo and intricate detailing that harks back to many aforementioned TaylorMade's heritage irons. In the playing position, they are equally impressive, framing the ball superbly at address, and are one of the very few sets that I can genuinely say I love each individual iron profile all the way from the 3 to my A wedge.

Finally, the P7TW. This iron is not only a triumph of engineering, but it is also a thing of genuine beauty. Designed for the main man himself, Tiger Woods, this iron has been crafted to his exacting standards, and as you would imagine, the visual results are spectacular. The first thing you notice is the high-gloss chrome finish shining at you from the bag, but upon further inspection, the shaping of the heads might actually be even more eye-catching.

Tiger prefers a slightly more angular, boxed-off toe shaping in his irons, and as such, that is exactly what the P7TW offers, in addition to a slightly longer blade length than many other blades.

Feel

Despite the fantastic looks of the whole family, it might just be in this feel category where I believe the P-Series range truly excels, thanks to some clever engineering.

For example, Tiger only gave the final nod to the design of the P7TW when TaylorMade added small tungsten billets internally directly behind the sweetspot of the irons during the prototyping stage. While I’m sure they felt great without it, this tungsten adds a depth of strike to the P7TW that is truly unique to this iron; somehow, you just feel a little more connected to the shot than with any other blade I have tried.

The P7CB has borrowed a little something from the P7TW playbook. The bulk of the head is a single piece of compact grain forged 1025C steel that has been forged at nearly double the pressure of what is considered ‘industry standard,’ but then TaylorMade has added a plot twist. This single piece of steel is milled out through the sole to create two pockets. Within those pockets, two materials are added: tungsten and a new metal matrix composite material, allowing weight to be freed up and redistributed around the head to increase the effect of perimeter weighting and take more control of the CG positioning. These additions are neatly hidden by adding a forged sole plate back on top before a final visit to the forging press blends everything seamlessly back together. The result is one of the best combinations of solid and soft that I have ever felt from an iron in the player cavity genre.

In truth, the P770 and P790 both feel pretty similar at strike to me, which should be no surprise as the design principles of a hollow body and TaylorMade’s SpeedFoam Air are present in both. Offering a more lively feel than both P7TW and P7CB, the feeling of power and speed is slightly more apparent in both of these designs. One of my personal highlights of both P770 and P790, however, was the attention to detail on the sole radius, which has dramatically improved turf interaction in both cases, which is an underrated factor in determining high-quality feel in my experience.

Performance

Now, it would be a little frivolous to have four irons in a family if they all performed with the same characteristics, so I was keen to see what the launch monitor would tell me when comparing the 6-iron from each set, and I have listed the data in the table below. For context, all four 6-irons were built to the exact same specifications of length, lie angle, shaft, and swing weight, but were all left at their standard factory loft. The P7TW 6-iron is 31˚, both the P7CB and P770 6-irons are 29˚, while the P790 is a good bit stronger at 26.5˚.

Predictably, then, the P790 comfortably produced the longest carry distance, clocking in some eight yards longer than the P770 model. Interestingly, despite launching and spinning lower than both P770 and P7CB, the P790 actually produced a little more in terms of peak height than the other models due to the significant jump in ball speed it was giving me.

The forgiveness across the face was probably the star of the show, however, for the P790, severely flattering some very questionable strikes both in terms of ball speed retention and left-to-right dispersion.

The closest together in terms of the raw data for me were the P7CB and the P770, which is not a huge surprise given the same base loft of these models, and this is something I actually very much liked during my testing as I felt these were the two models that would work best for those looking for a ‘combo’ set. The P770 did just produce a touch more 'pop' at strike and peaked out a touch higher than the P7CB, however. The most notable differences I found between these two models were the slightly livelier feel from P770, along with its marginally better distance results off mishits. Those looking for a slightly more traditional feel would likely gravitate towards the P7CB model and will enjoy some additional feedback at impact if they do so.

The P7TW is a stunning performer, and it is little wonder that it is in the bag of so many other great players besides Woods. World number one Scottie Scheffler, Tommy Fleetwood and Aaron Rai are just a few of the names gaming this very special piece of craftsmanship.

I’ve already covered the feel, which is totally unique to this iron, but I thoroughly enjoyed the performance on offer here too. The conservative 31˚ loft of the 6-iron produced my highest launch number and comfortably my highest spin, resulting in a very healthy peak height of 100 feet on average and a nice steep descent angle, providing some serious stopping power and control upon landing.

Players looking for forgiveness will sadly be looking in the wrong place with P7TW. It is a tool that demands to be struck out of the middle to reap the full rewards of what is on offer, but when you do, it is nothing short of sensational. Those prioritising workability and control over distance and forgiveness will feel like they have hit the jackpot when they try these irons.

The P-Series from TaylorMade might just be the most comprehensive iron family in golf, with something on offer for so many different requirements. It also may be one of the most cohesive iron families in the game, too, with the visuals crossing over beautifully, facilitating a multitude of ‘combo’ options within the range.