Before the P790, golfers generally had to choose one or the other: a forged players iron with real feel and workability, or a game-improvement iron with real distance and forgiveness. The P790 was TaylorMade's answer to that trade-off, and it's remained one of the most searched-for, most requested iron sets on the used market ever since.

Multiple release years (2017, 2019, 2021, 2023) have refined the formula, but the core idea hasn't changed: a hollow forged body that gives you distance a traditional players iron can't match, without the hollow, tinny feel that usually comes with it.

The TechnologyWhat Actually Makes the P790 Different

The P790 is a hollow-body forged iron. The body and face are forged from soft carbon steel using TaylorMade's Grain Flow Forging process, which is what gives it the soft, buttery feel players usually associate with a traditional blade or muscleback iron. But because the head is hollow rather than solid, TaylorMade could build a thinner, more flexible face for real ball speed and distance, something a traditional forged iron simply can't do.

The hollow cavity is filled with SpeedFoam Air, a lightweight polymer foam injected behind the face. It does two jobs at once: it dampens vibration so the strike still sounds and feels forged rather than hollow and tinny, while barely adding any weight that would otherwise need to come from somewhere else in the head.

Which GenerationDo the Release Years Matter?

Every P790 generation keeps the same hollow-forged-plus-SpeedFoam formula, with incremental refinements to sole grind, weighting and face flexibility each release. The differences between generations are real but modest, and condition matters more than release year when buying used. A well-cared-for 2019 set with fresh grooves will outperform a worn 2023 set every time.

What matters more is the shaft. P790 sets show up with everything from lightweight graphite to full Dynamic Gold steel, so match the shaft weight and flex to your swing before worrying about which release year you've found.

Who It SuitsIs the P790 Right for Your Bag?

The P790 suits players who want to keep the look, sound and feel of a forged players iron without giving up the distance and forgiveness of a game-improvement set. It's a genuine step up from a pure game-improvement iron for better ball strikers, and a realistic upgrade path for mid-handicappers who've outgrown a super game-improvement set but aren't ready for a traditional blade.

If you strike the ball consistently and want maximum workability over any extra forgiveness, a traditional forged players iron will still give you more feedback and shot-shaping control than the P790.

FAQCommon Questions

Is the TaylorMade P790 good for mid-handicappers? Yes. It's built specifically to bridge forged feel and game-improvement distance, which suits mid-handicappers who want more forgiveness than a traditional players iron offers.

What is SpeedFoam Air? A lightweight polymer foam injected into the hollow iron body behind the face. It dampens vibration for a soft, forged feel and sound while adding minimal weight.

Does the release year matter when buying used? Less than condition does. All P790 generations share the same core hollow-forged design, so a well-cared-for older set will often outperform a worn newer one.