TaylorMade P790 Fit Guide: Who Should Play P790 Irons?
TaylorMade P790 is best understood as a players-distance iron concept: a cleaner shape than a traditional game-improvement iron, with more help than a compact players cavity or blade.
This guide is not a current-stock product page. ParWest does not currently have a standard active P790 set listed online, so use this article to decide whether the P790 category is worth testing rather than treating it as an inventory promise.
What type of golfer should test P790?
P790 makes the most sense for golfers who want:
- A more compact look than a large game-improvement iron.
- Distance help without moving into a very large head.
- A players-distance profile rather than a traditional blade.
- Enough speed and strike consistency to create usable launch with stronger-lofted designs.
Handicap is not the deciding factor
A 7-handicap and a 15-handicap can both fit into players-distance irons for different reasons. Handicap reflects the entire game, not just iron striking.
Pay more attention to strike, launch, descent angle, carry consistency, and dispersion.
See which iron category fits your handicap →
Signs P790-style irons may fit you
- You strike the middle of the face reasonably often.
- You want a cleaner topline and shape without giving up all forgiveness.
- You create enough launch to hold greens.
- You prefer a stronger, more penetrating players-distance flight.
- You want to blend distance with a more compact address profile.
Signs you should test something more forgiving
- Your main miss is low on the face and you struggle to maintain carry.
- Your 5- and 6-irons fly too low to hold greens.
- Your strike pattern is very wide heel-to-toe.
- You care more about protecting poor swings than compact shaping.
In those cases, compare current game-improvement options such as the Srixon ZXiR or Mizuno JPX 925 Hot Metal.
P790 vs game-improvement irons
Game-improvement irons generally use larger profiles, wider soles, and more visible offset to protect mishits and help launch. P790-style players-distance irons aim for a cleaner shape while still providing speed and forgiveness.
The correct choice is not the prettier head. It is the head that produces the better average shot pattern.
Read Game Improvement vs Players Distance →
P790 vs compact players irons
A compact players cavity or blade may offer a more traditional shape and flight control, but it usually asks more from strike quality. If your P790-style test already produces more height and carry consistency without hurting dispersion, moving smaller may not improve your scoring.
What shaft should you use in P790?
Do not choose from driver swing speed or handicap alone. Iron shaft fitting depends on:
- Shaft weight.
- Tempo and transition.
- Launch and spin.
- Strike location.
- Feel over a full set.
There is no universal “P790 shaft.” Test the head with multiple weights and profiles.
What to measure in a P790 fitting
| Metric | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Carry distance | Shows usable distance, not rollout |
| Carry consistency | Reveals how costly mishits are |
| Peak height | Shows whether flight is high enough |
| Descent angle | Helps predict stopping power |
| Dispersion | Shows the actual scoring pattern |
| Strike location | Shows whether the shape and shaft help center contact |
Should you blend the set?
Possibly. A golfer may like a players-distance short and mid iron but need a more forgiving long-iron replacement. A hybrid, high-launch iron, or more forgiving 4- and 5-iron can create a better top-of-set transition.
What should you compare against P790?
Compare at least one iron from the category above and below it:
- A game-improvement iron for maximum protection.
- A players-distance iron like P790.
- A compact players cavity if your strike supports it.
That gives you context instead of testing P790 in isolation.
P790 fitting FAQ
Can a 15 handicap play P790?
Yes, if strike and launch are good enough. Handicap alone does not rule it out.
Is P790 a blade?
No. It belongs in the players-distance category rather than a traditional blade category.
Should a high handicapper play P790?
Only if testing shows it protects the golfer’s normal miss well enough. Many high-handicap players will perform better with a larger game-improvement head.
Should I order P790 without fitting?
You can, but shaft weight, length, lie, and set makeup matter enough that testing is worthwhile before a high-dollar iron purchase.
Bottom line
P790 is worth testing if you want a players-distance shape and already create enough strike and launch to use it. Compare it against a more forgiving model and let the full shot pattern—not the badge—decide.
Next step:
Book an iron fitting · Shop current irons · Compare iron categories
How to compare a players-distance iron fairly
Use the same golf ball, similar shaft weight, and the same launch-monitor environment. If one head is tested with a light graphite shaft and another with a heavy steel shaft, you may be comparing builds more than heads.
Hit enough shots to see the normal miss. Then remove obvious outliers and compare averages. The best-fitting players-distance iron should give you useful speed without creating a flight that is too low or a dispersion pattern that is too wide.
What about long-iron gapping?
Stronger-lofted players-distance sets can create impressive 7-iron numbers, but the long irons still need enough height. If the 4- or 5-iron flies too flat, a hybrid or higher-launch iron can be the better top-of-set solution.
What if you love the P790 look but need more help?
That is exactly why you should test an adjacent game-improvement model. If the larger head produces similar distance with better carry consistency and dispersion, the scoring advantage may outweigh the cleaner look.
