2023 TaylorMade P790 Irons Review

Your golf experts: Jordan Fuller & John Marshall.
Updated November 1, 2023. This article was thoroughly audited by multiple golf experts and coaches for its accuracy. You can read more about our rigorous testing protocol here.

As an avid golfer and equipment enthusiast, I’m always eager to test out the latest and greatest irons that come out each year.

The iron category is ultra-competitive, with every major brand trying to woo dedicated players like myself to their new designs.

I’ve hit most of the modern crop of players-distance irons, but few get me as excited as the TaylorMade p790. I previously tested the 2021 p790s and loved the combination of forged feel and distance-enhancing technology.

For this review, I took the redesigned 2023 p790 model out for multiple extensive range sessions and several full rounds to put it through its paces.

I’ll provide an in-depth analysis of key performance criteria like distance, forgiveness, trajectory, feel, workability, and aesthetics.

If you’re searching for a forged players iron that delivers an ideal blend of technology and tradition, this full review of the TaylorMade p790 irons will reveal if the 2023 version is the right fit for your game.


TaylorMade P790 2023 Irons

Best Players Distance Irons for Mid Handicappers

Check Price on Amazon
Check Price on PGA Tour Superstore
Check Price on Global Golf

Specifications (4-PW)

  • Loft: 21°- 45°
  • Lie: 61°- 64°
  • Length: 35.75″-38.5″
  • Weight: D2 (4-9), D3 (PW)

Pros

  • Lower CG design increases launch and carry
  • Back bar improves sound and feel through impact
  • Excellent versatility from any lie
  • Performs well in all weather conditions

Cons

  • Expensive price point
  • Lower ball flight than max game improvement irons

TaylorMade P790 2023 Irons Features

Intelligent Sweet Spot

One of the most impressive upgrades in the 2023 p790s is the forged high-speed face, an incredibly narrow 1.56mm at its thinnest point. This allows for tremendous flex and speed across the entire face.

Combining the premium forged feel with the redesigned internal shaping creates an advanced design that was a true step forward compared to early TaylorMade p790 models.

I noticed that this feature intelligently captures a wider variety of strikes while maintaining both consistent ball speeds and accuracy. Even my few miss-hits that I thought were doomed carried long and straight thanks to the advanced engineering from TaylorMade.

The expanded sweet spot inspires confidence, knowing that slightly off-center hits will still deliver solid distance and performance.

Hollow Body Construction

The hollow forged body gives the TaylorMade p790 irons the right blend of distance and that coveted forged iron feel we all want. The hollow design allows weight to be strategically placed for maximum forgiveness, a really nice feature for the long irons.

An internal sound stabilization bar that works with the SpeedFoam Air injection provides an incredibly soft yet responsive feel. The sensation at impact delivers a smoothness that provides excellent sound and a clean feel.

FLTD CG

The FLTD CG technology was immediately noticeable during my testing of these TaylorMade p790 irons. The center of gravity is positioned low in the long irons for easy launch and high, soaring shots.

As you progress through the set into the short irons, the CG gradually shifts higher and more forward for improved distance control and forgiveness.

This provides precision and versatility on approach shots. The end result is extraordinary playability and performance across the full set.


My In-Depth 2023 TaylorMade P790 Irons Review

Appearance

First, let’s talk about how these irons look straight from the box.

We all know that the p-series of irons are among the best looking on the market, even better than Callaway’s Apex irons, which can look a bit clunky, in my opinion.

So, once I opened the box from TaylorMade, I was immediately floored by how clean, crisp, and dazzling each iron head looks from the cellophane. I have to give these irons a great review based solely on their appearance alone.

Compared to the 2021 version of the p790 irons, I feel like this model is even more streamlined with no fat at all. These irons are straight muscle, even more disciplined in appearance than I expected.

If you are a mid handicapper who wants a forged club look on the course, the p790 irons are well worth your consideration.

Now that we know how they look, I think we’re all wondering how they play.

Playability

Once I got these p790 irons to the range and began hitting them, I felt like they had more pop than the 2021 version. The performance in several areas is better, albeit just slightly in some cases.

One of the biggest upgrades for this version came with improved ball speed. On the launch monitor, I found a few MPH more than the previous version of these TaylorMade p790 irons.

After a few dozen balls on the range, it was time to play my first round with these irons. On the course, my first thoughts were how wonderfully easy they were to play, regardless of whatever lie or situation I found my ball.

Each club provides confidence with mid-range top lines that power the ball from the rough or cleanly pick it from the short grass of the fairway.

The long irons launch high and straight, while the short irons allow for pinpoint control and shot shaping, perfect for holding the green.

Since the scoring irons are stronger lofted, I was worried that spin and accuracy would fall short, but that wasn’t the case with these top-line irons. Not only did I get more distance with each club, but they were forgiving, accurate, and quite easy to hit.

Finally, when it came to distance gapping, I found that the longer irons offered roughly 13-15 yards between each club, while the short and mid irons were more in the 12-yard range.

Balls hit off-center maintained this distance dispersion due to the forgiving nature of the p790 irons.

Couple the accuracy with the forgiveness that TaylorMade p790 irons are known for, and you have a true weapon on the links.

Workability

One of the biggest concerns I had going into testing these TaylorMade p790 irons was whether I could expect the same workability I found with the 2021 model.

And after hitting several hundred shots with these clubs, I was happy to find that these irons could keep my line with precision and speed.

Since I like hitting a baby draw into most greens, I enjoyed the iron set’s ability to provide the forgiveness I needed when the contact wasn’t dead center.

My ball speed didn’t lag on these miss-hits, and even the longer irons performed beautifully when I needed less height, more forgiveness, and generous rollout off the tee.

When it came time to get the golf ball close to the cup, the TaylorMade p790 irons increased spin to produce that impressive stopping power that all players want for their game.

Coupling the spin with their forgiving nature made this TaylorMade iron set quite adept at helping me post really solid numbers on the scorecard.

These golf clubs are ideal for mid-to-low handicap players who want to craft shots with a high range of forgiveness, power, and feel. Each club delivers premium performance on the course and provides exciting ball play straight from the bag.

Sound and Feel

Even though I didn’t have the time for iron fittings with each club in the set, I found that the feel and sound provided by each TaylorMade iron received high marks during my test.

Each ball I struck with these clubs provided that crisp whoosh sound that many weekend warriors want for their game.

When it comes to feel, the TaylorMade p790 irons are so smooth. While I might not go as far as to call them “buttery,” if you do strike the center of the face, these irons minimize vibration and the possibility of harsh feedback.

Even with the longer irons in this set, the feel remained incredibly high during my test sessions for this TaylorMade p790 irons review.

They provide the playability of a player’s distance iron but offer the look and feel of a set that costs twice as much.

A welcome addition to any bag, the TaylorMade p790 irons are absolutely spectacular across the board.


What Do Other Golfers Think?

On PGA Tour Superstore, 175 reviewers gave the p790 irons an average score of 4.8 out of 5 stars. Of the 175 reviews, 160 respondents gave these premium golf clubs 5 out of 5 stars.

What Golfers Like

  • Forged feel and soft, solid impact sensation
  • Clean, compact shape appeals to better players
  • Lightweight feel provides distance and forgiveness
  • Tungsten weighting improves the workability on shots

What Golfers Don’t Like

  • Less offset than game improvement irons
  • Higher launch may negatively impact some players
  • Slightly less feel than traditional forged irons

My Honest Verdict

With its clean, compact shape and forged feel, the TaylorMade P790 irons have been among the most popular irons amongst better players for several years.

This newly updated 2023 version receives several enhancements while keeping the same appealing look and overall design.

After extensive testing, I believe the p790 irons exceeded my expectations and delivered enhanced ball speed along with several noticeable improvements over the 2021 model.

Not surprisingly, TaylorMade has taken an already excellent players iron and, in my opinion, made it even better.

Any mid to low handicap player looking for the forged iron experience with a more forgiving performance will find what they’re looking for with the 2023 TaylorMade p790 irons.