Need Help: JPX 919 Forged or P790

[2012heel]

Had a fitting this week and tried everything except T200. Started playing 7 years ago and have played 714 AP1 with DG x100 for the past 5 years. Was a 9 three years ago, currently a 13.7 and improving because I’m getting to play more. Tired of hitting a pure game improvement iron that is so blocky and mutes feel.

After fitting, shaft is locked in on DG 120 x100. During testing, 7i swing speed ranged from 94.5-96.5. But having a difficult time deciding between 919 and p790. I’m a lefty, btw, so fewer mizuno options available.

p790- fitter recommended these. 175-185 carry, 18-19 degree launch angle, 6500-6900 spin. Tighter dispersion, appeared to provide more feedback on mishits without penalizing distance. Like the reduce offset, which I think will help mitigate pulls (realize this is a swing path issue more than club), which along with toe drop at impact causing a toe hit (from raising my hands at impact I think, getting 1 degree upright), is my most common miss. Like the look at address. Distance was 5yds better than 919, but I don’t really need it. The feel, however, was not as good as 919. I’m also concerned about gapping and the “hot spot.” I had an outlier 7i carry 194, which really made no sense and made me wonder about the “hot spot.” The flight was more penetrating, which I like because I can hit the AP1 too high with all of the bottom weighting, but I’m not used to it so I don’t know if it’s too low? Any concern about holding green with 18 degree launch and 6500 spin? Would spin go up when using a tour ball rather than a range ball? Turf interaction was also interesting. I can dig at times and with the 7i I was barely taking a divot. This was interesting and I think may help with consistency of strike and speed through the ball. Gapping in the longer clubs is fine because I already hit 7i 175-180. But Im concerned about gapping in the shorter clubs. Currently play a ap1 44 pw, 48 set gw, and then 52, 56, 60. Side note: even though it’s a “players distance iron,” It’s crazy to me that I’m “moving up” to more of a performance iron and the 7i loft is 1.5 degrees stronger than my ap1. Unfortunately, I was only able to hit the 7i so I don’t know how far the 45 degree PW will carry. My plan would be to get a 50 degree, bend a new wedge to 55, and keep my 60. Hopefully 45/50/55/60 would work, but there will definitely be a bigger gap between pw and gw than what I’m used to.

919 forged: better feel, club head size more similar to what I currently play, more similar ball flight (higher) to what I currently play, divot more similar to what I currently play (still smaller), more traditional lofts that should help with gapping in the shorter clubs, cheaper by about $300 (though not a big deal). I also read that these may be more forgiving on toe hits based on how they’re built? Directional dispersion was not as good. Maybe a product of being more workable and an inconsistent swing? Read that mizuno may release new JPX in the fall, should I just wait even though that will mitigate any savings on these?

Interested to hear everyone’s thoughts. Current thought is to contact the fitter to see if I can get a 2-week performance warranty on the 919, and use the $300 savings to get new 50 and 55 degree vokeys. If I don’t like the 919, return them and get the p790s.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Jeff58]

What were the conditions where you had 6500 spin with a 7 iron? Off mats with range balls?

[2012heel]

Yes, mats with range balls. Hit 75% of shots out of a covered bay into the range. Hit 25% on the grass, but no data for those.

[bubbagump]

Walking away from hitting both, which one did you initially prefer?

[2012heel]

I honestly don’t know, which is why I’m struggling so much. I think if I could have hit through the bag, or at least pw and 4, I would know. Maybe the 919 just because of the feel, but the fitter thought I had better performance with the p790. Of course I a hit it further because it’s 1.5 degrees stronger, so that doesn’t matter. I think he liked the tighter dispersion and more piercing ball flight of the p790. I also made the mistake of going in excited about the p790 based on everything I had read, so I’m not sure if that’s still influencing me.

[Jeff58]

The P790’s ‘thing’ is that it’s high launch / low spin. My 7 iron spin is 4800-5000, but that’s with V1’s. It may be physically possible to produce 7000 rpm with a range ball, and I can’t obviously see your swing. Either the LM is producing poor data, or you’re really attacking the ball with your hands....

Either way -

The idea of a hot spot is a myth. To produce the ‘Mystery Jumper’, setup with your weight about 70% on the front foot, take the club back inside like you want to hit a draw, buy hold the back of your hand square to the target at impact. What’s happening is that the face flex is tied to the loft, and there is an expectation that the ball will slide up the face to some degree, depending on loft. If you remove enough loft, and the club head path is close to in-line with the flight path, you turn the iron into a mini-driver and it goes a long way indeed. It’s a great shot into the wind and well worth practicing.

The P790’s are kind of three sets in one. They’re not unique in this regard. The 4-6 are conventional in flight. The 8-P are designed to launch high, spin low, and go far. For the player who actually needs the distance boost, these clubs can be a huge advantage over conventional models. The 7 iron, which of course is what you get to demo, is all about distance.

The problem for those with high swing speeds is that they need a stiff/low launch shaft to keep the shorter iron’s trajectory under control. The result is that they go a long way, then don’t have enough height or spin to hold greens. Also, as you noticed, if your PW is going 140 yards, you end up with half a bag of wedges to make up for the gapping.

You may be super happy with P790’s, certainly many are. I’m sorely tempted to go to a mix of 919 Forged and Tours after two years with them personally.

[NHPingfan]

My fitting came down to 919 Hot metal pro versus 919 Forged. Went with hot metal but part of me wishes forged to help with distance control on short irons. Also might be easier for pitches. Ball rockets off the face

[bubbagump]

Gotya. Well both sets, are quality and well liked across most reviews so you cant go wrong. Id vote the Forgeds, because I have the 900s and they have been nothing short of amazing and hit on every tick on the checklist.

[2012heel]

Thank you for the thoughtful response. So you’ve been playing p790 awhile and are considering a switch to the 919? Have you tested the 919? If not, is that what’s holding you back from the switch?

[2012heel]

Thank you. Yeah, I’m probably overthinking this. At my skill level, any difference between the two is likely negligible.

[bubbagump]

Thats the thing too. If the better #s with the 790s are noticeable and somewhat a wide margin.....you should go with them for sure. But if the difference is more minor, and you prefer the feel of the 919 then go with them because fitted right, they are likely more similar numbers to each other where it could just come down to looks/feel which is totally subjective and your call. Not to mention, that extra 300 you save could round out your set with some wedges/hybrids/fws or greens fees or something which is an extra incentive.

[LukeDonaldsTiger]

I’ve been carefully watching my 13 hcp buddy use his P790’s (1st version) in different scenarios, because I have the exact opposite iron designs in my bag and it’s interesting to compare.

What I’m seeing over and over is, he has added impressive distance and height in the shorter clubs, but is struggling with holding greens from the 7i up. He told me it’s one more thing he has to worry about, trying to land balls in front of greens with a short pin. But he can’t stop using them because they are so darn long and forgiving.

I like my irons to be more traditional, they are very reliable and front to back dispersion is small. But I have to hit them well and straight.

I think the 919’s are in between these philosophies, and the left/right dispersion is due to easier workability, which can be a hindrance.

Maybe this is useful input. Whatever you decide, both are great irons! Choose the ones that fit your playing style better, but first try and hit more than the 7i’s and off grass, even without a Trackman.

[bogeypro]

I say 919. They are really hard to beat. I find that performance irons just means distance. They usually do that with lower spin. At some point, you have to start worrying about holding greens.

[Jeff58]

You’re not overthinking it, you’re thinking about it correctly. They will make a difference, and the differences will increase in actual play.
I’d agree with @LukeDonaldsTiger . If you don’t need the additional distance, and it doesn’t seem that you do, you’ll likely have less variability with the 919’s. Since your skill level is moderate, the level of variation will likely be greater than a more consistent ball striker as well. That’s what I’d do anyway.

[cardoustie]

I have both and 919t by a mile. Loft to loft they are just as long. For me, way better feel, and way better on thin and toe misses. Toe on 790 is atrocious.

the 790 set for me is not as good thru the turf on tighter lies either ... ymmv

offloading my 790’s ... gen 2.

[LeftyMatt24]

I haven’t hit the p790 except for a quick demo day, but I’m really liking my 919 forged and I’m a fellow lefty. I was using Srixon z765 and loved it but wanted a little more forgiveness for when I was not having a great day.

 

If you like the feel it makes it worth it, also lots of grip choices with Mizuno so that could save you even more money if you wanted something like a zgrip, mcc or mcc+4 align.

i went with hot metal in 4 and 5 and probably only should’ve done the 4. It’s my 225 club so I wanted as much forgiveness as possible. If you like the forged they are great irons and I find them a great middle ground from a players cavity and game improvement.

[hammergolf]

I’ve hit both. I preferred the Mizuno and it wasn’t close. Felt better, spun more, and the deviation in spin and carry yardage were much better.

[2012heel]

Thanks for all of the help! Pulled the trigger on the 919. Will update after I get them and am able to play a bit with them. Also, after I purchased them, I came across this article which validated the decision and the analysis throughout this thread (think they tested 2017 p790 though): mygolfspy.com/2019-most-wanted-players-distance-iron/

 

 

[dko683]

I also debated between the p790 and jpx 919 forged. Purchased the 919 Forged and love it. Distance was similar with the same lofted irons but the 919 had a tighter dispersion.