P790 - talk me out of them (maybe?)

[anth]

Hey

I know I'm late to the party on the P790 but what can I expect coming from the ZX5 Mark II.  I don't need new irons and the ZX5 are fine but I'm in a little bit of a funk at the moment and looking to shake things up a bit.  Been playing some form of Srixon irons since the OG Z 545, so that's nearly 10 years...

 

I haven't played TM irons since the rac MB way back when.  Fond memories and feeling kind of nostalgic lately.  I like what TM are doing with their designs lately but I think I'm past blades.  Current handicap is 4, I'm in my late 40's and not getting any longer off the tee.  I like the sleek appearance of the P790 and the apparent forgiveness.

 

Will go for the Recoil 90 Dart (currently play the OG Recoil 95).  I notice though that lot's of sets come with MMT 75?  Seems very light...

 

 

[1puttTUT]

MP 245's check all those boxes and feel better imo

[R.Patrick]

P770 are easy to hit and look better.

[lefty74pgh]

I’m in a similar situation. Currently playing Z585, but looking for  new set with graphite shafts. Probably going to be Mizuno 245 or Wilson Dynapower Forged.

Edited Tuesday at 12:52 PM by lefty74pgh

[anth]

Don’t disagree that the 770 look nicer but I suspect they are more like the ZX7. I don’t want to go backwards in forgiveness 

[Cellis]

46 minutes ago, 1puttTUT said:

MP 245's check all those boxes and feel better imo

I second this. I also have to believe at your handicap you have been playing for awhile and enjoy feel. Feel is subjective but P790 just don't sound like something you would fall in love with. I would say try 245 and then even the new T200 if you are chasing a bit more distance and forgiveness. 

[PPhil]

Check out the Maltby TS4

 

true forged and the feel and forgiveness is incredible, they perform really well through the turf

[Avidswampthing66]

Before making that purchase, I urge to check out the Ping i530 member testing thread.   Best in class if you ask me.

[touch]

No, instead I will talk you into them. 🙂 I've have had my P790's with Recoils in the bag for two years and I could not be happier. I highly recommend that iron and shaft combination. Just get the model shaft in the weight that you prefer and I say you will be very pleased.  Go for it. 

 

If it is of any help.......I am 60 years old with a 77 mph 7 iron swing speed and am currently a 6.2 index. I have played the game for 45 years. 

 

 

 

 

[Binson]

If you're getting them new, hopefully you'll test a few models before you buy.  Otherwise, it's pretty much just a shot in the dark. 

[TLEH]

I had some of the original P790s and they were so hot. The distance was cool but the feel wasn't there and I didn't like them.

Edited Tuesday at 01:36 PM by TLEH

[blades_are_life]

1 hour ago, anth said:

Don’t disagree that the 770 look nicer but I suspect they are more like the ZX7. I don’t want to go backwards in forgiveness 

The 770s are game improvement like the 790s while the ZX7 are players CB.

[dmeeksDC]

24 minutes ago, blades_are_life said:

The 770s are game improvement like the 790s while the ZX7 are players CB.

I wouldn’t call the 770s game improvement but I agree they are a lot easier to hit than the ZX7 overall, but mainly due to long irons.
 

The 770 has a much thinner sole and overall look and I like them more for that reason. I honestly noticed no performance difference between the 770 and ZX7 in the short irons except to me the ZX7 short irons look bulky. Indeed, I like the Z Forged II short irons the most and am currently playing those with 770 long irons. The 770 long irons are shockingly easy to launch despite soles that are much thinner than most competitors. 

[kwcsports]

Had them and sold them quickly. Inconsistent distances for me. Out of the blue I'd hit one flush 15 yds long, happened maybe twice a round. Probably me just finding the center occasionally but it got in my head and I got rid of them haha. 

[rx1232]

Pretty hard to talk you out of ZX5s. You could always opt to switch out your ZX5 shafts, or even the grips. Makes a difference, can make old clubs look and feel like new. Go to a fitter and say you only want a shaft fitting, then come back to BST and find some 🙂 .   OR get the new Black ZX5 MKii's!

Edited Tuesday at 02:43 PM by rx1232

[Mike_C]

1 hour ago, PPhil said:

Check out the Maltby TS4

 

true forged and the feel and forgiveness is incredible, they perform really well through the turf

I'm playing the TS4s in 6-PW, love them, but if you are in the mood for P790s you need to look at the TS1 IMs.   TS4s are incredibly forgiving for a blade, but I think the TS1 IMs take it to another level...... But you can't go wrong with either, or the TS3s for that matter......  I think all three heads are perhaps the best bang for your buck irons out today, as you say, feel is incredible and just drop dead gorgeous too....

[teedub21]

Keep the Srixons. I know this is golf WRX but i don’t think the P790’s are a step up. 

[Glock917]

I only have the p790 in a 5 iron bent 3* weak and must say I quite like it at that spot. Would I do this for the rest of my set? Most likely not especially the lower irons but its been a nice addition. 

[blades_are_life]

On 6/25/2024 at 4:20 PM, dmeeksDC said:

I wouldn’t call the 770s game improvement but I agree they are a lot easier to hit than the ZX7 overall, but mainly due to long irons.
 

The 770 has a much thinner sole and overall look and I like them more for that reason. I honestly noticed no performance difference between the 770 and ZX7 in the short irons except to me the ZX7 short irons look bulky. Indeed, I like the Z Forged II short irons the most and am currently playing those with 770 long irons. The 770 long irons are shockingly easy to launch despite soles that are much thinner than most competitors. 

my heuristic is simple: hollow body = game improvement

 

Agree re: the Zx7s vs Z Forged II. I couldn't stand the former when I tried them.

[philly2kuk]

When I was fit in Feb it came down to zx5 or p790. I hit both very well, the sole of the p790 just suited me better.

 

 I didn’t find a lot of difference between these two irons so I doubt you’ll find a big difference yourself UNLESS you were fit for the wrong specs originally or have changed your spec needs since getting them. Just my opinion.

[LBB]

On 6/25/2024 at 2:34 AM, anth said:

Don’t disagree that the 770 look nicer but I suspect they are more like the ZX7. I don’t want to go backwards in forgiveness 

What exactly are you looking for in terms of forgiveness?  Going to a hollow body iron can increase ball speeds, increase launch angle, and reduce spin, but that doesn't always mean tighter dispersion pattern...especially if you already have decent club head and ball speed to go along with consistent ball striking. 

 

I get it...as we age, help with distance is a plus, but it does come with some drawbacks.  There's a reason you don't have a full set of hybrids to replace your irons...at a certain point more ball speed and forgiveness on off center strikes doesn't mean lower scores.  Everyone has a line they cross where technology to have a hotter face, less spin, and higher launch does provide scoring benefits, but I wouldn't just automatically make the assumption that more forgiving irons are actually more forgiving unless there is a specific reason your current irons are no longer optimal.

 

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 09:41 PM by LBB

[EKB]

I got back into the game during Covid after a 25 year hiatus.  My playing partners all played the original 790s.  For some reason, I have never been able to get along with them.  I played them side-by-side with the 770s both with the KBS C-Taper Lites for a season and while the 770s were a bit shorter, every other shot characteristic was better with the 770s (including forgiveness).
 

Fast forward to this year, I felt the irrational urge to try new irons and hit just about everything in the players distance category (770s, 790s, 230s, 530s, 923s, Apex Pros, and the Mizuno 245s).  The Mizunos (with Project X IOs) are in the bag but I will also be keeping the 770s.  The 245s are a club longer than the 770s (difference in lofts), fly higher but spin less).  Still not sure why the 790s didn’t click for me, must be operator error.

 

 

[doctor220]

On 6/25/2024 at 10:33 AM, kwcsports said:

Had them and sold them quickly. Inconsistent distances for me. Out of the blue I'd hit one flush 15 yds long, happened maybe twice a round. Probably me just finding the center occasionally but it got in my head and I got rid of them haha. 

It’s because they are too low spin. Ie why “ distance “ irons are a fundamentally bad concept. 

[DoughBack18]

I had Srixon Z785’s and had gotten to a point where I just wasn’t playing well and wanted more forgiveness. Bought the 2022 p790’s to fit that bill. I played them for a little over a year until I moved back to the z785’s which are still in the bag.

 

The 790’s are great if you want to hit 1 type of shot. But beyond that, I actually found them more difficult to flight up or down, or to move left to right or vice versa. For my game, it was an eye opener that I prefer to hit a variety of shots with my irons, and that lends better to more of a CB style. 
 

I definitely have no issues with the 790’s, just wasn’t the fix-all solution for me. Good luck and all the best!!

[drcohen]

I have had the '19 P790s for a couple years and I love them. But compared to the ZX5s, they are pretty similar (especially the newer P790s). The ZX5 have a thicker sole but from what I've heard they perform the same. Both a great players distance iron.

[SheriffBooth]

I've played 790's since launch in one form or another.  They're great.

 

Maybe look for a lightly used set in your spec?  Maybe that will satisfy your current wanderlust without you having to jump in full boat on brand new sticks?

[Lord Helmet]

Keep the Srixons!

[Painkiller71]

On 6/25/2024 at 9:33 AM, kwcsports said:

Had them and sold them quickly. Inconsistent distances for me. Out of the blue I'd hit one flush 15 yds long, happened maybe twice a round. Probably me just finding the center occasionally but it got in my head and I got rid of them haha. 

 

I had the exact same experience. Apparently when you absolutely flush them, they get 20 yards long. Wasn't helpful on 150 yard approaches. 

[Sakman]

The only time I experienced fliers with the 790's were from the OG release back in 2017. Since then, TM has done an excellent job at addressing. Zero issues with the latest version. 

 

These type of threads will make your head spin more than it probably already was. You'll get plenty of reasons why one manufacturer is better than the other. Sole interaction is going to be the primary thing you'll notice between the 790's and the Srixon's. Some get along really well with the V-soles while others do not. Feel is subjective and in this case it's like comparing apples to oranges. 

 

So many good options out there. Go with the ones that work best for your swing.

[iNeedMoreGolf]

I got them.. played them... sold them. They sucked for me. They didnt go any further they went shorter. They felt like hitting rocks with every and any golf ball. Couldnt get a feel for touchy swings with them. Switch back to my other sets.. and right back came all the good stuff i like. Feel, distance everything the p790 23 were not. If that dont deter you  i dont know what will.