Taylormade P790 Vs Taylormade M4 Irons
The Taylormade M4 irons and the Taylormade P790 have something in common: they are both the larger versions of their predecessors/counterparts. The M4 irons are larger than their forebears, the Taylormade M3 irons while the Taylormade P790 irons are the beefier versions of the P770 irons. There is more to them than this though.
Mid to high handicappers will also be happy to hear that both of these iron sets have strong lofts as well. As we tested these two iron sets, we were amused at how the definition of “strong loft” in game improvement irons has changed over the years.
When the M4 irons came out, they were considered strong-lofted with the 7-iron clocking in at 28.5 degrees. Fast forward to the more recent release of the Taylormade P790 irons and we see a 5-iron at 30 degrees.
Despite the difference, both of these iron sets play strong. They are also both geared toward mid to high handicap players. Of course, some years separate the design and release of these two Taylormade iron models so it’s important to take a very close look at them both.
Do the newer Taylormade P790 irons really offer better performance features than the M4 irons? Let’s take a closer look at each.
Taylormade M4 Irons
One of the first things we noticed about these irons is that they come off the face very hot and fast but don’t spin very much.
This was a bit of a concern as this usually points to a compromised ability to hold onto greens. However, the visual height you get from these clubs from about 180 yards out looks really reassuring and sure enough, these clubs hold very well.
Their ability to play long and hold onto greens can be traced back to a handful of features that include:
RIBCOR Design
Taylormade claims that the RIBCOR technology helps increase head stability which in turn helps to increase distance.
The RIBCOR is essentially a back panel that goes into the cavity of these irons and extends into the face. This is said to increase both lateral and horizontal stiffness for less twist and power loss. We don’t know if all that is true but we do know that these irons played long.
Speed Pocket
The Speed Pocket is nothing new but it certainly does increase forgiveness on low-face shots.
The Speed Pocket in the M4 irons does have the same effect as the Speed Pocket on the Taylormade P790 irons and virtually all Taylormade clubs: increases flex on strikes made low on the face.
Fluted Hosel
A fluted hosel allows for weight savings in the head.
Saving weight in the hosel allows for more precise weight placement in the head. In the case of the M4, the fluted hosel allows more weight to be shifted low – improving launch angles – and to the perimeter – increasing speed on lateral mis-hits.
Cavity Back Design
The cavity back design is a must for game-improvement irons as it increases MOI.
Going beyond MOI though, the M4 irons have a nice, chunky cavity undercut which again, is made possible by weight savings in the face and hosel. The undercut also helps improve launch in every iron in this set.
Key Selling Points of the Taylormade M4 Irons
The performance features that we mentioned above contribute to the nice height and stopping power of these irons; but there is more to them than that:
- Ultra-thin 1.5 mm face
- Face Slots
- Heel/toe weighting
- 360 degree undercut
- Larger footprint
Final Verdict on the Taylormade M4 Irons
Even with sub-average spin rates across the board, the M4 irons yield above-average stopping power for game-improvement clubs.
The distance was also around what we were expecting as well. The 7-iron and 5-irons were longer than average and we can attribute that to very good carry distances. The sound of these clubs aren’t the greatest but we could overlook that in light of their performance.
Overall, the M4 irons play long and allow you to stop relatively quickly on the green. And even our shots that looked like they faded too hard landed surprisingly close to the middle of the fairway so they’re also moderately forgiving.
Distance: 94/100
Accuracy: 93/100
Forgiveness: 92/100
Control & Feel: 92/100
Overall: 93/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Taylormade P790 Irons
The Taylormade P790 irons have a more modern and sleeker look than the M4 irons and may be geared towards slightly better players.
We know, both the M4’s and the Taylormade P790 irons are touted as game-improvement irons and geared towards more or less the same kind of player. However, after we tested the Taylormade P790’s and took a close look at their feature profile, we had a slightly different picture of their target demographic. For instance, let’s take a look at some of the features:
8620 Carbon Steel Body
Carbon steel is a soft alloy that is usually reserved for premium, player’s performance irons.
And indeed, the carbon steel construction certainly gives these game-improvement irons the feel of player’s irons.
Hollow Body Design
The Taylormade P790’s are brought back to earth a little bit with their hollow body design.
The only reason any iron would have a hollow body construction is to increase ball speed and forgiveness. So in this way, we see that the Taylormade P790’s are still at their heart, game-improvement irons.
Forged 4140 Steel Face
Again, we see Tayormade go above and beyond by outfitting the Taylormade P790’s with a forged, L-shaped face insert.
The forged face insert combined with the carbon steel body gives these irons a metal-wood-like flex. It also helps a lot with ball speed on low-face strikes.
Key Selling Points of the Taylormade P790 Irons
The Taylormade P790 have more to offer than above-category features. Here are their key selling points:
- Strong loft
- Thin wall body design
- Sweet spot positioned lower on the face
- Thru-Speed Pocket
- Tungsten weighting in the toe
Final Verdict on the Taylormade P790 Irons
The Taylormade P790’s also have lower than average spin rates but make up for it in much the same way as the M4s.
That is, steep angles of descent which is the only way to offset low spin levels. The Taylormade P790’s also had a nicer feel and sound thanks to the forged face and 8620 carbon steel body.
It was also easier to work these irons than the M4’s even as they are similar in size. This is why we feel they would be slightly better for handicappers in the high teens; but still viable for high handicappers.
Distance: 95/100
Accuracy: 95/100
Forgiveness: 94/100
Control & Feel: 95/100
Overall: 95/100
Check Out More Reviews Here:
Taylormade P770 Vs. Taylormade P790 Irons – Loft Compared
Club |
Taylormade P770 |
Taylormade P790 |
3 iron |
19.5 |
19 |
4 iron |
22.5 |
21 |
5 iron |
25.5 |
23.5 |
6 iron |
29 |
26.5 |
7 iron |
33 |
30.5 |
8 iron |
37 |
35 |
9 iron |
41.5 |
40 |
Wrap-Up
You will need to carefully select between these irons based on where you’re at with your game.
Naturally, the larger heads of the Taylormade P790 irons will be more congenial to players struggling with striking accuracy while the more compact heads of the Taylormade P770’s mean more workability for lower-scoring players.
Aidan is a low-handicap golfer who came from over 110 to breaking 80 in less than 1 year.
Aidan has become obsessed with becoming a scratch golfer and plays golf on every possible occasion, even in the snow!
