Equipment
2019 TaylorMade P790Ti Irons: Pure Premium Power
Born from the quest to make great, greater, the 2019 TaylorMade P790Ti Titanium Irons go way beyond the original P790 in both materials and pushing the limits of speed. 2019 Taylormade titanium irons been the buzz on the street. By pairing some of the lightest and strongest materials with some of the most mass dense in one club, the engineers at TaylorMade have created a premium iron for the player looking for premium performance.
The body of the P790-Ti is iron is cast from 911 titanium—this is an important note because when you compare (in general terms) Ti vs. steel, their mass properties are vastly different.
Let’s do some science!
Stainless steel comes in around 8 g/cm3, Whereas titanium is 4.5 g/cm3. That makes steel 43 percent heavier than its titanium counterpart, which means the P790Ti is saving a TON of weight in its construction by using it as the whole body of the head including the face, but we’ll get to that in a minute.
If you think about a solid steel clubhead played at 37″ (usually a 7-iron), the head weight will be around 268g. If you use the above math, then the same clubhead made from titanium would only weigh 153g (rounded up). So how do we get that mass back to where it needs to be without making the head enormous? Tungsten: one of the most (stable) mass dense metals around.
The TaylorMade P-790Ti iron has up to 119g of tungsten in each clubhead to push the limits of forgiveness and drive the center of gravity as far back and as low as possible—that’s why the titanium has been placed on the exterior of the club’s frame.
So now to that face.
Supported by TaylorMade’s SpeedFoam, the machined titanium face is thin to produce maximum ball speed. By machining it, rather than casting, TaylorMade can precisely control the dimensions to save every last bit of weight.
With a face this fast and a CG going so far back, Chris Berman would have to actually take a breath when telling you about it.
You need stronger lofts—it’s physics and function rather than playing a numbers game. Without the stronger lofts, each iron wouldn’t hit the proper window for its trajectory. The other part of this that is often overlooked is the target market for these styles of irons—players NOT at the top end of clubhead speed; players wanting a higher flight and longer distances. Yeah, it’s fun to watch tour players mash 7-irons 220 yards for the cameras—I wish I could do that—but that’s not who these clubs are designed for.
This leads us to the rest of the package.
Obviously, the term “stock” is now a loose reference to a suggested final build based on player testing, but this sheds light on the what TaylorMade wants to accomplish with these irons. The paired shafts are, for steel, the new Nippon NS Pro 950 GH Neo (an update to their extremely popular 950 GH). For graphite, the shaft of choice is the Mitsubishi MMT available in varies weight options—see below.
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Equipment
A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic
Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.
Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.
We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.
Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).
See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here
Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge
Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.
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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.
See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here
Turning Back the clock
Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.
But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.
For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.
Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.
The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.
The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.
Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter
Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.
Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.
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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.
If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.
Brilliant.
See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here
Stricker’s unrecognizable putter
Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.
Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.
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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates
Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.
Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.
It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.
Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines
Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.
Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.
FitzMagic teams back up
Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.
See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here
And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.
We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!
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Whats in the Bag
Alejandro Tosti WITB 2024 (April)
- Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 80 TX
Hybrid: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue (22 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 6.5 100
Irons: Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack (50-10 MID, 54-10 MID, 58-10 MID, 60-06 LOW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100, S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
Check out more in-hand photos of Alejandro Tosti’s WITB in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Drew Brees WITB 2024 (April)
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Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)
Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper (13.5 degrees)
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (19 degrees)
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (4-8, PW), TaylorMade P760 (9)
Wedges: TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09, 56-10, 60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2 Prototype
Check out more in-hand photos of Drew Brees’ clubs here.
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Aaron
Aug 13, 2019 at 7:45 am
4.5g to 8g is not 43% heavier.
It’s 43% lighter
the truth
Aug 13, 2019 at 6:29 am
$400 per club AND you need more wedges?
Andy
Aug 13, 2019 at 5:26 am
The AW has finally broken through 50 degrees and 43.5 degree PW. Wow.
Pillow Talk
Aug 13, 2019 at 4:07 am
$2700? That’s all? 😀
Moses
Aug 12, 2019 at 10:30 pm
Wow I can probably hit the 9 iron 150 yards.
Eric
Aug 12, 2019 at 7:52 pm
I’d like to see the P790Ti UDI, with the same aesthetics and 14-17* of loft. Looks so much better than the GAPR in my opinion. Just change where the tungsten is placed to get High/Mid/Lo equivalent of GAPR.
Stewart
Aug 12, 2019 at 5:16 pm
These look great but I’m not likely to buy at this price.
I’ve no issue with companies having a product at this level.
KC
Aug 12, 2019 at 5:00 pm
$2700 for a 7 club set of irons. Go home Taylormade…you’re drunk.
JP
Aug 12, 2019 at 9:39 pm
Drunk and stupid at the same time.
Clay
Aug 12, 2019 at 4:47 pm
5.5 degree gaps in the short irons? yikes
Travisty
Aug 12, 2019 at 4:17 pm
Pure Premium Pricing—fixed that for you
jason
Aug 12, 2019 at 12:30 pm
look how the masacred my boy.
Bushwood Caddie
Aug 12, 2019 at 11:30 am
Running out of ideas to have a different type of club for every release? Their big tech is ICT (inverted cone technology) which they had back several years ago. Nice irons, but not at that price!
dat
Aug 12, 2019 at 10:37 am
NO. Please for the love of Golf stop with these joker clubs.
Ted
Aug 12, 2019 at 9:24 am
Ugly
JP
Aug 12, 2019 at 9:08 am
And the price? A gazillion dollars a set?
.
And the face is cast THEN machined. Do t let the wording confuse. It’s cast.