Equipment
TaylorMade launches next-generation 2021 P790, P790 UDI irons
The final piece in the TaylorMade P700 Series has fallen into place. Last August, the Carlsbad company announced P7MB, P7MC, and P770 irons, with the ends of the Series spectrum — P7TW and 2019 P790 irons — staying the same.
We know there are no plans to update the P7TW irons (unless Tiger Woods wants to alter his preferred surgical instruments), but plenty of equipment soothsayers expected a new P790 this summer — and TaylorMade has delivered.
Third-generation 2021 TaylorMade P790 irons continue to occupy the “players distance” seat at the P7TW, P7MB, P7MC, and P770 family table.
2021 TaylorMade P790 irons
We knew the profile would remain larger than the P770, and at first glance, the 2021 P790 shares much more in common cosmetically with P770 irons than the 2019 P790 design (comparison of P770, 2019 P790 below).
Of course, we also know the real story of the P700 line in general, P790 in particular, is under the hood, so let’s take a look.
SpeedFoam, which was the showpiece of the original (2017) P790 line gets an upgrade in the 2021 edition. Dubbed SpeedFoam Air, the ultralight urethane foam is 69 percent less dense than the 2019 iteration.
As is the formula in golf club design, saving weight in one area allows engineers to relocate it to another to accomplish specific aims. In this case, it’s to aid launch. And that’s just what the folks at TM have done, moving the CG lower in the heads of P790 irons to the tune of an average of .5 millimeters.
“SpeedFoam Air is the heartbeat of the new P·790 irons. The development of this lightweight urethane material allowed us to strategically reconstruct the iron head to promote optimal launch conditions and a sweet spot that covers the most common strike points on the face.” — Matt Bovee, Product Creation, Irons
With respect to that sweet spot, TaylorMade’s Intelligent Sweet Spot is the product of data from thousands of golf shot to determine the most common impact points on the face. Bovee and company then strategically shaped and positioned the sweet spot (i.e. moved it) so it captures more of these shots.
As you would expect, more shots struck on the sweet spot yields greater ball speed and distance compared to the previous generation P790 — it’s a “performance where you need it” narrative.
2021 TaylorMade P790: Additional details
- Made from 8620 carbon steel
- Combination of Rengineered Forged Hollow Body Construction and 1.5mm forged 4140 steel L-Face yields flexibility, fast ball speeds, and distance while maintaining a forged feel.
- Up to 31 grams of tungsten weighting in an individual iron head is strategically positioned for stability and forgiveness.
- Thru-Slot Speed Pocket increases face flexibility and preserves ball speed and distance on low-face strikes.
2021 TaylorMade P790 UDI
Featuring the same Thru-Slot Speed Pocket, SpeedFoam Air, and other technology mentioned above, the 2021 P790 UDI is a driving iron built from tour feedback. Shaped and weighted to cater to low-launch, low-spin players, TaylorMade’s latest iteration of the Ultimate Driving Iron is its most technologically advanced yet.
TaylorMade P790: Specifications, pricing, availability
- Available for pre-order now
- At retail 9/3
P790
Steel (True Temper Dynamic Gold)
Single iron: $185.71
7-piece set: $1,299.99
Graphite (Mitsubishi Chemical MMT)
Single iron: $214.28
7-piece set: $1,499.99
Golf Pride Z-Grip
P790 UDI
Single iron: $249.99
2-iron (17 degrees)
Project X HZRDS Black Smoke
Golf Pride Z-Grip
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Whats in the Bag
Scottie Scheffler’s winning WITB: 2024 Masters
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (8 degrees @8.25) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X (45 inches)
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Buy here.
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X
Irons: Srixon ZU85 (3, 4) Buy here, TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW) Buy here.
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Hybrid Prototype 10 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (50-12F, 56-14F) Buy here, Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (60-T) Buy here.
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour X Buy here.
Grip: Golf Pride Pro Only Cord
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1 Buy here.
Check out more in-hand photos of Scottie Scheffler’s clubs here.
The winning WITB is presented by 2nd Swing Golf. 2nd Swing has more than 100,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
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Whats in the Bag
WITB Time Machine: Danny Willett’s winning WITB, 2016 Masters
Driver: Callaway XR 16 (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana W-Series 60 X
Length: 45.5 inches
3-wood: Callaway XR 16 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana W-Series 70X
5-wood: Callaway XR 16 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana W-Series 80X
Irons: Callaway Apex UT (2, 4), Callaway Apex Pro (5-9)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Superlite
Wedges: Callaway Mack Daddy 2 (47-11 S-Grind) Callaway Mack Daddy 2 Tour Grind (54-11, 58-9)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Superlite
Putter: Odyssey Versa #1 Wide (WBW)
Lie angle: 71 degrees
Ball: Callaway Speed Regime SR-3
Check out more photos of Willett’s equipment from 2016 here.
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Equipment
Project X Denali Blue, Black shaft Review – Club Junkie Review
Originally, Project X was known for low-spin steel iron shafts. However, the company might now be known for wood shafts. Denali is the newest line of graphite shafts from Project X. With the Denali line, the company focuses on feel as well as performance.
There are two profiles in the Denali line, Blue and Black, to fit different launch windows. Denali Blue is the mid-launch and mid-spin profile for players who are looking for a little added launch and Denali Black is designed for low-launch and low-spin. Both models are going to offer you a smooth feel and accuracy.
For a full in-depth review check out the Club Junkie podcast on all podcast streaming platforms and on YouTube.
Project X Denali Blue
I typically fit better into mid-launch shafts, as I don’t hit a very high ball so the Denali Blue was the model I was more excited to try. Out of the box, the shaft looks great and from a distance, it is almost hard to tell the dark blue from the Denali Black. With a logo down install of the shaft, you don’t have anything to distract your eyes, just a clean look with the transition from the white and silver handle section to the dark navy mid and tip.
Out on the course, the Blue offers a very smooth feel that gives you a good kick at impact. The shaft loads easily and you can feel the slightly softer handle section compared to the HZRDUS lineup. This gives the shaft a really good feel of it loading on the transition to the downswing, and as your hands get to impact, the Denali Blue keeps going for a nice, strong kick.
Denali Blue is easy to square up at impact and even turn over to hit it straight or just little draws and most of the flex of the shaft feels like it happens right around where the paint changes from silver to blue. The Blue launches easily and produces what I consider a true mid-flight with the driver. While it is listed as mid-spin, I never noticed any type of rise in my drives. Drives that I didn’t hit perfectly were met with good stability and a ball that stayed online well.
Project X Denali Black
When you hold the Denali Black in your hands you can tell it is a more stout shaft compared to its Blue sibling by just trying to bend it. While the handle feels close to the Blue in terms of stiffness, you can tell the tip is much stiffer when you swing it.
Denali Black definitely takes a little more power to load it but the shaft is still smooth and doesn’t give you any harsh vibrations. Where the Blue kicks hard at impact, the Black holds on a little and feels like keeps you in control even on swings that you try and put a little extra effort into. The stiff tip section also makes it a little harder to square up at impact and for some players could take away a little of the draw from their shot.
Launch is lower and more penetrating compared to the Blue and produces a boring, flat trajectory. Shots into the wind don’t rise or spin up, proving that the spin stays down. Like its mid-launch sibling, the Black is very stable and mishits and keeps the ball on a straighter line. Shots low off the face don’t get very high up in the air, but the low spin properties get the ball out there farther than you would expect. For being such a stout shaft, the feel is very good, and the Denali Black does keep harsh vibrations from your hands.
Overall the Project X Denali Blue and Black are great additions to the line of popular wood shafts. If you are looking for good feel and solid performance the Denali line is worth trying out with your swing. Choose Blue for mid-launch and mid-spin or Black for lower launch and low spin.
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Bro bro
Aug 14, 2021 at 7:28 pm
Will these cave in more than the 2019 790s? Probably.
matt
Aug 12, 2021 at 11:53 pm
What’s optimal… should we reduce spin to zero and launch the ball straight up in the air. Is that the goal here… Gimme a break with this nonsense
GaGolfer
Aug 11, 2021 at 12:40 pm
“As is the formula in golf club design, saving weight in one area allows engineers to relocate it to another to accomplish specific aims. In this case, it’s to aid launch. And that’s just what the folks at TM have done, moving the CG lower in the heads of P790 irons to the tune of an average of .5 millimeters.”
I try not to be negative, and the TM irons are really beautiful to me, but touting moving the CG lower by .5mm, or half the size of a sharpened pencil tip, is just typical industry bs they hope will sound impressive to folks who don’t know any better. What would actually be helpful is – were they able to reduce/remove the hot spots in the face so we aren’t hitting 7Is anywhere from 160 – 190? Most of this is just the usual blah blah blah TM and the industry feels they can get away with shoveling at us. I’m pretty tired of it.
Epic Golfer
Aug 10, 2021 at 11:43 pm
Nothing pure anymore.
Bob Gambino
Aug 10, 2021 at 12:56 pm
And still no left handed P790 UDI
Roy
Aug 10, 2021 at 9:28 pm
Why I went to the CB x forged line…..
Gunter Eisenberg
Aug 10, 2021 at 10:22 am
Same old…same old..
Nick
Aug 11, 2021 at 1:31 am
Basically