The P770 model from TaylorMade has always been an interesting one for me to categorize in my mind. It always felt to me as if TaylorMade had two pretty similar ‘players distance’ irons within its range along with the P790 iron, and it seems that sentiment may have been shared by the Carlsbad-based equipment giants as the P770 has had a makeover. I have been thoroughly testing the new look P770 to see if it can sit amongst the best golf irons on the market.
TaylorMade has made a very clear attempt to push the P770 a little further down the handicap spectrum, positioning it closer to the new ‘player cavity’ iron, the P7CB, altering the perception that it is just the younger sibling of the exceptionally popular P790. But how has TaylorMade tackled this identity update?
WATCH: Joe Ferguson tests out the new TaylorMade P770 and P7CB irons
In terms of the technology, it is a case of evolution rather than revolution for me, but when you have a quality product to start with, sometimes all you need are small tweaks. It remains a hollow body construction iron, with familiar features such as Speedfoam Air for feel and acoustics, and the ever-present speed slot to assist with ball speed, particularly on misses low on the face.
Internally, there have been some advancements with accentuated heel and toe tungsten weighting to enhance that all-important MOI, and CG locations have been refined to optimize ball flight, sitting lower in the longer irons to aid launch, and progressing higher in the shorter irons to maximize control and spin. The leading edge of the P770 also sits lower than in the past with a tighter radius to encourage better turf interaction more akin to a tour-validated iron.
In my opinion, the biggest advancements have been visual - the new P770 looks fantastic. From a shelf appeal perspective, the soft brushed finish looks superb, and coupled with the minimalist approach to branding that I have been crying out for from TaylorMade for some time, they will really stand out in bags and on shop floors around the world.
Down in the playing position, you immediately notice the thinner topline and shorter blade length that is synonymous with low handicap irons and it really suits its new makeover in that regard.
Previously you would have to look fairly hard to distinguish P770 from P790 behind the ball, but not so now. If anything it is now tougher to differentiate it from the new P7CB which is a testament to the aesthetic work that has been done here. This may of course push this model out of the hands of some higher handicap players but they will find solace in the quality of P790. I have even spied Australian Jason Day using a full bag of the new P770 on the PGA Tour so that should highlight the shift in perception and positioning well.
In terms of the performance, consistency is key here. It is all very well trying to shoehorn an iron model into a new market space but the performance must stack up and I am happy to say that P770 does. Producing more ball speed and launch than P7CB was expected due to the hollow body construction, but these would not get into low handicap players' bags if they were too fiery off the face or delivered any abnormal numbers.
I have tested the P770 thoroughly over the course of the past few weeks and I haven’t experienced a single ‘jumper’ or ‘hot one’ that can occasionally pop off the face of this type of iron. The numbers - while strong - have proved incredibly consistent and repeatable and that will be an essential component of the success of this iron.
The newly-designed sole is a huge asset, particularly for someone like me whose golf is predominantly played on firm, tight, links turf, however, I will be interested to see if this more aggressive shaping still performs as well once the ground conditions soften up a bit. The high-quality turf interaction I experienced married well with a lively yet soft impact sensation to produce one of the best feeling irons of 2024 for me.
TaylorMade’s decision to rebrand P770 really makes sense to me, and they have pulled it off well. They match well with the finish of the P7CB iron and the lofts have been thought through well to make it really easy to create a cohesive combo set between these two models in particular if required.
The P770 irons are available in 3-AW, at an RRP of £179 per iron. As you would expect, there is an abundance of custom options, but the stock off-the-shelf sets will be fitted with Dynamic Gold Mid 115 shafts and Golf Pride Z-Grips.
