The best low-handicap iron category is an interesting one, with a somewhat demanding and discerning market to satisfy. Players at the lower end of the handicap spectrum tend to have very clear ideas about the visuals and performance characteristics they are looking for so it can be a tricky genre to navigate for club manufacturers.
Looking to sit among the best golf irons, TaylorMade is bringing to market a brand new players cavity iron, the P7CB, which we've seen out on tour for a number of weeks. I’ve been testing this set out for some time now and here are my thoughts…
WATCH: Joe Ferguson testing out the new TaylorMade P7CB and P770 irons
Firstly, in terms of the technology, it would be fair to say that there is nothing particularly ground-breaking to speak of with the P7CB. However, in this category of iron I tend to find less is more, so that is not necessarily a bad thing. That said, there has been an interesting internal addition to bolster the forgiveness and feel. The bulk of the head is a single piece of compact grain forged 1025C steel that has been forged at nearly double the pressure of what is considered ‘industry standard’ to improve the feel and consistency of the forging, but then TaylorMade has added a plot twist.
The single piece of steel is then milled out through the sole to create two pockets. Within those pockets, two materials are added: tungsten, and a new metal matrix composite material (which is essentially a very lightweight metal around 1/7th the weight of steel), which allows weight to be freed up and redistributed around the head to increase the effect of perimeter weighting and take more control of the CG positioning. These additions are neatly hidden by adding a forged sole plate back on top before a final visit to the forging press blends everything seamlessly back together.
On to the looks, and this is where the P7CB really begins to stand out. From a shelf appeal point of view, I’m not sure I have seen many better. The sophisticated brushed satin finish adds a real touch of class over high gloss chrome for me, and the company branding is subtle yet effective. There are some nods to previous models, with a real hint of the old RAC iron apparent, and the familiar raised lines in the back of the cavity that have become synonymous with this type of TaylorMade iron look fantastic.
In the playing position, I am pleased to report that the good news continues. The profile and proportions are exactly what I hope to see in a ‘player cavity’ and they frame the ball beautifully. Comparative to its predecessor the P7MC, the P7CB is actually a tiny bit bigger, with a slightly thicker topline, although there is a touch less offset and we are talking fractions here.
This iron is all about subtlety, and that is apparent throughout. Once again, when comparing to the P7MC, the sole width is a little wider now, however, the leading edge sits a little tighter to the turf, which leads us nicely to the performance.
I have been fortunate enough to get a good long testing period with these irons pre-general release, and every session on my FullSwing KIT Launch monitor has been a pleasure. In terms of raw data, nothing will blow you away here but that is not what these irons are about. They are lofted fairly moderately with the 7-iron sitting at 33˚ so they are not designed to dazzle you with yardage, the real story here for me is the user experience, which is quite frankly exceptional.
Starting with the impact feel, the tungsten and metal matrix composite that has been added into the head are clearly doing an excellent job because the sensation at strike is top-notch. Soft, but not too soft, and robust without feeling harsh, there is an almost unique depth to strike here that is a genuine pleasure. Importantly too, mishits performed as I would hope. I still want to know where my poorer contacts have come from, but I don’t want them to be unduly punished and that is what the P7CB provided me with.
Flight windows were consistent and in a nice mid-window that would be playable in all conditions, and I found manipulating that flight to be relatively easy. Consistency is the number one demand of better players in their irons, and the P7CB delivers in bucket loads here. My front-to-back dispersion is as good if not better than anything else I have tested in this category, and this is from data gathered over some fairly lengthy sessions.
I have gamed some exceptional TaylorMade player cavity irons over the years including the RAC TP, and Tour Preferred MC models, and in my opinion, TaylorMade has been a little bit off the pace in this category for a few years. Well, not anymore. The P7CB is quite brilliant and has all the hallmarks of an iron that will stand the test of time.
They are available in 3-AW and 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.
The 2024 P7CB is a really high-quality and well-thought-out iron that is much better equipped to fill a space within the P-Series lineup. There is also plenty of scope to combo a set with the new P770 irons for those looking for even more help in the longer irons of the set.
