So lemme tell ya about this whole P790 irons mess this year. Always been an equipment junkie, right? Saw all the flashy ads for the 2023 model promising crazy distance and forgiveness. Figured, why not? Grabbed my old sticks and dragged myself down to the local golf store itching to hit ‘em.
First Impressions Were… Well, Flashy
Pulled ‘em outta the bag they came in. Looked damn sleek, gotta admit. Shiny chrome finish, thin top line – all dressed up like a players iron but whispering ‘easy to hit’. Started with the 7-iron, same one I always test first.
- Initial range session breakdown:
- Slammed a few: Boom. First few shots felt weird. Really light clubhead? Or was it the shaft? Couldn’t pin it down right away. The ball zoomed off the face though. Like, seriously jumped. Felt almost too hot sometimes.
- Felt springy: That face… you could kinda feel it flexing at impact. Not a solid ‘thwack’ like my old blades, more like a ‘sproing’? Sounds funny, but that’s what it felt like.
- Distance monster: Yeah, no kidding. Easy swings sent the ball flying almost a club length further than my gamers. Made me check the lofts – turns out these things are cranked down strong. Like my old 6-iron loft is now on the 7. Sneaky!
- Forgiveness factor: Purposely hit some stinkers. Toe shots? Didn’t dive as much. Thin shots? Still went surprisingly far. Felt like cheating compared to my unforgiving old irons.
Took ‘Em Out For a Real Grind
Okay, range heroics are one thing. Needed to see if they actually worked when it mattered. Booked a tee time. Here’s how that battle went:
- Course carnage (mostly good):
- Approach shots felt easier: Standing over a ball to a tight pin, that thin top line makes you feel like a player. And honestly, sticking greens felt easier. That extra yardage meant hitting shorter clubs into pins more often, which is always nice.
- Wind issues popped up: That strong loft combined with the hot face? The ball just balloons sometimes. Had a few approach shots get murdered by the wind, falling short when I thought I had enough club. Took some adjustment.
- Control? Hmm… Fine for hitting greens, but shaping shots? Trying to hit a hard draw or fade? Yeah, it’s tougher. These things mostly want to go straight and high. Getting the ball flight down was a chore.
- Got confused: First few rounds, my yardages were all over the place. Gapping seemed okay on paper, but I’d hit one PW 140 yards, next one goes 130… inconsistency was frustrating until I figured out my strike needed to be real consistent to get predictable numbers.
The Long Haul Truth
Played ‘em for a couple months straight. This is where opinions really form.
- Living with the P790s:
- They hold up: Chrome finish on the face? Looks like hell after a while. Showcases every scratch. You’ll see that face wear near the sweet spot quickly.
- Feel stays springy: Never quite turned into that soft feel I get from forged irons. That hollow, springy thing is just how they feel. Good or bad? Depends what you like. I missed some solid feedback.
- Ball speed is addicting: Honestly, it’s tough to go back once you see the ball rocket off like that, especially on middled strikes. Makes ‘okay’ swings look better.
- They won’t fix a really bad swing: Don’t be fooled. Shank one? Still going O.B. Slice it? Still slicing. Forgiveness helps on off hits, not disaster hits.
Bottom line? They’re like a sports car – flashy, fast as hell, makes you grin sometimes. But you pay in gas (balloons in wind), control (can’t work it easy), and feel (that hollow vibe). Was hoping for magic, got speed foam and strong looths instead. Play ‘em if you want distance above all else, but don’t say I didn’t warn ya about the wind or the feel. Got mine sitting in the garage now… might sell ‘em next spring.
