TaylorMade's P-Series iron collection is back for 2023, and this review focuses on the updated P770s.
These clubs found their way into my bag for 2021, so I was keen to see what TaylorMade had produced this time around.
A hollow bodied iron with a forged L face, the P770 sits in between the new P7MC and the P790 in the collection, and since it was first introduced it has been immensely popular on the women's tour with the likes of Maria Fassi and Pia Babnik using it.
The Tech
The P770 features a new, compact shape with a thinner topline, less offset in the longer irons and a shorter blade length than the P790, which is said to provide a combination of elevated distance, forgiveness and feel.
A soft 8620 carbon steel body is paired with a thin forged 4140 steel face for speed, flexibility and forgiveness.
The FLTD CG technology positions the CG lower in the head in the long irons and this moves progressively higher as you move through the set. Using up to 46g of tungsten, it is designed to improve launch and playability in the long irons, and increase spin in the scoring irons.
It also has SpeedFoam Air inside the head which is 69% less dense than its predecessor, this saves mass which can be distributed elsewhere as well as dampening the hollow body sound.
The Thru-Slot Speed Pocket provides increased flexion of the face from 7 iron all the way up to 3 iron.
The P770 is available from 3-AW and is priced at an RRP of £165 per iron.
TaylorMade P770 23 Irons Review
Looks and Feel
In terms of shelf appeal these irons are gorgeous, with little change from the previous model other than a shorter blade length and a brushed steel finished rather than chrome.
It's hard to believe that the head is hollow as it looks just like a forged blade. It's an incredibly inviting head at address, which makes the ball look bigger.
They didn't feel or sound as hollow as I expected them to, especially when hitting inside with an echo in the room where it can often be pretty loud.
The head felt stable during impact, yet still provided a spring off the face with pretty decent ball speeds too. I had the ball on a frozen rope in direction but my short and long had 11 yards between them.
You still get that instant feedback when you catch the ball of the bottom groove but the distance was still acceptable, highlighting the help in the technology of the head.
When hitting the longer irons, the new CG placement and the Thru-Slot Speed Pocket certainly came into their own. Shaping the ball was easily done, from a fade to a draw, and my confidence was high knowing that I had that help there if I caught the shot thin.
I really like the idea of building heads to match the shot, and not having all the heads with exactly the same design.
Performance
I put the P770 irons to the test on my trusty Trackman 4 launch monitor, using Titleist Pro V1x balls and comparing them to the previous P770 models.
Starting off with the 7 iron, I was getting average spin rates of around 5600rpm, which as expected was less than the P7MB and P7MC irons that I tested recently, and more than the P790s.
I was getting an average of 132 yards of carry, perhaps an indication of that little bit of extra help compared to the MC and MB as well as the lofts, which are one degree stronger on the P770s.
I was delighted with my dispersion in direction too with all 20 of my attempts finding the target with no more than 8 feet right and 17 left of the pin, which suggests that you can still get plenty of precision like you do with the blades but with a little more distance and forgiveness.
The overall performance was excellent, giving me stability, feel and distance.
I finished off by playing a closest to the pin challenge on the par 3s at Memorial GC on the Trackman simulator. From 155 yards I hit 3 5 irons to each par 3, trying to hit a draw, a fade and a straight shot with each.
They were all easily managed with very consistent launch and height characteristics, and things felt easier than they should do from a head that was so good looking!
I was also easily flying the ball 155 yards and often further, which was great and was actually further than I thought.
TaylorMade P770 23 Irons Verdict
The new P770 irons really do give you the best of both worlds as they look like a blade but give you that bit of extra help with ball speed. TaylorMade do players distance irons better than any other company, they invented this section of the iron market.
There would be too big a gap between the P790 and the P7MC if it wasn't for this iron, but with the P790 being so popular with so many different golfers it's hard to see the P770 ever getting a massive market share.
It isn't often that I find a club which I feel is aimed at me but these appear to fit the ball as my ball striking is good but I like the extra help in generating ball speed and distance. This perhaps shows how niche these clubs are.
The P770s are getting easier to hit and the looks have improved again, just like the P790s have over the years, and I would suggest that even if you are a Mizuno or Titleist fan they are worth a try.
Who Is It Aimed At?
They look less forgiving than they actually are, but on the other side of the spectrum they aren't as hot as some elite players may fear.
I could see them working well as a combo set for both very good golfers looking for a little more help at the top end of bag, like Collin Morikawa used to, or for P790 fans who want a little more precision and feel at the bottom end.
They are £165 per iron which is the same as all of the other P=Series irons, making things much easier when purchasing a combo set.
If you are looking at Titleist T100, Mizuno Pro 223 and such likes then these are worth a test also.
Would I Use Them?
Yes absolutely, I would like to combo these with P790 long irons.
If you enjoyed this, you may also like:
TaylorMade P790 2021 Irons Review
TaylorMade P7MC 23 Irons Review