This time of year – the last month of real summer – is P·SZN. It’s when TaylorMade can be counted on to release new models in its flagship P·Series. And while these late-summer releases are often familiar (there’s nothing wrong with that), this particular P·SZN brings us two models including a new approach to a model that quietly fell from lineup.
Before we get into specifics of the new TaylorMade P·770 and the P·7CB irons, I’m going to take a moment to suggest that maybe it’s time we stopped talking so much about the looks of TaylorMade P·Series irons. While at times in the past TaylorMade’s player’s irons were perhaps gaudy, the company has firmly established P·Series as reliably comely. So, if I said the P·770 and P·7CB deliver on TaylorMade’s promise of stunning good looks, wouldn’t that just the expectation at this point?
Digging in
While the two new models are for different types of players, there is a point of overlap in the story. Common to both the P·770 and the P·7MC is a redesigned sole meant to improve turf interaction. To be sure, that doesn’t always (or ever) make for an exciting story; it’s definitely not top-of-mind for golfers, but it’s important, nonetheless.
It’s at least part of the reason why Collin Morikawa had P ·7CBs in the bag at the Scottish Open and Open Championship.
The specific detail here is a tighter leading edge radius that helps the new P·Series irons get into the turf a little bit easier while promoting higher launch.
With that out of the way, let’s dig into the specifics of each model.
TaylorMade P·770
While it isn’t quite the retail juggernaut that P·790 is, P·770 is popular with golfers who like the idea of a player’s distance iron but want something that maybe doesn’t so much look the part.
While it might be a simplification, I’ve always felt that P·770 and P·790 bookend the player’s distance category.
In addition to the refined sole, TaylorMade has thinned the topline to cater to the eye of the better player.
The general idea is to improve performance while offering a slightly more player-centric appearance.
That said, we’re talking about a true player’s distance iron and that means there’s plenty of tech baked into the design.
Like the P·790, the P·770 features SpeedFoam Air to improve sound and feel. You get SpeedPockets to improve performance on low-face impact and you get up to 41 grams of tungsten embedded behind the face.
For the sake of clarity, there’s nothing inherently magical about tungsten but it’s an effective go-to anytime the objective is to push mass low and or to the perimeter (which it often is).
Taking a page from the P·790, the new TaylorMade P·770 irons feature a flighted CG design. That’s TaylorMade-speak for individually optimized mass placement and face design. That is to say, the internal structures and face topology of the 4-iron are different than the 9-iron.
The idea is that each iron is crafted and optimized to fill a specific need in the bag.
The P·770 features TaylorMade’s Tour Satin Scratch finish
P·770 specs
Reiterating that P·770 is a player’s distance iron (albeit on the “player’s” end of spectrum), it offers what I suppose qualifies as a modern, though reasonably standard, stock loft package. The highlights are a 33-degree 7-iron and a 45-degree pitch wedge. P·770 is designed to flow seamlessly in combo sets with the P·7CB (we’ll get to that in a second) and, I suppose, the P·790, if you wanted to go that route in the long irons.
TaylorMade P·7CB
Best I can remember (and based on what the Google machine tells me), we haven’t seen an update to the P·760 iron since 2018. Looking back, it’s possible that P·760 suffered from a bit of an identity crisis.
Just one guy’s opinion here, but I’d argue it was a bit too tech-rich for the player’s category while simultaneously lacking the oomph required for something just beyond the confines of the player’s category.
A solution in search of problem? Perhaps.
Regardless, the new P·7CB steps into fill whatever void exists between the P·7MC and P·770.
And, yeah, this is the prototype that Rory has been testing since April.
As I touched on at the beginning, beauty is the expectation with any Series iron and the P·7CB doesn’t disappoint.
Lines are crisp and clean and, while the milling pattern in the cavity may not appeal to absolutely everybody, there’s nothing to take issue with.
As TaylorMade has done with previous irons in this space, it’s blended its Tour Satin Scratch finish with high-polish mirror accents to create a look that avoids glare at address but still pops just a bit.
As more of a true player’s iron than its predecessor, the P·7CB features solid body construction with an intriguing little ripple.
Like the P·MC, it’s hammered into shape using TaylorMade’s Compact Grain Forging process which the company says yields best-in-class feel.
The company says P·CB offers a traditional TaylorMade shape. If you’re catching some old-school RAC vibes, that’s cool.
The topline is a bit thicker than MC but it has less offset. Blade length is longer in the long irons which speaks to the added forgiveness. The sole is narrower than the P·770’s but you’re still getting that tighter edge radius for improved turf interaction.
The more compelling part of the P·7CB story is what’s hidden under the hood or, more directly, milled into the sole.
TaylorMade has milled a pair of pockets into the sole of the P·7CB. The pockets hold a mix of tungsten (up to 11 grams) and what TaylorMade is calling a metal matrix composite. It’s a low-density metal that’s just 1/7th the weight of steel.
Once the pieces are assembled; a sole plate is forged into place to seamlessly hide the technology and keep the iron looking clean.
Unlike most of the designs we talk about, TaylorMade isn’t trying to increase launch and lower spin. The P·7MC design is about increasing forgiveness and precisely positioning the center of gravity such that it’s consistent throughout the set.
While P·770 offers flighted CGs to promote higher launch in the long irons and flatter trajectory with the scoring irons, the P·7CB is designed to provide consistent trajectory from one iron in the set to the next.
P·7CB specs
Compared to the lofts of the P·770, the P·7CB leans a bit more traditional. The 7-iron is 33 degrees and the pitching wedge is 46.
Specs, pricing, availability
Both the P·770 and P·7CB are available in right- and left-handed (the AW is RH only). Both sets come stock with Dynamic MID 115 shafts and TaylorMade’s Golf Pride Z-Grip +2 Grip.
A small footnote on the grip: TaylorMade has moved to a new rubber compound which it says improves the durability.
Retail price for a seven-piece set is $1,399.99 for both models. Pre-order begins now. Full retail availability starts Sept. 6.
For more information, visit TaylorMadeGolf.com.
MBovee
2 years ago
The P7CBs are VASTLY different from the RAC OS… not only is a much smaller head designed for a different player, the construction is completely different.