TaylorMade first released the hollow body p790 irons in 2017. In both 2019 and 2021, they released updated models. Although the models are identical in loft, length, and lie, some notable differences exist. Let’s look at what changes they made and whether they paid off.
The TaylorMade 2021 p790 introduced Speed Foam Air, a lighter filling that allowed for greater club speed than the original Speed Foam in the 2019 p790. The 2019 p790 has a 13.8g tungsten weight, while the 2021 iron increased that to 31g, lowering the club’s center of gravity.
This article will look at the differences between the TaylorMade 2019 and 2021 p790 irons.
| Iron | TaylorMade 2019 p790 | TaylorMade 2021 p790 |
| What’s inside | Speed Foam | Speed Foam Air |
| Tungsten weight | 13.8g | 31g |
| Center of gravity (CG) | higher | lower |
What’s Inside
There is one defining feature of the 2021 p790 that separates it from its predecessors: Speed Foam Air. TaylorMade introduced Speed Foam technology in their first p790 model, also used for the 2019 model.
For the 2021 model, TaylorMade redesigned its proprietary foam. Speed Foam Air makes the 2021 foam 69% lighter or 3.5g lighter than the 2019 model. This decrease in weight increases the speed and forgiveness of the club.
Another benefit of the lighter foam in the 2021 p790 is it allowed for a thinner club face. The combination of a thinner face and lighter foam means the sweet spot is more than 30% bigger than the 2019 version. It’s not just bigger, though. TaylorMade refers to it as an “intelligent” sweet spot because it is focused on the high toe region, the most common area for golfers to need help.
Tungsten Weight
TaylorMade used the 3.5g decrease from the Speed Foam Air to increase the tungsten weights in the 2021 irons. The 2019 p790 irons have 13.8g of tungsten alloy, while most of the irons in the 2021 set have 31g.
This small metal weight inside the hollow club contributes to a higher launch and lower center of gravity in the 2021 irons.
Center of Gravity
As a result of the changes TaylorMade made to the tungsten weight in their 2021 p790 irons, the center of gravity (CG) is lower. The CG of the 2021 iron is 10% closer to the ground than the 2019 model, thanks largely to the significant increase in tungsten weight.
The 2021 p790 model features a slightly more toe-ward CG than the 2019, which can result in a little less spin on the ball, but the difference has not been significant in testing. This move also contributes to the increased sweet spot in the 2021 irons.
Final Thoughts
The improvements TaylorMade made in their 2021 p790 irons greatly improved an already well-made 2019 model.
Compared to the 2019 p790, the 2021 p790:
- has a higher launch due to a lower CG
- is more forgiving
- has an increased sweet spot
- causes less spin
This all adds up to the one thing we really care about: distance.