In addition to individual reviews, I like to compare one golf club to another. Sometimes I find with modern golf technology that all irons are “good,” but there are noticeable differences when you compare one to the next.
The Ping i525 irons and TaylorMade P790 irons are well known for their looks, feel, and overall impressive performance. I tested both irons on the course to see what the major differences are and how they compare head to head.
Which Is Better, Ping i525 or TaylorMade P790 Irons?
After testing the Ping i525 and the TaylorMade P790, I liked the Ping i525 a bit better. The three main things that helped me get to this conclusion were the grooves and their responsiveness, the clean looking player’s style clubhead, and the soft feel of the forged face.
Ping I525 Overview
The Ping I525 irons are a forged player’s distance iron that has an impressive feel and playability. Ping certainly followed along with the new Tungsten weight trend by incorporating tungsten toe and shaft tip weights.
The result is expanded perimeter weighting that helps to increase forgiveness, but ball speed was certainly kept at high levels.
With the new Micromax groove design, there is a precision milled pattern that allows the grooves to sit closer to gather. Essentially, Ping snuck a few extra grooves on the face, which dramatically impacts the ball flight control of your irons (especially the shorter ones).
When you look at what makes a Ping iron stand out, you can almost always attribute its success to pure sound and feel. The EVA Polymer was strategically placed in the Ping i525 to offer players a pleasing sound and feel.
Ping i525 Specs
The lofts of the Ping i525 irons place this club in the player distance category. There is also less offset in the Ping i525 irons than other Ping game improvement clubs.
| CLUB | LOFT | LENGTH | LIE |
| 3 Iron | 18° | 39.5″ | 60° |
| 4 Iron | 21° | 38.875″ | 60.5° |
| 5 Iron | 24° | 38.25″ | 61° |
| 6 Iron | 27° | 37.625″ | 61.5° |
| 7 Iron | 31.5° | 37″ | 62° |
| 8 Iron | 35° | 36.5″ | 62.8° |
| 9 Iron | 40° | 36″ | 63.5° |
| Pitching Wedge | 45° | 35.5″ | 64.1° |
| Utility Wedge | 50° | 35.5″ | 64.1° |
TaylorMade P790 Overview
The TaylorMade P790 golf irons have been on the market for quite some time. However, TaylorMade often updates them a little, tweaks the performance, and puts them back out. The P790 irons are built with the mid-handicapper in mind.
TaylorMade took technology from the premium player irons and incorporated them into something more forgiving and appealing to a golfer with a slightly higher handicap.
The latest model of the P790 irons features the SpeedFoam Air technology, which is considerably lighter than the original Speedfoam. The result is the same impressive and solid feel but a higher launch and a bit more speed.
With the P790 irons, you will benefit from a Forged 4141 Steel L-Face insert. The L Face insert is just 1.65mm thick, so there is a lot of speed that can be produced from this clubhead.
TaylorMade will likely never give up on its Speed Pocket technology, and that is fine by me. Even if you miss one a little lower on the face, the P790 responds.
TaylorMade P790 Specs
The TaylorMade P790 irons have lofts that are right between the player’s blades and the more game improvement style. This is a great option for the mid handicappers.
| CLUB HEAD | LOFT | LENGTH | LIE |
| 3 Iron | 19° | 39″ | 60.5° |
| 4 Iron | 21° | 38.5″ | 61° |
| 5 Iron | 23.5° | 38″ | 61.5° |
| 6 Iron | 26.5° | 37.5″ | 62° |
| 7 Iron | 30.5° | 37″ | 62.5° |
| 8 Iron | 35° | 36.5″ | 63° |
| 9 Iron | 40° | 36″ | 64° |
| Pitching Wedge | 45° | 35.75″ | 64° |
| Approach Wedge | 50° | 35.5″ | 64° |
Ping i525 vs. TaylorMade P790
As you can see, the Ping i525 and the TaylorMade P790 have quite a bit in common. However, when on the course, some significant differences stand out.
Distance
The Ping i525 irons and the TaylorMade P790 irons have very similar lofts. The short irons are identical, but then when you move to the mid and long irons, the Ping i525 irons have about one degree more loft in the 5, 6, and 7 irons.
I did notice that the Ping i525 potentially flew a little higher in the mid section, but I can’t say that there was a significant loss in difference.
Interestingly the 4 irons in both sets have the same loft, and the 3 iron in the Ping i525 is actually stronger than it is in the TaylorMade P790.
The face on the P790 is really fast and slightly more forgiving. When I hit a solid shot, I noticed that the Ping i525 had incredible distance; when I missed on the heel or toe, the distance was not quite as impressive.
However, I can tell you that these iron sets are in the player’s distance category. If you want a clean looking golf club that also has solid distance capability, either one would be a good choice.
Forgiveness
Forgiveness can have a lot to do with the shaft that is in the club, as well as the individual swing flaws of a golfer. I noticed slightly more forgiveness from the TaylorMade P790 irons. The club head is just a little bigger, and I felt as though the sole was wider.
This combination led to more forgiveness on fairway shots, but especially from the rough.
If you are a relatively consistent golf ball striker, the sweet spot on the Ping i52 and the TaylorMade P790 is approximately the same size. In other words, you can still miss it a little and get away with it.
After all, that is why the player’s distance category was created, to begin with.
Feel
When TaylorMade put the P790 irons on the market, they were trying to give the mid handicappers and even some high handicappers access to a great feeling iron that still allowed for forgiveness.
The hollow body construction combined with a forged face is an excellent combination for both speed and feel.
I was impressed with the overall feel and precision of the P790. However, the Ping i525 felt a little more solid to me. When you hit the ball in the center of the face, the feedback was better and a bit purer.
If you are a higher handicapper coming from a cavity back game improvement iron, the P790 irons feel is refreshing.
For golfers currently playing a blade and looking for something with a bit more forgiveness and distance, the Ping i525 will probably be the better choice. The chance of the Ping i525 responding a little more like a blade iron is considerably better.
Looks
The Ping i525 and the TaylorMade P790 were designed to look like a players club. The top line is thinner than a game improvement iron, and the forged look also helps the overall size of the iron to look a little smaller.
The looks of both of these irons were appealing. Sometimes Ping irons can look a little bulky to me, except for the blades, but the Ping i525 was not bulky at all.
In addition, the compact shaping of the Ping i525 is something I prefer. It won’t give you as much confidence on a tight lie, but it’s a great-looking golf club.
Pricing/Longevity
I don’t recommend choosing your next set of irons based on price. The good news here is that you have narrowed down the club selection to the Ping i525 and the TaylorMade P790; the pricing is incredibly similar.
Graphite shafts in either of these irons will cost you considerably more. However, when you compare the steel shaft pricing on a 4-PW set, the Ping is just a few dollars more.
As far as longevity is concerned, the Ping golf clubs have always had some of the highest resale values for used golf clubs. However, the P790 tends to hold its value quite well.
Since this set is so popular, many golfers look for it as a used option, and it keeps the price strong.
Who Should Play The Ping i525 vs. P790?
In the end, I told you I liked the Ping i525 a little better than the P790. However, I could put the P790 into my bag and be reasonably confident in their ability to perform on the golf course.
The Ping i525 is the better choice for low to mid-handicappers. With a Ping i525, you get a little more workability and some improved ball flight control. In addition, they have that buttery Ping feel.
The TaylorMade P790 golf clubs are an incredible choice for a mid-handicapper or average golfer ready to play with golf clubs that can perform while also looking great.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you can now make a decision about the Ping i525 vs. TaylorMade P790. I know there are a lot of similarities between the two sets, but in the end, the subtle differences should allow you to make a more informed decision.
Make sure that whatever iron you choose, you are carefully selecting the golf shaft option as well. The shaft you choose must be a match for your swing speed and capability, or you will struggle to get the results you need on the course.
