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TaylorMade P∙790 Irons vs Qi Max Irons

Compact Head or More Forgiveness?

TaylorMade P∙790 Irons

TaylorMade

P∙790 Irons

2023 model

Release date
Sep 1, 2023
MSRP at launch
$1,399.99 (set of 7)
P∙790 Irons details →
TaylorMade Qi Max Irons

TaylorMade

Qi Max Irons

2026 model

Release date
Jan 29, 2026
MSRP at launch
$1,099.99 (set of 7)
Qi Max Irons details →

Which to choose

The biggest difference is who each iron is built for. The P∙790 (2023) is a players' distance iron. It has a compact, blade-like, forged hollow body with minimal offset and suits roughly scratch to mid-20s handicaps. The Qi Max (2026) is a cast game-improvement iron for about 15 handicap and up. Its lofts are stronger (28° 7-iron vs 30.5°) and it offers more forgiveness.

Testers call the Qi Max very forgiving and straight, and say it helps fight a slice, though some found its strong-lofted mid irons flew low. The P∙790's long irons launch easily, but it is less forgiving than a larger cavity-back. Testers describe both as soft-feeling, although the Qi Max's slotted long irons can sound clicky.

Choose the P∙790 Irons if…

you're a low- to mid-handicapper who wants distance and some forgiveness in a clean, compact players'-style head, and the premium price doesn't put you off.

Choose the Qi Max Irons if…

you're a beginner or a higher-handicap golfer, roughly 15 and up, who wants maximum forgiveness and a straight flight that helps counter a slice.

Common questions

Which is more forgiving?
The Qi Max. Testers say it loses little distance on off-centre and thin strikes. The P∙790 is generous for its size but less forgiving than a larger cavity-back iron.
Which is easier to shape or flight down?
Neither is strong here. The P∙790's long irons are hard to flight down into a headwind, and the Qi Max makes low shots and fades hard to hit.
Why do the lofts differ so much?
The Qi Max's 7-iron is 28°, compared with 30.5° on the P∙790, because it relies on strong lofts for distance. That leaves tight gaps between its long irons, so testers recommend checking gapping in a fitting.

Written by golfclubase with AI from our summaries of published reviews and test videos and the makers' published specs (Oct 25, 2026).

Side by Side, Aspect by Aspect

Launch and Spin: Lofts Change the Picture

The P∙790 has a 30.5° 7-iron, and reviewers found it easy to get airborne. Several testers reported high peak heights in the long irons. One reviewer instead called the flight playable rather than high. Spin opinions were split. One reviewer said the mid irons hold greens, and one video found spin healthy and consistent. Another video found spin on the low side, especially in the 6-iron. The Qi Max has a stronger 28° 7-iron. Several testers said it still launches high, and two found enough spin to hold greens. Others found it harder to launch, or saw a low 6-iron flight with too little spin. Concerns about a low, low-spin mid-iron flight came up more often for the Qi Max.

Forgiveness: the Qi Max Gives More Margin

Reviewers rated the P∙790 as forgiving for its head size. Several said off-center strikes keep good speed and distance, and one credited the wide sole. One reviewer said it is not as forgiving as a larger cavity-back. One video said it gives more help than its tour-style look suggests, but not as much as a big game-improvement iron. Reviewers called the Qi Max very forgiving or top-tier. They said thin, fat and off-center strikes stay playable, with little distance lost. One reviewer said off-center hits still need concentration. One video felt its forgiveness was only slightly lower than the previous Qi. Both irons hold up on mishits, but reviewers gave the Qi Max a larger margin for error.

Feel and Sound: Both Soft, Qi Max More Divisive

Reviewers liked the feel of the P∙790 and described it as soft, pure and well damped. One said the short irons feel medium-soft and quiet, while the long irons feel livelier and sound louder. Mishits felt firmer than center strikes but not harsh. In testing, the sound came across as punchy and crisp, or solid and soft. The Qi Max was called softer and more pleasant than many game-improvement irons, with muted mishits. One video found the feedback so muted that it was hard to tell where the ball struck the face. Opinions on its sound were split, from a satisfying thud to just okay. Some also noted that the slotted long irons click more. Both feel soft, but the Qi Max's sound divided testers more than the P∙790's did.

Shot Shape: Straight Qi Max, Limited Workability

The P∙790 was not described as a highly workable iron. One reviewer found a fade easier to hold than a draw, and found the long irons hard to flight down into a headwind. One video called it less friendly to shot shaping than the P770. Reviewers said the Qi Max wants to fly high and straight. Testers credited its face design, 63° lie and offset with countering a slice or a miss to the right. Draws showed up in the mid and long irons for some testers, though one said a draw matched his natural shot shape. Low shots and fades were described as hard to hit. Neither iron is a shot-shaper's tool, but the Qi Max is clearly set up against a miss to the right.

Looks at Address: Compact vs Confidence-Inspiring

Reviewers praised the P∙790's clean, sleek looks, with a blade-like shape, a non-glary satin or matte finish, a clean top line and minimal offset of 2.7 mm (about 0.11 in). One person found the irons small and shiny. One video felt it looked a little larger and forgiving at address, and less refined than the P770 from behind the ball. Opinions on the Qi Max were split: one reviewer found it safe but uninspiring, another slimmer and more premium than earlier models. Testers noted a medium-thick top line and noticeable offset, and liked the white leading-edge line for alignment. The P∙790 has a players'-iron look, while the Qi Max looks like a game-improvement iron.

Written by golfclubase with AI from what review articles and test videos said about each model, aspect by aspect (Oct 25, 2026).

Key differences

  • Loft: the Qi Max Irons is 2.5° lower than the P∙790 Irons
  • Lie angle: the Qi Max Irons is 0.5° higher than the P∙790 Irons
  • Construction: Forged on the P∙790 Irons, Cast on the Qi Max Irons
  • Club length: the Qi Max Irons is 0.25″ longer than the P∙790 Irons
  • Swing weight: the Qi Max Irons is 1 pt lighter than the P∙790 Irons

Specs side by side

P∙790 Irons: 7I; Qi Max Irons: 7I (US models).

P∙790 IronsQi Max Irons
Loft30.5°28°−2.5°
Lie angle62.5°63°+0.5°
Offset2.7 mm—
ConstructionForgedCast
Iron typeHollow body—
Face material—Steel
Club length37″37.25″+0.25″
Swing weightD2D1−1 pt

Values are as published by the makers. Sources are listed on each model's page.

The Numbers, Visualized

Where They Sit Among Irons

Compared with the reference club of every model in Irons on golfclubase (US specs; 7I / 7I). The line is the full range, the band the middle half, the tick the median.

LoftP∙790 Irons 30.5°/Qi Max Irons 28°
27°35°

P∙790 Irons ranks #43 highest of 107. Qi Max Irons ranks #4 lowest of 107.

Lie angleP∙790 Irons 62.5°/Qi Max Irons 63°
61.5°63.5°

P∙790 Irons ranks #23 highest of 107. Qi Max Irons ranks #2 highest of 107.

OffsetP∙790 Irons 2.7 mm
1.5 mm6.9 mm

P∙790 Irons ranks #20 smallest of 70.

Club lengthP∙790 Irons 37″/Qi Max Irons 37.25″
36.25″37.5″

P∙790 Irons ranks #9 shortest of 106. Qi Max Irons ranks #9 longest of 106.

Swing weightP∙790 Irons D2/Qi Max Irons D1
B8D3

P∙790 Irons ranks #9 heaviest of 68. Qi Max Irons ranks #26 heaviest of 68.

Loft by ClubP∙790 IronsQi Max Irons
18.5°38.3°58°3I4I5I6I7I8I9IPWAWSWLW
Length by ClubP∙790 IronsQi Max Irons
35.00″37.06″39.13″3I4I5I6I7I8I9IPWAWSWLW

What reviewers say

P∙790 Irons

What reviewers like

  • Fast ball speed and strong distance, especially through the mid and long irons
  • Off-centre strikes keep plenty of speed and distance
  • Clean, understated looks with minimal offset at address
  • Long irons are easy to get airborne and land softly
  • Soft, solid feel and sound on centred strikes

Watch out for

  • Premium price
  • Long irons can look small; some players would prefer chunkier heads
  • Long irons are hard to flight down into a headwind
  • Less forgiving than a larger cavity-back game-improvement iron
Full overview of the P∙790 Irons →

Qi Max Irons

What reviewers like

  • Very forgiving, with little distance lost on off-centre strikes
  • Strong ball speed and distance throughout the set
  • Softer, more muted feel than many game-improvement irons
  • Straight ball flight that helps counter a slice
  • White line on the leading edge helps square the face

Watch out for

  • Strong lofts leave tight gaps between the long irons
  • Hard to hit low shots or fades
  • Only a small step up from the previous Qi irons
  • Slotted long irons can sound clicky
Full overview of the Qi Max Irons →

Lofts and clubs offered

P∙790 Irons
3I / 4I / 5I / 6I / 7I / 8I / 9I / PW / AW
Set makeup: 4I / 5I / 6I / 7I / 8I / 9I / PW
Qi Max Irons
4I / 5I / 6I / 7I / 8I / 9I / PW / AW / SW / LW
Set makeup: 4I / 5I / 6I / 7I / 8I / 9I / PW · 5I / 6I / 7I / 8I / 9I / PW / AW

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