As the head golf instructor at Tell Me More Golf, and in this article, I will compare two extremely high-performing irons for high-level golfers: the Mizuno JPX 923 Forged and the TaylorMade P790.

These irons have their similarities, such as both being made for good ball strikers seeking great distance and workability, but they also have some key differences.

After reading this article, you’ll know which one suits you the best, based on your golf swing and specific needs.

Mizuno JPX 923 Benefits

In our testing of the Mizuno JPX 923 forged irons, the standout feature was undoubtedly their aesthetic appeal. True to Mizuno’s reputation, these irons boast a sleek and beautifully crafted design.

These are players irons, meaning that they’re not the most forgiving, but they were really stable and consistent considering the design. 

Mizuno is known for their amazing feel, and the JPX 923 irons are no exception with a pretty unbeatable soft feel when striking the sweet spot.  

Mizuno JPX 923 Negatives

The biggest drawback of the Mizuno JPX 923 Forged irons is forgiveness. If we ignore that, as many golfers want the workability and performance of the players irons design, there is very little to complain about. 

Compared to the P790s, we saw slightly shorter distances, and the workability wasn’t as great. But with that said, the differences were small, and the distance and workability are still really good. 

TaylorMade P790 Irons Benefits

With the P790 TaylorMade irons, you get a classic players iron design with fantastic performance. If you want to work shots like a tour pro while also hitting it really far, there are very few, if any, better options. 

TaylorMade P790 Irons Negatives

These irons also look very slim, which can be a little terrifying if you’re used to game-improvement irons.

The feel is good because of the forged design, but it’s not as great as the Mizuno’s. 

Lofts Comparison

Overall, the lofts of these irons are pretty similar, but the Mizunos are usually about one degree stronger lofted. We did not notice any significant launch or ball flight differences. 

Which Has Better Distance?

These are both long distance irons, but through our tests, we found the TaylorMade P790s to be the longest hitting. This was the case for both carry and total distance. 

So, if you’re comfortable almost always hitting the center of the face, the P790s are the clear winner here. 

Which Has Better Forgiveness?

The Mizuno JPX 923 Forged irons are, without a doubt, more forgiving than the TaylorMade P790s. This is because of the more stable design which focuses on delivering more forgiveness and a tighter dispersion, while the P790 irons are made for maximum performance. 

Handicap Range Compared

Both of these irons are for relatively high-level golfers, but they do differ. The JPX 923 Forged suit low and mid-handicappers, but usually the lower end of that spectrum. For the Mizunos, we say you should have a handicap between 3 and 12. In other words, these irons are not for high handicappers. 

This gives you an idea of who they’re made for, and we believe you should have a handicap between scratch and 10. 

Price Compared

The Mizuno 923 Forged irons and the TaylorMade P790s are both high-end golf clubs with a premium price. The TaylorMades are more expensive though, with a brand-new set setting you back around $1300. 

The Mizunos are a little more affordable at around $1100, but they’re still quite expensive. 

Feel Compared

Mizuno Golf is known for the excellent feel in their irons, and the same goes for their JPX 923s. They’re very soft feeling when you make at least a decent strike, which makes them pretty confidence-inspiring despite the players irons design. 

On miss-hits, they don’t feel very stable and the feeling is quite uncomfortable. 

Shaft Compared

The stock shaft in the Mizuno JPX 923 Forged irons is a KBS Taper Lite Chrome Steel. This is a premium shaft with mid-high launch and low-mid spin. 

There are a few stock options with the TaylorMade P790s, but the most popular is the Dynamic Gold 95 VVS from True Temper. This shaft’s specs are very similar to the Mizunos, but it’s a bit lower-spinning, especially in the long irons. 

Spin Compared

Both of these irons are relatively low-spin, but the P790s definitely spin less. Generally, this lower spin makes them very unsuitable for golfers who struggle with a big miss or striking the ball well, as well as for those lacking swing speed. 

In the shorter irons, you can generate pretty high spin rates, but only if you have a very high swing speed of quite a bit more than 100 mph. 

Which Irons You Should Get 

If you’re a confident ball striker with a swing speed of over 100 mph and want maximum distance and workability, the P790 irons from TaylorMade can be a great investment.

On the other hand, if you’re also a good ball striker with a swing speed of over 95 mph, but want more forgiveness and a softer feel, the Mizuno JPX 923 Forged irons can be better. 

Conclusion: 

In this article, we’ve compared the TaylorMade P790s and the Mizuno JPX 923 Forged irons. Both of these are premium high-performing players irons that suit skilled golfers.

The P790s feature low spin, a ton of workability, and top-of-the-line ball speed. The JPX 923 Forged irons are a bit more confidence-inspiring, both regarding feel and looks, and they’re more forgiving. However, they’re also not as much of a players iron as the P790s. 

Which is the best set of irons depends entirely on your swing and personal preferences, and hopefully, you now know which to opt for. If not, we recommend you see a professional fitter.

Patrick Corley

From a golf scholarship to a Southern California University, to a private golf coaching career and an instructor position at a nonprofit organization, I’m here to help you get better at golf! With my 50+ years of golf experience; I bring you Tell Me More Golf. A golf coaching website that helps your game with instructional golfing content that’s ultimately geared toward making you a better golfer and having more fun!

Our golf instructor team brings it all to you, so enjoy!

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