Not your typical tour forging: TaylorMade P7CB iron Review

I’ve tested many TaylorMade Players’ Irons over the last couple of decades but the P7CB uses some clever modern technology to elevate performance in a way previous models haven’t.

TaylorMade has become well-known among elite golfers for making some of the best irons in golf since introducing the P-Series in 2017. The whole P-Series franchise is aimed at ‘Players’ (that’s decent golfers), so the four-model family can fit golfers from 15-time major champ Tiger Woods (with the P7TW) through to reasonable 12 or 14 handicap club golfers with the brilliant P790.

The P7CB has arrived on the scene promising improved playability and consistency over the previous TaylorMade P7MC. This modern-day players’ iron is aimed at golfers predominantly with +5 – 5 handicaps, it sits between the previous P7MC, which was a demanding iron to hit, and the new hollow body fast face P770 (2024).  

Each head is forged five times from 1025C before the faces are CNC Milled to guarantee the highest levels of precision and tightest tolerances demanded by the best players in the world. TaylorMade goes to such lengths to ensure the P7CB is among the best players’ irons on the market.

Inside the long irons, a new Metal Matrix Composite (MMC) a material that’s seven times lighter than steel, allows TaylorMade’s engineers to remove mass from the soles of the long irons and replace it with heavier tungsten, before capping off with MMC. More weight towards the sole helps power shots to a good peak height and ensures steep landing angles so long approaches are much more likely to stop when they hit a green. Those exact performance traits convinced Rory McIlroy to put the 4-iron in his bag for an early season win in 2024.

The MMC works differently in the short irons. By using the material to remove mass from the soles and replace it with MMC there’s more weight available to engineers to relocate in the form of additional perimeter weighting, which means the P7CB short irons become more forgiving and consistent.   

I put the P7CB set through their paces with TG Test Pro Neil

Initial thoughts

As the TaylorMade P7CB has a cavity back construction some club golfers will inevitably try to convince themselves this is a forgiving forged option for club golfers, but that isn’t the case. As much as TG Test Pro Neil Wain loved the compact head size for me as a 10 handicapper, they were just a little too demanding. Good shots from the center of the bat felt super smooth and responsive but the drop-off on shots impacted away from center face would make it tough to score consistently well even on a good ball-striking day.

Neil and I loved the simple, classy styling and each head within the set looked brilliant sitting behind the ball at address. In the bag I doubt there is a more desirable set available, and if classic irons that don’t feel out of date easily are your thing I can see the CB’s having lasting appeal for years to come.

Look and feel

There isn’t too much engineers and designers can do to alter the look of the best players’ irons as any step away from the norm is frowned upon and instantly shunned by those in the know. That said some players’ irons are better shaped and more desirable than others and I would definitely put the P7CB among the best profiles I’ve seen this year.

Usually, I take special interest in the 8-iron within each set I review as it’s the transition club in between what can often be very straight-lined and beautiful mid-irons to slightly more curved and awkward short irons. Throughout the set, the P7CB is stunningly proportioned, with a lovely straight confident topline and a leading edge that blends seamlessly into the hosel. The face-milling detail also reinforces the impression you’re playing with one of the most premium sets available. There’s nothing here to draw or distract the eye, which isn’t always the case with sets designed with the very best players in mind.

Feel and feedback are really important to the best players and thanks to their forged construction and careful shaping the P7CB are right up there among the softest and nicest feeling players’ irons on the market. From the feedback I’ve experienced I doubt whether any golfer would even know the heads contain three different materials, which is a testament to TaylorMade’s 5-step co-forging process.

Performance

TaylorMade reckon golfers can expect to see 4 – 6 yards of carry distance difference between the CB and fast face P770 (2024) mid and long irons, while our test data doesn’t quite support their thinking things could be slightly different on another day’s testing. We have the pair very evenly matched with the P770 launching and flying a fraction higher and hitting the green at a slightly steeper angle, all traits most commonly associated with modern hollow body irons.

Having hit all of the best players’ irons this year my gut feeling is so long as your game truly sits within the players’ iron market the P7CB is a fantastic choice. Compared to the competition you will find some extra playability in the long irons and a fraction more forgiveness in the short but to my mind, the P7CB is a great alternative to the Titleist T100, Ping Blueprint S, Mizuno Pro 243, Srixon ZX7 MK II and PXG 0317 CB.

Playability

Thanks to a 2mm wider sole than the previous P7MC I have absolutely no doubt the P7CB is more playable than the previous P7MC, that was really apparent when Neil hit the 5, 6, and 7-irons. Obviously not all golfers will want a 4-iron within this set like Rory McIlroy but very few club golfers won’t want the additional shot-stopping power on offer here.

Additional short iron forgiveness is a really difficult metric to quantify in the real world but if you’re anything like me any little bonus in neutralizing the effects of slight mishits, so shots travel very similar distances whether they’re hit from the center or not is always welcome.     

In the hands of our test pro

As part of our Best TaylorMade Iron test sessions, I put the P7CB in the hands of TG Test Pro Neil Wain. Below is a data chart showing how the model faired against the rest of the TaylorMade family.

Surprisingly there isn’t too much in terms of carry distance difference between the P7CB and P770. As is the trend with hollow body constructions though the P770 launched and flighted shots higher with a steeper landing angle, plus it will be slightly more forgiving thanks to the construction.

You should not be considering the P7CB if you’re also thinking about the bigger and more forgiving P790, if you happen to be there’s a good 9 yards worth of carry distance difference between them at decent club golfer speeds.

Data comparison: How does the P7CB compare to other irons in the TaylorMade family?

	7-Iron Loft	Ball Speed	Launch Angle	Backspin	Peak Height	Descent Angle	Carry Distance
TaylorMade P7MB	34°	121.6 MPH	16.6°	6806 RPM	32 YDS	46.6°	171 YDS
TaylorMade P7CB	33°	122.1 MPH	15.5°	6420 RPM	30 YDS	45°	173 YDS
TaylorMade P770	33°	121.7 MPH	16.4°	6561 RPM	32 YDS	46.2°	172 YDS
TaylorMade P790	30.5°	125.9 MPH	15.2°	5945 RPM	32 YDS	45.3°	182 YDS
TaylorMade Qi	28°	129 MPH	14.4°	5478 RPM	32 YDS	44.5°	189 YDS
TaylorMade Qi HL	30°	127.2 MPH	15.3°	6186 RPM	33 YDS	46.1°	183 YDS

Verdict: TaylorMade P7CB iron

I’m a huge fan of classy players’ irons that aren’t gimmicked up and will stand the test of time, and the P7CB is one of the best you’ll find. I loved their shape, feel, and feedback even though I know the set will only ever be an aspiration for my game, hence why we employ Test Pro Neil Wain.

If you’re going to give them a try for yourself I’d advise paying close attention to your ball flight, spin, and decent angles as the new Dynamic Gold Mid 115 stock shafts are a mid-launch and spin option (as I explain on our Best Iron Shafts page), which when combined with the traditional lofts might give a higher ball flight than expected.

As far as grips go the stock non-corded Golf Pride Z-Grip is one of the smoothest feeling out there, it’s also durable and thanks to the tread pattern offers up good traction in dry, warm, and reasonably damp conditions.      

Credible alternative irons to the TaylorMade P7CB

• Callaway Apex 24 CB
• Titleist T100 (2023)
• Ping Blueprint S

• READ NEXT: Best TaylorMade Irons 2024
• READ NEXT: Best Iron Shafts 2024

About the author

Simon Daddow – Today’s Golfer Equipment Editor

Having tested and played more than 10,000 clubs in his life, what Simon doesn’t know about golf clubs isn’t worth knowing.

He spent a large part of his career as a golf club maker and product development manager, and has worked in the golf industry for more than 30 years. He joined EMAP Active (now Bauer Media) as Equipment Editor in 2006 and has worked for both Today’s Golfer and Golf World.

You can contact Simon via email and follow him on Twitter for loads more golf equipment insight.

TaylorMade P7CB Iron

RRP: US: $1,399 per set UK: £179 per iron

Stock Shaft: Dynamic Gold Mid 115

Stock grips: Golf Pride Z-Grip +2

Category: Players’ Iron

Forgiveness rating: 2/5

7-iron loft: 33°

TM Handicap guide: +5 – 5

View the TaylorMade website here