First look: TaylorMade creates progressive forged P760 iron set

In recent years, blended irons sets have become commonplace on the PGA TOUR with players utilizing high-launching, easier-to-hit long irons with more compact mid and short irons that provide the workability and flight control many at the top level require.

For TaylorMade staffers, that's meant creating blended sets comprised of the company's P730, P750, P770 and P790 models.

"It's incredibly rare that you see a player on TOUR using the same iron model throughout the bag," said TaylorMade's Matt Bovee. "You have Rory [McIlroy] with UDI, P750 and P730; Justin Rose carries a P790 4-iron at time to go along with P730 irons; and then there's Beau Hossler who uses P790 all the way down to the 5-iron."

Using the rise in blended sets as the impetus, TaylorMade's design team went to work creating P760 — a progressive forged set that will soon replace P770 and P750 in the current iron lineup.

"We wanted to simplify things a bit and take some of the technology and design aspects from P790, P770 and P750 and create a complete iron set," Bovee said. "We expect P760 to be out No. 1 iron model on TOUR in 2019."

The progressive design starts with hollow-body long and mid irons (3-7) — comprised of a 1025 carbon-steel body and SUS630 steel face insert — featuring TaylorMade's low-density Speed Foam material inside the cavity.

The foam, which was initially introduced with P790, is injected into the head via a weight port in the toe and expands to solid form over a period of 45 minutes. The material provides support to the face while also acting as a dampener to improve sound. Due to its low density, Speed Foam is also beneficial for center of gravity, as it doesn't add weight to the middle of the head.

The 3- through 7-iron have a head shape that more closely resembles P770 in the top line and offset department. The entire set is actually progressive in form, down the amount of Speed Foam inserted into each cavity, blade length and hosel length that gets shorter as the set progresses into the long irons. The progressive hosel design shifts the center of gravity marginally lower to allow the long irons to launch higher.

In the 8-PW, Speed Foam in the cavity is replaced by a solid construction for the players who put a premium on feel and workability over maximum distance. From a looks standpoint, the short irons should appeal to those currently playing the P750.

Less noticeable changes include a subtle camber on the sole and straighter leading edge for improved turf interaction.

TaylorMade's P760 irons will be available Nov. 2 and retail for $1,400 as an 8-piece set (3-PW, with AW also available). The stock shaft offering is True Temper Dynamic Gold 120 (S300, X100).