The Ping i500 irons are pretty much the longest irons that Ping have ever released (numerous reviewers have found that the i500’s go further than the G700s and the G710s). They are also very good looking, with a compact profile and blade-style design that will catch the eye of many golfing enthusiasts.
Then we have the 2019 Taylormade P790’s, which sees one of the most popular player distance irons ever made, get a subtle yet much appreciated upgrade.
As we dive deeper into this comparison, it should become very obvious that the specs of these irons are extremely similar. In terms of loft, length and lie angle, the i500’s and the P790’s are pretty much neck and neck. Now let’s get stuck into the details.
Ping i500 vs Taylormade P790 - Loft Comparison
| Product Name | Ping i500 Irons | Taylormade P790 |
| 3 Iron | 18.0° | 19.0° |
| 4 Iron | 21.0° | 21.0° |
| 5 Iron | 24.0° | 23.5° |
| 6 Iron | 27.0° | 26.5° |
| 7 Iron | 30.5° | 30.5° |
| 8 Iron | 35.0° | 35.0° |
| 9 Iron | 40.0° | 40.0° |
| Pitching Wedge | 45.0° | 45.0° |
| Gap Wedge | 50.0° | 50.0° |
i500 Irons vs P790 Irons - Length Comparison
| Product Name | i500 Irons | P790 Irons |
| 3 Iron | 39.50″ | 39.00″ |
| 4 Iron | 38.875″ | 38.50″ |
| 5 Iron | 38.25″ | 38.00″ |
| 6 Iron | 37.72″ | 37.50″ |
| 7 Iron | 37.00″ | 37.00″ |
| 8 Iron | 36.50″ | 36.50″ |
| 9 Iron | 36.00″ | 36.00″ |
| Pitching Wedge | 35.50″ | 35.75″ |
| Gap Wedge | 35.50″ | 35.50″ |
Ping i500 Irons vs Taylormade P790 Irons - Lie Comparison
| Product Name | i500 Irons | P790 Irons |
| 3 Iron | 60.0° | 60.5° |
| 4 Iron | 60.5° | 61.0° |
| 5 Iron | 61.0° | 61.5° |
| 6 Iron | 61.5° | 62.0° |
| 7 Iron | 62.0° | 62.5° |
| 8 Iron | 62.8° | 63.0° |
| 9 Iron | 63.5° | 63.5° |
| Pitching Wedge | 64.1° | 64.0° |
| Gap Wedge | 64.1° | 64.0° |
Key Technology In The Ping i500 Irons
Powerful Maraging-Steel Face
A forged, C300 maraging-steel face combines with a 17-4 stainless steel body for metal-wood-like performance, resulting in faster ball speeds and much longer, higher-trajectory shots with stopping power.
Muscle-Back Look
The muscle-back geometry helps to hinge the precision-milled, forged, C300 maraging steel face, which flexes, adding dynamic loft while increasing ball speed, trajectory and distanc
Compact Design
The clean, blade-style shape with minimal offset produces so much speed and distance that you’ll be able to hit one less club into greens.
Precision Grooves
The face and grooves are precision-milled to provide a flat surface for ensuring consistent ball speeds and reliable ballstriking.
HydroPearl Chrome 2.0 Finish
This premium finish helps ensure impact consistency and distance control from the rough and wet conditions while adding to the high-end appeal of the club.
Ping i500 Irons - Pros and Cons
Pros
- The i500’s are super long
- They are absolutely gorgeous
- They launch high with relatively low spin
- They can give you good distance control, even into the wind
Cons
- The i500’s are pretty expensive
- They aren’t the most forgiving player-distance irons
- Some players don’t enjoy the sound
- You can lose a bit of feel with the shorter irons
Key Technology In The Taylormade P790 Irons
Speedfoam Insert
The all new P790 features ultra-light urethane foam injected inside the head, engineered to push the design limits of face speed while simultaneously improving feel.
Next Generation Forged Progression
New thinner forged face with progressively located ICT design engineered to maximize COR area while improving accuracy.
Low Profile Tungsten Weighting
The newly redesigned P790 features a low-profile tungsten weight designed to give you a lower CG and higher launch.
New Taylormade P790 Irons - Pros and Cons
Pros
- Ranked as the best player distance iron in 2020 by GolfWRX
- Similar performance and feel to the original P790’s (this is a good thing)
- Arguably the best feeling player-distance irons available right now
- A pretty safe bet for low and mid handicap players
Cons
- They aren’t that much longer or that much better than the original P790’s
- They don’t go quite as high as the previous versions (according to some testers)
- You could score a set of the original P790’s for a much more affordable price
Final Thoughts
Speaking as Ping Fanboy, my heart yearns for the i500’s to dominate this product comparison. However, the research and reviews fall in favor of the P790’s in this instance.
That being said, I don’t think you can go too far wrong with either set, and it’s safe to say that you will more than likely hit both of them significantly further than your current irons.
In closing, you could say that the Ping i500’s are the better looking irons, while the P790’s are probably the better irons overall. Obviously your individual experience may not conform to this conclusion, but that seems to be the overall sentiment with this particular product comparison.
