Attention all ball strikers, this review is for you.
TaylorMade's P7MB irons are designed and used by the best players in the world. They're part of the famous P-Series of irons, and this end of the spectrum is aimed at elite golfer who require precision rather than technology.
They sit between the P7MC and the P7TW irons, and are used by Charley Hull and Rasmus Hojgaard on tour. Hot off the press this winter is the news that Collin Morikawa has put these new P7MBs in the bag as part of a combo with the new P7MCs. As you'll soon find out in this review, TaylorMade players have had a lot of say in the build of these new heads.
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The Tech
As you can probably imagine, there probably isn't a great deal of technology in the P7MB due to the fact that they are forged blades.
Tour inspired shaping sees the iron redesigned compared to the previous model to provide better workability. This latest model has a shorter blade length, narrower sole width (by a whopping 1 mllimetre) and with a progressive offset through the bag which is similar in looks to the P730.
The iron is said to blend traditional muscle back performance with a more modern look and design, with an updated back bar using symmetrical geometry to create a better look.
The 1025 carbon steel heads also feature the same compact grain forging as seen on the P7MC iron, with each head being 5x forged using a new 2,000 ton press which allows the head to be more consistent in their build.
Finally, a machined face and grooves provides extra precision and quality with the MX9 score line geometry helping to encourage shot making.
The P7MB are available from 3-PW in both left and right handed, and as you'd imagine, TaylorMade have kept the lofts pretty traditional. A 7 iron is 34 degrees and a Pitching Wedge is 47 degrees, which is worth bearing in mind if you're moving from a set of irons that are a bit stronger and want to make sure that you've got the right gapping at either end of the bag.
TaylorMade P7MB 2023 Irons Review
Looks and Feel
The P7MB is a traditional and beautiful compact blade which is short in length, round and elegant. They sit invitingly behind the ball and do seem more petite than the previous P7MB head. The cut muscle back design has evolved, with added geometric shaping towards the heel.
In terms of finish there is a half brushed, half chrome finish which is a change from the full-chrome finish on the previous P7MB.
The irons feel wonderfully soft with instant feedback. If I turned the blade left the ball went left and vice versa, they're just so easy to shape. I tested these irons alongside the P7MCs, they felt lighter during impact and the face was easier to manipulate (they weren't quite as stable).
As soon as the ball left the club face, I could call exactly what shot I was about to see. I got stings through my fingers when I caught it thin, and the warmest of feelings when I struck the ball well.
This is golf in its purest form and I do miss that feedback with my current irons.
The Data
I hit shots with the P7MB and P7MC 7 irons using my Trackman 4 to compare their performance.
I averaged 126 yards carry which is understandably pretty low due to the weaker lofts on offer, but I did have one poor strike in there.
The spin rate was around 300rpm lower with the MB than with the MC, whilst the ball speed was identical and the launch angle and peak heights were very similar. There was slightly more variation in the heights with the MB, which probably just proves that the MC provides a tiny bit more forigveness.
The dispersion between my best and worst shot indoors was 17 yards, which is 6 yards more than with the MC, as expected due to the lack of forgiveness in these heads.
My dispersion in terms of direction and distance was also slightly higher with the MB than the MC, but on the whole it was very impressive.
On-Course Performance
I loved testing these irons outside at Reddish Vale GC, my divots were nice and shallow and I found myself landing the ball at pin high so often.
I had to account for the cold, wet day and the lack of distance that these irons gave me but I managed to adapt nicely. Outside my 9 iron pitched 100 yards, 7 iron went 120, and 5 iron went 140 on the fly. This is 10-15 yards down on my Ping i525s, which are similar to the TaylorMade P790s.
I only caught one strike slightly thin but still managed to find the green, the rest of my attempts were awesome but I have to stress, they were short in yardage.
I was surprised that these irons spun more inside and outside than the MCs. I hit both the MC and MB 9 iron into the 2nd green at Reddish Vale and they pitched in virtually the same spot, but the MB spun back towards the front of the green notably more than the MC. I expected the opposite results.
These clubs do not offer any help in the distance department due to their true lofts and the lack of spring in the face. I dropped a few balls into the wet rough to see how they performed and it was hard work, the face turned more and I lost even more distance.
TaylorMade P7MB 2022 Irons Verdict
I remember when I tested the previous P-Series irons from TaylorMade that I preferred the MB over the MC, and once again this is the case.
They are a stylish head which will make your friends think more of you as a golfer, but you have to be able to strike the golf ball in the centre of the face and at high speed to get the most out of them. You do the work, not the club, in this case. But what you sacrifice in distance, you gain in feel and workability.
The P7MBs are smooth in appearance and feel, and they are ever so slightly better than the old P7MBs. The question is, will the likes of McIlroy, Fleetwood and Johnson put them in the bag like Morikawa has? This player power is how TaylorMade market and sell their products.
Who are they aimed at?
TaylorMade will be looking to switch out their players using the P730s into these. However they may find it difficult because they are similar to the P7TW irons and tour players may well be just as influenced as we are in wanting to play the same irons as Tiger.
I would still try these if you are an elite amateur or professional golfer who requires precision, workability, reliability, feel and smaller heads rather than ball speed. They're much easier to come by than the prototypes that the likes of McIlroy and DJ are using.
Would I use them?
I used the P7MBs from 8-PW but these days I am more of a P790 player as I do not produce enough ball speed, which is a shame because I do really like them.
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