Sub 70 699 Vs Taylormade P790 Irons Comparison Overview

Yes, Taylormade is one of the most recognizable golf brands in the world.

Yes, Sub 70 does not have nearly the kind of market share that Taylormade enjoys. However, it is very remarkable that the Sub 70 699 irons mirror the Taylormade P790 irons so closely.

Both sets boast a hollow-body design. Both sets have a filler material to improve feel and stability. They even have nearly-identical loft profiles. But the Sub 70 699’s are less than half the price of the P790’s. So can a cheaper set of irons that was seemingly made in the same vein as the Taylormade P790’s hold up? Let’s find out.

Sub 70 699 Irons Overview

“At just about $600, we were amazed at the premium features the Sub 70 699 irons boast.”

For instance, the Sub 70 699 irons feature milled 455 Carpenter Steel faces. The hollow body club heads have also been injected with thermoplastic elastomer which gives them a softer feel and more stable flight.

When we tested the Sub 70 699 irons, we noticed that the face has a very robust response to almost all shots. You can feel the ball compress against the face and launch off hot and fast. Even with a nearly identical loft profile to the 790’s the Sub 70 699’s definitely launch higher.

21+ degree launch angles were not uncommon with the 7-iron. This isn’t great for faster swingers but it will likely be very beneficial for mid handicappers. Distance was excellent even on open-faced shots: 268.1 yards was our average distance with the 7-iron.

Taylormade P790 Irons Overview

“The main advantage that the P790 irons have over the Sub 70 699’s is that they are forged.”

While the Sub 70 699’s feel fast and responsive, the P790’s feel soft and smooth. So the Taylormade P790’s have a more premium feel overall. When you open up the face of the 699’s and hit the high-toe, you still get great distance. When you do the same with the P790’s you lose significant distance.

However, low-face strikes on the P790’s were much more forgiving so you have to pick your poison. Overall though, the P790’s did not play as long as the Sub 70 699’s.

“The only clear advantage that the Taylormade P790’s had over the Sub 70 699’s was feel and consistency. Amazingly, the cheaper Sub 70 699 irons played longer and rivaled the P790’s in accuracy. The Sub 70 699’s absolutely hold up against the more expensive Taylormade P790 irons.”

Sub 70 699 Irons

Category – Player’s Distance

Taylormade P790 Irons

Category – Forged Irons

Sub 70 699 – First Impressions

“We liked the clean, sleek satin finish of these irons right away.”

The Sub 70 699 irons look very good behind the ball. The feel at impact is solid yet soft, active yet stable. We also really liked the fact that you can actually feel the ball compress against the face.

Taylormade P790 – First Impressions

The first thing to notice about the P790 irons is the compact, forged heads that come in a shape and style that will suit the better players.

Despite the players feel of the irons, they also come packed with technology that will add distance and forgiveness like the Thru Slot speed pocket, speed foam and inverted cone technology which allows more flex on impact.

The forged irons are actually a hollow construction, filled with speed foam which allows much greater distances to be achieved than the original P790’s and the tungsten weighting keeps the CG low for an easy launch for an iron of this type.

The original P790 irons, released in 2017, were definitely for the players but with the remodelling in 2019 and 2021, these can also be used for mid handicappers looking to test the waters of players irons.

All in all, definitely not for the high handicappers.

Sub 70 699 Selling Points

Thermoplastic elastomer-injected head
Hollow-body design
Milled, 455 Carpenter Steel face construction
Muscle back design
Progressive offset
Multiple shaft options (graphite, steel, brands)

P790 Irons – Selling Points

2 Tungsten Weights For Low COG
Co Molded Cavity Badge For No Vibrations
Lots Of Loft In The Clubs
Flexible Hinge And Variable Face Thickness
Forgiving And Consistent

Who Are the Sub 70 699 Irons for?

In our estimation, having tested the Sub 70 699’s for ourselves, we would say that the ideal handicap range for these irons is 12-19….maybe stretching all the way up to a 20 handicap.

But we feel more comfortable in the 12-19 range because it’s mid handicappers that are really going to gain the most distance from these irons.

The Sub 70 699 irons reward a fast, sweeping swing with near-effortless distance. It was also very easy for all of our testers to get the ball up in the air and to produce strong carries.