I need a bit of advice. I originally had an R5 Dual Type W driver 13.5* which on a good day would reach 200 yards. As usual I wanted to hit it further. Went for R7 Quad HT 11.5 ladies but have found this to be detrimental to my game. I find I can hit my 7 wood (which I found out later is a man's club with a regular shaft) off the deck for around 130-150 yards, further than I hit the bloody R7!

Do you think I could change to a R5 Dual Type D with regular shaft, and perhaps have it shortened. I do find with the R7 quad that if I choke down on it I can hit it better, perhaps because it takes the whippiness out of the shaft.

Any ideas guys.

Possibly you have a swing speed that requires a regular shaft. You are simply over-powering the ladies flex shafts and getting nothing out of them.
I'd recommend that you get your swing speed measured. Go to any shop that has a launch monitor (AGD, Nevada Bob's etc) and get it measured. That will then point you at the right flex to match your speed. Launch monitors are also useful to then find the right head/loft to suit you (optimum launch angle etc). My experience is to be wary of the distance numbers that come off the monitors, they can be used as sales tools. But to get basic info' like swing-speed, no problem.
Possibly you don't need the high loft of the R5 13.5°. Maybe getting the r7 re-shafted would be an option. Don't think you'd want much less loft.
Shaft length should be matched to your height and wrist-to-floor measurement. Ladies clubs are typically 1 inch shorter than means, but depends on your height and preference.

What shaft was in the R5 you hit so well.

It sounds to me like you need a ladies shaft not a regular shaft.

How far do you hit a 7 iron ?

I would definately suggest you see a pro and try a flight monitor.

If you are hitting a 7 wood so well it suggests you need the loft, I would go as far as a 15* off the tee, maybe sticking to a large headed 3 wood is the answer.

Pengwyn - the R5 Dual Type W is the womens version. Has a 400cc head (vs 450cc for the mens), more loft and womens flex shaft.

As Andrew said it was the ladies shaft in R5. I then changed to ladies R7 with ladies shaft, but lower loft hoping for more distance but getting much less. Just thinking I would get more out of club with a regular shaft and higher loft. I hit 7 iron about 130 which is probably even more than I sometimes hit that driver. Perhaps I should go to range and try using 3/4 iron off the tee.

Many people resort to a long iron off the tee and do so quite happily. I suspect that it might be a little limiting tho...
Did you get a too high trajectory with the r5?
Why do you get so little distance with the r7? (too low trajectory?) - it should be at least equivalent to the r5!

I know, I can't understand it myself.

I'm thinking a couple of things really.....

1, where is the weight positioned in the head? maybe you need lighter weights screwed in or maybe you can move the weight to promote a higher trajectory.

2, If you're hitting your 7 iron 130 or so, and sometimes further than your driver, that would suggest a fundamentals problem you know Posture, Ball position ect.

So make sure the all is opposite your left heel, you have a little bit of spine tilt away from the target, and a little more weight on your right leg.