Had my first batter with a new set of RAM FXi irons last night.  Being a high handicapper at 24, I found these to be incredibly forgiving.  If I'd putted well, I would have played to 12/13!  I realise this is as much to do with me having a good night tee to green as the clubs but the wide sole really seemed to help the forgiveness, and therefore confidence for a straight shot.  I expected the wider soles to come with a trade off with distance but this was not really the case and I was still hitting PW the same 150 odd yards as with my old Mizunos.  Higly recommended for my peers.

 A very happy chappy  

Did you hit a 3 wood 300yards?

Glad you enjoyed them Paul - keep it going!! 

Not always in the direction I intend it to go though!

I have difficulty playing a 3/4 shot.  Soon as I try and take a bit off, I lose my shape and ball goes anywhere.  I do have a fairly gentle swing, just have a very full follow through.  Shall probably have shagged shoulders by 50.  Its the short stuff doing for my game at the moment.  If I can get that acceptable, I suspect the handicap will tumble.  Need many more hours on the chipping area. 

I was talking about the distance thing last night with a pal.  It seems to me that a good set of graphite shafts probably give you a club and a half each shot.  He hits an 7 / 8 with steel where I'm on a PW / 9 and I'm certainly no Arnie.  I haven't used steel shafts in irons for 4/5 years and used to hit what I guess is a fairly standard 110 / 120.  I shall have to take an old steel shaft PW with me sometime and conduct a scientific experiment.   

Paul, what shafts are in your irons? I'd guess they're way too whippy for you and that's contributing to your waywardness.

 What's your driver and 5 iron distance? Real, not guessed. Have you google earthed them? Had your clubhead speed checked?

As for 3/4 shots, well, it's not about taking any off it, it's about learning to restrict your backswing and then still hitting the ball hard. Look at every pro(Daly excepted) and see how they make a 3/4 turn with their irons yet still crush the ball. It'a all about compression, mate.

It truly is the way to hit it far and straight, but if you think about taking some off you'll lose commitment to the shot.  

you're right about the short game being key though.