John Letters Limited Edition F-7 irons

	John Letters Limited Edition F-7 irons
Contact: www.johnletters.com Technology: Classic-looking head forged from super-soft 1020 Carbon Steel. Progressive weight distribution - lower for long irons, higher for short irons - rolled edges and a cambered mid-sole with chrome finish. True Temper Dynamic Gold shafts as standard, Golf Pride Tour Velvet grips. Each set (3-PW comes with a certificate of authenticity guaranteeing that the club features 'the highest standards of workmanship and materials.' Price: £299 (3-PW)

Forged F-7 irons I've always had a soft spot for John Letters. It's one of those quintessential UK brands that have been the backbone of the golf industry. Indeed the 1949 Britain and Ireland Ryder Cup team teed off against the United States at Ganton, Yorkshire, with eight members playing clubs made by John Letters' Scottish craftsmen. Oh how Callaway, Taylormade, Titleist, Nike and the rest would love to lay claim to that achievement. Now, after a turbulent period when the John Letters name became swamped by the technology and marketing expertise of US-based rivals, leading to its going into receivership, it has re-emerged with new products supported by Direct Golf UK, its owner since 2005. The competition is tough but as long as the brand can keep producing clubs of the calibre of these irons, it has every chance to succeed. As a mid-handicapper I've tended to shy away from forged blade-style clubs. With the smaller heads they demand the practice ethic and dedication of a single-figure player who can hit them with consistent precision.

Progressive weighting in the F-7 irons Too many miss-hits tend to sap the confidence and as a consequence the swing gets shorter and shorter until you're steering the ball towards the target with little follow through. For me, it took a Tour pro a few seconds to convince me that if I had the confidence to follow through with a high finish to every full swing, I'd get better results. It coincided with being introduced to these irons and has so far produce good results. The classic-looking heads are smaller than the popular over-size and mid-size clubs aimed at golfers of similar handicap to me but as confidence increases the soft 1020 carbon steel delivers the feedback you expect with the John Letters name. In addition the weight in the head moves according to the loft on the face - lower for the longer irons, behind the ball for the mid-irons and progressively higher for the shorter irons when penetrative spin is needed. While I had little difficulty in getting the 3- and 4-iron airborne, my best results came from the mid-irons - 6-, 7- and 8-iron. I loved the towering flight they generated and indeed amazed several playing partners, more used to my regular links-style ball flight. I was less successful with the shorter irons, however. Feedback from the 9-iron and wedge didn't give me the feel I get from bigger more forgiving heads but that's more down to my lack of short game practice than a criticism of the clubs. The Golfmagic Verdict Rating: 8/10 Summary: Of the forged clubs I've tried these stand out for their looks and the ball flight they generate. For those prepared to work at their game to get more precision into their ball-striking, these are ideal as a first introduction to forged clubs. But don't expect instant forgiveness. You'll get from them what you're prepared to put in, in terms of practice. *Tell us about the clubs in your bag - as well as the balls, shoes, waterproofs. Submit a user review in Febraury for the chance to win a golf break at Hawkstone Park Hotel. And if you've got equipment to buy or sell second hand you can do that too, in our popular classified section.