thanks gord - it makes perfect sense, I was thinking I had made a huge mistake in getting my own custom set - but earlier today I checked the difference in lengths between my new 8iron and my old Tommy 8I - there was a difference in about 3 inches, my new one being the shorter.

So next time I go to the range (competition tomorrow morning) does that mean I should bend more at the waist to compensate for the shortness of the club? I think what my trouble could be was that I was a bit too upright - or if using the old Irons, the right setup -which is wrong witht he new irons?

Thanks again and hopefully I can get this figured out for tomorrow's comp.