When I think of Ram, I think immediately of Tom Watson and some of the classic irons and wedges he used to secure so many tournament victories. The latest irons I have been sent to test from Ram are a long way away from the classic designs that Watson may have gamed back in the day, but I am interested to see what the Ram FXT iron has to offer. Coming with an extraordinarily low price tag of £349.99 for a 7-club set, I was keen to find out if these could hold their own amongst some of the best compact distance irons on the market.
In terms of the tech, they are very much a hollow-bodied construction, with 431 stainless steel making up the main body, welded to a 17-4 ‘super hot’ face. Ram has then heat-treated the head to deliver what it claims is a forged-like feel, along with fast ball speeds and extra forgiveness. A low CG placement is designed to help with launch and there is a toe screw to raise the MOI and reduce that unwanted twisting on off-center strikes.
Lookswise, for me, much like their construction, these irons are a two-parter. From the back, I think Ram has done a great job in creating some real shelf appeal. The contouring and the finish look very premium and the branding is not overdone. Anyone who has read any of my other iron reviews will know I am a fan of the less is more approach to golf club aesthetics and Ram has achieved that without the head looking in any way dull.
Down behind the ball, however, I wasn’t as keen on the profile. To sit in the ‘compact distance’ category, they need to be well, compact, and unfortunately, they are not. Irons like the TaylorMade P790 and the Mizuno Pro 245 are a lot more refined and neater in terms of the visual. The heads on the FXT are pretty sizeable and the top line is one of the thickest I have ever seen. Furthermore, there is just a little too much offset for my liking. These aren’t necessarily negative points, I just feel that these characteristics place the FXT more in the game improvement category than Ram intended.
The performance of the Ram FXT irons was a real surprise. I tested them out at Saunton Golf Club using my FullSwing KIT launch monitor and TaylorMade TP5 golf balls. From a 7-iron loft of 30˚, they produced excellent ball speed, and distance numbers, along with very consistent spin rates, but the real highlight for me was the feel. I have to admit to being a little skeptical about the heat treatment process that Ram was claiming created a ‘forged’ feel, but I have to say, they aren’t far off! While you can really sense the ball zipping off the face at speed, there is a pleasing softness to the hit that genuinely took me by surprise. Even from the toe and heel, they maintained excellent feel, and for me rivaled some of the best irons in this category in that regard.
There are four set make-up configurations available (5-PW, 5-GW, 4-PW, and 4-GW) along with the ability to customize shaft flex and grip thickness, which for the minimal price tag is not always available. The components Ram has selected are excellent quality, using KBS for the shafts and Lamkin for the grip choices.
For me, the Ram FXT represent outstanding value for money. The exceptional feel coupled with impressive launch monitor data and strong shelf appeal makes these irons a good option at any price point.
