I'm not overly gentle with my irons - no headcovers in my bag - but these babies are standing up as well if not better than any forged irons I've ever had except the Srixon I-302's. They do mark however, as is testified by the marks on the shaft where I had them bent to my spec, but that's just testimony to the softness of the material used. I think I'd get them checked every season (as you should with forged irons anyway). At the minute I'm loving them with the only thing catching my eye being plus1's NC-1's. As he's not parting with them I'm more than happy to keep my Scratch CB's....