I have found that most times a punch shot from an iron 7-8-9 will many times get me out of the sand and back on the green with the longest shots. Doesn't work out of brush or fescue usually then I just stick with the wedges. I havn't figured out what makes some work and others not, but after time there is a pattern and you can pick out certain situations where it works well. Short doglegs, and those greens with a lot of sand traps around them as when it works there is a lot more control on landing. Just my 2cp