Thanks Jim.

I didn't know if I should get fitted with a new set to work on getting my swing back, or just get a used set. I think I will just get a used set to get my swing back. If all goes well, I will look at a new set next year.

I would agree. Before spending $1000 on a new set of irons, considering you haven't played golf in 7 years, I would go and buy a used set. DCI 981 irons can be had for under $75 these days. Vokey wedges can be had for as little as $20 (Tour Chrome) used just to see what works. Even with a used set of irons, they should still have a lie angle adjustment done. $5 per club and well worth it. Places like Golf Mart (Roger Dunn Golf Shops) have a 90 day playability guarantee even on used clubs. You also may find that your set makeup may differ from what it was in 2005. Between 1972-2003 I played with 3-4 persimmon woods 2-PW blade irons and dual wedge. My golf setup since 2006 has pretty much been driver, 5 or 7 wood, lofted fairway wood or 5H, 6-PW irons, SW and X/LW. At this time, my basic setup is a 13 deg draw driver, 7 wood, 5H, 6-PW, 50-08 54-11 and 62-07. I also have been using one form of a lofted approach hybrid as a utility club since 2006 (carried a Snake Eyes Q3A 34H and 38H and currently use a Louisville persimmon 34H). I recently traded a 60-07 and 64-07 Spin Milled for a Spin-Milled c-c 62-07 for simplification of wedge game (the 62 is a very versatile lob wedge). I have two sets of irons: Eye 2 Blue Dot (don't carry the PW since the 9 iron is 45*) and Titleist DCI 981 and both have been fit properly. My putter has also been fit too (I have an White Hot 7H that I picked up for $69). I also have a Louisville persimmon 28 deg 10 wood I bust out every now and then. I shoot in the mid 80s on a standard par 72 course and close to par on an exec course. My two cents on new clubs is to start with wedges after finding out what works. Then hybrids.

Good idea. There is always the arguement whether to develop a swing or get fitted. Once you have your commitment for practice time and lessons (...or not), then you can get fit for clubs. At the higher handicap level, try to find some game improvements that may be 2-4 generations back but aren't badly worn. Just make sure the length and lie can be adjusted. I had "guessed" a set of G10s should be blue lie for me. Turns out that yellow and +1/4 length fit me better. Maybe buying from e-Bay wasn't my best idea. It did make it easier for the Titleist fitter to add over 12 yards to my 7 iron when I felt comfortable enough with my swing to get AP1-712. Would/could have been harder if I had shopped local outlets with launch pads before buying used. The differences between irons in the same category, reasonably well fit, are not as dramatic for new golfers as drivers would be.

I got some used Ping Eye 2s that started out as green dot with mixed shafts. I had them sent back to Ping to be flattened to Yellow Dot (which is what the static fit indicates). I also had them reshafted to TT Lite XL reg. With Green Dot, I had to choke down about halfway to get them to hit straight. Yellow Dot was OK but they felt a little heavy and I tended to pull the 6 and 7 irons. I recently did a simulator session and found Blue Dot gave the best results so I sent them back to Ping and had them flattened. They hit nice and clean and straight and I gained about 10 yards. Pings are the better game improvement irons and pretty workable but most fitters will send them back for adjustment. One thing is that the lie angle machines Ping uses vs the standard Mitchell machine differs by 1.5-2 deg in some cases (this is what I was told by Ping when I asked why my 7 iron read 66 deg locally when yellow dot). On e-bay, Green Dot, Black Dot, Red Dot and Orange Dot are the most common. The others are pretty rare.

I think u should go ap1 712, they are a little more forgiving to a high handicapper like me. But ultimately go to a golf store and make sure they feel ridght. Hope I helped! -Dan C.