question about lie angle?

I'm looking at buying some used clubs, but they are 1/2 degree flat.  I am wondering if that is a significant difference i will notice from the standard clubs i play now.

You'll just have to test-hit the clubs. There's no industry standard in degree angle for a "standard lie" golf iron. Also, engineer-designed lie angle will vary progressively by iron through the set.

Go to the shop and do a "sole tape" test on the irons. The crude way to do it is to put masking tape on the sole, and hit three shots. If the combined scuff mark is in the center of the sole, you have proper lie angle. If it's to the toe or heel, you need lie adjustments.

Most clubfitters have measurement-scored lie angle sole tape on a spool. Just put a segment on the sole of the club, and hit three shots or so.

Also, some iron sets have individual irons which are out of tolerance - each iron in a set has a designated lie angle in the manufacturing specifications.  Either in manufacturing or from play, you may have some irons which got bent too flat or too upright. Have the clubfitters do a loft-and-lie check before you buy them.

Some clubfitters use something called a lie board to determine best angle for you.

go get a dynamic lie angle taken. Hitting off a lie board with a qualified teacher.

What is the process for the dynamic lie angle fitting?  I bought "off-the-rack" clubs last year and really feel like I need to get fitted properly.  I'm looking to get this done fairly soon and have just started investigating what type of fitting I need to get

Getting fit by a teacher/fitter is the most important. Someone to not only look at your equipment but also look at your swing. Static fitting is just taking measurements that are not accurate. You want to hit off of a lie board and the fitter will make sure your lie angle is correct. If your lie angle is off you can be playing like you have a uphill or downhill lie, even when hitting off of flat ground. You do not want to compensate a good swing to fit your clubs. Another reason to get fit by a teacher/fitter dynamically is that teacher can make sure your in a balanced swing, and then make sure the clubs help reward that swing. This will help you be able to grow as a player, and not be condemned to a swing because of your equipment. Many people fit dynamically, but if you can find a Henry-Griffitts fitter in your area, they usually are the best at this. Henry Griffitts actually invented the lie board, so they know how to read it the best. Just tell them that you want to see if your lies are correct, and if they are not how much you need to adjust your clubs.You can take them to a builder to have them adjusted pretty cheap. They will have to determine the lie of you clubs first, because every manufacture is different, so HG specs will be different from say ping. So ask the fitter if they have access to a lie loft machine. They also only fit dynamically....downside to them is that sometimes its hard to find a fitter. This should cost around $100. but its well worth it.

If someone tries to "read" you lies by looking at your club without you swinging it....walk away!

cost is about $5 for the clubs that need to be adjusted.  i've done hundreds and not all clubs need to be adjusted.  the lofts are done at the same time so make sure you mention whether your ball flight seems high or low with your clubs.

1/2 isn't bad.  I'd worry more if it was 1 1/2 or something like that.  Also keep in mind that not all irons may need to be adjusted.  When I went in for some work on the lie board recently, my "standard" clubs only needed a slight bend to the 9-iron and wedge.

I agree with the above poster, a 1/2 degree is not all that much.  Heck that is probably within manufacturers quality tolerances.

I am 5' 3.5" and after a dynamic fitting had my clubs adjusted 2 degrees flat.  Typically the shorter you are the flatter the lie angle.  The taller you are, the more upright lie angle.  Not 100% accurate, but a general rule from static fitters like Ping, Golfsmith's fitment chart and Gigagolf's e-fit system.

The very first thing I would do is find out what the original lie angles were on my current set, and on the proposed new set.  It could be that the new set 1/2º flat would be 1/2º upright vs. your current set.  While some manufacturers will use the same lie angles for their own models, you could randomly select 5 different club makes and models and get 5 different lie angles.

That being said, if they are in fact only a half degree difference, it would be really hard to tell.

Half a degree is not that significant.  The only issue is are you standard to half a degree flat?  I am 1 upright so it would be an issue.  Ditto on the lie board.  I would tell you to ask for the adjustments to be made as a condition of the sale.