At what point would you recommend upgrading irons?

I have played about 1 year and immediately bought a set of Cobra S3 Max clubs and the accompanying 3 and 5 woods.  My Driver is a Ping i20.  I have purchased a 56 and 60 degree ping tour-s rustique.

I put in a huge amount of time and money practicing and do not want equipment to hold me back.

Is there a time when buying brand new set of fully fitted clubs would actually improve the game??

I just did it after 2 years of playing.  Go to a fitter, bring your old clubs and try out a bunch of new ones and then decide if you think its worth it.  I just went and got fitted today actually and it was a pretty cool experience and I got some pretty sweet irons.

Turbo - I do believe clubs can make a difference in someone's game, but shooting over bogey might suggest there are parts of your game that could use improvement.  I've never seen you play obviously, I'm just basing that totally on HCP.

Before shelling out the cash on new clubs, I'm curious... do you ever track your scores and note where you're losing the strokes?  Maybe there is a certain part of your game (or two) where you can shave off a few strokes.  I'm not stating whether or not you truly need new clubs, just throwing it out there in case you haven't already assessed your strengths/weaknesses.

For instance, I'm an 11 HCP but I know I lose a good 4-5 strokes a round off the tee.  It has nothing to do with my driver, it's just something with my game that I've always struggled with and need to work more on.

Depends if you feel that the clubs aren't responding to your swing or tendencies.

For example, if you feel like can't draw ball as much as you know how to, a demo and fitting and might help you unlock some more of that potential.

Do you want new clubs?

I used scores as a way of letting myself get new stuff.  I bought a new set of irons when I broke 100, but I didn't let myself use them until I broke 90.

Got a new driver when I broke 80.

I promised myself a nice putter (Edel, I hope) when I broke 80 the second time.

I'm going to get fit for clubs as soon as possible (cause I broke 75).  (21 month old and another one the way - due next week - so I have used my free time for playing - not shopping.)

Good answers, and thanks.  I picked up some scorecards at Golftec that I love.  Each hole has fairway hit R or L, GIR, bunker shots, number of putts, really a good review of your game.

As far as knowing what parts of game are in need, it's been a process.  Really I am about a 20-25 HC and practice way more than I play.  Not sure what i expect new clubs to do.  But to your point I went from a 107 to a 95-97 just by learning to drive straight (not far but I am rarely in trouble due to my driver now).

I am getting up to snuff with lagging and putting on the green......with all that said my worst part of my game is inside 50 yards, with more of that being around the green15 to 20 yards.  Not sure clubs would fix any of that??

Here is how I use my clubs....

60=60yards and in

56 up to about 75 yards

gap wedge to 100

9 to 125

8 to 140

7 to about 150

6 and 5 can go 150 or 165, never know so I dont use them

5 wood 170

3 wood 190

Driver 225 to 240 depending on roll

Really seem to have a gap in the 140 to 170 range.

So another way of asking would be from the 399 set to the highest priced set of irons available,what is the difference in performance?

I played baseball and you could buy a metal bat at academy that would hit the ball or you could get the best double wall rocket tech made and add 30 feet and few MPH to your balls exit speed.  Of course you had to be able to hit the ball.

It really sounds like you'd be better off working on the weaker parts of your game versus spending the money on new clubs.  If you don't fix the weaknesses and go buy expensive clubs, you'll have expensive clubs with the same issues.

If 50 yards and in is where your loosing the most strokes, a couple short game lessons could really help... it would be worth much more to your game than new clubs.  Also, it sounds like you might want to work on your 6 and 5 irons and get more consistent results to fill in that mid iron gap.

As for your question regarding more expensive clubs versus cheaper clubs, I have a few friends who game cheaper clubs and they are much better than I am.  I have more friends who game more expensive clubs that I am much better than!  Clubs can make a difference, but the best club in the world isn't going to remedy something it can't fix (a bad setup, a bad swing, etc.).

Good luck on the game man!

I'm gonna agree with this guy. I'd try getting a lesson or 2 before buying new clubs if the ones you have are OK. I got new clubs at the advice of my Instructor. He recommended that I get fitted and get new clubs that fit me better. Then we did more lessons. I have another lesson scheduled for August and then another in December. Lessons will help you much more than new clubs IMHO.

At a 20 handicap, you'd be better off spending club money on a decent set of lessons.  Those Cobra clubs should easily be good enough to get you into the 6-10 handicap range.  Only after you've gotten to that level should you consider changing clubs IMO.