Good clubs for 20 handicap

Hello, i am a new golfer (started in late april) but would like to think I am improving fairly rapidly (was a 28.8 the beginning of summer). I play 18 about 2-3x a week, go to the driving range 2-3x a week, and hit into a net in my yard everyday.  Currently i am using a set of Powerbilts i bought from a local golf store that includes driver, 3 wood, 4h & 5h, 6-SW, but would like to start looking at new clubs for the next season. I am looking the spend about $250-$300 on a set of irons and about $200 for a driver. Here are a little bit of stats about my game:

Hit on average 40-50% of fairways, average drive is about 230-250, average 7 iron is 155-165, average 4H is about 210, and i suck very bad at putting (3 putts arent abnormal)

Any advice would be extremely helpful, as I quickly fell in love with the game and would love to keep improving.

Buy a used driver (callway pre-owned or another site. 120 bucks gets you a nice driver) and a nice putter, and stick with the irons until you can spend 700-800 bucks. Then go get fit, buy something you really like, and don't think about irons for 3+ years.  If you are buying 300 dollar irons, I really suggest going used (or a couple years old). What you don't want to do is spend 300 bucks on irons and 3 months later be back in the market for new ones...

Systematic checklist type decision making

You should study the variations that are found in clubs to determine if that is for you.  For example if you have determined that oversized heads are for you then that eliminates many choices.  If you determine that offset is or is not for you that also eliminates choices.  As you can see I am whittling down the field of available choices If you don't know if you need it or not then reject it as it stands a good chance of just being marketing hype nothing  All these 4 gram moves of weight type stuff are like a pregnant fly landing on your club and going for a ride. Nothing.

Blades are very difficult

Muscleback are rather difficult

Cavity backs are smart people clubs

Length is not your friend. Choke up on what you are using now for an entire round placing the right hand right up to the front of the grip. Notice the results. Doing this will reveal length answers to be applied toward the new set you seek.

I like Hogan Apex Edge irons including the F,S,L wedges

I like the old and perfecrttly fine (and cheap) Callaway Warbird woods

I like Callaway drivers.  lately the Hyper-X

Putting is a unique grip and stroke it can produce the desired results using strange and weird things.  Try every grip position you can possibly think of.  For me my grip is installed upside down with the flat down. I remove my thumbs and wrap sort of base ball style.  Then there are two strokes to try. The pendulum back and forth Or the arcing type stroke. TRY EVERYTHING NO MATTER HOW DIFFERENT You may discover that you look very goofy in that unconventional knocked kneed slouch. BUT YOU NEVER MISS!  Doing this can determine which putter type works and therefore which to buy.

I have a Ping DOC 17

" I play 18 about 2-3x a week, go to the driving range 2-3x a week, and hit into a net in my yard everyday "

"and i suck very bad at putting (3 putts arent abnormal)"

Who needs new clubs; Find some time to practice putting :)

Check out Craigslist in your area.

The rule I just heard was take the number of times a year you play times 60 (which is about what a round cost) so if you play 10 times a year your clubs should cost about $600. I bought a new set of clubs this year irons,driver,hybrid,3wood and putter if I were to make a suggestion I would say spend more on the putter and irons most of us replace our drivers more often then any other club and you won't use your fairway woods/hybrids as much as the irons or a putter.

I've GOT to show that rule of thumb to my wife! I'm guessing that she's still not gonna sign off on $5k+ for clubs though. Women.......go figure.

I like my old 2005 LT2's.  About 150 on ebay all day long.

A few weeks ago I purchased a second set with Xstiff shafts just to see how they worked compaired to the set I had with stiff shafts.

I just cant see spending 600 - 800 on new irons.

So after reading all of the posts, and going down to a U.S. Golf (I think thats the name of it) I decided I should probably spend a little bit more money, and as you said, not think about new irons for a few years.  After hitting a bunch of different clubs, I've really developed a liking for Callaway clubs.  I was hitting the razr X HL irons, and tried out a few of the drivers, with my favorite being the Razr Hawk.  So i think I may buy the Razr Hawk driver, the Razr X HL irons, and not sure on which putter yet, but want to try to find a nice one.  Any comments/suggestions for the clubs I have chosen? Thank you for all of the responses as well, I really appreciate it!

There have been tons of deals lately on brand new Diablo Edge iron sets (usually 5 - PW) averaging $250 or so. I don't know if Callaway had been trying to offload inventory lately or what, but these keep showing up on the deal sites. In my opinion, you're probably not going to find a better set of sticks (especially brand new) in that price range, not by a long shot. Edit: In case anyone is thinking "put up or shutup" Here is one such deal: http://slickdeals.net/f/5074206-Callaway-Diablo-Edge-R-8-piece-irons-set-for-239-99-tax-free-shipping-at-GolfGalaxy-com I'm not an employee of Slickdeals, Golf Galaxy, or any of their affiliates, just wanted to provide an answer to OP's question. If that link breaks any forum rules, Mods can edit it out

I bought the Diablo Edge Iron set about a month ago and will back your opinion that they are good clubs.  My game has improved drastically since purchasing these clubs and I got them for the same price you are referring too.  I also feel like these irons will carry me until I feel I am ready to try a more advanced iron.  I've really enjoyed the edges thus far.

i know golfsmith is doing them for $240.