How much difference will a good set of irons make?

Been playing for a while now but only started really playing consistently about 3 months ago. In that time I've taken my average score from about a 105 to a 95 and I feel like it's only a matter of time before I break into the 80s.  Also plan on taking lessons within the next few weeks.

Currently the irons i'm using are a set of Tommy Armour 845 Classics which are exactly as sold in store (not fitted) and only cost $150 although they seem decent.  Also i'm 6'2".  What I'm wondering is... how much would say buying a nice new set of $500+ irons and having them fitted improve my game?  My iron play is definitely not amazing, although it's not terrible.  I'd say I need to work on all aspects of my game about equally at this point.  So it looks like I have some options:

A) spend money on lessons. don't worry about irons until you're in the 80s

B) get new irons and get them fitted. you'll notice a huge difference!

C) wait till you get lessons and your swing is more consistent and then get irons in a few months

I'm willing to put the money into this hobby as I see myself playing for a long time. I have a ton of nice golf courses in my area and love to spend my weekends on them as of late.  One last question... when selecting a new iron set how do you decide what to get?  Are certain ones more forgiving for accuracy and certain ones designed for distance, etc?

Might as well add that I have recently upgraded my other clubs.  Nothing crazy but I got last years model on both the driver and 3 wood at discounted prices.  Got the Calloway Octane driver and the Taylormade Burner 2.0 fairway wood.  Also got a new Odyssey putter which I am practicing with a few times a week and noticing a big difference on

Well, seeing that no one is giving any feedback. . .I'll start off by saying, the lessons first, would be the direction I'd go .  But, make sure you find a pro that you can work with and understand.  Not everyone swings the same.  Don't let him/her try and turn you into someone else.

Make them work with YOUR SWING.  Obviously, there will be changes needed.  I'm just saying, don't let him show you video of Tiger or Freddie and say, "Okay!  That's what I want you to do."

The other problem is, if you're using standard clubs, they are probably about an inch short for you, and I would assume you'll need your lie angle upright by a 1/2 to 1* or more.

Whenever you do buy new clubs, GET FITTED properly.

GLuck

Thanks for the feedback!  I figured that it might be nice to take at least a couple lessons before going in for a club fitting just so I know my swing is a little more consistent.  Also, in case I need to change anything after talking to the pro I wouldn't want to get them fitted for my current swing.

Seeing video of yourself swinging. . .that was one of the biggest things that helped me.  Feel is one thing, but seeing yourself pull the club back too far to the inside, or maybe seeing yourself coming over the top. . .it gives a whole different perspective.  Point is, see if you can find a pro that uses video as well.  Or, at the very least, have someone help you video your swing.

My swing is also on the front page of the member swings section.  38 views and no replies

If you wanted to take a look.

Lessons first. Have the instructor check your clubs and see how far out of whack (or not) they are for you. Since the instructor will probably (though not always) have you work on something with just one club (reducing the variables) for the first couple lessons, having new fitted clubs may not be that necessary at first.

When you do have your clubs fitted, I would recommend a *good* independent fitter who has access to a number of product lines (not just the major OEMs) and shafts, and who will build (or modify) the clubs for you. It's an extra degree of effort (and a little more $, but shouldn't be too much) from being fitted out of a club cart, but the fit will be better as there will be more options for the fitter to use to fit you best. Don't get me wrong - if all you have access to is a fitting cart and a fitter who knows how to use it properly (many do not), then go for it. I just think a *good* independent fitter will give you more options. You may have to travel a little to find one, so you have to factor that in as well.

Do you have any recommendation on how to find a good independent fitter?  A google search showed me 2 golf fitters in the area - a place called iFitGolf and then Golf Galaxy.  Is that word of mouth kind of thing?

Word of mouth is a good place to start - friends, local pros, internet forums (!).

I'd start with the Golf Digest Top 100 Fitters list http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-equipment/2013-05/100-best-clubfitters - look at their complete fitters list, not just the top 100 (unless there's one near you). Some of the fitters from 2011 and 2012 didn't make the current list for some reason, and I question their judgement on putting Golfsmith (and other) stores on the list w/o specifying an individual who might be a top notch fitter.

FWIW, GD lists two fitters in their overall list from Sacramento:

SACRAMENTO

Grips Fast Golf
916-457-5532
gripsfastgolf.com

Haggin Oaks Super Shop
916-808-2526
hagginoaks.com

The iFitGolf place might be ok (web site ifitgolf.com?). They might be limited compared to an independent relative as to what manufacturers are available. The Callaway system they have should be decent. I'd recommend stopping by if they are not too far away, and talk to them about their process.

Opinions on Golf Galaxy seem to be hit and miss - some places have good guys and some don't. They are at least reasonably priced for fitting fees, but are limited by what they have a retail (can't put certain brand shafts into certain brand club heads, etc.).

If you wind up getting your clubs through a club cart fitting, or even ordering w/o a fitting, make sure you have them checked for loft, lie, swing weight, and correct shaft and shaft length when they come in. I've read comments on various web sites about clubs that are off, from virtually all the major OEMs. Cool Clubs, if I remember correctly, does this on their sets they order for the customer, and they make the adjustments as needed to get the right specs (not sure if they do this on site or have to send them out).

Looking at the two web sites, I'd go with Haggin Oaks.

I can't tell from the web site if Grips Fast even does fittings, and they sell clones (some like 'em, some don't), not OEM or components (Wishon, Alpha, etc.) clubs.

Thanks for the help man.. speaking of word of mouth I just talked to a co-worker and he got his fitting done at Haggin Oaks!  Interesting thing is they ended up telling him that he didn't need any modification at all - he ended up getting them exactly as they come in stores

Best wishes for your fitting!