I've been playing irregularly for many years. I never got my index below 10. This last year I took it up again at 54 years old. I played for awhile and took 1 or 2 lessons. Mostly I practiced a lot to get the feel back. One of the biggest things I believe was to first get my swing analysed to see what kind of shafts and what lie/loft was appropriate. Then I replaced my iron shafts so they were all the same. same flex, same kick, etc. and had the club heads tweasked for my swing. Kind of expensive but it took my previous 10 down to a 7 right away. More analysis of driver shaft and 2 lessons for driver, putting and greenside play took it to 5.4.
In my Cheap Calloway Bag:
Driver: Ping Rapture 10.5 with aldila VS65 Stiff
Fairway: Ping G5 3 wood with aldila VS65 Stiff
Hybrid; Magique 3
Irons: Cleveland TA1 Forged Musclebacks
Wedges: Cleveland Forged
Putter: Old Ray Cook Blue Ray