I agree that purchasing slightly used or clubs that are a couple of model years old is smart. (I took advantage of a fitting by a Ping rep at a local course’s demo day and then bought the same clubs on eBay for a quarter of the price.) I don’t agree with buying clubs off the rack. The best money you spend on golf clubs is the cost of a good, proper fitting. Your height, swing speed, swing type, stance and so much more make a huge difference when it come to getting the best clubs for you and your game. One man’s fitted clubs are just that: one man’s fitted clubs. And there is no standardization of shafts, so “regular “ or “stiff” means nothing. I recommend three things: 1) try out lots of different drivers, irons, hybrids, wedges and woods at a place like Golf Galaxy or PGA Superstore—or when a local course has a demo day; 2) find a fitter and get the right kind of help; and 3) be up front about how much you can comfortably spend.