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typically, if you're clubs are older than say 10-15 years, you're doing yourself a disservice by not at least seeing what kind of technological advantage you may gain

Well, I played Wilson 1200 GE's back in the day and I thought they were great. lol I bought the BH-5's when I started playing again and I hit them well.I can actually work the ball with these some as needed.

I guess I'm just excited about my game right now. I'm hitting short irons every day and playing twice a week.

If you're hitting your irons well and like the look, then don't change. I don't care what they're selling. You can't wear a hole in them, you know...especially if they're cast clubs (like the BH-5). I've got some Hogan Apex Redlines from about 30 years ago that hit the ball unbelievably good.

Anyway, why do you say you'll never be scratch? Who told you that? If you're reasonably athletic and talented, you can be as good as you want to be. I promise, if you worked ONLY on shots from 100 yards and in (wedges, half-wedges, pitches, chips, putts) for the next few months, you'd be amazed how quickly your scores would drop. The pros are looking to get up-and-down every time when they are inside 100. If you can get to that point, you're never going to shoot a high number.

First time I shot under par for 9 holes, I hit the ball HORRIBLE. I couldn't find the fairway or the green. But I chipped and putted so well that I only had 11 putts for those 9 holes. Try NOT to shoot under par when you have 11 putts!!! That round forever embedded in my brain the importance of having a good short game. It makes more of a difference to your scores than anything else.

The other great thing about having a great short game is that it will improve your ballstriking in a roundabout way. Right now I bet you're trying to really control that ball and get it as close as you can to your intended target. But when you have so much of your thought process devoted to that, somewhere along the line you forget that you're just supposed to swing the club. But if you have a great short game, you can tell yourself: "I can get it up-and-down from all those places. No worries. Let's swing." You can simply aim and fire without having to worry as much about where the ball goes. And lo and behold, that's one of the things that helps you hit it straighter: George Knudson said "Give up control to gain control."

I know that sounds a little esoteric, but I think you will find it to be true in your game. I've found it to be true in mine, that's for sure!

I have only been playing golf for just over 4 years and I have worked my way down to a 7.2 hdcp.I have blown out one knee, torn the cartalidge in both, and took flying hot metal to my lower back. I have also posted a round under par. If I can do it after all this than anyone can do it as long as they practice the short game and can hit the ball relatively well with their long sticks. You can hit the ball a long ways all you want but if you cant get up and down or putt than you are only going to be a bogey golfer at best. The short game is the key to going low.

For me, it is all about the short game. When I started trying to hit better shots from 120 yds and in, I noticed I was hitting most shots better. I don't spin the ball much but It will stop.

So I think the key for me is fairway accuracy and putting.

This is what I want to work on next and am wondering if a couple of lessons would help or hurt my game at this point.

Lessons are good if you find a good teacher and not a quick-fix guy.

Do you have Ben Hogan's Five Lessons - The Modern Fundamentals of Golf? That may be the single best golf book ever. Get it and study it if you don't.

And watch this. Many times. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v..