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Irons? I've had mine for years with little noticeable difference from season to season on the spin. I don't play a ton mind you but I've yet to see an iron that was really any better than the ones I have.

Wedges - every year. The grooves just can't take it.

Driver - as soon as they make one better than the one I'm using, I'll buy it.

I like 2 years at Christmas/New Year, so pending the end of the Mayan calendar, Santa will deliver me some new sticks I hope.

LOL man Im the exact opposite. I keep wedges like I keep a car. Just run it into the ground. Irons on the other hand, get changed like the weather. Im a club (iron) whore (just read that and had to steal it). Just dont know why. Its not that I have to have the newest stuff, I really dont care about that. I just am not "completely" satisfied with the clubs I have and had as the set before that. Both were custom but there was just something that I though could be better for "me." Or maybe I need to be on some psychiatrist's couch. Either way, next Sunday when I take my set to the club fitter for comparison, I will either be posting that I purchased another custom set and lost my mind again or retained my sanity and kept a really good set that has not disappointed me. Stay tuned!

I'm just gonna throw this out there. It's the shrink's couch or bust for you buddy. Just checked your profile and you're playing MP-68's?? I need to hear just how exactly are you going find "better" irons??? Those puppies are top of the line! Beautiful clubs! You crazy man :)

LOL!!!!!! Man I'm dying at that! I know I am crazy and dont think that I will find better clubs than the 68's. I was hitting and got fitted for the 59's and I kept asking the fitter, "are these any different or better that my 68's?" He couldnt give me an definitive answer because they both are great club sets. Now, to answer your question, how exactly am I going to find better clubs than the ones I have? I dont think I will. Guess the shrink and I have lots to talk about. :)

Irons last forever. Just re-grip them as needed. I've had mine for 9 years and only replaced the previous set because . . . well they were stolen!

3-metal I've also had for 9 years (same reason). I might change that club next as I suspect I can pick up a few yards with the new technology, plus the head is showing signs of coming loose.

I upgraded to top rated hybrids this past year and figure I'll be set there for years.

Wedges every 3-7 years based on wear.

Driver every 3-5 years only after I'm convinced there is measurably improved performance.

Made my first putter change in 15 years because I won a long putter. Right now it's an experiment that is going well, but we'll see how it plays out at the end.

I have only been playing for 5 years so I have not went through a lot of gear. The first set of clubs that I got were cheap and the 5 irons face actually caved in so I bought the irons that I have now. I am looking into moving from my current cavitybacks into a set of blades and a new set of conforming wedges so that I can play in a few higher level AM Tournies.

You won't, man. FORGET IT. STAY OUT OF THE GOLF STORE.

I've had my 695MBs for 5 years. They're dinged up and look like hell. The ball doesn't care though. Eventually I may get a new set, but there is absolutely no need right now. Probably won't be a need for another 10 or 15 years. You can't wear a hole in an iron, I promise. Learn to play the clubs you have and make them become your friends. The more good shots you hit with your set, the more confident you'll be over the next shot, because you know that your clubs have done the job time and time again.

Remember, the ball always does what it's told. And it ain't the clubs that do the talking...know what I mean?

On the other hand...

One thing that can be fun is looking around for vintage iron sets. Namely MacGregors and Hogans, old Wilson Staff, Powerbilt, and a few others. With new shafts and grips, and a good fitting adjustment, a lot of those old clubs play as good (or even better, in some cases, like the Hogans) than anything new. And you can often find sets for, oh, $40. I've got a set of Hogan Apex Redlines that hit and feel great. They're over 30 years old. I still use the pitching wedge (Hogan called it an E-wedge) from the set with my 695MBs. It takes the place of a gap wedge, since an old PW is about 50 degrees of loft.

I say, if you have the money for a new set, do something else with that money. Play a few more rounds at nice courses, look for old vintage clubs instead, get a new golf bag or pair of shoes...something other than looking for that "new club honeymoon."

Buy the new one's, If you don't hit them as well as the old one's, maybe i'll have a chance to get within about 5 shots of you this year.

Dandy pretty much hit it on the nose. Irons stand for a long time, woods, wedges and putters interchangable parts!

Prior to playing hickory clubs full time I was an equipment (how can I say this) ...."street walker."

My worst year was 2007 when I played a set of Titleist blades, Muira Irons, Mizuno irons, and finished the season with Scratch golf's Tour Custom Copper Irons and Wedges.

I have always sided with new.

That being playing 100 year old clubs for 3 years has really settled me down. I have all Titleist irons, wedges and woods and am very happy with their play and do not see purchasing anything new (unless I wear down my grooves) anytime soon.

LOL you wish!

Man thats why I like listening to you, you just give great advice. But what if the shaft isnt right for you? or is is that the club fitter is trying to sell me a new set of clubs?

If the shafts in your clubs somehow aren't right for you, then you can always get new shafts installed. That's a heck of a lot cheaper than a whole new set of clubs.

I doubt that will really be the case though, unless you've become stronger than your shaft flex can handle. I'm pretty sure Mizuno puts Dynamic Golds in their irons...there is absolutely nothing wrong with that shaft. It's been the standard for as long as I can remember, because it does the job. If you have the correct flex, you should be all set.

There's a lot of fancy and expensive stuff out there that may be tempting to try...like "flighted" shafts...but I'll tell you the truth, I've been using Dynamic Gold S300 shafts for as long as I've been serious about this game, and I've never stood over a ball saying "Boy, I sure wish I had flighted shafts."

Amen brother....