The club manufacturers will always tweak and have new models out every year. Sometimes twice a year.
So you can find deals on previous model clubs.
As there are limits to performance as tested by the R&A and PGA, the improvements are very minor. But still can help golfers of all abilities if one looks for a club that fits your swing.
Claims of more distance are a bit cheeky by club manufacturers. For instance, a 7 iron loft is/was 35 degrees. Now some 7 iron lofts are 29 even 28 degrees. There's where the "longer" distance comes in play.
Also "feel" in a club. Forged club heads gives a player more "feel" in the shot. The other club head style, investment cast, is a club head cast from a block of steel. Typically the shot from this head has a harder feel to it, especially if you started with forged irons. ( after 20 years, finally got my son to go to forged irons this past year. He couldn't believe how "good" they felt.)
One other consideration is the offset from the hosel to the leading edge of the club head. Better players use less offset. More offset helps amateurs get the ball up in the air by promoting having your hands ahead of the impact area. So depending on your game, find out which type of offset is best for you.
This is why testing various brands and models helps fine tune what is best for you. Getting specifically fitted is the better yet. ( my only advice on getting fitted is have your swing in good nick for you. Don't go in to get fitted because you're pissed off with how you're hitting the ball. Take a lesson instead. Once you've got your swing down, then get fitted to improve your game)
As I was told during a lesson, golf is a simple game which is over complicated.
